I called my dealer and asked him to open up and inspect my Blue Comet "Barnard" coach for any signs of chipping along the edges of the roof. He reported back that everything looked good.
After my Showroom Cars experience, this will be my modus operandi for all future tinplate purchases. 
Actually, I am at a bit of a "saturation" point at BOTH of my homes, regarding storage and layout space:
Currently have the following SG roster:
Engines:
"Lionel Classics" dark gray 2-400E
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" P-2 Blue Comet 400E (nickel trim)
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" dark green traditional 408E
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" apple green traditional 408E
LCT P-2 green "Big Brute"
Rolling Stock:
LCT FOUR "Showroom Cars"
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" four-car apple green 418 series set (w/six-wheel trucks)
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" "California", "New York", & "Maryland" state cars
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" Blue Comet set with fourth "Halley" car (nickel trim)
LCT nickel trim "Barnard" coach
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" 219P motorized crane car peacock/red/dk. green roof
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" 220 floodlight car terra cotta/black
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" TCA 2003 Nat. Conv. SP Work Caboose (cream/orange)
LCT Maroon 200 series gondola
LCT Mojave 200 series dump car (nickel trim)
Accessories:
Lionel repro 840 Power Station
Lionel repro 128 station/terrace
MTH "Tinplate traditions" floodlight tower set (three pea green/terra cotta)
"Lionel Classics" 126 station cream/state green
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" 437 switch tower terra cotta/peacock roof
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" 436 Power Station terra cotta/cream
MTH "Tinplate Traditions" 436 TCA Nat. Conv. Power Station cream/red
American Flyer ORIGINAL #102 station red/green roof w/litho brick/brass doors
Lionel repro #97 coal elevator (1997)
Lionel American Flyer repro track gang set
Needles to say, I will NOT be ordering anything from the LCT 2012 catalog! 
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