Zinc Pest Issues From Micro-Trains?

railtwister Feb 1, 2023

  1. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Same thing as 55+ years ago:

    badE8fr.jpg

    Doug
     
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  2. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Her is a shot of the other end of the locomotive
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    So far I have had two 50 foot boxcars with this problem. One of them was the very same Norfolk Southern x-post boxcar mentioned above in this thread. The other was a BNSF x-post boxcar which I believe was from about the same timeframe.

    My understanding from MTL is that there was a small bad batch of metal that was used to make some frames. If I recall correctly, the tape used to secure interior loads in both cars interacted with the metal in the frame. Both of my cars with this issue had interior loads.

    I don't think the problem is widespread or we would have heard about it sooner. I was able to replace both cars.

    As for "collector value" I would submit that the price premium over original retail for the large majority of MTL cars made after 1990 is currently nil.
     
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  4. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, one other thing before I forget...

    MTL has been dealing with staffing issues along with many other firms of all kinds. These days it <is> more difficult to get in touch with them, although I do get replies to my "unofficial" questions with a longer cycle time than in the past.
     
  5. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Man, those zinc pest pictures send shivers up my spine!!! :eek:
     
  6. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bachmann has also had the issue. I had at one time a nice little fleet of 4-4-0 all modified with a front MT pilot and coupler and other details. I even followed an article on building a early 4-6-0 out of several kit bashed ones. Those little bashed Bmann 4-4-0s into 4-6-0s could pull the paint off the walls. Then about 8 to 10 years after the Zmac issue set in. It was with the frame for the tenders which would swell and lock up the tender wheels. No fix could be found thus the trash heap for my little pride and joys. Then the rest of the Bmann steam died because of spilt gears. There are few if any left that are not now Japanese built.
     
  7. Traindork

    Traindork TrainBoard Member

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    I'm glad zinc rot doesn't affect humans....
     
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  8. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Looking at my results, the bad frames took out almost my entire fleet of DRGW locomotives. The only remaining DRGW locomotives I have are the Kato PA's and a few Atlas SD7/9 locomotives. And my original Kato/Atlas GP30/35 locomotives. Also hit hard was my fleet of NP locomotives. I have yet to check into my other railroad inventories.
     
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  9. Weiler

    Weiler TrainBoard Member

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    IM replaced my rotted F7 frame recently, free for asking. The shell was cracked (just the rear door and panel), but they did not offer a replacement of the shell.
     
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  10. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    When I told them about all the issues I had, they told me, "All of those Locomotives are way out of warranty", and that when the locomotives were re-ran, I would be able to buy the replacement frames.

    518 bad frames, they can pound sand! That is why I will never purchase another IM product again.
     
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  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow! Massive failure. :eek:
     
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  12. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    HER ?
     
  13. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Here.......

    Sorry typo, that is how frustrating this issue is for me!
     
  14. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Wow David, your frame rot pictures are shocking. I can see why you're upset. I probably have some of this and am not aware of it.
     
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  15. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Well another candidate Loco trash for the junk heap.

    Pulled this out of the latest box of locomotives with decoders

    In this case it is the SP F3B that was misbehaving and if you look close, you will see the cracking lines just starting to rear their ugliness of a rotting frame. The decoder still works, so it can be salvaged. Can not say the same thing about the shell. This makes 518 IM locomotives with this disease.
     

    Attached Files:

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  16. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    I have just too many of these to ever trust IM for anything ever again!

    I have one awkward question, what do I do with all the dead locomotives?
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2023
  17. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Salvage the motors, trucks, drivelines, and if possible the shells, and list them on Ebay
     
  18. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    That would be a good idea if I could ever get the shells off, the frames swell up and can only salvage the trucks, and not sure if there is any market for an array of used trucks. That adds extra work and potential arguments. I do not do EBay for anything.

    If anyone is doing a static display, these would be perfect.
     
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  19. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    That's possibly the best idea. Do you have an engine yard, with space for permanently parked locos.

    Or they could be used as wrecked loads for flat cars (remove the trucks and put the rest up on timbers under the "bolsters" to take the 'weight' off the fuel tank.) Put the trucks on flat cars of their own, or if room, at either end of the same car. MT had some wrecked freight cars on flatcars done similarly. I've seen this done somewhere with a loco; maybe it was an article in a magazine...
     
  20. JBrown

    JBrown TrainBoard Member

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    I'm just wondering how many are the F3's vs F7's. The only bad ones I had were all F3's early release....
     

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