Why some reviewers are so bad!!

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davidone

Well-Known Member
Just watched a review of a new locomotive that was about ten minutes long and the reviewer never said a word the entire time!! Another of the same engine talked way to much reading all the printing that was on the box, WTF!!!

Another who reviewed the new slab side turbine knew nothing about the engine, couldn't identify any portion of the engine and even did not know part of the front pilot moved because of the size of the locomotive. Also did not know anything on the top of the locomotive!!
In essence the entire review was a waste of time.

These were just a few who don't have a clue when reviewing the above model trains.

I'm not asking for a professional production but at least show us the engine, A few picture's of the detail and then do a small run by so we can hear the sounds and lights. Basically an overview!! Trying not to bore the hell out of me!!
 


davidone said:
If they want the ever important likes, they won't get It from me!!!! Plus if you need those likes to feel important you have issues.
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They aren't seeking "likes" to feel important, they're probably doing it to make, or try to make money. Once you get enough likes/subscriptions/channel members/etc, you can start collecting advertising revenue. Some video creators are also trying to attract the attention of product manufacturers and distributors so they can get free samples (e.g. "send me a free locomotive/accessory/plane ticket/hotel stay/whatever, and I'll record a review of it!"). There's other various ways to make money with videos online too, such as if someone buys a product you reviewed or recommended.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of people these days whose entire source of income is making videos of product reviews or other sponsored content. And some of them make thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars a month from it.
 
James Wright is one of the better reviewers, also crafty fox is very good and some others.
The ones I was talking about are the guys who think they are reviewers but put no effort into it, no real information is ever gleaned from them.
 
davidone said:
Just watched a review of a new locomotive that was about ten minutes long and the reviewer never said a word the entire time!! Another of the same engine talked way to much reading all the printing that was on the box, WTF!!!

Another who reviewed the new slab side turbine knew nothing about the engine, couldn't identify any portion of the engine and even did not know part of the front pilot moved because of the size of the locomotive. Also did not know anything on the top of the locomotive!!
In essence the entire review was a waste of time.

These were just a few who don't have a clue when reviewing the above model trains.

I'm not asking for a professional production but at least show us the engine, A few picture's of the detail and then do a small run by so we can hear the sounds and lights. Basically an overview!! Trying not to bore the hell out of me!!
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Some people spend a lot of time on YouTube of Meta in groups and they get followers, or a lot of likes. They're chasing likes. The real world is exactly the same...people who think they have something important to say that others want to hear.
 
If a review takes more than 10 minutes I won't watch.

  • Say what it is, who makes it, what sound/decoder is in it (if DCC) and the different road names offered. We don't need to know what all the different engine numbers are. Most of us know how to use the internet.
  • Is there anything that doesn't meet QC standards. Sloppy paint, couplers out of spec, adhesive marks, poor lettering, etc.
  • Show all sides and underneath under GOOD lighting.
  • Start it up and go through the basic sound functions if it's DCC. (lights, bells, horn, etc)
  • Run it a couple of feet, at slow speed, over some switches and back. If slow speed function is good, then you really don't need to worry about mainline speed being good also.

That's all I really need in a review.
 
Marlin39 said:
If a review takes more than 10 minutes I won't watch.

  • Say what it is, who makes it, what sound/decoder is in it (if DCC) and the different road names offered. We don't need to know what all the different engine numbers are. Most of us know how to use the internet.
  • Is there anything that doesn't meet QC standards. Sloppy paint, couplers out of spec, adhesive marks, poor lettering, etc.
  • Show all sides and underneath under GOOD lighting.
  • Start it up and go through the basic sound functions if it's DCC. (lights, bells, horn, etc)
  • Run it a couple of feet, at slow speed, over some switches and back. If slow speed function is good, then you really don't need to worry about mainline speed being good also.

That's all I really need in a review.
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You hit all the points I was trying to express, thank you!!!
 


Marlin39 said:
If a review takes more than 10 minutes I won't watch.

  • Say what it is, who makes it, what sound/decoder is in it (if DCC) and the different road names offered. We don't need to know what all the different engine numbers are. Most of us know how to use the internet.
  • Is there anything that doesn't meet QC standards. Sloppy paint, couplers out of spec, adhesive marks, poor lettering, etc.
  • Show all sides and underneath under GOOD lighting.
  • Start it up and go through the basic sound functions if it's DCC. (lights, bells, horn, etc)
  • Run it a couple of feet, at slow speed, over some switches and back. If slow speed function is good, then you really don't need to worry about mainline speed being good also.

That's all I really need in a review.
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Spot on, And less than 10 minutes for a piece of rolling stock!

I've seen some reviews that the presenter want to yap for several minutes begging for likes and subs. I'm usually out
at that point, unless its a product I'm seriously considering buying. Another gripe is when they set the taped box on the
and don't have the knife handy to cut the flipping tape. Already have it out on the turntable or whatever and lets get
rolling. I have seen several that make a huge presentation like they just picked it up off the porch.
 
migalyto said:
Spot on, And less than 10 minutes for a piece of rolling stock!

