OK, makes a lot more sense now.
You're right, I'm frozen in time here, it will always be 1954, I'm in way too deep to change.
I love the locos from my chosen era, steam and diesel.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Doughless As an update to my recent experience of getting two locos in the mail from TW, both with broken or missing detail parts. My request for a return and in-store credit was denied. LOL. I mentioned in another thread a while ago that TW offers returns on a case by case basis, referring to the possibility that requests may be denied based upon "too many returns". I wondered when I would hit their red flag. I have returned several items over the year, all for broken parts. I have also fixed two other items. I understand that customers may somehow take advantage of liberal returns, but all of my requests have been legit. As I said bfore, one of the locos was purchased with in store credit that was given because of a previous return of another loco with broken parts. Oh well. I guess I'll have to look to other vendors if I can't return a mail order loco at TW. I wonder if the brands or types of products you are ordering somehow lend themselves to more shipping damage? I have not purchased anything from them recently, but again I never had any issues. While I have had a very few mail order products arrive damaged, I have never had a model train arrive damaged. Not from an Ebay vendor, not from a big seller like TrainWorld, not from a little hobby shop. Again, I must be lucky, or maybe it is where I live, or what I order? Who knows. I would think that parts missing is a manufacturer issue? Sheldon
Doughless As an update to my recent experience of getting two locos in the mail from TW, both with broken or missing detail parts. My request for a return and in-store credit was denied. LOL. I mentioned in another thread a while ago that TW offers returns on a case by case basis, referring to the possibility that requests may be denied based upon "too many returns". I wondered when I would hit their red flag. I have returned several items over the year, all for broken parts. I have also fixed two other items. I understand that customers may somehow take advantage of liberal returns, but all of my requests have been legit. As I said bfore, one of the locos was purchased with in store credit that was given because of a previous return of another loco with broken parts. Oh well. I guess I'll have to look to other vendors if I can't return a mail order loco at TW.
As an update to my recent experience of getting two locos in the mail from TW, both with broken or missing detail parts.
My request for a return and in-store credit was denied. LOL.
I mentioned in another thread a while ago that TW offers returns on a case by case basis, referring to the possibility that requests may be denied based upon "too many returns".
I wondered when I would hit their red flag. I have returned several items over the year, all for broken parts. I have also fixed two other items.
I understand that customers may somehow take advantage of liberal returns, but all of my requests have been legit.
As I said bfore, one of the locos was purchased with in store credit that was given because of a previous return of another loco with broken parts.
Oh well. I guess I'll have to look to other vendors if I can't return a mail order loco at TW.
I wonder if the brands or types of products you are ordering somehow lend themselves to more shipping damage?
I have not purchased anything from them recently, but again I never had any issues.
While I have had a very few mail order products arrive damaged, I have never had a model train arrive damaged. Not from an Ebay vendor, not from a big seller like TrainWorld, not from a little hobby shop.
Again, I must be lucky, or maybe it is where I live, or what I order? Who knows.
I would think that parts missing is a manufacturer issue?
I have not purchased a lot from online retailers or major vendors over the years. As I have mentioned before, I have gone through a bit of a roster change since Athearn has introduced LED lighting, including ditch lights, and the Tsunami 2 sound decoder. Stuff I know you don't care about but matters to me. Not to mention my era has changed a bit with the new layout from pre 2000 to more 2010 to present.
The short explanation is that a number of things are going on to motivate a bunch of purchases from vendors during 2020, where I never had a lot of reason to buy much in the past 5 years. Never had a problem before.
Yes, its mostly Athearn, but I did not want to mention that since they get enough complaints. And, the one Atlas item I bought from TW had the broken handrails and missing wiper, and the one Intermountain item had a defective speaker. I think its just a matter of me happening to buy more Athearns over other brands that has caused the issues to be more Athearn related.
Boxes are firmly packed. Padding is great. Again, other than he speaker issue, it looks more like a handling issue, either from the factory packaging or from what I suspect might be in store customers/employees looking but not buying. Probably not noticing that something snapped or popped off.
The denial for a return was accompanired by a message that they will be ordering the parts from the manufacturer. In this case Atlas for the handrails and wiper. Parts I already have on hand by the way.
This thread was not about a complaint per se, because I can repair or replace broken detail parts just fine. It was more about sharing experiences to see if others are having the same frequency of the same types of problems. Again, its more about what's happened to me in 2020 than a standing problem with TW and the long history I have with the company.
