Has anyone else seen this issue on a Proto 2000 F?
Look at the poor join or mould line above the number box. Was i just unlucky?
I ended up selling this model as i couldnt face repairing this fault what with re painting etc.
I’d like another one but not if looks like this one did!
call me blind, but I don’t see it
Oh, I see it now. It’s odd, but not untolerable. I’ve not seen that on my Es. But I haven’t looked.
I could barely see it, but only after I looked at the place you described.
Are you one of those rivet counters by any chance? LOL
Nope, far from it but i reckon that an unsightly seam line like that on a model that cost me 320 GBP is unaceptable.
I saw it right away. It’s quite obvious. It looks more like the shell was cracked, the line goes horizonatally across the nose/side seam and then down just past the edge of the number board. Looks liek the number board is a bit messed up too.
I have a large picture of one of the new Reading ones but not in a place I can link the image from, it definitely does not have that same defect. I think you got unlucky.
–Randy
Agreed, but you did ask for opinions. I reckon I would contacting Proto instead of fishing here.
Well you could model the loco with a structural crack. happens all the time, maybe not at that spot but who knows [:-^]
Wow! The model has a fantastic paint job (assuming it’s prototypical) and great detail.
Mark
You know what this is going to sound unbelievable but it looks like it’s been repaired and repainted, but form the factory? notice the hole on the right side of forth step from the bottom, it doesn’t have the relief or pocket that the others do. Same goes for the next one up but only on the right side again. looks like a poor sanding job with the squadron putty on someone’s part. Unless it’s a casting defect what else could it be then a repair job. Some may say your being a bit of a rivet counter or a purest but new is suppose dot be new not repaired and sold as new. If they knocked of 30% or better and said factory refurbished that would make it a whole lot noticeable to me.
I weather the snot out of most everything I have so you never see the details any more but bring in your magnifying glass to the lHS if you do decide to buy a new one.
Maybe it was this unit but repaired
Gary,
I’m with you on this one. You will never be happy with it unless you disguise it with weathering as has been suggested.
You and everyone who recieves a defective engine should complain loud and clear and maybe the manufacturers will get the message. I have and with success. I’ll bet the seller will make good on this. Give it a try.
Happy railroading
Bob
Here’s the Reading one. It is correct, they even got the trust plate information from the RCT&HS.
No sign of the same flaw.
–Randy
From this photo, it almost looks like it is prototypical.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=52008&nseq=0
Might just be the pic or me, but it looks like the protoype 200L has a similar line. Best check with others who have had a Proto F3 200L. But the grab irons are off from the photo.
I looked at an undecorated one I have not painted yet, and there is a mold line there, but not near as obvious as in your photo, so I would say it is a defect.
My two factory painted C&O versions have no such mold line showing.
Sheldon
I don’t own any Proto F’s, but it’s definitely a mold parting line from when the shells were cast. All of the F units from different manufactures will have a similar seam, but they are supposed to be sanded smooth before being painted. I’m betting the seam wasn’t sufficently sanded before it was sent to the paint shop.
Yehp! Looks like if the OP doesn’t want to send it back to W he is either going to have to live with it or make a purchase of some 600 grit sandpaper/emory cloth and a bottle of paint for touchup.
Read the OP again. He has already gotten rid of the loco in question.
Right then, just to reiterate. This was not intended to be a mud flinging excercise against P2K products, i have many and im more than happy with them. I was mearly inquiring if anyone else had seen this problem before i spent a load more cash on another to which most guys answered helpfully to the original question (thankyou). It looks like a very isolated fault and i was just unlucky this time.
In hindsite i would have been better off taking this up with my retailer but its gone now anyway.
Looks like il give these P2K F units another go sometime.
Randy, thanks for taking the time to post the picture of your Reading unit, certainly flawless in comparison.
Lets draw a line under this one now guys.
Thanks…
Agreed. Much ado about nothing at this point.
Not mine, much too expensive brand new, plus the grab ladder up the nose is too new for my era. I stickw ith the Stewarts and add the dress-up kits for grabs. The pic is from another member of the RCT&HS who provided a picture of his units so people could see what they look like, vs the flat artwork shown in the Walthers ads. I’m cheap - I tend to not pay more than $50 for a loco, and have gotten many Stewarts and P2K models for that, even the Stewart switchers with Canon motors. My only ‘expensivce’ loco is my PCM T-1 with sound.
–Randy