Problem with Walthers Undec baggage.

[wcfn100]

Sorry for the cross post, but I'd like some info if Walthers calls me back.


From A-Board...


I just receive my order for Walthers 55090 Baggage Car, Undecorated I was suprised when I opened the box.  Instead of being smoothside, like the description on the site says and having no skirts like the Amtrak one I ordered, I got a fluted side with skirts which is useless to me.  I don't think any of the first run are this style of car.

I have a call to Walthers.  I relatively sure they'll make it right.

Can anyone here tell me what was in your box?

Jason

[Sokramiketes]

They announced CGW for the second run already, but unfortunantly its the as delivered green instead of maroon, or, even better, maroon and red with duluxe.  I figure they'll get around to the other schemes before I would.

Can't help on the undec, we didn't get ours in at the shop yet.

[wcfn100]

Well looling at Klien's and rechecking Walthers' site, it looks like all of them are like this, even though it clearly says 'smooth side' everywhere.  Another pre-order kick-in-the-a$$. 

I'm not so sure now about this getting corrected by Walthers.  Isn't every one of the first release the smooth side without skirts?  Why on earth would the undec come different? 

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

That is odd, keep us posted on what comes of it.

[wcfn100]

OK, well after a couple calls I got to talk with someone who knew what was going on.

I will have to strip a decorated model as all of the undecs are indeed fluted w/ skirts.  I guess the website is being changed as we speak.

I may have to start taking my chances and remove myself from the pre-order process.  If that means I can't get what I need, then I guess it's time for a new hobby.

Jason

[Philip H]

OK, well after a couple calls I got to talk with someone who knew what was going on.

I will have to strip a decorated model as all of the undecs are indeed fluted w/ skirts.  I guess the website is being changed as we speak.

I may have to start taking my chances and remove myself from the pre-order process.  If that means I can't get what I need, then I guess it's time for a new hobby.

Jason

Ok, I may not have taken any marketing classes in college, but why sell undec's that don't match the painted versions?  I mean, if the most popular painted versions are smoothside w/o skirts, then why fluted and skirts?

[wcfn100]

Ok, I may not have taken any marketing classes in college, but why sell undec's that don't match the painted versions?  I mean, if the most popular painted versions are smoothside w/o skirts, then why fluted and skirts?

I got the feeling that wasn't necessarily the intention or, at least, wasn't known by everyone it would be that way. I may have informed them of something they didn't know.

You should have heard my response when I was told it was 'technically' a smooth side car since the fluting didn't go all the way up.  Needless to say, I got to talk to someone else. 


Jason

[ljudice]

re: marketing rule #1

Don't confuse selling and delivery.

[Nato]

  Rio Grande Cars would have been perfect on this car as many of their light weight cars were either Ex C&O or same design, with lower side fluting,I wish they had done the sleeper as a fluted side car. How hard would it have been to do the stripes and roadname on the smooth upper body anyway. GN had a small group of cars that looked like this car,UP ACF cars looked similar,but doors had single windows. Other than C.G.W. the cars look alot like NP cars. The SP Gray later scheme looks nice ,but SP Economy Baggage cars built by PS looked very different. RI cars are close ,but no cookie,C&O and Northwestern look nice, but do not match any cars these roads had. N.Y.C. I'am not sure about, Pennsylvania never had cars like this and leaving off the gold stripes gives this car a rather plain look to me.SF is nice, but not entirely right looking car.  Have I covered all the roads released so far. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[Bob Bufkin]

Nate.  It's a no go for a PRR car.  For info, the PRR did not put the stripes on their postwar mail and baggage cars.  Just the name and numbers.  As always there were probably a few exceptions but it's hard to find any photos of them.  Some of the combines (coach/baggage) did have the stripes.

[Sokramiketes]

GN had a small group of cars that looked like this car

Because they were this car, bought from the CGW, 3 cars.

[Nato]

 Mike,  Yes that is correct about the ex C.G.W. Cars I was thinking of the similar 70 FT. cars GN built at St. Cloud 270-272 three cars delivered in Dec. 1948 originally in DK. Green paint and cars 273-276 which were ordered as 70 Ft. cars but as built were 77 Ft. The C.G.W. cars were 277-279 according to my GNRHS refference sheet No. 354. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[Nato]

     Recieved a Rio Grande Baggage car. I guess I can live with the fact that it should really be a fluted side car with skirts as should the sleeper have been, but Walthers really failed their homework on the Rio Grande Paint scheme. The real fluted side prototypes featured car number and name boards on the fluted sides. "Baggage" appeared on a name board in black centered on the fluting at one end. A similar number board had the car number in black centered between the doors and centered on the fluting. the "Railway Express Agency" lettering in black was on a third board positioned at the other end like the "Baggage" one. Wathers should know this right? Naw guess not. The word "Baggage" in the correct black type face is painted just below the Flying "Rio Grande" name on the orange(Grande Gold)  upper car sides. "Railway Express Agancy" also in the correct black letters appears on the Grande Gold letter board at the same height as "Baggage" at one end. These could have been printed on to the lower smooth silver (aluminum) car sides in the correct locations. Car numbers on the decal sheet are expected to be applyed centered on the silver car side, or if you incorrectly wanted it to match, on the Grande Gold letter board at the opposite end in line with "Baggage". I have sent for an Undec car (fluted with skirts?) and will try to make a correct D.& R. G. W. car . Nate Goodman (Nato).

[Nato]

   Just got through looking at the announced road names on new Walthers PS. coaches and addational baggage carsat BLW site.  Now they are finally maybe doing it right. Rio Grande will be a fluted side car. C&O will be fluted side,Northwestern also fluted side, hey most of their cars wer smooth side ,but they did get a few second hand fluted side cars of C&O type. The Southern Pacific car will be fluted would sort of match Sunset LTD cars . So far no Southern, L&N cars. The new baggage car names are equally interesting. Pierre Marquette (PM) as both a fluted side car (correct) and a smooth side car. Chicago Great Western,the protype for the smooth side model, Soo Line, the art work for Illinois Central shows single windows on the side doors (wonder if they will do this) and one other road is shown with two large streamlined windows on each door. Very interesting. Nate Goodman (Nato).