And yes, I have returned several of the items. They do have a policy of not allowing returns for "frequent returners" so I wonder where that statement of policy came from if they don't have a lot of returns in the first place.
- Douglas
ATLANTIC CENTRALAgain, I must be lucky,
My CMR Ebay turntable was packed in plastic grocery bags.Not wrapped, just the empty space filled with empty deflated bags.
I was curious how the seller would ship it to protect it from damage. The answer was not at all. He did adjust the price, after the fact.
I ordered an inexpensive wine rack on Wayfair. The wood was in a 1" styrofoam box. But the shipping box was a wrapper around the center of the box and two end pieces which fit inside the wrapper, allowing the inside to shift back and forth.
There were 3 holes punched in the box, big enough for me to stick my hands into. No parts were missing thanks to the styrofoam box and there was a small broken piece easily fixed by white glue.
We have also had stuff missing from Amazon boxes, where the box was partially open on arrival.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
My nearest "local hobby shop" is a five hour drive away.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
In defense of Trainworld let me say that I have never had an issue with items I received via the Internet and shipped to me. I will add that I am about 45 minutes from Trainworld so shipments go from Brooklyn to Uniondale (UPS hub) and then to me. Usually within 48 hours. The one time recently that I purchased an engine in person at the Lynbrook store, they took the engine out of the box and inspected it and tested it. I don't expect them to do that with online orders. Isn't that the thing you give up when shopping for anything online? Hope the picture is accurate and that it arrives in one piece. I have had plenty of non-train items delivered in pieces.
I'm not even looking for "perfection" but I don't want engine models that would fail a basic prototype safety inspection (horrible handrails, etc) to go out on the road, either.
I just traded with a local friend to get an Atlas 2003 vintage PC C-425. No LED lights, but it runs and looks great for what I want. Handrails are great--not too fragile, soft, flexible, if accidently pinched will return to their permanent set.
PRR8259 Sheldon-- To be clear: my intention with buying these items IS to own them for the rest of my life. However, most of the items I'm buying were actually made in China, and are of inconsistent quality. One internet/mail-ordered engine may look absolutely fantastic, and another one of the same model and production run, even the same roadname and paint scheme, may look terrible to my eyes. Yes, absolutely, I'm looking at Ebay for vintage Proto 2000, Genesis, Bowser, Atlas Classic or Master Series Silver units that not only are less costly but also meet my QA/QC inspection. Also it is true that as the price increases, my inspection is more stringent. I just expect more of a $225 plain dc diesel than I do of a $100 unit. John
Sheldon--
To be clear: my intention with buying these items IS to own them for the rest of my life.
However, most of the items I'm buying were actually made in China, and are of inconsistent quality. One internet/mail-ordered engine may look absolutely fantastic, and another one of the same model and production run, even the same roadname and paint scheme, may look terrible to my eyes.
Yes, absolutely, I'm looking at Ebay for vintage Proto 2000, Genesis, Bowser, Atlas Classic or Master Series Silver units that not only are less costly but also meet my QA/QC inspection. Also it is true that as the price increases, my inspection is more stringent. I just expect more of a $225 plain dc diesel than I do of a $100 unit.
John
Well John,
In my 53 years in the hobby, I have sold some where between 6-12 model train items on Ebay, not counting things like DCC decoders removed from Bachmann locos, extra Kadee wheel sets after I replaced them with Intermountain wheel sets, or excess Athearn rigid plastic trucks after I replaced them with sprung trucks.....
I don't settle for broken or defective products. But I suspect my "standards" of detail and appearance area little more pragmatic than yours......
Also, as a kit builder and freelancer, the final appearance of many of my models is very much up to me.......
Is the quality of these products "variable"? Sure it is. Have prices moved upwards in the last few years? They have.
That is why I count myself lucky and smart to have purchased what I wanted when it was available and less expensive. The key being that I knew what I wanted, and I have not changed my mind.
Over the last few days I have been reviewing my roster, and my needs list for the new layout, since it is a sure thing my wife will insist I treat myself to something for the holiday.
I scanned the new offerings, and scanned Ebay for treasures, I have reviewed the operational plan for the new layout. And I can barely come up with a short list of locos or rolling stock not already on hand.
