Hello,
Does anyone of you own Kato MAXI-IV Double Stack Pacer Stacktrain Well Car Set? What do you think about painting of this set? I noticed that my set changed its color.
I love this blue painting of Pacer Stacktrain. My first set was from Intermountain but I wasn’t pleased with quality of this set. Next, I bought Atlas models but there are also some problem with quality.
Finally, Kato decided to sell their cars in this painting. I was happy because I own their models in TTX and BNSF painting and I consider Kato cars as the best on the market.
Unfortunately, I am very disappointed with the painting. Originally, the set was blue when I received it. Just like on this picture on Kato’s web page:
After few months I noticed that the set changed colors. The body of cars is rather purple than blue now. Ladders and pipes on the cars got dark blue. It looks very strange and awful. I took some pictures. There is also a car from Intermountain for comparison which has correct blue color.
I wonder what could happen. Do I have a failure set? Is it the same situation with your cars?
Wow, that is quite a difference!
I have the BNSF set & an undec set, but I too like these cars.
What sort of light are these exposed to & is it even where the light can’t get? (is it an even fade).
Please let us know more, like length of time, environment conditiuons etc.
Very strange, looks like the paint is fading from sun or light exposure. I also noticed the Atlas units in your post are Conrail Blue (haven’t taken mine out yet). I didn’t buy the Kato ones because they had plastic walkways and IMRC and Atlas had metal ones for around the same price.
My biggest dissapointment with all of these cars are they weigh about 1/2 oz per set. Sure anybody can throw a roll of pennies in the bottom containers but what if I want to run them empty?
PS never ever use Micro-Mask on stainless steel walkways, take them off to paint.
Looks like they were molded in the blue, not painted and the plastic changed color very evenly, probably not UV rays but just the plastic composition, seen it before but not to this degree!!!
I ordered a set, & a set of Ath Pacer Containers to, mix it up!
Now, I have been really excited to go put a Kato CSX SD40-2 shell into my sunlit pickup for some neat weathering fade… LOL…
We will start experimenting (over here) after the order comes in.
How Humid is it there? Air Quality, Saltwater, Factories, etc?
I’m asking cuz I shoot enamels & Lacq’s, I know some wicked things can be done to Acrylic paints long after the shoot…
I am wondering if this is not a directional lighing issue, what if it could be an unintentional environmental condition???
I ordered the set in September and received it from US in the October 2012 (20th). It has been on tracks since then together with my other intermodal cars (Kato TTX and BNSF, Intermountain Pacer, Atlas Pacer,). This Intermountain set which is on pictures was exactly in the same place in my room even longer than Kato one.
My layout is in the regular room in my house. It is not a basement, attic, garage or something like this. Just a regular room with heating system and standard humidity.
There are two ceiling windows so the room might be very bright. However, the layout is under the line of windows and sun can’t light up directly the layout (see pictures). Moreover, there were only a few sunny days during this winter here.
I have many models in my collection. It never happened before to any of my models so that’s a reason why I am asking about your opinion.
I also have a lot of Kato models. In my opin
That is good information!
Honestly, those Skylights scared me, but from what you have said, you have not seen that on other models.
I do not think there are any lot numbers or anything like that on Kato’s, but I want to take one of my cars outside & see what happens, -when they arrive… (just ordered).
I have to admit, this is an unusual ordeal, I like that vivid blue they have too, a shame it went all purplie.
I’ll update this thread when I get mine!
Thanks for letting us in on this, apologies for your sad experiences…
After being in the Intermodal side of railroading since the late 70’s,in my opinion,the darker color,would be more the more correct color, even the containers, were the same darker color… What I don’t get, is the fact that the, plumbing and ladders,are a lighter color?? Perhaps their supplier of the plastic pellets,somehow changed the ingredients??
The prototype fades anyway.