Within the last year I've become deeply invested into the hobby and am trying to do things "right" this time compared to my short interest in the hobby when I was a teen all those decades ago. It's also nice to be an adult with a stable income and able to throw money at it now to build a nice fleet for a new layout.
And while the quality and features of modern model trains is amazing... I'm finding a disturbing trend with nearly every new train I order... visual defects. I know these are mostly mass-produced (even if still generally limited runs) etc, but for the money it's kinda scary what seems to get through whatever they call quality control.
Some have had broken parts right in the box... sometimes even due to just being jammed into the blister packaging wrong. Some had chipped pant, bent metal ladders, and even burn marks. For $500 and more this has been pretty disappointing.
I'm curious how often this occurs to others in the hobby? What are some things you've come across? What do you do about it? Do you shrug and move on or return it? Has it discouraged you at all to keep going? What brands have you had the worst luck with? Which have you had the best luck with?
I just hope I'm not alone or so picky that I'm in for an ongoing disappointing experience.
I would just love to know what others have experienced in this regard.
And while the quality and features of modern model trains is amazing... I'm finding a disturbing trend with nearly every new train I order... visual defects. I know these are mostly mass-produced (even if still generally limited runs) etc, but for the money it's kinda scary what seems to get through whatever they call quality control.
Some have had broken parts right in the box... sometimes even due to just being jammed into the blister packaging wrong. Some had chipped pant, bent metal ladders, and even burn marks. For $500 and more this has been pretty disappointing.
I'm curious how often this occurs to others in the hobby? What are some things you've come across? What do you do about it? Do you shrug and move on or return it? Has it discouraged you at all to keep going? What brands have you had the worst luck with? Which have you had the best luck with?
I just hope I'm not alone or so picky that I'm in for an ongoing disappointing experience.
I would just love to know what others have experienced in this regard.