Has anyone receive their PRR X31 Round roof Boxcars? How are they the Second Time Around?

Mine were fine the first time around.

-Greg

The OP is probably referring to the color.  The first release PRR cars looked okay in the catalog but as delivered were almost chocolate brown, not close to the oxide red PRR 'freight car color.'  The catalog images for the second release look pretty good, but photos of the actual as-delivered cars would be great to see.

All we can do is hope that Lionel listened and acted on the issues noted by the Forum.  We'll see in a couple of days as the cars are in the hands of dealers,

Jan

Lionel on top, MTH on bottom.  Potential inaccuracies is one reason I do not pre-order any more.

Bob posted:

The OP is probably referring to the color.  The first release PRR cars looked okay in the catalog but as delivered were almost chocolate brown, not close to the oxide red PRR 'freight car color.'  The catalog images for the second release look pretty good, but photos of the actual as-delivered cars would be great to see.

Exactly! I am DONE throwing away"Good Money!"

I agree that it is hard to order based on the announcement without seeing the product.    And some mfg do always make things to the same quality and detail from run to run, so even if you like this item, the next thing they announce may be from a different overseas maker and totally disappointing.

On the color of the PRR X31s, however, it is a mixed issue for me.    I know over the years based on the PRRT&HS documents (PRR Historical and Technical Society) that the paint on frieight cars got darker over the years as pigments changed from natural to artificial.     Also, sun, rain and various weather affect the color especially on older paints.   Then the service area may also affect it based on whatever dirt it picked up.    Finally color photos and slides fade over the years so they do not represent the "real" color.   For me, I don't worry too much about the color as long as they don't paint freight stuff with "tuscan" red which was only on Passenger.    I can usually live with any shade of boxcar red, but I too prefer the lighter ones.     I think the old Floquil "Special Oxide Red" was a very good match for it.    Too bad that Testors cancelled the line and color.

There have been several threads about the original x31 release.

https://ogrforum.com/...el-x31s-3rs-repaints

https://ogrforum.com/...-car---disappointing

Jan

Mine showed up yesterday, and I opened them up today. I was not happy when I opened and saw the circle keystone version. I would characterize it as being painted in "boxcar orange." No need to take my word for it. See for yourself. It's going back to the dealer. It is shown here with an Atlas X29 boxcar and a PRRT&HS freight car red color drift card. My room lighting is 5000k with a CRI of 92.

Next I opened up the "Stores Department" version, seen to the right. It's not as bad as the circle keystone version, though the color is still pretty badly off from the drift card color. I'm not sure if I'll keep it.

I bought the other two as well, but still have to open them up.

I definitely get the thing about not pre-ordering these things, but you never know what will be run in low quantities, then end up being all pre-sold and you can't find one. It a chance you take. The choice is yours.

Interested to read additional thoughts on this subject.

I got my order yesterday and I got the “Boxcar Orange” circle Keystone I am very disappointed and I will send it back for the stores version.I also received the shadow Keystone car and it is passable.The only thing I would preorder from Lionel would be if it was painted black.I wish Lionel would care for the buyer as much as Scott Mann at 3rd rail

I love my 1st run of SD & DD X-31's! No problem here. I can make them any shade - era you like. 

Those are a lot more favorable than the 'tootsie roll incident' and once again match the pictures in the catalog fairly well. I do wish the circle keystones were the same color as the stores department version, right or wrong. It looks like they are overcompensating for the extra dark color of the earlier run and went a little too far. They are nice cars though and I will most likely grab a set.

PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Mine showed up yesterday, and I opened them up today. I was not happy when I opened and saw the circle keystone version. I would characterize it as being painted in "boxcar orange." No need to take my word for it. See for yourself. It's going back to the dealer. It is shown here with an Atlas X29 boxcar and a PRRT&HS freight car red color drift card. My room lighting is 5000k with a CRI of 92.

Yikes Keeping the chocolate brown one for an eventual trip to Steve!

Yeah Lionel definitely should have contracted them out to Norm instead! I was hoping they would be closer to the shade he chose for his as they look wonderful to me.

MR-150 posted:

I got my order yesterday and I got the “Boxcar Orange” circle Keystone I am very disappointed and I will send it back for the stores version.I also received the shadow Keystone car and it is passable.The only thing I would preorder from Lionel would be if it was painted black.I wish Lionel would care for the buyer as much as Scott Mann at 3rd rail

  Transformed MR-150's two PRR X31's into something more believable...............

 Thanks!

I have one of the first issue and two of the second issue. All are N&W livery. I'll double check, but the color on the second issue looked exactly like the first.

I hope I can find some of them being blown out, I want to cut some up to be Stock cars like the prototype.  I'm going to re-paint them anyway.

Gene Anstine

PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Mine showed up yesterday, and I opened them up today. I was not happy when I opened and saw the circle keystone version. I would characterize it as being painted in "boxcar orange." No need to take my word for it. See for yourself. It's going back to the dealer. It is shown here with an Atlas X29 boxcar and a PRRT&HS freight car red color drift card. My room lighting is 5000k with a CRI of 92.

Next I opened up the "Stores Department" version, seen to the right. It's not as bad as the circle keystone version, though the color is still pretty badly off from the drift card color. I'm not sure if I'll keep it.

I bought the other two as well, but still have to open them up.

I definitely get the thing about not pre-ordering these things, but you never know what will be run in low quantities, then end up being all pre-sold and you can't find one. It a chance you take. The choice is yours.

Interested to read additional thoughts on this subject.

With allowances for color renditionon my computer:Keystone Modeler dealt with Freight Car Color exhaustively some years ago. One recommendation was Floquil Zinc Oxide. It *appears* to be similar to the circle keystone X-31 you show. Anyway, that's what I paint my steam era PRR equipment with. No fuss, no muss.

These models were great to see and have. I have them in H.O. as well.

Now if I can get MTH to update their boring boxcar line up, we just might have everything needed in true O!  Combo doors next?