When asked what I wanted for Christmas, my first response was "more time to play with the toys I already have".
At one time when I was younger, I became pretty obsessed with building the "perfect" model train layout. Every car would be perfectly detailed, everything would be exactly correct......then I realized I was having no fun.........
Now, six blue box freight cars can be coupled to six beautifully detailed cars from Spring Mills Depot, or Intermountain, and I am happy as can be, as those 40 cars trains roll gracefully around those 38" radius curves, pulled by those Bachmann Spectrum and original Proto2000 locos........thru those cheap Atlas turnouts.....
TheFlyingScotsmanWould I buy from them again? Yes I would. Their shipping charges across the pond are great, something like $55 for a big heavy package and thats FedEx so it is in my hand within the week. Some places now to ship overseas are nuts. Like $75 for a $45 passenger car.
Since the exchange rate is so favorable right now, I have been looking at making purchases from UK based companies (Fenris Games, Essex Miniatures, etc) that I have bought from before. The shipping charges are so high that it is not worth it.
I know what you mean.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I have used them twice for locomotives and I have had no issues with the product which is just as well because I am in the UK, however, the last one I had - an MTH SP GS-4 - arrived with the bottom of the box completely open. Had it not been for the fact that the MTH box was so long it was jammed on the ends of the packaging it would have fallen out goodness knows where. Now 2 things here. Not long ago if the box was like that the FedEx I think it was would have taped it up. Secondly this was a TW issue because the brown tape they use was not wet or whatever and it simply had no adhesion to the cardboard whatsoever. I took a picture of course just on the off chance there was a problem but the locomotive was flawless so I moved on.
Would I buy from them again? Yes I would. Their shipping charges across the pond are great, something like $55 for a big heavy package and thats FedEx so it is in my hand within the week. Some places now to ship overseas are nuts. Like $75 for a $45 passenger car.
I dare say I am lucky. I have been getting stuff direct from the US to the UK and Middle East since the late '90s and I have never had anything that was in "kit" format when the box was opened, the worst being a detail here and there loose.
I shouldn't have said that should I?
Shopping for the vintage stuff is definitely worthwhile. Guess I'm going to have to do it more, or else maybe stick with the steam offerings. Believe it or not, the latest steam offerings have been more consistently assembled and are looking very good to me. Just saw new BLI brass hybrid SP&S 4-8-4 today. Gorgeous. Straight running boards. Well done indeed.
Back to topic: I have in the past seen items that TW dragged to shows to the point that boxes were dog-eared, and they shipped me defective merchandise. The last straw was an Athearn Genesis SP unstreamlined 4-8-2. They threw the Genesis box into a larger box with NO cushioning at all. It arrived badly damaged. Because the model was hard to find and I really wanted one, I tried to repair it the best I could which included gluing, sanding, and repainting the badly broken cab roof.
There were other issues that I experienced with TW. I no longer order.
selector Last order from trainworld is indeed my last. I specificed USPS so that I wouldn't be charged that bogus "customs brokerage" fee by the couriers. This isn't a forgettable $10, it's about $35. They sent it by courier. I complained, they shrugged and pretty much told me to get over it. I didn't.
Last order from trainworld is indeed my last. I specificed USPS so that I wouldn't be charged that bogus "customs brokerage" fee by the couriers. This isn't a forgettable $10, it's about $35. They sent it by courier. I complained, they shrugged and pretty much told me to get over it. I didn't.
Shipping to/from your country to/from this country does seem full of costs and problems that seem unnecessary.
I am four hours from Trainworld. If I place an order by mid day, it is usually here the next day, no damage, no drama.
The tread seems to have veered to local train stores, which is what threads do.
I recently moved to the Shenandoah Valley. My builder linked me to one of his clients, also a model railroader. He informed me that the train store in Staunton (pronounced Stanton) wasn't much and he was going to check out Roanoke. The Staunton store has since closed.
Haven't heard back, but the internet reviews are "overpriced and a surly owner." I was OK with a 2 hour round trip to Gilbert's or Mainline Hobbies, but a 4 hour round trip
I watch a youtube channel for a guy that I like, but it is nothing special. For some reason, I just find the guy honest and likeable. He is a regular guy (Not MRVP's regular guy)
He routinely does box openings and finds broken parts. He gets support from a hobby shop, but I don't blame the shop or the manufacturer. Parts and detail have gotten so fragile, they don't survive transportation.
