It has been well-done by Lionel as the CV - but could be better underneath.
4 - What is missing is the Century-styled 5344 as it appeared on Mercury service (the Pacifics had been re-assigned). It looks like a J3a but it's a J1e. Scullin discs, but not the same Scullins as the J3a. Different here and there, tender and all. The
Century-styled Hudson that never pulled the Century dressed that way.
I want #4 more than another CV. Then I would have a complete 5344 Progression.
Now that I think about it, if Lionel were to re-release the Vision Hudson with the CV streamlining, it wouldn't look half bad. Lionel did slightly revamp the running gear on that model, I think the drivers were borrowed from the K-Line Hudson and they look much nicer than the old school 700E ones. My first choice would still be 3rd Rail importing a brass one, but I could probably live with a Vision CV Hudson.
As for the Dreyfuss Mercury 5344, probably never modeled since it's arguably the least known stage of that locomotive's life along with the final as-scrapped appearance. I'd bet most people would think it was a fantasy model of 5344. Little would they know...
(Interesting to note in this photo the pilot truck is still wearing the CV white walls.)
