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Post by elfan on Dec 27, 2021 15:52:36 GMT -8
 Super nice model, but that gray leaves quite a lot to be desired.. It is way too light. The horn casting is REALLY nice, I would love to buy some separately, however - it does still have the typical issue that both the Details West and Athearn horns have, it does not have the proper "lean" to it for the Leslie U manifold, they are molded as a flat, parallel part. Seeing this comparison, I’m going to have to give it much more thought about whether to go ahead with a purchase. As stated in another post, I am in no need for more SD45s as I have a number from Kato,,Proto, and Athearn that I either detailed or painted myself. I wanted a couple of these because of the higher level of detail and the factory installed LokSound as I’ve standardized on their decoders in any locos I plan to mu with others. If I do buy a couple, I would probably repaint the gray with TruColor or Scalecoat EL gray. Will have to think long and hard before I pull the trigger on these. Sad, because I was looking forward to my first Scale Trains purchase as I’ve admired their products but none ever fit my era or road. Tom |
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Post by cera2254 on Dec 27, 2021 16:44:52 GMT -8
I don’t need any of these EL units, but it is frustrating that an error like this can occur. It seems like some of the manufacturers give their factory too little attention and let things like this slide by. It should have been caught before production that this color was just too light.
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Post by nsc39d8 on Dec 27, 2021 16:47:57 GMT -8
While I am no expert on the EL paint, offhand I would say the SD45 on the left in the photo looks more correct to me. Someone mentioned the two C425's on the Delaware Lackawanna that are painted in EL heritage scheme. I have seen these two locos and have them as Atlas models. The models are two different colors, which made me run look at my photos.
Surprisingly, the two prototypes do have different shades of gray paint so the Atlas DL models are correct.
I will also add that some of the more recent Tru-Color paint has disappointed me. I had a bottle labeled Dust and when I opened it to do some weathering it was more of a grey fresh concrete color.
Their PC green was off as well, I tried using it and had to order some Scalecoat II to do the paint job.
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Post by middledivision on Dec 27, 2021 19:07:45 GMT -8
See comment in other thread... Scale Trains obviously used the wrong shade of gray, which should be Pantone 429C. ...just like the wrong Santa Fe "red" on the first C44-9W. Bob That was “pre-faded” red.😁 |
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Post by champagnetrail on Dec 28, 2021 8:54:47 GMT -8
While I am no expert on the EL paint, offhand I would say the SD45 on the left in the photo looks more correct to me. Someone mentioned the two C425's on the Delaware Lackawanna that are painted in EL heritage scheme. I have seen these two locos and have them as Atlas models. The models are two different colors, which made me run look at my photos. Surprisingly, the two prototypes do have different shades of gray paint so the Atlas DL models are correct. I will also add that some of the more recent Tru-Color paint has disappointed me. I had a bottle labeled Dust and when I opened it to do some weathering it was more of a grey fresh concrete color. Their PC green was off as well, I tried using it and had to order some Scalecoat II to do the paint job. I'm no expert either, but I know someone who is, and he gives it a thumbs down. It definitely does NOT match Pantone 429C and he showed me the comparison to prove it.
Sigh. I was also thinking of picking one up, but not any more, because I really don't NEED one either.
-pat
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Post by lvrr325 on Dec 28, 2021 11:53:24 GMT -8
Now that I see the picture I see why guys are disappointed, that is a night and day difference. Maybe you could make it look better with weathering, but if it's supposed to be a late repaint they didn't get too dirty. rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1331154This is a good comparison picture. There's no real difference to my eye in the grey on the three units, with the -2 in the middle looking to be original paint and the trailing 45 a repaint, maybe the lead SDP45 too. |
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Post by el3625 on Dec 28, 2021 12:42:45 GMT -8
See other post on SXT SD45's, but I contacted them and they said, sorry you are unhappy with our color choice (gray) on the EL's, we will revisit this and maybe next time. Guess they are not going to do anything about it, we are stuck with an inferior color. No more pre orders for me from now on, I want to see it!
Bruce
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Post by markfj on Dec 28, 2021 13:32:27 GMT -8
Not to beat a dead horse on this color issue, but I tried to find some photos of EL units that might come close to the ST color and struck out. Even units with road grim still look like they have a darker gray than the ST color. I always thought the EL gray was similar to the Gull gray used on some military aircraft. To my eye it also seems to have a hint of blue in it. Either way the actual color EL used seems much richer and deeper than the washed out ST color. (Photos sourced from rrpicturearchives.net) Gil Ford photo taken 07-02-72 at Port Jervis, NY  Robert Farkas photo taken 10-16-76 at Akron, OH  Thanks, Mark J. Reading, PA |
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Post by ambluco on Dec 28, 2021 14:03:37 GMT -8
Actually Mark, that second photo, with added grime by one of those really great weathering guru's I think would work.
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Post by severn on Dec 28, 2021 16:04:30 GMT -8
I really think with different lighting and other factors about photography I don't understand, just comparing various photos is probably not the best approach. Having said that -- to my eye, for what it's worth -- they appear to be similar, on the same dance floor at worst.
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Post by champagnetrail on Dec 28, 2021 17:30:20 GMT -8
I really think with different lighting and other factors about photography I don't understand, just comparing various photos is probably not the best approach. Having said that -- to my eye, for what it's worth -- they appear to be similar, on the same dance floor at worst. The ST models might work in a "primed for grime" sort of way as the EL gray faded to a lighter color, so people really good at weathering might be able to make them look decent.
But the color is definitely off no matter what lighting and other factors are considered. The photo of the ST model next to the Athearn, which incidentally has the correct shade of gray according to EL color experts, says enough.
But I've already said enough...
