New run of Atlas Trinity Reefer packing issue

[greenwizard88]

I have 13, 12 tropicana and a Naked one.

I'm in the process of taking down my layout to turn my train room into a family room ( ) so I only took 4 out of the box. Of the 4, one was able to roll freely. The other 3 could slide down the track. I had to manually spin the wheels, but then they all started to roll. I'll let you guys know tomorrow if mine are bowed too. They're buried under a pile of track at the moment.

Edit 1: Mine too are missing the top plastic in the box, and only have the plastic wrap and bottom clamshell. I don't think it effects storage, although I could see how it could cause some extra rattling during shipping.

Edit 2: I got scared and looked at one tonight. It's perfectly straight, without any warping what-so-ever. So at least some of them are correct.

[nkalanaga]

If you want to try to fix the floor, I have a possible solution.  It isn't elegant, but I've used the idea for weights in passenger car core kits, so it should work.

Remove the metal weight.
Get some brass square/rectangular tube, of a good size, such as 3/16 inch square. or 3/32 wide x 3/16 high.
Drill a hole in each end of the floor, as close to the end as possible, to clear a 00-90 screw.  If the coupler is in the way, a pair of holes on each end will work.
Cut the tube to length, and drill matching holes in it.  Tap these 00-90.
Screw the tube(s) to the floor.

The only part visible outside the car will be the heads of the screws.  If the floor is thick enough, you can use flathead screws, and countersink the holes, so nothing shows from the side.

[mecgp7]

My first thought was heat. Highly unlikely that many cars would be allowed to pass even the most rudimentary inspection at the source. Also unlikely it happened forcefully once they left the factory.
Could the floor be a different plastic that couldn't take the heat sitting in a container or truck? Be interested to know how many others are out there.

[sundowner]

So I just check my older first Atlas run cars and they are pack the same way. So I am even more curious how my cars and those at my LTS got this damage.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

My first thought was heat. Highly unlikely that many cars would be allowed to pass even the most rudimentary inspection at the source. Also unlikely it happened forcefully once they left the factory.
Could the floor be a different plastic that couldn't take the heat sitting in a container or truck? Be interested to know how many others are out there.

This. It looks like the sides of the shells are also bowed out in the middle. I'm unsure if that was due to the under frame pushing inside though. If that is the case, the plastic would need to SHRINK relative to the expansion of the metal weight to make it bow inward like that.

I also wonder if this might be a glue issue. Some glues will attack plastics. If they used something like the glue Walthers used in their auto parts box, that might explain it.

[learmoia]

Our shop got mostly Nakeds and Tropacanas.. so maybe this is an issue on the UPs??.. which would be stranger than the nature of the defects.

[w neal]

Looks like the value of the first runs just shot up a bit.

[POVC]

The clear clamshell is missing, only the white clamshell that the cars are sitting in is there.

I don't think there was a clear clamshell.  I picked up the Naked Juice car at the Timoniium show two weeks ago and it didn't have a clear clamshell.  The car I have doesn't have any issues with warped underframe.

Tim

[sundowner]

Our shop got mostly Nakeds and Tropacanas.. so maybe this is an issue on the UPs??.. which would be stranger than the nature of the defects.

We check all the cars my LTS receive and some of the Trop had the same issue.

[Englewood]

Well, I've got 7 waiting for me at the LHS which I'll pick up Monday.
I'll be worried all weekend...

[mu26aeh]

We haven't seen their arrival yet

[Missaberoad]

Oh my... You could even say those aren't the "Best Looking Models Around" 

I'll show myself out... 

[dem34]

Checked the lot at the Model RR shop in Piscataway, 10mi from Atlas. Out of 15, none have this issue. And allegedly Atlas stuff gets hand delivered.

[reinhardtjh]

Paging @Atlas Paul .

As a side note.  Atlas Paul hasn't logged in here since last February.  Over 8 months ago.  Someone might want to send out a search party and make sure he's okay.

[Englewood]

I picked up my 7 at the shop today, and looked at a few more they had on the shelves. None had issues.