Is it USPS or UPS's fault? Well maybe, but UPS has a new option, where you can track the progress of you package. It's not quite real time, maybe it updates every 15 or 20 minutes, I'm not sure, but you can watch the UPS truck go back and forth a couple miles from you home, for most of the day.
Do they not get ticked off by traffic, just plain tired, hungry, need to use the bathroom? I told the last UPS driver I was tracking her all day and asked how many stops did she make? She said easily 200. You don't deliver 200 packages everyday, 5 days a week and treat every box like it contains a newborn baby. I couldn't do it, none of us could do it.
PRR8259 At some dealers, the retail customers can be ham-handed, and do open and inspect models and then damage them in the process. Those models can and do end up going out mail order. It happens. So far as "not having a good train store near you"...and/or "the closest train store is an hour away". I respectfully submit that the cost of driving a couple hours to maybe some OTHER train store, that might be BETTER, is less than the cost of returning defective items can add up to be (at least in those instances when the buyer is required to eat return postage). I live in South Central Pennsylvania. There are actually a lot of things we do that require some driving. Heck, after the county sent his absentee ballot to us instead of to him, I drove two hours each way just to have my son fill out his vote so we could get it in on time before the deadline. He was busy doing a paper, so I showed up, visited 15 minutes, and left. To me, a 2 or even 2.5 hour drive, one way, to do something that I need to do, is virtually nothing--no big deal. It's only a little gasoline and maybe an EZ Pass toll. Within 2 hours of me or 2.5 hours of me there are MANY fine train shops where I can go inspect the product in person before I actually plunk down my cash. My friends and I now get together and make those trips as an event--a break from our life routine--a day out with the guys and maybe even a steak dinner. Places like Tommy Gilbert's and Mainline Hobby even have Sunday hours which is wonderfully convenient for some of us like my friend who works 6 days a week. Sure there might be some older inventory there, but I can easily spend a good amount of cash on something. I realize there actually are some areas where shops might be prohibitively far apart, but if you are really committed to a hobby, driving a couple hours once in awhile (not for a bottle of paint) really isn't or shouldn't be that big of a deal (assuming you are in reasonable health and can stay awake on the road). Respectfully-- John Mock
At some dealers, the retail customers can be ham-handed, and do open and inspect models and then damage them in the process. Those models can and do end up going out mail order. It happens.
So far as "not having a good train store near you"...and/or "the closest train store is an hour away". I respectfully submit that the cost of driving a couple hours to maybe some OTHER train store, that might be BETTER, is less than the cost of returning defective items can add up to be (at least in those instances when the buyer is required to eat return postage).
I live in South Central Pennsylvania. There are actually a lot of things we do that require some driving. Heck, after the county sent his absentee ballot to us instead of to him, I drove two hours each way just to have my son fill out his vote so we could get it in on time before the deadline. He was busy doing a paper, so I showed up, visited 15 minutes, and left.
To me, a 2 or even 2.5 hour drive, one way, to do something that I need to do, is virtually nothing--no big deal. It's only a little gasoline and maybe an EZ Pass toll. Within 2 hours of me or 2.5 hours of me there are MANY fine train shops where I can go inspect the product in person before I actually plunk down my cash. My friends and I now get together and make those trips as an event--a break from our life routine--a day out with the guys and maybe even a steak dinner.
Places like Tommy Gilbert's and Mainline Hobby even have Sunday hours which is wonderfully convenient for some of us like my friend who works 6 days a week. Sure there might be some older inventory there, but I can easily spend a good amount of cash on something.
I realize there actually are some areas where shops might be prohibitively far apart, but if you are really committed to a hobby, driving a couple hours once in awhile (not for a bottle of paint) really isn't or shouldn't be that big of a deal (assuming you are in reasonable health and can stay awake on the road).
Respectfully--
John Mock
Well John, I enjoy trips to both of the shops you mentioned, and likely to several others you are refering to since I'm not really that far from you.
And to make larger purchases, sure, or to make a day of it just for fun now and then sure, I do that.
But I go in shops all the time and don't find any of things on my want list........
And, on the other hand, I have not had all this bad experiance with damaged shipments either?
I'm curently more interested in a list of NOS Proto2000 stuff on Ebay, every piece less than $100, than in anything recently released...........
