Really Lionel? SD70AH

Jeez another Lionel blunder, how can they even spell their own name right?

dudes...TOY TRAINS....

In the early 2000s. Lionel released a UP SD70M, that said' "SD70MAC" on the cab

UP did not own any SD70MACs

At least Lionel got the numbers the same on both sides!

Stuart

Curious now as I have bought all the UP's from the run. I don't remember seeing mismatched #'s, but will check later.

@joe krasko posted:

dudes...TOY TRAINS....

That cost over $500. I understand that some people are pickier than others, but I spent a lot of money on something that I would like to be accurate. 

Question! Were any of the steps broken? All 3 of my recent SD70XX variant Lionel engines had one or two.

From the webmaster: If you make an error typing, EDIT your post to fix it! Don’t add another post pointing out the error and “fixing” it there. I edited this one to fix your typos. You’re welcome.

@WinstonB posted:

Question! Were and of the steps broke? All 3 of my recent SD70XX variant Lionel engines had one or two.

Yes. Three of the four bottom steps and an MU hose. 

@joe krasko posted:

dudes...TOY TRAINS....

That is absolutely no excuse for a $500 "scale" model. Especially when it comes to some lazy person not doing their job. 

Listen, I can't complain or list stuff that I don't have yet. I didn't buy this engine. I think this post is important to show what's going on. People shouldn't blast the OP for pointing out defects, no matter how big or small they are to someone else who didn't pay for it (the OP's model).

 The comment about them just being "toy trains" is wrong. If it were a windup toy for under $20, I'd agree. We pay for accurate models. I do like how Lionel steps up many times and fixes issues. I have plenty of their products myself. When they get it right, it is outstanding! They have brought plenty of great things to this hobby. I don't bash them even when I could.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Listen, I can't complain or list stuff that I don't have yet. I didn't buy this engine. I think this post is important to show what's going on. People shouldn't blast the OP for pointing out defects, no matter how big or small they are to someone else who didn't pay for it (the OP's model).

 The comment about them just being "toy trains" is wrong. If it were a windup toy for under $20, I'd agree. We pay for accurate models. I do like how Lionel steps up many times and fixes issues. I have plenty of their products myself. When they get it right, it is outstanding! They have brought plenty of great things to this hobby. I don't bash them even when I could.

Well said, Joe.

I'm curious if this mistake was done on more than one engine- like done to an entire shift's worth of production. But I do agree- if I am shelling out $500+ for a diesel model, I EXPECT IT TO BE ACCURATE. i would return it.

This is the ONLY WAY LIONEL will stop treating us like witless customers, and get a better contractor to make their trains. 

Geno

In 50 years this will be called "Rare and Valueable"  just like so many postwar boo boos are now.

@joe krasko posted:

dudes...TOY TRAINS....

A large amount of money for some.....

http://www.athearn.com/Product...spx?ProdID=ATHG89645

@Jushavnfun posted:

In 50 years this will be called "Rare and Valueable"  just like so many postwar boo boos are now.

 

Extremely few American made postwar trains have defects similar to this and they are well documented. Due to good Quality Control most were destroyed or repaired before they saw the light of day. That makes them rare and valuable.

This mistake is nothing more than sloppy QC from cut rate Chinese manufacturing. I wouldn't now or ever pay for this nor consider it "Rare and Valuable".

There are no labels on the UP #1111 (SD70AH), which is like the prototype.

@Surefire posted:

That is absolutely no excuse for a $500 "scale" model. Especially when it comes to some lazy person not doing their job. 

I've designed dozens of projects with Lionel.  I assure you, their graphic artists are anything but lazy!  Until you've walked in their shoes, you have no idea how easy it is for a lettering goof like this to take place.  An honest oversight; yes.  Lazy graphic artist at Lionel; absolutely not!

Stu

@H1000 posted:

Extremely few American made postwar trains have defects similar to this and they are well documented. Due to good Quality Control most were destroyed or repaired before they saw the light of day. That makes them rare and valuable.

This mistake is nothing more than sloppy QC from cut rate Chinese manufacturing. I wouldn't now or ever pay for this nor consider it "Rare and Valuable".

You have no idea what you're talking about.  The factory that made this made it exactly like they were told to do.  I'd love these trains to be made in the USA more than anyone else, but in this case, this has nothing to do with the locomotive in question.  The artwork was drawn in a certain way and the factory made it according to the artwork.  Don't blame them for following the instructions provided to them.

Stu

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

You have no idea what you're talking about.  The factory that made this made it exactly like they were told to do.  I'd love these trains to be made in the USA more than anyone else, but in this case, this has nothing to do with the locomotive in question.  The artwork was drawn in a certain way and the factory made it according to the artwork.  Don't blame them for following the instructions provided to them.

Stu

Somebody dropped the ball somewhere and now the consumer is paying the price. Everyone at Lionel involved with this locomotive from "alpha" to "omega" didn't notice and it took a regular Joe to see what was obviously missed.

For what is worth, you can see SD70ACe on one side of the #9096 Lionel catalog artwork.

