Kato Pacific Surfliners

[MK]

Send it back (for replacement) one and done!  It's not your fault so why should it be your problem? 

[MetroRedLine]

Since this set is geared  towards American modelers it is surprising that the enclosed manual is only in Japanese.

I said that the manual for the FL-12 decoder is in Japanese. The manual for the Surfliner set is in English, though it really doesn't cover much (the cab car lights supposedly could be turned off when run in DC, but I can't find a switch anywhere, nor does it even cover the FL-12 DCC option).

As for the ditch lights, they (and the headlight) all appear to be illuminated through a single "light pipe".  The pipe would have to be cut into separate pieces (each ditch light and the headlight too) in order to isolate each ditch from  the others.

Then probably install  light-blocks between the separated pipes and install individual SMD LEDs at the ends of the light pipes, then use wired in effects only decoder (like ESU LokPilotFX). The way the light pipes are arranged this does not appear to be a difficult conversion.

Kato is still not on-board with advanced DCC (we have discussed this in other threads), and they will likely not get better anytime soon since in Japan DCC is not a big thing.

Yeah someone else on another forum mentioned the LokPilotFX. I'd be interested to see what someone can do with that.

[peteski]

Now I need to figure out what to do next. At a minimum, the model packaging needs to be replaced.

Oh man, sorry to see this happen to you!
As I understand it is the sender (not recipient) who has to open up a case with USPS.  You could always visit the postmaster in you loca PO and get their opinion.  But if not insured you will likely not get anymore than $50 (or is it $100?).  Hopefully the sender will come through for you.

As for the soap, going by your reaction, it could have contained Lye (very alkaline substance which is often shown in crime dramas dissolving human bodies). 

[nickelplate759]

Mine arrived today from Lombard.  Nicely packed, no drama.

Regarding lye - when I was much younger I worked in a Burger King.   We had a lye tank in the back, next to the floor sink.  Periodically we would dissemble the broiler and carefully (rubber gloves and steel hooks) put various stainless-steel parts of it in the Lye tank to soak overnight.  They were clean and shiny the next morning (after being thoroughly rinsed).

We never put any bodies in it - at least I didn't.  It wasn't really the right shape for that anyway.

<edit>
...and my cat sent one coach straight to the concrete floor where it disassembled itself.   
Fortunately, nothing cracked and I was able to reassemble the car.   Good thing, as I would have been tempted to disassemble the cat...
</edit>

[tehachapifan]

Oh man, sorry to see this happen to you!
As I understand it is the sender (not recipient) who has to open up a case with USPS.  You could always visit the postmaster in you loca PO and get their opinion.  But if not insured you will likely not get anymore than $50 (or is it $100?).  Hopefully the sender will come through for you.

As for the soap, going by your reaction, it could have contained Lye (very alkaline substance which is often shown in crime dramas dissolving human bodies). 

That explains it, I am dissolving into the ether as we speak!

I've been in contact with Paul at HogTrainz regarding this and told me to send it all back for replacement, which is awesome!

Was really looking forward to these. Going to have to really be patient now!

[ATSF_Ron]

Well crap!  That's a bummer on the damaged packaging!  Mine has been sitting in Sacramento since Sunday morning. So...three days to get from the east coast to CA, AND 3 days to go the 12 miles from Sac to my house???  I know, I know.  Sunday and Monday weren't mail days, but...Stinking tracking number shows no change since Sunday. WTH?? Typical USPS BS.  Hope mine arrives damage free! 

Great pics, MetroRedLine!  Thanks for posting those.

[peteski]

That explains it, I am dissolving into the ether as we speak!

I've been in contact with Paul at HogTrainz regarding this and told me to send it all back for replacement, which is awesome!

Was really looking forward to these. Going to have to really be patient now!

Yes, both Pete at BLW (when BLW was still active) and his brother Paul at HogTrainz are really good taking care of problems.  Might not be the speediest, but if there is a problem, they will take care of it.

[sundowner]

That's an interesting change. Might be less expensive to vacu-form thin plastic sheets than die-cut EVA foam sheet.  Also hard to tell from the photo if the set came in a standard Kato bookcase or another type of outer packaging.

More likely is they had to fit 7 superliners and a loco in the space of 5 Superliners and a baggage car in there bookcase.
The foam would be too thing to hold the cars firmly.
The loco set with the 3 Surfliner is using similar foam insert to the other starter set.

[pilpro]

Thinking about putting my cars in one of these.  Though as the car slots get larger the foam gets thinner just as Sundowner stated.

Kato 10-215



https://www.plazajapan.com/4949727055312/?srsltid=AfmBOoohpLo59vW6u-6goTOoFWjIdUaR9tUfxxJvQCR86tsNf82pTtYL

[sundowner]

This is the Superliner case 28-952

https://www.plazajapan.com/4952844123529/?srsltid=AfmBOorEbwwjUhh9ZOwxP_IJW4AuCzyqRSr8B1VbOoKK1rACbFpMzRCD

[pilpro]

This is the Superliner case 28-952

https://www.plazajapan.com/4952844123529/?srsltid=AfmBOorEbwwjUhh9ZOwxP_IJW4AuCzyqRSr8B1VbOoKK1rACbFpMzRCD

Oooo perfect! Thank you Sundowner! Just what I was looking for.

[mgar2112]

Oooo perfect! Thank you Sundowner! Just what I was looking for.

I wonder if we can simply swap out the thin plastic tray with the foam from this superliner case?

[mgar2112]

Rcvd my 8-unit set from Lombard as well. Very well packed and fruit gummies too!
I also have the Bachmann Surfliner engine, and comparing both, the Bachmann has a little better detail IMO.
Planning on running both tonight.

[pilpro]

I wonder if we can simply swap out the thin plastic tray with the foam from this superliner case?

I'm gonna try!

[sundowner]

It should, its the same basic case shell