Amtrak Pacific Parlour?

[Sokramiketes]

Here are a few photos:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?152447-Photos-of-my-Kato-Amtrak-Pacific-Parlour-Car

Thanks for saving me the trouble.  Your photos show just how fuzzy everything is. 

[mcjaco]

Thanks for saving me the trouble.  Your photos show just how fuzzy everything is.

Fuzzy?  It doesn't even look like the paint coverage on some of the stripes is good. 

Think I'm happy I passed on this one.

[3DTrains]

I see that they didn't even bother removing the Santa Fe siding placards. 

Cheers!
Marc - Riverside

[Sokramiketes]

I can't blame them for not retooling the sides to remove the placard.

[jmlaboda]

"I can't blame them for not retooling the sides to remove the placard."

Yah, that and some corrugation that needs to be removed but considering the cost I can't blame them.

They got the restock they were waiting on... and it is nearly gone as well!!!

[jnevis]

Effectively gone, down to one

[NorsemanJack]

Effectively gone, down to one

Either that, or one or more of the initial stock again became available because of failed credit card or returned/refused shipment.  I'll withold final judgement until I see one tomorrow with my own eyes.  I appreciate the concerns, and also the understanding that Kato and Amtrak were likely not in financial position to do anything other than just use the existing shell and paint it at a low cost.  For many of us who have ridden the proptotype, this is a must own car, however there are many more out there that likely don't even know what one of these is.  The initial stock was 160 units and I've seen reports that there may only be thirty-some more coming.  Do the math.  If they consumed $10 worth of left over El Capitan parts, $5 in special box/packaging and $10 in labor for each car; then they only make $5 in profit.  That times 200 cars equals a whopping $1000.  I think those of us who want these are extremely fortunate that they were even offered.  Worse case, somebody can strip, remove the mid-body corrugation and paint/decal.  I think that's what people were already doing who were fortunate enough to obtain a single El Cap lounge car.

[tehachapifan]

So, let me get this right. I checked late this AM and it was still zero stock. At some point this afternoon it restocked and then sold out again before I looked again this evening?

[mcjaco]

I can't blame them for not retooling the sides to remove the placard.

The did the same on the Amtrak Ph. III Step Up Coach, and Baggage car set.  Placards are still there.  I'd expect no less.  It's easier, and less costly. 

Basically, this is not a new development with these repaints, but I'm sure someone on TRW will pitch a fit about it....seems to be the way it is here lately. 

[randgust]

Well, I got one, mostly because I have an emotional attachment to the development of the concept, and this remains tangible evidence of that.   

As far as for the model.... having held it in my hands now the lettering sure seems clear enough to me and I got right in on it.  The corrugations do make it look wavier than it should, and more irregular, but the printing quality itself is pretty darn good.  You can see clear period between the letters, and read "pacific" on the logo.  Even if you did it with first-quality decals it would distort in the side view.  Over those corrugations, that's a challenge with any method.  The real problem is that the logo that makes it "the car" is on corrugations when it should be on a flat plate - see: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Amtrak_-_Pacific_Parlour_Car_Logo.JPG/800px-Amtrak_-_Pacific_Parlour_Car_Logo.JPG

The letterboard issue is old; heck, that applies to almost all stainless cars into and post-Amtrak; anything above the windows wasn't needed - only the car number plate below.  Rather unfair to pick on this effort. I think its a lot more noticeable on an all-stainless car than painted blue like this is.

The only issue I've got is watching the absurd price one has risen to on Ebay in open auction.  While I really like my car, if that stuff keeps up, the temptation to resell it is pretty high.   I'm one of the guys that bought an "El Capitan" set, auctioned off all but two coaches for my own use, and made money doing it.

While its not on the regular KATO page it does seem there's one online dealer taking reservations for them in the $50 range.  I 'thought' this was an exclusive Amtrak deal, maybe not, and I also couldn't pry out of my Kato connection whether this really was a fixed-number limited run of predetermined size or just a limited run...like until we quit getting orders from Amtrak.

Hope this works for them.  I'd also like to see the other 'cool cars' - the remaining fleet of heritage diners in the east - similarly honored as their days are numbered.   2013 is supposed to be the last year for the heritage diners...

[Sokramiketes]

Well, I got one, mostly because I have an emotional attachment to the development of the concept, and this remains tangible evidence of that.   

As far as for the model.... having held it in my hands now the lettering sure seems clear enough to me and I got right in on it.  The corrugations do make it look wavier than it should, and more irregular, but the printing quality itself is pretty darn good.  You can see clear period between the letters, and read "pacific" on the logo.  Even if you did it with first-quality decals it would distort in the side view.  Over those corrugations, that's a challenge with any method.  The real problem is that the logo that makes it "the car" is on corrugations when it should be on a flat plate - see: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Amtrak_-_Pacific_Parlour_Car_Logo.JPG/800px-Amtrak_-_Pacific_Parlour_Car_Logo.JPG

You seem to be concentrating on the Pacific Parlour logo.  Did you notice that the "Saint Lucia Highlands" lettering is blurry, the thin red stripes are a splattered mess over the corrugations, and the blue suffers from pin striping because the print head can't follow the corrugations? 

Just sit it next to a pad printed car to compare. 

[Nick Lorusso]

The web site is showing 1+ in stock

[tehachapifan]

I think you're looking at the wrong column, Nick. I just ordered one today showing zero in stock and got a back ordered notice with my receipt. We'll see how it goes.

[randgust]

OK, here's a good reference shot of the car in the number, strips, logo area:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/45864/IMG_5123%20(2).JPG

And here's the way it was factory delivered.  Look closely at the letterboard/stripe area.  Huh!
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~cwhung/amhilounge-1.JPG

So, Amtrak pulled the original corrugations off the entire centerboard lettering/stripe area and replaced it with flat plate.  Kato modeleled the 'as delivered' corrugations with the letterboard per the original ATSF El Capitan train.   Even if you could get the striping "right", it's actually wrong... so looking for that elusive perfect factory paint scheme on a run of something likely under 300 units for $30 remains elusive.  Even the prototype can't properly print on corrugations, its still easier to change the car.

I ended up decaling up a couple Kato Pullmans for Amtrak Phase I, bitty white window stripes and all.  There's a support group for that level of behavior, I've been clean for almost a year and 'out of the box' doesn't look as bad to me as it used to.

[tehachapifan]

I'm going to see how I like the striping and lettering when mine arrives (it looks OK to me in photos). My guess is I could live with it but I can always plate over the corrugations and re-stripe if I can't. If I do redo it, I will back date it with the big "Pacific Parlour" on the flanks.