Keystoned Ed posted:Mike - IMO the Weaver M1b isn't worth the upgrade effort if you are financially in a position to replace it with one of the better detailed 3 rail M1a/b's imported by Lionel or Sunset 3rd Rail in the years since the Weaver came in. On the plus side like most late production Samhongsa models they are well made (they don't shed parts parts like many early production Samhongsa models) and the drive train is solid. Back in the day I rebuilt the front end of my 2 rail Weaver M1b (relocated the pilot and air tank, replaced and centered the lead truck) but it still had a barren look when compared to the prototype. Hover from a scale dimensions perspective the Weaver was closer to prototype than the USH/KTM M1b (too fat boiler, too short tender). Over a span of 40 years, on my railroad a Weaver M1b displaced a USH M1b, and still later an Overland M1b replaced the Weaver.
Simon - A friend and I advised Scott Mann on development of the Sunset 3rd Rail L1s. We worked hard to harmonize the era specific details on the pre and post war version of the model, providing drawings, photos, and review comments on the pilot model. While not every change made it to production, IMO the Sunset model is the most accurate O scale PRR L1s locomotive commercially produced to date.
The L1s is a wonderful model. I own two which was the limit of my finances at the time. Most saddening is that it is a slow seller or we'd likely have more accurate PRR steam such as G5's or I1's or even early K Pacifics.
In your original reply to my "why" post you made a point that I usually don't pick up on. Most of the PRR models were done in the era when accurate drawings just didn't exist and concessions were made.
By the time the "modern" times arrived the market was saturated and was dwindling as more modelers moved in to the diesel era so builders needed to make concessions to make the models appropriate for both the 2 rail and the 3 rail market.
Interestingly, accurate PRR locomotives such as the Key H series, which are accurate but dated in their level of detailing, still command a premium price.
PRR certainly has few glamorous steamers and this likely contributes to the lack of interest in the workaday world of G/H/I/L model locomotives.
