Big boy boiler overhang

However the items that get knocked over and/or smashed, might not "feel better".

OK all you naysayers, give us one practical way they could make the clearance less on our way smaller than prototypical "large" curves and I bet you will be highly recommended as a designer on the next engine

A rubber boiler that would bend to the curve of the track, would be very cool, not prototypical though.

Fred

May not be prototypical but it would match the spiral mountain climbing scene in the polar express though!

We have already made the COMPROMISE of the third rail! 

Just enjoy your new Big Boys! 

Exactly.  I can't tell you how many times I've been tempted to go back to HO gauge - the grass always seems greener, especially in cases like this where scale is involved.  But you forget about the downsides - incredibly delicate and tiny parts, coupler mismatch, track wiring, the inability to even see all the detail you paid for, etc.   

As Clint Eastwood famously proclaimed:  a man's go to know his limitations.  At the moment mine are O-60 minimum curves.   That still leaves a lot to work with, both semi-scale and scale.  I may not be able to run some of these beasts, but I appreciate them for what they are.   

If one is truly concerned with scale operations across all dimensions, N scale is where it's at.   Beyond that, it's give and take.   

Why is overhang such a big deal?  The articulateds were purposely built to negotiate turns that would otherwise be prohibitive.  Same exact principle pertains to the model, only the model is more aggressively taking advantage of this engineering stroke of brilliance.  So the overhang isn't quite realistic... Hmmm, neither is that third rail.   

Question - I finally unpacked my VL BB and wow, what a loco!!  But, one of the wheels on the front truck has deep scrape marks (down to shiny metal) from over-machining or something. Not a real functional issue as far as I can tell.  obviously a factory defect and for the price of this thing, I don't think it's asking too much to expect the entire loco to be in non-defective new condition?  Thoughts on whether to do nothing or contact Charlie Ro or Lionel or ...?

Also, the whistle sound (at factory setting volume) is a little distorted (enough that it's noticeable) like a small car speaker system with volume set too high. Is this normal?  

Thanks.

Peter 

PJB, at the price of this Big Boy, I would ask Charles Ro to Replace it. I do not think that's to much to ask. The recent videos have really been good concerning the Whistle/Steam effect, depleting coal load, chuffing, Whistle Echo effect, and Smoking Powerfully....Your engine should have absolutely no flaws...Good Luck.