Micro-Trains has a new (but not better) method for decorating billboard reefers

[MichaelWinicki]

I gotta join the other lads in saying I don't find the car shown in the 22-picture series as being objectionable.

[JoeD]

I like em'    +3

Joe
Not a Micro Trains Representative on Railwire N Scale Forum.

[bbussey]

I agree, in the HO-sized photos and smaller, I don't see any evidence of the new printing process.  While this model is not to my liking, it is due to the prototype in general and not the model specifically.  Again, kudos to MTL for trying a new process to fit a unique deco situation and, for all appearances, doing it successfully.

[wazzou]

I agree with DKS and applaud MT for taking the initiative to experiment in an effort to produce a pretty obscure scheme.

[up1950s]

I think this may be a first . Formers expressing different opinions and not getting confrontational to others stating theirs . We , collectively may have finally learned to do so lands the thread in the Crew Lounge or locked . Stating an opinion is fine and encouraged , but stating that a persons opinion is wrong is not . Not an easy high wire act to pull off , but we did it so far .

[Alwyn Cutmore]

I will stand beside you DKS. I would like to know more about the system as I produce items that I believe could use these process and get a better result than pad printing.

Regards

Al

[DKS]

While I don't have a problem with Peteski's original post from the standpoint of exploring the techniques employed, I confess that I feared from the outset it might stir up too much MTL-bashing. Indeed, IMO, Peteski's take on it seemed a bit harsh, but as Richie pointed out, opinions aren't wrong. While I agree that the quality of the inkjet process falls short of traditional pad printing, I must also agree that MTL is demonstrating innovation in their approach to difficult challenges.

Furthermore, when any company explores new manufacturing techniques, they need to start somewhere; they can't expect to hit a homerun on the first swing. Given MTL's overall high level of quality when tackling complex schemes such as their meat packer series (foobs or not--that's not the point), I think it's safe to expect the quality of this technique will improve as it's employed more; this should also set the expectation that we'll see even more complex schemes to come, since it clearly has advantages over traditional masking/pad printing.

As I said, I don't think this car is anywhere near as bad as has been implied; I also don't object to the price, since innovation carries a cost, even if the specific technology may be cheaper to employ. My suspicion is that this car would have cost considerably more if it was done using traditional techniques.

[peteski]

As I said, I don't think this car is anywhere near as bad as has been implied; I also don't object to the price, since innovation carries a cost, even if the specific technology may be cheaper to employ. My suspicion is that this car would have cost considerably more if it was done using traditional techniques.

Price was never an issue for me. Never even mentioned that. As the series was announced, MT stated that all the cars will be identically priced (regardless of the complexity of the paint scheme). I assume that figured out the average for the entire series beforehand and just assigned an average price to all the cars. I'm sure that no money was lost by MT.

I'll repeat again: I didn't start this thread to bash MT. Just as I already stated, when I started looking over this car (with no magnification of any sort), something about its paint looked odd to me. I like to add that my eyes are not as good as they were 10 years ago. While I haven't yet gone to see an ophthalmologist to get prescription glasses, for modeling I wear +2.5 reading glasses in order to have a clear view of whatever I'm working on.  I also wear my Optivisor very often for my modeling tasks.  In the past, around 10 years ago, I didn't need glasses while I was modeling and I didn't like using Optivisor (even though I already owned it).  So, my eyes are far from perfect and yet, something stood out to me about the decoration on this car.  I usually don't whip out a magnifier to look over my newly acquired MT cars. But because I noticed something odd about this one (including some sort of odd texture of the white areas), I got the magnifier out and that is when I saw what I documented here (also under magnification)

To be fair, I have a question to whomever on this thread owns this car: before reading this thread, did you notice something different about how this particular car was finished? Did something stood out like it did for me?   Did you notice any texture on the white areas and unusual sheen on the red and blue areas?  Did you care enough to investigate it further?

If not, then I will concede that I'm the oddball here who notices minute irrelevant things like that, and that my opinion about the inferiority of the new printing method simply doesn't count or make a difference. I'll just go hide under my microscope. 

[DKS]

Price was never an issue for me. Never even mentioned that.

I didn't say you did; it was raised by someone else.

I'll repeat again: I didn't start this thread to bash MT.

Again, I didn't say you did. But just by virtue of placing the product under a microscope--figuratively as well as literally--opened the opportunity for bashing. And it came to pass, if (thankfully) very briefly.

To be fair, I have a question to whomever on this thread owns this car: before reading this thread, did you notice something different about how this particular car was finished? Did something stood out like it did for me?   Did you notice any texture on the white areas and unusual sheen on the red and blue areas?  Did you care enough to investigate it further?

Since I'm always interested in learning how things are done, I would likely have noticed the difference if I'd had a car before this thread was posted. But now that the cat's out of the bag, my mind is polluted by advance information, so there's no knowing for sure.

If not, then I will concede that I'm the oddball here who notices minute irrelevant things like that, and that my opinion about the inferiority of the new printing method simply doesn't count or make a difference. I'll just go hide under my microscope. 

I'm sure that more than a few of us notice such things; not many, however, will write a thesis about it. 

[Mark5]

Peteski,

No worries, many here obsess more about one thing or another compared to others. Take me, only a handful of people agree with me when I say that I've yet to see a 3 pole motor that does not "cog" to some degree at low speeds. It is one of my "special" gifts. 

Mark

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Petski,

It is like a lot of things concerned with the ALPs decals. Some people like while others hate. I do believe that you are well read and well regarded in this field. Therefore I can understand how you came to notice the new printing method employed. I would not have as I do not collect such gems. I saw your initial speak as what it was and never once considered it to be a bash. I do sell a lot of decals in my home market and most are produced on an ALPs system. Yellow is a problem but it can be fixed with some knowledge. I am very interested in this new method as it was proposed to me a little while ago and I have been hesitant to take it any further but I can now see where it can well fit into my production. Thanks for raising this.

Regards

Al   

[Bob Bufkin]

But can we still bitch and moan about Kato not doing enough Eastern roads or a proper SD40-2?

[Frisco Larry]

I have the car and did not notice anything until the original post.  The resolution is not quite as good, but it does seem to me to give the sides a wood grain effect.  I am curious if MTL had some kind of problem producing this car.  It is out of sequence, last months meat reefer was 049 00 640 and this months is 049 00 630.

[Kisatchie]

But can we still bitch and moan about Kato not doing enough Eastern roads or a proper SD40-2?

Hmm... that is allowed...

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Bob,

Could not care what Kato does and Sd40-2 are well past 2 Feb 1968 so I will not bother with them. I have enough to worry about with Atlas, Life Like, Bachmann and MTL. Not too much Bachmann. Whoops I might have started another Bachmann bash.  When I was in sales training I can remember being told to shut up and listen and the customer will tell you what he wants to be sold. I wish Kato would do that and release their BWL pass cars separately. moan-goan.

Regards

Al