By Noel Widdifield LSOL.com Managing Editor

Author  Bio First let me say that the caboose is beautifully made. The detail is very good. The paint and lettering is excellent. This model represents a major change in the accuracy and detail for ARISTOCRAFT.

I was very excited today when the UPS guy rang the doorbell and left a package from ARISTO for me. One of the very first Pennsylvania Railroad N5c Brass cabooses was inside. First let me say that the caboose is beautifully made. The detail is very good. The paint and lettering is excellent. This model represents a major change in the accuracy and detail for ARISTOCRAFT. Although they have produced a limited number of special products in brass, the PRR N5c caboose is the first freight car offered in such high quality by them for the standard gauge modeler. However, when I picked up the package I noticed the sound of loose parts rattling around inside causing a sinking feeling in my stomach. The outside of the box was dented on one end and I knew that there would be problems. Opening the box, I discovered that the yellow box holding the caboose was loose inside the outside packing box and it moved easily back and forth inside the packing box. I removed the yellow box and noticed that the rattling of loose parts continued. Inside the yellow box was the standard foam packing material found in most Large Scale products. When I opened the foam-packing box I discovered that the caboose was loose inside the foam box. I first notice that one of the caboose trucks was completely missing and that several of the parts were lying on the bottom of the box. I removed the caboose and found several truck parts and other loose pieces on the bottom of the box. Upon complete inspection I found that in addition to the destroyed truck that most of the railings and ladders were broken and bent. The paint was also damaged in several places. Much of the underbody detail parts were also damaged. The bolster and the truck on one end were completely torn apart. Jon sent me an email telling me that: "It appears that the units are getting damaged in the local delivery to the customer and not on the trip to the USA. " I spoke with Lewis Polk and he said that they are looking into the problem and the solution on future shipments. They will take care of the individual problems, just drop an email to Aristo or give them a call. I think the problem is the packaging inside the yellow box and the packaging inside the outer packing box. Neither seems to have been done well. The caboose is basically destroyed and will have to be replaced. This has been confirmed by several LSOL.com members and from the ARISTO website. The small tabs in the inside packaging appears to be breaking off allowing the caboose to loose all support inside the box. The lack of packing material between the outside box and the yellow box also allows the yellow box to shift inside the outside box. At least one LSOL.com member also reports that the windows in the caboose also seem to fall out easily. ARISTO is being very responsive to the problem, although those who have received a replacement indicate that no change has been made to the packing. This failure in packaging is a major disappointment as I was hoping to be able to put the N5c caboose behind my new Accucraft PRR K-4 Pacific and take some great shots to share with the LSOL.com readers. In fact, I had promised Jon that I would do a product review before I left on a trip. This is the review so far, more when I return from my trip. :) Top of Page