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Post by DaYooper on Aug 30, 2012 8:38:20 GMT -8
I picked up a Kato SD90 in CP paint on eBay. It's way out of my 1980's modeling era, but I always liked the way the SD90 looked in CP paint.
When I opened the box I received today, I noticed that the model can slide back and forth in the styrofoam cradle about an inch. Sure enough, there are a few pits of broken plastic in the bottom of the box. I can't tell what they are exactly, but they look like part of a clip that snaps something together. I'll have to investigate further to see if I can find where the parts broke off.
My question is: Is this the normal packaging of the SD90? It looks like there should be some sort of foam "wedge" between the ends of the model and the styrofoam like Atlas uses on the their locos.
Ryan
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Aug 30, 2012 8:59:26 GMT -8
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Post by atsfan on Aug 30, 2012 9:22:24 GMT -8
I have one at home and will check when I get there. But usually Kato packaging does not let an engine slip back and forth an inch.
Sounds like the truck clips are the pieces you see in the bottom of the box.
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Post by DaYooper on Aug 30, 2012 10:08:27 GMT -8
Mine is new from a mail order dealer. All of the parts are uninstalled and sealed in the bags.
Comparing the second ebay photo to mine shows that on mine the stryofoam is really crushed on each end which allows the model to slide back and forth. In fact, the action of the sliding has made the foam red from the CP paint. I'll have more time this evening to investigate the bits-o-parts in the box.
Ryan
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2012 11:26:45 GMT -8
The model in this auction is missing the two Styrofoam blocks that wedge between the nose and cradle and the end of the long hood and cradle. You can see where this model has already made impact with the Styrofoam cradle. This is EXACTLY HOW the model is received from Kato. The two blocks keep it in place. |
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Post by sd80macs on Aug 30, 2012 11:29:46 GMT -8
Yes the new SD80/90's slide around and are not securly packaged. I sold a couple and made sure I filled the void on the nose and rear area with a couple packing peanuts as they would surely get damaged in transit. Not sure how kato designed the boxes but they dont secure the loco to well. These were direct from Kato/Distributor and they DID NOT have the foam blocks like some of the units did in pics above. Here are pics showing how much room there is on to slide around with the new units in the boxes.  |
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Post by valenciajim on Aug 30, 2012 12:12:36 GMT -8
There are some styrofoam blocks (or perhaps some sort of sponge material) missing in the packaging that typically accompanies a Kato model.
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Post by riogrande on Aug 30, 2012 13:20:07 GMT -8
I have a KATO SD45 that was sliding back and forth - I think the styrofoam squishes so that they move around. Some of the other KATO's aren't as loose. That is unless all of mine are missing the sponge material or is that only the newer KATO's?
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Post by calzephyr on Aug 30, 2012 13:30:23 GMT -8
The blocks are missing that hold the model from moving around.
I don't have the latest run but my first run had extra blocks in the ends to hold the model from moving around.
Larry
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Post by DaYooper on Aug 31, 2012 19:31:43 GMT -8
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Post by sd80macs on Sept 1, 2012 0:25:29 GMT -8
Just contact Kato and see if they can supply you with new parts.
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Post by atsfan on Sept 1, 2012 12:38:49 GMT -8
I checked mine and it too has no foam in the ends.
BOO!!!!
Nothing broken but the paint did run on the foam.
Kato should be ashamed to not put in a inner lining and end foam pieces for $200 engines.
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Post by calzephyr on Sept 1, 2012 14:44:22 GMT -8
I did a little investigating and found the broken parts were from the front truck mount. I don't see any other damage, but I'm a little concerned some other cracks may develop over time that can't be seen now. My model had none of the foam inserts shown in the photos. I wounder if it was an oversight by Kato, or a cost saving measure? Here are some photos:    Those close up pictures tell the story of that model slipping back and forth in the box tearing at the foam when the box was shifted or dropped. There is no doubt those foam inserts are needed or they should change the cutout to fix the model. I would contact KATO and see if they will replace it. We had an occasion recently where Jason of Rapido video taped a drop test in a warehouse with no damage to his product. I don't think this box and loco would pass that test!!!! Larry |
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Post by atsfan on Sept 4, 2012 5:01:11 GMT -8
This thread caused me to assemble mine.
No damage that I can see,but that packaging is unacceptable!
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Post by sd45longhoodfoward on Sept 8, 2012 9:34:53 GMT -8
I have the older model of the Kato SD80.s (2) in NS paint and (1) undec unit that will get the newer soaring paint scheme?any way the packaging is a bit different and one thing for sure keep your assembled models out of those accidents waiting to happen box,s. from what i have seen for sure you would have lost front and rear end railings/the box following the contour of the model offers no protection from what i see
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Post by northern on Sept 12, 2012 14:00:07 GMT -8
This is very similar to what happened with the first sets of the Canadian being released. The packaging allowed the engines to move. There were a lot of sets damaged due to the packaging. Rapido made good and damage and redesigned the packaging for the second run.
The second run has just been released, will have to check to see if there is a similar amount of damage to the second set as to the first set.
Hopefully, there will be little damage.
Intermountain some time back also had problems with their packaging which allowed the engine to move and there were a lot of their engines with nose damage. The too modified their packaging.
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Post by atsfan on Sept 14, 2012 15:54:06 GMT -8
the packaging is fine.
Kato left out the end foam insert pieces............!!!
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Post by diburning on Sept 16, 2012 23:04:37 GMT -8
The foam insert pieces are designed to be removable so that you can put the model back into the box after you have assembled it. The foam would take up the place where the front and rear handrails would be. What I do is take the foam inserts out, turn them sideways, then wedge then between the pilot/plow under the coupler and the inside of the foam. Doing this on both sides ensures a tight fit so that the engine does not move and the handrails don't break. Here are some photos showing what I mean. Here is the before photo, where the loco is as-is from the factory (minus the plow, which I borrowed for another SD80MAC that came without one while I am waiting for Kato to send a replacement)  Now, I didn't assemble this loco yet (I'm planning on getting it re-done for the horsehead paint scheme) but here I am demonstrating how I flipped the factory foam pads to ensure that the loco will not move inside the box when the handrails are installed.  |
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