EXR 4427 close up shot. Not for the weak.

[wcfn100]

I noticed an anomaly (hopefully) on one of the EXR 4427 hoppers and I decided to take a picture and send it the EXR just to see what, if anything, they have to say about it.  When I went to look at the picture I found some unsettling things.



Now I had seen that the paint was already wore off parts of the running board before the picture, but I did not notice the beautiful stalagmites formed by however they applied the paint.

Are we at the point of diminishing returns in regards to the level of detail manufactures can provide and still be of a high quality?  What's the point of a etched metal running board if it looks like s#!@? 

This has picqued my interest in the MTL wood running board.  If the paint doesn't flake off before you get it out of the box, and is applied flat and smooth, it may actually be the better looking of the two.

Jason

[Chris333]

The MTL running boards are probably laser board which is like wood that is saturated in a plastic like resin. I painted some windows and trim that was cut from it and all went well.

[sirenwerks]

I think Jason makes a good point though - quality's expected at that price point that shouldn't have to be replaced. Me thinks I should go back and check the Pillsbury cars I purchased for fine flaws.

[central.vermont]

Jason,
What you have circled in the picture looks like flashing. Is that what is
instead of paint?

Jon

[tom mann]

All of the EXR HO scale boxcars I have come from the factory with a broken door track.  Sometimes, it is broken in multiple pieces.  Sometimes, the factory glues it back.

[esa123]

Probably not the post to say this but so far "knock on wood" everything I've ordered from them has come without any defects (about 20 cars of various makes). The pics above are horrible though, maybe its a bad production run?

Erik

[lock4244]

Brake wheel looks 'flashy', too.

[Sokramiketes]

Now I had seen that the paint was already wore off parts of the running board before the picture, but I did not notice the beautiful stalagmites formed by however they applied the paint.

Jason

Honestly, isn't it a stalactite that's just been flipped upside down during assembly?

[SkipGear]

It doesn't help that the running board support missed it's hole in the body. The running boards were painted before assembly because the paint has broken off where the supports were folded down. The blob on the corner is flashing, along with the that on the brake wheel.

All in all, not a prime example of workmanship.

[Mark5]

I think Jason makes a good point though - quality's expected at that price point that shouldn't have to be replaced. Me thinks I should go back and check the Pillsbury cars I purchased for fine flaws.

Please do! I've been thinking about getting one of the doughboys. ;D

[Denver Road Doug]

So when are the BLMA's getting here?   

I got one of the EXR's in BN, but haven't given it the white glove treatment yet.

I think all of the "newbies" (EXR, BLMA, FVM, et al) have made a few rookie mistakes and I think we'll see them (hopefully) start having fewer of these types of issues as time rolls on.   I'm willing to have a little patience, especially if they acknowledge the screwups and try to fix them.   (this is me being "positive"/glass-half-full)   :-\

[davefoxx]

Is that a hairline crack in the brake platform?  Also, what's up with the dirt or grit under the slope sheet?  Did the car come out of the box like that?!

That said, this car does have a lot of potential and good things going for it, if the manufacturer addresses these issues.  I like the details, such as the rivets in the corners and on the ladders, as well as the brakewheel (less the flash, of course), and the brake hardware just visible at the bottom of the photo.  Here's to hoping that the quality control will improve and make for a nice product.

DFF

[Mark5]

Did these guys ever fess up on the Conrail screw-up?

[bbussey]

I think Jason makes a good point though - quality's expected at that price point that shouldn't have to be replaced. Me thinks I should go back and check the Pillsbury cars I purchased for fine flaws.

Please do! I've been thinking about getting one of the doughboys. ;D

Just checked mine.  Yes, the roofwalk was painted before the supports were bent so you can see that split if you look hard enough.  But no spikes on the roofwalk and no flash on the support posts.  However, three of the four roofwalk supports are not in the holes.

[wazzou]

The roofwalks pretty clearly look to be dipped and not painted, to me anyway.