Can anyone refresh my memory on these (the Conventional Classics Santa Fe F3 AAs)? Was there some issue with the color that was used? Have a line on buying the pair and was curious. Assume they ran well? Thanks.
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the red color was way off. Lionel offered replacement shells. They should run pretty decent. Pwd unit has a horn/bell
Hey thanks, Christopher. At least I didn't imagine this. 
Thought I recalled some color issue.
The replacement shells for the Santa Fe Conventional Classics AAs are no longer available, so you need to ask the seller if he had his original shells replaced.
The good news is, no matter which shells the two units have, the powered A Unit runs well.
Hope this helps.
Ed Boyle
Parner
Special Projects Editor
O Gauge Railroading magazine
Thanks, Ed. Good advice.
I guess I'm a little wary if it was so bad that they offered replacement shells. The price seems right so I'll check with seller on the shells.
Good runners, along with the rest of the F3's from the CC line. They all sat a bit low in the back of the powered "A" unit, because Lionel removed the nubs from the sideframe positioning plate. Easily fixed with key ring. My favorites are the Big IC A-B-A set, and the New Haven McGinnis "FL3s". Too bad they never did the B units they said they were going to do; they got NASCARed into oblivion !
The dull color never bothered me, so I kept them .I can't remember, if you ordered replacement shells, did you have to return the dull colored ones?
Weren't the original shells closer in color to true Santa Fe red? Did they use real Santa Fe F-unit images to match the color? I think people wanted the Lionel red, hence the replacement shells.
I did notice the dull color on a set at a local hobby shop, but Jr pointed out something even worse about them. The detail on the nose of the set that we saw looked like something was wrong with the mould process. The area around the two front side markers (the round dimples on an F3's front cheek) was droopy as if the mould was worn out or the shell got removed too soon & it dripped or something. Looked bad & was surprised it made it past quality control.
Larry Neal:
Correct! The shells that came with them originally, were a true match to the original 1:1 Santa Fe F3 colors, which were a dull red. In other scales (HO, etc.) the Santa Fe's are this dull red, too. Lionel was trying to be more prototypical!
However, those who had the postwar F3's remember the red being very glossy and were disappointed with the newer, more prototypical red. So, Lionel offered glossy replacement shells in a swap deal, the dull more prototypical shells could be swapped for glossy red shells.
John Knapp
Erie, not Eerie
