I recently purchased two more paired F3 units for my layout, the engines I obtained are Stewart CB&Q units The packaging is terrible, the foam being used is of such poor quality that it is already deteriorating and the engines covered in small pieces of foam, the cardboard box is more like paper than cardboard. When one compares the packaging of the competition can not help but wonder why such poor quality packaging. I like to keep the original boxes and packaging for storing the models, this will not be possible with the Stewart units.
Don,
I always keep the boxes and packaging for all my locomotives, as well as my rolling stock and structures. You never know when you might need a piece of sprue for a project. [:)]
Don, where did you buy your F3s from? eBay? Your LHS (local hobby shop)? I’m just making a guess but it may be that these are older Stewart locomotives that have either been sitting around on a shelf somewhere for awhile, or under less than desirable conditions. The newer Stewart locomotives are packaged in styrofoam, so I’m thinking that these are some older models. Are there spots on the boxes? How do the F3s run?
Tom
I was especially impressed with the Athearn Genesis line packaging. It is comparable to the packaging that brass importers use. I am about to get some Precision Craft PAs and hope that the packaging is good enough to keep around.
The units are new, my gripe is that the styrofoam used is not as dense as that found in the older stock, same goes for the paper used for the boxes, it is also of a lessor quality. I can only assume that the suppliers have used lessor quality materials, I am surprised that Stewart used the boxes and poor quality foam at all.
Like all Stewart units the F3’s run exceptionally well, probably as well as the older Kato units as far as that goes. Great product. Poor packaging.
I have a couple of Genesis units as well and am very impressed with the quality of their packaging, yes just like the brass units, mind you so is the Bachman Spectrum packaging.
I have a few Intermountain units as well and while the packaging is not in the same league it is better than the Stewart packaging.
Oh, as a side comment the Intermountain units are as good as if not better than the Stewart units mechanically, the shells are certainly superior as is the lighting systems used, nice bright numberboards as well as headlights. Great units too, but certainly are expensive.
Don, as you probably know, Stewart was acquired by Bowser during the past year. Do you think that the packaging change is as a result of this?
Wait a minute. As the former General Manager for a foam packaging company I have some questions.
-
Did you see the overpackage (the corrugated box the individual engines were shipped in)?
-
Was the individual engine box damaged in any way?
The purpose of the foam is to absorb the shock from a fall. The foam decelerates slowly and reduces the shock from as much as 80 g’s dependent on height and point of impact (side, corner or edge). I would have returned the engines immediatly because what you are describing is typical of impact damage in shipping nor poor packaging. It did what it was supposed to do. If they run you are fine but for peace of mind that is what I would have done. By the way, the packaging is not desiugned to prevent 100% of damage. There is a point at which the damage cost decreases to less than the cost of the packaging as it increases in cost. A typical computer package costs between $40 and $80.
I placed two of the Stewart packages side by side, one old with Kato drive and the new package, there is a difference with the foam and also the paper. The old foam is denser, smaller bubbles and slightly heavier, the paper used for the box is also different the old box appears to be more cardboardy (if there is such an adjective) and the new box is more paperlike.
The engines are fine, no problems there, they run as you would expect a Stewart engine to. I think the new owners Bowser are just watching costs and have gone to a new supplier, such a shame like buying a swiss watch but receiving it in a paperbag.
Enough said, I did e-mail Stewart (Bowser) and they informed me the new line coming out will be packaged similar to the Genesis units.