That is not good These were released in 2010-2012 so my hypothesis that this was likely to only affect 2003-5 runs is no longer valid. I just did pull the shell off my AC12 to inspect and so far it is pristine. I'm not sure when exactly I got mine to figure out if it was a first or second run. I believe it was a first run though as I recall later being bummed that I wish I had known about and waited for their sound version which was the 2012 release according to spookshow.
I'm pretty sure all but the first 2 AC12's were analog because I purchased a couple of DCC drop-in decoders. The other four are DCC/sound equipped. So... hopefully I dodged a bullet on the final four units. Afraid to look at them. They are all packed together with my Challengers, Big Boys and Y3b's.
I live in CA and am careful about how to properly dispose of things, but why would there be a concern with disposing of a frame with zinc pest?
Let us not start any political discussions about environmental regulations, please. (Speaking as staff). Besides the toxicity of metals, there are also limits on amounts of waste which can be considered “household waste” for disposal. Exceeding those limits does cost money.
Here's a suggestion. Why not save the ones that haven't yet succumbed? You pay less disposal, and someone could be prepared to take them and take that risk , if you didn't get market value, you'd still get something.
It may just be one of those... "principle of thing' type deals. I have a FVM ES44AC on my deadline that never ran right after FVM replaced it and the pickup strips twice. Its a reminder to me to never buy another FVM anything. It's the principle of the thing.
Still confused. You're not supposed to dispose of an N scale frame (zinc pest or not) without paying a fee? Like I mentioned, I'm super careful about how to properly dispose of things...so much so, I have the local requirements printed and hanging by the side garage door for reference... but it would never dawn on me to be concerned about an N scale loco frame (unless I thought it was made of lead).
Good point since Zamac is an alloy of Zinc, Aluminum, Magnesium and Copper. If the process was merely a lack of using 99.99% zinc... without other heavy metal (Lead) contamination... I don't believe the zinc rotted chassis may be a disposal concern.
You'll have to hire smugglers to get the contraband into Nevada. Paint the chassis' in a bright gold and claim you hit a motherload vein on your property... oh wait... California would claim it's theirs and tax YOU for their share of the 'fools gold'