New Auto-Parts Boxcars Arrived

Received a couple of new 86 foot auto-parts boxcars from Class One Model Works early in the week.  These are from their newer run, and I had "pre-ordered" them back in October of 2024, so about 5 months or so waiting for their arrival.

This is how the packaging looks

The top flips up to reveal the models through a window, and includes a nice diagram. Nice packaging. The box top is held closed with magnets.

The two models look really good.

But then the troubles begin...

Fresh out of the box, I realize that one of the cross-members (that loose piece on the left) from the frame is broken off, and so is one of the end cross walks.  And then a short time later, I realized that the air hose had also broken away from the the end of the car, and was dragging (clicking) along the track ties as I tried the car out for the first time.  And that was just on the B&O car.

One of the end walkways was/is bent upwards on the Conrail car too.

None of these are earth shattering defects, and I can make the repairs, but for $75 each, plus shipping, plus currency exchange of about 43%, plus tax, plus customs handling fee, (I don't think I even want to know what all that totals up to in CDN dollars) I would hope for and expect them to be in better condition.

The customs invoice I had to pay upon delivery

Oh well.  It is what it is, as they say.

Here's a bit better look at the both boxcars.

Now I'll have to try to find pictures of similar prototype cars that I can use as examples for weathering them.

Class One has done nice paint jobs on both cars.