The following should be seen as a personal opinion and not a criticism of the product line. Be aware that I have purchased over forty of these coaches, predominantly for my personal use, with around twelve units as ‘factory seconds’ due paint flaws. In effect these seconds were almost to the relatively high standard (within reason) of the normally priced cars.
I would not hesitate to purchase further cars from the manufacturer. Hammonds have the ‘rights’ to the high arch ‘Harz’ style roof moulding as opposed to the Saxon style Newqida moulding. They also hold rights to the excellent graphics portrayed on the cars.
Any criticism must be related to the very low prices that these cars are offered at and opinions expressed by me are my personal opinions and observations based on the forty or so purchases, to date, of the coaches. They are without doubt the best value for money European prototype offerings around and this is why I would recommend them as affordable and relatively well made and finished cars.
There is, however, a downside to low prices and that is consistency of assembly and finish. Some cars are impeccably presented and others are basically spare part value only. Remember that I am basing my opinion on over forty purchases and have seen a fair cross section of the coaches available. I also purchased non-prototypical paint schemes as a basis for repainting to my requirements and in reality it is indeed a shame to remove these factory finishes as they are indeed very attractive paint schemes.
Now the downside of multiple purchases. It is indeed essential to purchase more cars than required due inconsistencies in assembly and multiple missing pieces. I really fail to see how an assembly worker could package cars with all roof vents missing, missing underframe trussrods, missing end gates, multiple missing end grab rails, missing walkway platforms, handbrake handles, brakehoses and even missing wheelsets!
Today, I even received a still factory sealed car that was contaminated with what I really hope was nothing more than coffee stains. I hate to think what other substance it may have been. This car was still sealed and could only have been contaminated on the assembly line.
A common assembly fault is the end rail mouldings. While they are a different shape on the high-arch Harz style cars, they still suffer incorrect assembly as do the Saxon style cars. These mouldings, while they look similar are actually very different and if one assembles the wrong end rail moulding to the end of the car, then the moulding is squeezed banana style, distorting the endwall vertical bulkheads, plus distroting the vertical grab/supoport bars that extend to the roof edge. The end mouldings are ‘handed’ but it seems the factory workers have not been instructed as to correct assembly techniques.
I am not criticising these products as if one receives a well made and presented car, they are receiving a bargain. However, the flip side is that there are many cars packaged with multiple missing items and assembly scratching/marring of the painted finish. Hammonds are well aware of paint inconsistencies and have advised the manufacturer to improve their finish. I overlook the paint finish as I received enough cars to have a reasonably well finished multiple sets of cars in multiple period correct paint finishes, but I did not reckon on the number of cars that will basically require refinishing (these do not include the factory second cars purchased) or scavenging to make up complete cars.
My opinion may at times seem harsh, but then I am paying for the missing parts that I did not receive due poorly finished/assembled cars and am paying for replacement cars to provide spare parts to complete the cars already received.
I do hope Hammonds are not offended by my observations but see them as constructive criticisms. As stated several times, they are excellent value for money and generally reasonably well finished. I would definately purchase further cars if needed. My sample cross section is based on many more items than the average modeller would purchase and my findings may seem extreme. If I purchased one car in total and it was an excellent example of the product line, then one would have a very high opinion of the product. I have seen both the best and possibly the worst that could be received. I know that European based modellers have express much disdain as to poor paint finish quality. Hammonds promise that future factory runs will be better. My criticism is more directed to the multiple missing items, which to replace require purchasing further cars purely as donor cars to strip for parts.
End finding is that these are truly excellent value for money, but keep in mind that the item received may or may not be complete. Also, keep in mind that the clear plastic shipping retainers the car is packaged in, do not really protect the car from intransit damage, thus broken parts may be anticipated. I thoroughly recommend these cars to those who find the prototype fascinating (like myself) but whose budget does not extend to the many hundereds of dollars per car, that better made and finished cars cost.
