Model Railroading > Scale Trains BN White Face ET44s

Gotta call from Scale Trains today and their "Hypothetical" BN White Face ET44s that were due out now have been postponed because of a paint mistake. Had reserved two different numbers and that reservatrion was cancelled with a FULL REFUND given. I was told that they are now due by the end of the year. I REALLY DO appreciated Scale Trains Quality Control for there models. Also,  got an email from them that new turbines are due out as well. NO!! I AM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SCALE TRAINS. Just another customer passing on news in case you haven't heard and had made a reservation but have not gotten the call yet. Now. Back to "Trainorders".

Anyone have an idea how mistakes like this are usually handled?

1. Strip paint and repaint. Original shell used.
2. Paint over without striping.
3. Scrap shell and paint properly
4. Something else I haven't thought of.

Warmest regards,
 

Arved Grass
Long Beach, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/26 19:33 by Arved.

A few years ago, after I bought an Operator HO SD45 from ScaleTrains in Erie Lackawanna direct from them - they sent an Email saying that due to many complaints about the gray being 'too light' - they'd be sending out a replacement shell with the correct paint shade.  Sure enough, the replacement shell arrived along with instructions on how to replace it.  They asked that the original shell be thrown out - saying something to the effect that it would help to keep subpar products out of the marketplace.

The Rivet Counter ET44 is probably a bit more involved (detail-wise) than the Operator locomotive I had, so I guess they figured it was easier to just cancel the orders.  Hopefully they can re-run it with the correction.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/26 15:00 by PasadenaSub.

But, is a mistake on a hypothetical paint scheme really a mistake? Think about it!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/26 23:11 by tehachapifan.

tehachapifan Wrote:
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> But, is a mistake on a hypothetical paint scheme
> really a mistake? Think about it!

My first thought also. :-)

My thoughts exactly. If your buying something not prototypical, you're probably not that picky.
But one thing good about them is that it shows fhe real Railroads what a Heritage locomotive should look like.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/26 10:59 by TomG.

Just because you're buying a theorical paint scheme doesn't mean you're not "picky". If anything, It means your MORE concerned about how a REAL paint scheme would be applied to a REAL locomotive even if the paint scheme doesn't exist on today's locomotives or rolling stock. I know the guys over at "Home Shopps LLC" would agree. There's A LOT of people out there who have their own roadnames on there models and are just as serious as people who follow the prototype. Eric Brooman and his "Utah Belt " come to mind. Ever see what one of his painted locomotives go for on eBay? $$$$

It's great that ST backs up their products like they do. 

And I agree with you. People like Eric Brooman and Allen McClelland took the time and logic from prototype railroads to creat their own railroad. Since they were created and follow practices of real life, the become the prorotype even though they didnt exist on a 12 inch to the foot scale. On the Utah Belt, the rules of cannon were laid out and he has followed them up to the day. You will never see a silver and orange WP GS4 pulling double stacks on the UB, little lone a Rio Grande GE ET44 Gevo. There is a line between protolance and fantasy.

One of the neatest paint jobs on a SD70 was on here a few years back when someone painted a fabulous Espee pre speed letter paint job. It was perfect. If I modeled Espee I probably would want one. We have come so far from the 70s of one generic model with as many paint jobs as you can paint on it to finally getting semi accurate models resembling the prototype. I just hate seeing it going backwards. But it is a hobby and each person does have the right to anything that makes them happy.

And for the record, id love the see a BN Green (pre white face)  paint on a modern unit. Of course Id also prefer it on every BNSF locomotive without the SF.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/26 17:15 by TomG.

Simply put, "my model railroad, my rules". And I agree with you. I would HATE to see a GS-4 pulling Double Stacks. ( We better watch what we say. It'll probably happen next week. Think UP Challenger #3985 pulling Stacks out of Cheyenne back in 1991. ) However, I would like to see the Iconic ATSF Warbonnet on EVERYTHING BNSF...and I bet I could get at least half of EVERYONE in America to agree with that. For me, BNSF ranks right up there with the "New Coca-Cola" from back in the "Cola Wars" days. BUT Variety IS the spice of life and to each is own. I LOVE ANYTHING railroading. THAT'S ONE THING I think we can both agree on. :-)

I love Scale-Trains.  I feel that they have extremely high quality control and very accurate.  Much better than some manufacturers.

gandydancer4 Wrote:
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>  I LOVE ANYTHING railroading. THAT'S ONE THING I think we can both
> agree on. :-)


Absolutely!
Accept for SF..Euwwww. 😂



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/26 18:31 by TomG.