Has anybody experienced hairline cracks in their paint on Atlas(China) locos? 4 of my locos: CNW GP40, UP SD60M, BN SD60M, and Oakway SD60 all have cracking in their paint. I have had to spray them with dullcote to keep the cracking from getting worse. I had to send one of my engines back to Atlas because of this. Please inspect your loco, expecially around the curves of the loco.
Scott, How old are the locos?? What are the climate conditions you keep them in like?? Has the company responded?? Let me know cuz I have an older Atlas engine with no problems (yet)!! Happy Modeling!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
I have an Atlas SD60M that has some of this cracking over the right side battery box doors and there's a chip off the cab of another Atlas SD60 (both in UP paint). Both arrived this way as purchases off eBay. Not horribly obvious and it does not seem to be getting worse. I have not noticed this on any other of my 3 Atlas locos though. Russ p.s. On the subject of Atlas engines, I have a GP40-2 that leans quite a bit to the left. Anyone know how to fix this? [This message has been edited by tehachapifan (edited 15 December 2000).]
Matt has had problems with Atlas SD60's. It appears that the oil lubricant was overdone, and leaks into the box. Being in an airtight space, it seems to act as a paint stripper! He had to dry them off as much as possible, and leave the box lids off. He contacted Atlas about the problem, but never had a response Hope the B23-7's are ok when they arrive! ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Called Atlas today to try to get a new sidesill/walkway piece for my UP SD60M that has cracking paint. They only have them in undercorated so I have to keep mine and repaint it.
And I thought it was just me... I have an Oakway with the paint chipping off the front round the nose... Its only seen the rails at the club 2 times... Really people.. You expect them to reply? ------------------ CK& Bird Butt Railroad - Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that shares rails with SP, NS... Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels...
and I thought it was just me. I have an Oakway with chipping paint.. Sounds like not a minor prob eh.. with few happening... ------------------ CK& Bird Butt Railroad - Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that shares rails with SP, NS... Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels...
Might I suggest that you contact Paul Graf. This is nothing new on the SD-60s Fortunately none of mine have that problem. The problem is they are most likely out of replacement (painted) shells. <marquee>MERRY CHRISTMAS</marquee> ------------------ Catt!#118 - Moderator and A freelancer to the end
glad I don't have to worry about chipping paint on SD60's the A&A paints their own engines. I'l have pics when they are painted in the EX=GT&S paint scheme and weathered to look like it went through a dust storm. ------------------ TrainBoard.com MEMBER #204 Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
I have two SD60m’s in UP paint that have cracks in the battery box doors also. One has a tiny chip that has fallen off, but isn't really noticeable. The paint seems a little thicker there than the rest of the engine. My other SD60’s and SD50’s are fine so far. It just the the wide cabs on my roster. Bill ------------------ It's just a hobby!
This was a hotly discused item on the Atlas forum right after the locos were released. Apparently confined to the Oakway locos. Atlas claimed ignorance and wanted someone with the problem to send their loco to them. I did not send mine, seemed like a small item at the time. But if the paint is going to flake off it may not be so small. I have two of the Oakways and it appeared to me that the cracks were confined to the separate piece forming the cab. Namely it looked like the paint was not flexible enough to survive snapping the cab to body.
William, welcome aboard I think that the problem is more widespread than Atlas admit, judging by the sample comments above. ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
This might be more than just oil on the bodies. I painted 2 SD60M'sin BN and the paint came off both cabs in places when I removed the masking. This was after the usual washing in mild detergent and rinsing in distilled water. Appears the paint chose not to stick to the plastic in places. Coincidence? Look at the plastic the cab/battery boxes is molded in possibly being at fault here. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377 N to the Nth degree!
Looks like washing the shell with mild detergent is not enough to have a perfect adherence of the paint. The molding process leaves some mold release product that is not removed with detergent. It looks like washing the shell with vinegar (and rinsing afterwards) is the good procedure to remove it. This is what I do before painting any shell and I've never seen any problem (even on SD60's). Jean-Louis Simonet (simonet@club-internet.fr) visit traiN'ternet : http://www.trainternet.org/ [This message has been edited by JLS (edited 18 December 2000).]
I inspected my new Oakway SD60, tonight and I discovered cracks in the paint on the end of the long hood. If the Atlas B23-7s are this way, Atlas will be losing me as a customer.
I wonder if it's the plastic itself? It could be like trying to get paint to stick to Microtrains trucks or their flatcar trailer hitches...good luck! . Is an undecorated shell ultra glossy? Much like the Microtrains stuff I mentioned? Oh well...it is kind'a like the paint woes the prototypes experienced in the late 80's and early 90's! Russ [This message has been edited by tehachapifan (edited 18 December 2000).]
Thanks Alan, Has anybody seen this on the SD35? I've always been going to pick up a couple of those some day and a few of the new Dash7's. This was posted on Atlas's forum with no reply from Atlas. Some one did say that they sent their shell back to Atlas and got a replacement. Bill ------------------ It's just a hobby!
I've noticed cracked paint on the cab of my largescale Aristo U25B. On my model, it's just near where the handrails attach to the cab, and I haven't noticed it anywhere else, so I'm not really worried. One thing about my engine is that it is from an older run, and it has been in storage (at the store) for many years, so that might have something to do with it.
We only have one SD35 on the roster, and it's paint is perfect ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
