Disappointment with FVM new UP7400

Good day all! Wasn't sure where to post, and also did a search, but i need to rant a bit.

I received my UP7400 from FVM today and was super super excited to open it and see how good it looks. As a friend to many women whom have survived breast cancer, this was a very important purchase for me to celebrate their defeat of cancer and spread the word in another form.

I am deeply disappointed and shocked at the product I received. (image attached + UPRR photo of proto for reference). over all the engine itself is fine, but if you are going to sell a product featuring the most recognizable ribbon in the world and support the battle against breast cancer, you better damn well make sure the product is up to par. Not a great picture, but look at the color of the ribbon...its practically purple, the printing is "pixelated" and it just look amateurish. I can and have made better decals on my ALPS printer that are closer to the prototype.

How does something like this get past QA at FVM? I sent them an email today and await to see what they think.

BUT, am I the only one? if my model is a fluke, then i apologize, but if not......im embarrassed to even show this to my friends. It will make them cry, not because they are happy FMV made this engine, but because, imo, its a travesty!

/endrant

 

Hard to tell looking at it through the plastic covering, but to be perfectly honest, it looks just fine to me.

 

Well, it certainly looks like they botched the colors. It's a shame, because you are right this is a very emotional topic for many people, and it's such a great opportunity for FVM to put their best foot forward and support a great cause. Hopefully you're right and it's just a fluke.

Unfortunately though, FVM is developing a reputation for this kind of lack of attention to detail. So no surprise it made it past FVM's "QA", although maybe a little surprised that UP wouldn't have some say in it...which may indicate it's not a widespread error.

I will say that I doubt it would upset anyone...I think the sentiment is still there, and most will still see a "pink ribbon" and understand what it stands for.

 

Yes the color might be a little off, as Chris stated it is hard to tell through the plastic wrapper. But my honest opinion, you UP modelers are more nit picky than NP and MILW modelers EVER could be. This isn't right and that isn't right and the logo on this loco is too far forward, blah, blah, blah.....and so on. I am GLAD I dont have ANY Utterly Pathetic on my roster.

 

Well, in my humblest of opinions, isn't it quite nice that they actually produced the model to begin with? Scale colors, paints and especially photo-graphics (with color gradients) are especially difficult to "get perfect" in such a small scale. My wife is a cancer survivor and I would be damned proud to place that locomotive on my layout. I am certain she, and your friends, would not be crying over less vivid hues than the ribbon on a real 80' long locomotive.

Perhaps if you're so upset, then go ahead and print a better decal on your ALPS and fix what isn't up to snuff for you. Bashing the holy hell out of a product might mean they won't make another, and you're obviously invested in this cause so we wouldn't want that, would we?

Regardless, I am glad you support the cause. Your post does seem to be a bit overly-dramatic, though.

 

Really hard to tell through that plastic. I do agree that this is one of those things that should be correct, not just "good enough". I would think that the 1:1 UP would have thrown up a red flag (and a tantrum or two !!!) if this was a common error. I know they USED to do that !!! Will you let us know what FVM tells you ???

 

I suggest contacting FVM if it really bothers you. I have purchased a lot of FVM products, and only had minor problems with a few, and Matt took care of the problem to my satisfaction both times.

 

I trust your judgement call; however I question whether part of the color difference I am seeing is due to the plastic wrap. Part of the ribbon looks almost blue to me. Please post a photo without the plastic wrap over the ribbon so that we can more plainly see what you see and make a more honest judgement call for ourselves.

Jerry

 

Don't you remember the Loewy Scheme Green Wars? I also model a bit of the NP and I find the NP guys to be just about the pickiest ever.

I agree. Take the plastic wrap off and photograph it under similar light conditions to the proto photo outside and see if that changes it, keeping in mind that the proto ribbon may have faded.


Adam

 

I have those, and now some people say that we shouldn't follow those because models built before the cards were released won't look right. This is where I roll my eyes, put some trains on the track, and run them for a while.

 

Yes Adam, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. The green on the WoT baggage cars vs the green on the Walthers cars, Centralia Car Shops, and the Rapido cars. Personally, to me as long as they are close to one another I am totally okay. As we all know, a color can look "dead on" under one particular light and in a different light look "totally wrong." The nit-pickers have to have things "just perfect" and to me that is no fun and ruins the hobby. However, if a certain piece is being done for say a convention contest or a museum, than I 100% agree that the color needs to be "just perfect" for that item.

I hope that makes sense.

And as Ken stated, with the new NPRHA color drift cards, the NP green agrument should not be an issue anymore.

Ryan

 

I find it 'interesting' that you photograph the model under very poor lighting with TWO layers of plastic over the area that offends you so greatly. I also find it interesting that you compare that poor quality picture to what appears to be a UP publicity photo taken under ideal lighting conditions (and possibly even photoshopped by UP) to present the best image. I challenge you to do what you say you can do and produce a better image on your ALPS printer. I doubt that you can produce a shaded image, from strong pink to almost white, without it being 'pixelate' or worse being adjacent stripes of lighter and lighter pink. If you want to be upset with someone be upset with UP for making the original image so stylized and not pink as it should be........

 

Couple of other pics...


There is certainly some blue/purple in the ribbon. I would agree it's not a huge issue, but I don't understand why it isn't correct. This is one of those "doesn't take any more effort to get it right" kinds of deals in my mind. Only thing I can think of is that either UP or Komen wanted a piece of the pie and making it partially blue was enough to wash their hands of the licensing? Anyway, I really wish FVM would put that little bit of extra effort to put their products in that next level category. Don't get me wrong...I applaud them for producing the locomotive and donating some of the proceeds...well played.

 

So, are any of these photos shot in bright sunlight, like the prototype. As we all know, the type/quality of light has a HUGE effect on how things appear to the eye of the beholder. You're bent totally out of shape over the colour of a ribbon - it's a good thing you don't try to model the PRR in N scale!

 

As an NP guy and having had headaches over paint colors myriad times (hello PRR guys and UP Kato runners LOFL), be thankful the UP Armour Yellow ain't closer to BNSF Pumpkin. I can't wait to see the loco photog'd outta-da-box and under decent lighting. Hell, I'm shopping for one of these right now (support the cause)! :teeth:

 

I get that shades and gradients can difficult to reproduce, but I get why part of the ribbon on the model is blue (or black-ish) instead of pink.

Here's the ribbon on the proto.

http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/graphics/media_kit/pinkribbon/up7400_04_hires.jpg



Jason

 

I've got one sitting on the layout (unwrapped) and I think they got it pretty close. Look at the prototype, its got a purplish tint to it. I'm happy with mine and look forward to more FVM locomotives on my layout in the future.

 

Yes, definitely get a pic of this in the sunlight.

The model doesn't look that bad to me.

IMHO, I don't think this is as big of a deal as, say Kato's dark teal on their P42s.

 

Hard to tell through the plastic but the ribbon looks okay to me also. I've been "mildly" disappointed with the Kato Santa Fe yellow of late.