northern southerner posted:First, I like to apologize to all who thought that I was overly dramatic in my wording on how I started this post, but than again it was a very dramatic day when I received my order, opened the box and found the paint scheme not to be what I expected.
Here are some pictures to show where the MTH factory started to paint the grills black but then stopped for some reason (the model versus a real world prototypical). On the left side of the engine, the front lower grill (under the 7) is partially painted black (lower half of the grill) and the rear lower grill is fully and correctly painted black to match the prototypical. For sure a MTH factory defect. Before making the original post I did contact MTH about this but still no reply (some have basically have said good luck with that). Otherwise the model's workmanship is one of the best I have seen. I still have not made my mind up to either return it or fix it myself.
You’re forgiven as far as I’m concerned. I am sorry you’re disappointed and yes dramatically expressing it isn’t usually a good look. I think though you are laboring under a misconception that black grills and screens are part of “the BNSF paint scheme” as you put it in the thread title. And I expected the problem discussed in the thread to be wrong colors or lettering or something like that. Black grills are not part of the “paint scheme.” When the real thing came out of the paint shop the grills were orange. The only black one might perceive is the interior darkness behind them. Over time dirt and maybe soot build up around them and the dark effect becomes much more pronounced. But it’s not “paint” and it’s not “the BNSF paint scheme.”
So the paint scheme is correct and actually well done. What you’re complaining about is absence of a detailing or even weathering effect that gives the grills some relief and the illusion of space. That’s what Jeff’s achieved in his photos. I take your point the model isn’t as pictured in the catalogue and that’s disappointing and perhaps unfortunate. But MTH has never darkened the grill area on any of its GE diesels in my experience. The other models in the catalogue pictures are examples, as is the photo at the bottom of an earlier run of this engine from six or eight years ago. (The only diesel model I ever bought to have this additional detailing is the Atlas Trainman Dash 8–even Atlas Masterline models don’t have it).
Yes it looks cool in the catalogue photo and the model doesn’t look like that. I don’t know why the catalogue photo is enhanced that way. Nonetheless knowing what I know the model’s appearance wouldn’t have surprised me. But given the picture, I can see how it surprised you. So like others I suggest politely letting MTH know your issue. It would be great if in the future they added the detailing effect. You can point out Atlas did it once. More likely they’ll modify the catalogue picture. Then decide if you want to keep it. It’s a nice model and disappointment aside I would think that having wanted it in the first place your hobby experience would be better having it than going without. But obviously that’s for you to decide.
Best,
RM
