Trainworx 52'6" Thrall gondola

[wcfn100]

I got my undecs and they are glued together, awesome. 

It seems like the lower grab on the sides is installed upside down, anyone else getting that?


Jason

[Denver Road Doug]

I got my undecs and they are glued together, awesome. 

It seems like the lower grab on the sides is installed upside down, anyone else getting that?


Jason

Huh, yep just checked mine and they are both upside down.

And, geeze, can't we have someone bring up the whole "glueing undecs" issue at the manufacturers breakfast some year?  Or, maybe the NMRA convention this weekend?  Is anybody that buys undecs really clammoring to have it all glued together?   I just don't understand this phenomenon.

[Dave Schneider]

Sorry to hear that guys. But i do have to question....what is glued on that shouldn't be? Just the upside down grab?  It looks like a pretty straightforward design. As for why it is done, couldn't it be due to packaging issues? It might not be possible to package all the parts securely and ship them without breakage. Sounds frustrating, nonetheless.

Best wishes, Dave

[wcfn100]

Sorry to hear that guys. But i do have to question....what is glued on that shouldn't be? Just the upside down grab?  It looks like a pretty straightforward design. As for why it is done, couldn't it be due to packaging issues? It might not be possible to package all the parts securely and ship them without breakage. Sounds frustrating, nonetheless.

Best wishes, Dave

In my case, it's the weight.  The car is basically three pieces.  There's a car length metal piece sandwiched between the body and under frame.  This car is much heavier than my liking and I'd like to cut some of that out.  It looks if you work carefully, the bonds can be broken, but whether you can do the whole car without something breaking... I'll let someone else find that out.

Also, if anyone gets the coupler pockets apart, please let me know.

Jason

[nkalanaga]

"Also, if anyone gets the coupler pockets apart, please let me know."

THAT could be a problem even on decorated cars.  Couplers do break, even on the prototype.

[RioGrandeRod]

"It seems like the lower grab on the sides is installed upside down, anyone else getting that?"

The photos I have seen show the D&RGW orange cars lower grabs ARE "upside down".
I cannot speak about any other roads, but Pat does a good job of research.

"I got my undecs and they are glued together, awesome."

My guess is that ALL models, undec or not, are assembled because of all the demand for RTR.

If you were dissatisfied with the TW product, did you try to contact the manufacturer direct before ranting here? Pat is very responsive to e-mails.

[Denver Road Doug]

I hardly think anything in this thread could be considered ranting, but yes I did send Pat an e-mail about the grabs.  They don't appear to be upside down in my photo, but I'm sure either way Pat will make sure they're how they're supposed to be on the next run....upside down or not.

Regarding the glue, well an undec by definition is NOT "RTR".  I suppose that maybe Trainworx follows IMRC's lead and allows you to order a "kit"?  That would ensure the car was in pieces I guess.   I would imagine this is something that could be accomplished easily enough.

[wcfn100]

My guess is that ALL models, undec or not, are assembled because of all the demand for RTR.

If you were dissatisfied with the TW product, did you try to contact the manufacturer direct before ranting here? Pat is very responsive to e-mails.

Dissatisfied? No, just frustrated.

I've already managed to break a couple parts trying to kitbash this car because I have to work with the underframe attached.

As for the lower grab,  it was just a question.  I had only compared it to a couple roads that I knew had this car and they weren't like this.  So far I found a single D&RGW car that looks like it could be like this while the rest appear to be mounted the other way so I don't know what to make of it.

If you know of other pictures showing this, that would be great.


Jason

[wcfn100]

I'll add this regarding the grabs, here's the first shots of the undecs.





They speak for themselves.

Jason

[Denver Road Doug]

It's hard to tell but it looks like this one is upside down too.  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=393022    Guess it's just something they did for whatever reason.  Honestly it wouldn't surprise me at all to see it done randomly anyway.   I certainly wasn't losing sleep over it either way, but it's interesting to learn this might have been standard in some cases. 

[bbussey]

My guess is that ALL models, undec or not, are assembled because of all the demand for RTR.

The problem with unassembled undec models is the cost of packaging.  It becomes cost prohibitive to create new packaging that will protect the parts and not take up extra space with the distributors, and devise a new labor packaging routine for such a short run relative to the painted/assembled models.  The manufacturers might keep extra parts on hand that you can purchase directly.  But it just isn't affordable to offer a short run of unassembled parts through mainstream channels.

[wcfn100]

The problem with unassembled undec models is the cost of packaging.

Atlas PS-1s undecs come in the same box as the decorated cars and they have extra brake wheels and doors. 

And none of this has anything to do with why they have to glue the main pieces together. They'll fit the same with or without glue.

It can, has, and is being done. And a big thank you to those companies who can figure it out.

Jason