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

I've designed dozens of projects with Lionel.  I assure you, their graphic artists are anything but lazy!  Until you've walked in their shoes, you have no idea how easy it is for a lettering goof like this to take place.  An honest oversight; yes.  Lazy graphic artist at Lionel; absolutely not!

Stu

I've walked in enough shoes to understand mistakes and goofs like that can and should be caught. If this was a 1 off for Lionel in the past 5 years I wouldn't say a word. 

I understand that it was an honest mistake, I just hope it can somehow be resolved. Lionel went to the trouble to actually use different tooling for the AH so it's a shame they didn't label it as such. 

I'm sure Lionel will make it right. The problem is that you are without an engine for while (so basically the true arrival date of a finished product is later than advertised), run the risk of it being damaged in shipping both ways and while this will cost you nothing, Lionel's profit margin on this offering takes a hit... somebody will pay for that down the road.

I highly doubt there will be a "fix" for this misprint.  Fortunately Lionel has manufactured several other UP SD-70ACe locomotives with the flag.  Avoid your frustration and return for refund.  That is the only way Lionel will really get the "message" and step up the QC and proofing of their products. 

Have to agree with the OP. Big misstep for a great deal of invested $$$. Sadly, I can confirm the same copy/paste printing method was used on them all. SD70AH was used on the 1943/9026 models.

Most models made it without step issues. Model 9096 has 4 broken steps in total. While I would love to see Lionel fix the issue by bringing them in for repair, I just don't see them doing it. I also don't feel right by my dealer to send them back for a mistake that is not theirs. More of a stick it the dealer vs. QC.

I would return it for a refund, but be aware there will be no fix for that mistake so if you really like the engine, keep it and live with it, fix it yourself or have someone else do it.

Dave

@vash44 posted:

Have to agree with the OP. Big misstep for a great deal of invested $$$. Sadly, I can confirm the same copy/paste printing method was used on them all. SD70AH was used on the 1943/9026 models.

Most models made it without step issues. Model 9096 has 4 broken steps in total. While I would love to see Lionel fix the issue by bringing them in for repair, I just don't see them doing it. I also don't feel right by my dealer to send them back for a mistake that is not theirs. More of a stick it the dealer vs. QC.

Send it back to the dealer if Lionel won't take it back directly.  When enough of the dealers get tired of the BS it will send a clear message.  Keeping it and "dealing with it" won't change anything.

Lionel could fix this themselves. In the video posted a few months ago of the headquarters in NC they showed two inkjet painters. They have the resolution to duplicate that lettering while repainting the yellow.

I'd be curious why they invested in these machines if its not for circumstances like this.

Pete

On the bright side, you got two engines for the price of one!

Jon  

@KOOLjock1 posted:

On the bright side, you got two engines for the price of one!

Jon  

Best post of 2020 thus far!

@KOOLjock1 posted:

On the bright side, you got two engines for the price of one!

Jon  

I don’t know about in the USA, but in U.K. it is nothing unknown for locos and rolling stock to have different numbers, or even liveries on opposite sides; particularly on the exhibition circuit where they are viewed from one side only. 

@joe krasko posted:

dudes...TOY TRAINS....

No - scale models that cost a lot of money. The "toy" went out of this stuff decades ago - except for the "Back of the Catalogue" stuff.

Not toys, not on my layout.

@Norton posted:

Lionel could fix this themselves. In the video posted a few months ago of the headquarters in NC they showed two inkjet painters. They have the resolution to duplicate that lettering while repainting the yellow.

I'd be curious why they invested in these machines if its not for circumstances like this.

Pete

They use the printers on their custom traditional boxcars. 

@Surefire posted:

I've walked in enough shoes to understand mistakes and goofs like that can and should be caught. If this was a 1 off for Lionel in the past 5 years I wouldn't say a word. 

This is the line of thinking that wins here. 

I suspect that this is a "copy & paste" error, since this locomotive has been made multiple times before. Someone changed the road numbers on an existing file and didnt change all the data. 

That being said, there should be multiple levels of checks and approvals in place to catch this. It should have been caught by a supervisor or QC manager before it went to the factory, again on the deco sample, again when the full run came back to the warehouse. Its been left instead to the customers to QA it. Clearly no one's looking.

I didn't order this one, but I've received my fair share of graphic messups. I quit preordering orange boxes to see what shows up.

If someone can make up that little decal, a lot of lionel lettering comes off soaking a paper towel in solvaset and leaving it on the lettering for a while, then pulling the lettering off with scotch tape. Its a tiny decal to replace.... that being said, for 500 bucks, It shouldnt be left up to you to fix it...

Very well said @Boilermaker1 I couldn't agree more

Sorry for the QC issues on this loco, and for you to have to deal with fixing it.  Lots of these types of things going on with them. No excuse, and well said Boilermaker1. 

Rather than decals you could use transfers and not have any decal film to deal with. Woodland Scenics makes RR Gothic in Red down to 1mm height which should be close if not exact. Good this is an AH not an ACe being all caps as the transfers do not include lower case. Assuming you can get the lettering off without damaging the base yellow this would be a pretty easy fix.

Pete

"EMD SD70ACE WILL POSESS THE FOLLOWING FEATURES:"

I believe that it is spelled "possess."