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Post by sd40dash2 on Dec 8, 2022 8:03:19 GMT -8
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abm
Junior Member
Posts: 65
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Post by abm on Dec 8, 2022 11:28:18 GMT -8
Yep, got my pre-ordered CP 4556 (5" stripes) the other day. Assume the next batch of BCR's (with correct-ed nose lights, hopefully) will be forthcoming. The detail QC on mine is very good and the paint is excellent, which I feel is typical of Bowser these days. Two axles, one on each truck, had popped out of alignment with the brass electrical pickups; had the same issue with the CPR "script" C630M I got over the summer. I think it's due to the "rails" in the plastic shipping cradle spreading the axles. Not hard to fix, just requires gentle persuasion to pop everything back into place.
There are, however, two detailing issues I see. First is the long hood door latches: there were two styles, L-shaped handles and later, "knuckle-busters" in the corners. Bowser has body shell molds for both styles, for instance all the PGE/BCR M630's they've done so far have the correct L-handles. It would appear as if the CP Rail models they're shipping now all have the knuckle-busters, but I'm not sure that's entirely correct for the early (as-delivered, 5" stripe) CP models. It's not an easy detail to see in prototype photos, but it sure looks like CP got the L-handles on at least their first order. I don't know if that was a running production change by MLW, or something CP did on their own.
The second issue has been longer-running with these: the corner steps. Back when Bowser did the C630M's they chose to use the same corner step for all versions, including the PGE/BCR models, which used a style of step totally unique to them (there were a number of compromises on those models). However, it would appear they've elected to continue using that style of corner step on the M630's, and I'm not sure it's correct for ANY of them, PGE/BCR or CP Rail (which are, still, slightly different from eachother, though much more similar than the C630M's; basically PGE/PCR had a design all their own). It's one of those details that's hard to see unless you're looking for it, but if you're aware of it, it's a little hard to un-see. In light of the fact they tooled (at least) two different long hoods (handles vs latches, and maybe other details) it seems odd they wouldn't have also re-tooled the walkway/pilot piece as well.
I offer this in contrast to some of the Rapido criticism (bashing?) in other threads. Point being, nobody is perfect. Bowser obviously put a ton of effort into the entire MLW series, but they still stopped short of "perfect". The M630 nose-light (and PGE nose paint) issues they readily acknowledged as factory errors and have promised a fix (new shells for affected models), but I'm guessing the corner steps were a business-decision-compromise. One I'm frankly a little puzzled by, but not enough to stop me from spending my money on their products.
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Post by cemr5396 on Dec 8, 2022 12:26:00 GMT -8
Had a look at the photos on their website earlier, they look very nice - just what we have learned to expect from Bowser.
Regarding the steps, I've never noticed the issue - in fact, the commenter above is the first person I've ever heard mention it. It is not the first time a Bowser model has had a minor (or slightly more than minor) detail issue, they have made the occasional mistake on their SD40-2s in the past too. That doesn't change the fact it is a fantastic model, I'm not gonna get too upset over something I can fix in 5 minutes or less.
This comes back to the whole criticism thing - the type of criticism you receive is directly related to A) how you are perceived as a company, and B) how you react to said criticism. Bowser has certainly never made a big deal of telling everyone they're the best, ignored/made fun of constructive criticism, and they have certainly never put a photo of an Athearn CP SD40-2 next to theirs to gloat about how much 'better' theirs is. (Walthers passenger car comparisons, anyone?)
They just go about their business quietly and produce very very nice models. Sure they're not always perfect but they are damn close more often than not. They do this, I will add, at a price that probably gives the most value to the buyer than anyone else in the industry.
All of this is in stark contrast to certain *cough cough* other companies, who take significantly more heat as a result.
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abm
Junior Member
Posts: 65
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Post by abm on Dec 8, 2022 12:59:18 GMT -8
Regarding the steps, I've never noticed the issue - in fact, the commenter above is the first person I've ever heard mention it. It is not the first time a Bowser model has had a minor (or slightly more than minor) detail issue, they have made the occasional mistake on their SD40-2s in the past too. That doesn't change the fact it is a fantastic model, I'm not gonna get too upset over something I can fix in 5 minutes or less. The steps aren't exactly an easy detail to fix... though Andy W actually offers the parts to do it: readytrain.com/model-center/parts/images/aws-22.JPGSince I'm probably going to wind up with at least one spare M630 shell (from the nose light issue) I may use that to practice on. I think the old steps can be carved off cleanly enough that the new ones would just require touch-up paint, and not repainting the entire pilot/walkway molding. But it's still pretty significant surgery. Will have to decide if it's worth doing on an otherwise very nice model. I would certainly agree with you that Bowser is much lower-key than Rapido. |
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Post by cemr5396 on Dec 8, 2022 13:10:04 GMT -8
Regarding the steps, I've never noticed the issue - in fact, the commenter above is the first person I've ever heard mention it. It is not the first time a Bowser model has had a minor (or slightly more than minor) detail issue, they have made the occasional mistake on their SD40-2s in the past too. That doesn't change the fact it is a fantastic model, I'm not gonna get too upset over something I can fix in 5 minutes or less. The steps aren't exactly an easy detail to fix... though Andy W actually offers the parts to do it: readytrain.com/model-center/parts/images/aws-22.JPGSince I'm probably going to wind up with at least one spare M630 shell (from the nose light issue) I may use that to practice on. I think the old steps can be carved off cleanly enough that the new ones would just require touch-up paint, and not repainting the entire pilot/walkway molding. But it's still pretty significant surgery. Will have to decide if it's worth doing on an otherwise very nice model. I would certainly agree with you that Bowser is much lower-key than Rapido. Oh I didn't mean that the steps were a 5 min job, just that the things I have had to fix on a couple of my SD40-2s were. It's good that there ARE parts available to fix the steps, I don't think that would actually be as hard as it looks. I'd probably do it in a couple evenings, maybe do one end of the unit at a time. |
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