chug posted:With this topic back in play, I wish to add an update to my original post. Fortunately, I was able to obtain replacements for the damaged underbody detail casting on my Lionel passenger cars from Lionel. At $10 apiece it did not break the bank and I did buy extras. It is becoming increasing difficult to obtain replacement parts for modern generation trains and I was lucky to find these parts still available.
Now if Mike Wolf would just re-introduce the P5a Boxcab and run off some spare body shells.......
Eric Hofberg
While $10 per part may not break the bank, from an ethical standpoint, I think that it is unconscionable for Lionel to charge you for the part. Zinc pest is the definition of a manufacturer's defect. It is an insidious one at that, since as we know, it can take longer to manifest if the items are stored in ideal conditions. Once a batch has been identified as having the defect, the company should be recalling the entire batch, regardless of whether or not the warranty has expired. That the industry as a whole has not stepped it up and eliminated this problem shows a lack of respect for their customers.
If MTH has stepped up their quality control and worked with their manufacturers to eliminate their problem, good for them. But they still should be recalling all defective products, regardless of age. If they already have, bravo!