I've seen some reviews that the presenter want to yap for several minutes begging for likes and subs. I'm usually out
at that point, unless its a product I'm seriously considering buying. Another gripe is when they set the taped box on the
and don't have the knife handy to cut the flipping tape. Already have it out on the turntable or whatever and lets get
rolling. I have seen several that make a huge presentation like they just picked it up off the porch.
Click to expand...

Yup. That, and reviewers who are clueless on technical terms for the item they are reviewing. For example, referring to the front wheels, the middle wheels, and the back wheel frame of a steam engine. Instead of saying the pilot truck wheels, the drive wheels, and the trailing truck. And it keeps going downhill from there.

One big time, popular, YouTube O-gauge reviewer points out a lot of the details on every brand new, high-priced locomotive he reviews, but doesn't call out a lot of the details by their correct name, if any name at all. He evidently doesn't know what the individual parts are actually called. Items like sand domes, steam domes, injector valves, builder plates, air tanks, handrail stanchions, etc. He goes up one side of the loco and down the other, just pointing out the details (whether molded on or separately applied) and says how great they look. I guess that's just one more way of adding pointless time to videos, so YouTube can insert more annoying ads into them.

In the last year or two I have found myself more and more exiting out of videos before they end, for that and a whole host of other annoying items. And naturally, no "likes" and no "subscribes" for them, either.

Unfortunately, I don't look for it to get any better any time soon. 😠👎
 
I can quickly tell a lousy review pretty quickly when viewing the first couple minutes of a video on YT. I remember when James Wright started doing reviews and he was on the AtlasRescueForum. His reviews were good but he was relatively new to trains and lacked much information about the prototype. He has gotten better over time and his reviews are mainly close ups and runbys. More thorough is Dan Cortopassi on YT.
 
Marlin39 said:
If a review takes more than 10 minutes I won't watch.

  • Say what it is, who makes it, what sound/decoder is in it (if DCC) and the different road names offered. We don't need to know what all the different engine numbers are. Most of us know how to use the internet.
  • Is there anything that doesn't meet QC standards. Sloppy paint, couplers out of spec, adhesive marks, poor lettering, etc.
  • Show all sides and underneath under GOOD lighting.
  • Start it up and go through the basic sound functions if it's DCC. (lights, bells, horn, etc)
  • Run it a couple of feet, at slow speed, over some switches and back. If slow speed function is good, then you really don't need to worry about mainline speed being good also.

That's all I really need in a review.
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Yep, I ain't watching a video that long unless it's Fail Army, The Hoonigans, WhistlinDiesel, or sports.
 
I see very few German reviews that are not well done. They usually briefly explain the prototype, the model, and then move on the sound/functions, and run it around the track a time or two.

Most but not all are very well done.
 
Mixed Freight said:
Yup. That, and reviewers who are clueless on technical terms for the item they are reviewing. For example, referring to the front wheels, the middle wheels, and the back wheel frame of a steam engine. Instead of saying the pilot truck wheels, the drive wheels, and the trailing truck. And it keeps going downhill from there.

One big time, popular, YouTube O-gauge reviewer points out a lot of the details on every brand new, high-priced locomotive he reviews, but doesn't call out a lot of the details by their correct name, if any name at all. He evidently doesn't know what the individual parts are actually called. Items like sand domes, steam domes, injector valves, builder plates, air tanks, handrail stanchions, etc. He goes up one side of the loco and down the other, just pointing out the details (whether molded on or separately applied) and says how great they look. I guess that's just one more way of adding pointless time to videos, so YouTube can insert more annoying ads into them.

In the last year or two I have found myself more and more exiting out of videos before they end, for that and a whole host of other annoying items. And naturally, no "likes" and no "subscribes" for them, either.

Unfortunately, I don't look for it to get any better any time soon. 😠👎
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S
 
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michaeljoe said:
Since I'm new to model trains & railroading, do you or anyone know where I can find any charts/pictures...... that point out/name the different
parts & pieces that are located on the outside/body of .......locomotive steam engines and.....1940s..50s...60s diesel locomotive engines and such.

I have always enjoyed trains and even had a couple of train sets back in the day.
I'd just like to have some informative charts/pictures to print out.
Thanks
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YouTube is your friend.;)

 


michaeljoe said:
Since I'm new to model trains & railroading, do you or anyone know where I can find any charts/pictures...... that point out/name the different
parts & pieces that are located on the outside/body of .......locomotive steam engines and.....1940s..50s...60s diesel locomotive engines and such.

I have always enjoyed trains and even had a couple of train sets back in the day.
I'd just like to have some informative charts/pictures to print out.
Thanks
Click to expand...
I'm unaware of any sites in particular at the moment. However, doing some Google searches like 'Anatomy of a steam locomotive', or 'diesel locomotive components', and other similar such search terms, should pop up tons of interesting sites to explore and learn from.

The great thing about doing that is.......... you may possibly learn stuff that you didn't even know you didn't know!
And although I'm retired now, I still do that on a regular basis! :p😁👍
 
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