Cornerstone-Disappointed

[Davidfd85]

Now this might be considered a bit of a rant, but I am not slamming Walthers either. I like the Cornerstone series of HO buildings and have several of them throughout my layout. But I've ran into problems with the last three that I have gotten, Backwoods Loco/Car shop, Heritage Furniture background building and the Santa Fe Switch Tower. In all 3 they were missing or short parts, window glass mainly there just wasn't the right number of parts for all the windows. In the Heritage Furniture it was both not enough window glass and the two roof sections were not the right size and I had to trim them down to make them fit properly. Now I made the window glass from some clear plastic I had so it was just a bit more work and the trimming down of the roof sections wasn't that hard.
I'm just a little disappointed in the quality control of the kits. Has anyone else run into this problem? I know I could have called or e-mailed Walthers and got the parts sent to me but I just didn't want the buildings sitting around waiting on the replacement parts that I feel should have been in the kits. I like thier buildings and will get more I'm sure.

[joed2323]

I totally understand, for the price we pay for some of these awesome structures they should be flawless, and double checked before they leave the factory for no missing parts...

I can see with one structure here and there being off but you have 3 different structures, theres no question that walthers quality control isnt up to par...

I know you are not the only one with issues either.

[Larry]

I've found the same thing w/Walthers kits just in the last year or so. 2 years ago when I bought their kits everything was right up to par. I wonder if someone else is making their kits now?

[OldGuy]

So, did any one ever write Wathers to express your concerns? And did anyone get an answer back?

[Railrunner130]

Usually places like that know of issues and will gladly send new parts no questions asked.

[NH Mike]

I have several of their background buildings and 2 more yet to be built. All of them so far included the same amount of doors, window frames and glass as the full version of the same basic kit. So other than shorter side walls and not including the back walls and related full roof pieces mine have been complete with a lot left over. I use those extras for kitbashing projects here and there. My latest is the Parkview Terrace Apartments background kit which I got at the LHS a few weeks ago with his weekly order from Walthers and it is not missing any trim parts.

Just a guess but maybe they are trying to hold costs down by not including anything other than the exact amount of parts needed to build the background kit and at some point that plan got messed up.

[NH Mike]

Originally Posted by Larry

I've found the same thing w/Walthers kits just in the last year or so. 2 years ago when I bought their kits everything was right up to par. I wonder if someone else is making their kits now?

Larry my most recent kit, Parkview Terrace Apartments, says Made in Denmark on the box. Unless this kit was older stock then it looks like the kits are still being made by Heljan.

[Larry]

I've got 4 Walthers kits in my stash right now that I haven't put together. I hope I don't have all the problems that you-all are having right now. If I do Walthers(Horizon)will hear about it.

[joed2323]

If anything, ive been getting extra parts in my walthers kits.
I recently built the walthers paper mill structures and i had a few extra leftover building peices. I could probably make another building or kit bash something together with the left over peices.

I think maybe you received a structure that was made last on a friday

[montanan]

I have run across this problem a few times and after contacting Walthers, they were great at getting the parts to me. I have found their customer service to be great.