Blue comet, Lionel or MTH?

I believe most people would say the Lionel model is more generic with a nice paint job while the MTH model is more accurate and has the more prototypical wooten firebox.  To me, the MTH model still has too much "air" gaps around the back trucks that look distracting.  MTH could have disguised it with some detail like the prototype, but to me it's just distracting.  Both will be great trains either way and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I will hopefully be picking up Lionel model this Saturday. 

Thanks sir, you have lots of very good arguments, particularly for the tender space with the train.  Each models have something more to offer to its loyal customers.

The Lionel locomotive is $1099.99 not $1600.00. Are you including the passenger cars in that price?

Yes sir, I inclued the passenger cars, I live in Canada so it's gonna be a little bit higher, about 150$ or 200$.

The Lionel will have much better sound (I have the Southern Crescent from the same production run as well as some very recent MTH PS2 and PS3 steamers to compare to) and perhaps slightly more detai. up close, and a few nice features like that whistle steam, etc., that the MTH does not have.  The Lionel passenger cars are quite nice: I don't know about the MTH ones.  There won't be much more difference in terms of running, etc.: I have several very recent Legacy and a PS3 steamer and all do very well indeed.

Just to make mention, I have noticed that the New Blue Comet still uses the under engine switch system while the New Southern uses the newer on top of engine switch system, simular to the vision line Hudson. I am not aware of what the Alton uses.

If you want a locomotive that's actually a model of the prototype, then it's MTH.  Neither MTH nor Lionel has made accurate models of the cars.

I'm new in model railroading, last month, I purchase the 2 same Diesel locomotives, an MTH and a Lionel, the last one gonna be at home this week.  I'm gonna compare but I think Diesel and Steam Locomotives can be very different in details.  On the blue comet, I noticed a difference at the wheels, MTH has a half moon blue, which leaves me very puzzled, but it sure looks a rather incoherent.

Although I don't have any tinplate. If I was thinking about getting a Blue Comet it would have to be the tinplate 263e or the standard gauge version.

Regards

Nick

not a bad idea sir Nick.

Here are a couple photos of my scale MTH Blue Comet (which I had translated over to TMCC) which might help in your decision. I bought it before Lionel made one, as far as I knew. Unfortunately, having it changed to TMCC caused me to lose the strong "smoke-ability" of the MTJ engine, alas. (I like copious smoke from my steam locomotives.) Yet, it sure is good lookin' , to me.

Awesome pictures sir, you're layout looks awesome too, could I see more of your layout somewhere on the web?  undoubtedly the MTH Blue comet locomotive responds to my needs of beginner, I did not even have a steam locomotive.

I'm glad you found my photos of the MTH Blue Comet pertinent, Heros88.

Thank you for the compliment and your kind interest in seeing more of my layout. Two suggestions in that regard:
You might want to take a look at the "Scenery & Structures" forum, here, and go to a thread, "What would you...a cliff area?" I've posted several photos there of parts of my layout to illustrate what I used for hillsides and rockface.

Also, I have a website at layoutrefinements.com .

Thanks again.

Frank

Thanks Mr. Mullen, awesome work I look at your refinements since an hour, you're website is on my favorite list right now!

I receive my Lionel SD-70 M-2 locomotive tuesday and the Lionel blue comet gonna be my choice.  The set gonna wait a bit because of the $$$.  A UP big boy gonna follow for Christmas, a must have!

HI 88, good choice. I like the MTH model but that Lionel engine sure sits pretty in the catalog.