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Post by sd80mac on Dec 31, 2021 7:06:55 GMT -8
I'm not an EL modeler, but that gray is ridiculous. Ok, so Scaletrains says "everyone approved it" (the ELHS or whoever that might be). But I mean, surely SOMEONE must've seen a pre-production sample, no? Surely SOMEONE must've seen that, and no one thought to say "Hey guys, I know everyone signed off on this, but we should really take another look at the EL SD45. The gray just doesn't look right". I just don't get how something like that can make it to production. And Scaletrains isn't the first offender here, as others have pointed out. Remember the Candy Apple Red Leigh Valley Genesis GP38-2s?
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Post by wmrdgfan on Dec 31, 2021 7:23:43 GMT -8
Guys... I received this message from Scale trains. " we're currently working on a solution for the gray color of our Erie Lackawanna SD45s. We'll be sharing our plan in the near future. -Drayton".
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Post by slowfreight on Dec 31, 2021 7:37:24 GMT -8
I'll throw mu $0.02 at the EL grey problem. ST painted its CNW power (and most of its models) with painr that matches TruColor paint. As I work with it on another project, and look at my ST shells, the TruColor CNW green is too dark...waaaay too much black in the mix, even for a fresh paint job.
Trying to follow TruColor could create a headache for them, if they try to go with a reputable paint brand that's supposed to have correct colors and doesn't. Weathering helps with a lot, and YMMV in rendering outdoor models in your indoor lighting. But the color match conundrum will always resurface in this hobby, and I just hope ST stays receptive to feedback so that they get subsequent runs fixed.
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Post by 12bridge on Dec 31, 2021 8:31:17 GMT -8
Its worth noting that SclaeTrains no longer touts the Tru-Color paint. It used to be labeled right on the box, but it no longer is, nor do I see any mention of it online in recent releases in a quick look.
I love TCP paint, and it is my go-to, but their color accuracy leaves alot to be desired. Most of the time I am tweaking the mix.
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Post by middledivision on Dec 31, 2021 8:49:51 GMT -8
Guys... I received this message from Scale trains. " we're currently working on a solution for the gray color of our Erie Lackawanna SD45s. We'll be sharing our plan in the near future. -Drayton". Most likely replacement shells. Athearn did that with a run of LV GP38-2's years ago. |
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Post by csxt8400 on Dec 31, 2021 9:11:12 GMT -8
Glad to hear them acknowledging the issue. I want to be able to respect those who I shell out cash flo with, if possible, and I've always appreciated the folks at SXT. Hopefully they continue on the path and get it right for everyone involved.
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Post by elfan on Dec 31, 2021 10:05:29 GMT -8
Guys... I received this message from Scale trains. " we're currently working on a solution for the gray color of our Erie Lackawanna SD45s. We'll be sharing our plan in the near future. -Drayton". Most likely replacement shells. Athearn did that with a run of LV GP38-2's years ago. If that is the case, I would go out and buy two-three tomorrow. Well, Monday. Tomorrow my hobby shop is closed. Tom |
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Post by fr8kar on Dec 31, 2021 10:08:13 GMT -8
When you guys get your replacement shells - assuming that's the solution - let me know! I might like to buy the bad ones.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Dec 31, 2021 10:47:33 GMT -8
I'm not an EL modeler, but that gray is ridiculous. Ok, so Scaletrains says "everyone approved it" (the ELHS or whoever that might be). But I mean, surely SOMEONE must've seen a pre-production sample, no? Surely SOMEONE must've seen that, and no one thought to say "Hey guys, I know everyone signed off on this, but we should really take another look at the EL SD45. The gray just doesn't look right". I just don't get how something like that can make it to production. And Scaletrains isn't the first offender here, as others have pointed out. Remember the Candy Apple Red Leigh Valley Genesis GP38-2s? Don't forget the Neon Pink/Red Lehigh Valley RS11's that Rapido did, those were awful too |
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Post by cera2254 on Dec 31, 2021 10:53:39 GMT -8
A corrected EL SD45 sure would be tempting…
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Post by csx3305 on Dec 31, 2021 11:28:31 GMT -8
Seems like these SXT color errors became a lot more frequent shortly after they announced their partnership/compatibility/whatever you want to call it with Tru-color.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2021 14:00:56 GMT -8
Well, I received GEVO engines directly from ST (their shipping is free) earlier this year that touted the Tru-Color paint on the boxes, and the latest SD40-2 units, just arrived from China on or about December 2, 2021, do not tout the Tru-Color paint on the boxes, at least not for the NdeM units I received (colors appear to be dead on).
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Post by 12bridge on Dec 31, 2021 14:44:41 GMT -8
Seems like these SXT color errors became a lot more frequent shortly after they announced their partnership/compatibility/whatever you want to call it with Tru-color. As I mentioned in the other thread.. It seems they no longer use Tru-Color. Its not labeled on the box anymore nor is it mentioned on the website. |
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Post by lvrr325 on Dec 31, 2021 16:51:07 GMT -8
I remember the Athearn LV GP38-2s as being tuscan when they should be red. But I didn't buy any so
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Post by middledivision on Dec 31, 2021 19:10:10 GMT -8
^^^
Correct. Even though pre-production photos (remember those?) showed the correct color, they arrived in Tuscan. They redid the shells and if you sent the bad one in, they sent a corrected one.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Jan 1, 2022 2:44:18 GMT -8
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Post by markfj on Jan 1, 2022 3:40:46 GMT -8
Good to hear that ST is at least acknowledging that there is an issue with the EL paint. If they offer a replacement shell, that would be great. I would be much more likely to buy an EL unit now knowing that I can get a replacement shell.
Thanks, Mark J.
Reading, PA
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