And remember, whatever I buy, I will own for the rest of my life.........
PRR8259At some dealers, the retail customers can be ham-handed, and do open and inspect models and then damage them in the process. Those models can and do end up going out mail order. It happens.
And what I am seeing is evidence that the items I'm getting have been previously handled. Maybe at the factory, they get a little rough with the packaging and it makes it out to the container anyway. And somehow, a greater percentage go on to TW rather than others.
And that's not an accusation. Maybe simply nobody notices.
PRR8259Within 2 hours of me or 2.5 hours of me there are MANY fine train shops where I can go inspect the product in person before I actually plunk down my cash.
Well, if a LHS also has a mail order business, the policy of letting somebody inspect the item without purchasing it explains the above.
I had two LHSs near me in previous locales that never let anybody open the box, and neither the owner nor employees were allowed to open the boxes for fear of damaging something out of the tight factory packaging. Not all LHSs allow customers or employees to fiddle with the products.
Getting back to Trainworld I recieved my Christmas presents Wednesday with no issues in just one day with standard shipping.
Ony once did I receive a boxcar from them with a broken truck and after a phone call with them they replaced it no questions asked.
Living in Staten Island TW is my LHS as well as my go to internet source and I have had no issues with their customer service at al.
Joe Staten Island West
How much worse could Cape Coral be than Key West? Are there a lot of model railroaders on Key West? If so, I missed an opportunity when I was on a cruise that stopped there. That's a heck of a drive if you live in that area to drive down to Key West just to buy some model trains. On a similar note - I am disappointed that the Wikipedia entry does not sya how Lehigh Acres came to be called that. There seems to be no connection to my area, maybe one of those nice Chicgo 'businessmen" who founded it happened to see the name on a milk crate or something.
There really is no LHS by me. Closest one is almost an hour away, and while it is chocl full - of all the latest products from 20 years ago - crammed in, aisles made smaller by moving the shelving, and now dim because the aisles no longer line up witht he light fixtures - oh and no breaks given even though the same kits are old and dusty and have lingeered on the shelves forever. Unfortunately, the most desirable stuff has long been picked out, but if there's some obscure and not popular old Walthers kit you want, you'll probably find it there. They're more interested in selling RC cars and planes.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Alyth,What if your town doesnt have a hobby shop?
Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL I don't think Trainworld is selling seconds, I don't think there is even a mechanism for that in this industry. I wouldn't say factory seconds as an outlet, but could they be reselling customer returns without proper re-inspection?
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
I don't think Trainworld is selling seconds, I don't think there is even a mechanism for that in this industry.
I wouldn't say factory seconds as an outlet, but could they be reselling customer returns without proper re-inspection?
In my prior posting I did not mean to suggest that Trainworld is selling factory seconds or gray market goods. But the stuff evidently is out there. One firm I know of that actively seeks to prevent this is Bachmann.
Dave Nelson
thomas81zcorrect they are still closed , I will be suprised if they reopen , word was they wanted to move to the cape so who knows but the new owner is not a huge train guy more of a diorama miltary modeler , hence the new name
Historically, moving a hobby shop to Cape Coral is death for that hobby shop.
A & J Model Trains successfully moved to Cape Coral from Key West in the 1970s, and lasted here about 20 years, in spite of the fact it was the second most dirtiest/smelliest hobby shop I have ever been in. They were Cape Coral's hobby shop. The last of the owners passed away in the 1990s, then their stock was auctioned off.
After that, Carl Wilson moved his hobby shop to Cape Coral, but did not last. Then the Hobby Hound moved to Cape Coral, but only held on for about a year. Pioneer Games and Camelot Games did the same thing.
There was a hobby section of 47th Street Studio that lasted for a few years, but that store was primarily a cermamics craft store and all other hobbies were very minimal.
There were at least a couple others that names escape me. I wish someone would have bought A & J, cleaned it up, and made it successful.
You would think Cape Coral would have been the perfect place for a hobby shop with so many retired couples living in three bedroom homes, but it has not been that way.
Actually, let me correct the record. If you return something to TW, there is an online menu for stating why. Personally, I have returned items to TW only for being defective and have stated so.
Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL I don't think Trainworld is selling seconds, I don't think there is even a mechanism for that in this industry. I wouldn't say factory seconds as an outlet, but could they be reselling customer returns without proper re-inspection? Some of the online retailers accept exchanges, no questions asked. Usually within 14 days of purchase. I have done a few this year ( because of unexpected issues with the products). The product wasn't "defective". They ask me if the product is defective since they want to know if they can expect to be able to resell it or not. Maybe TW doesn't ask that question or the re-inspection/screening is sloppy. Back in the day when you worked in the shop, did you accept customer returns or exchanges...they just didn't want it or changed their mind and wanted something else? If so, what did you do with that (supposed to be) perfectly good product that was returned for an exchange?
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I don't think Trainworld is selling seconds, I don't think there is even a mechanism for that in this industry.
Some of the online retailers accept exchanges, no questions asked. Usually within 14 days of purchase. I have done a few this year ( because of unexpected issues with the products). The product wasn't "defective". They ask me if the product is defective since they want to know if they can expect to be able to resell it or not.
Maybe TW doesn't ask that question or the re-inspection/screening is sloppy.
Back in the day when you worked in the shop, did you accept customer returns or exchanges...they just didn't want it or changed their mind and wanted something else? If so, what did you do with that (supposed to be) perfectly good product that was returned for an exchange?
Agreed, they may not be screening returns correctly.
We only took returns on defects, or truely "not been played with" stuff we could put back on the shelf.
But products were different then, very little truely RTR, no fragile high detail RTR like today.
It was easy to look at a blue box kit and know if it was still "virgin" or not.
ATLANTIC CENTRALI don't think Trainworld is selling seconds, I don't think there is even a mechanism for that in this industry.
Well, just got my new loco from Lombard Hobby this morning. Perfect condition. Just like the other three I bought from them this year.
Same level of packing as TW, great. Same postal carrier.
I have been active in this hobby for over sixty years, and had the privilege of growing up in a city that had at least three well stocked model railroad-not "hobby" shops but stores that dealt in trains only. Now I live 350 miles one way from the nearest train shop and it is mainly n scale and, I'm in HO. Needless to say, my sources are now restricted to internet suppliers only. Truth be told, how could you expect a small operation like most LHS' were to be fully stocked with all of the offerings available in the scale you model in? Thus, most modelers in the hinterlands such as myself, rely on the TWs, MBKs, and others with significant inventories and an internet presence,for our purchases. Buying directly from the manufacturer/importer is a recent merchandising trend in this hobby, which is streamlining the supply chain but, you cannot by rail joiners from the same place that sells you couplers or, cabooses, in most cases.
Because this thread was inspired by the burgeoning receipt of damaged goods from these outlets, I offer the following:
A few months ago, I ordered four ready-to-run, 89 foot auto racks. In HO, a full-scale, 89 foot auto rack is over an actual foot in length. Yet, the manufacturer/importer employed the same packaging system used on their 40 and 50 foot cars. On shorter models, it is sufficiently rigid enough to reasonably protect the item in shipping. It doesn't do much for a car twice that length. All four of the RTR auto racks arrived as "kits". That's not the end of the story. The firm I ordered them from is one of the hobby's larger internet suppliers, and is one I do four figures worth of business with annualy. This time they completely blew it. They put these four very fragile, almost $100 each, cars in a box that allowed less than an inch clearance on either end, wrapped them with an elastic band and some crumpled paper and a few air pillows, which were not enough to fill any voids remaining in the container. Then they surrendered the whole mess to UPS, expecting it to survive an 1800 mile journey at the hands of what must have been football playing neanderthals. I did not return the cars because they rapidly sold out, and were unavailable. Fortunately, I have all the pieces and, the ability to rebuild them-someday. Yes, all parties involved are aware of my "concerns" in this issue.
My final observation is related to packaging of models that contributes to the damaged condition they arrive in. I ordered five diesel locomotives of the same model from three different suppliers. Three of the five from two different suppliers arrived with the same components knocked off. These engines are from a well respected manufacturer/importer who takes pride in providing a quality product, detailed for a specific prototype. Unfortunately, the clamshell enclosure which is very robust and ideal for MOST of these locomotives, contacted and maintained pressure on these details on the units the entire time they were in the boxes. Result: details knocked off locomotives-some not all. A little hot knife surgery on the clamshells, and some cement on the models-problem solved. A prime example of one size NOT fitting all. Some of these issues are problems but, considering what the hobby is now, versus 60 years ago, many are mere inconveniences.