Hey Lionel - 'Stainless Panels' on the new Santa Fe F3's?

Sam, that's what we were told when those F3's were catalog'd.  So hopefully that's what will be produced.   If not, then that will pretty much be the final nail in the coffin for a lot of folks -- including myself -- pre-ordering BTO items when the final product delivered is significantly different than what was promised at catalog pre-order time.  Lionel's track record has not been the best in this regard, so let's hope for something that meets the expectations set with the catalog on this one.

Aside from seeing the sample Hiawatha S-3 loco (which looked very nice) in the early minutes of Ryan & Dave's 2018 Big Book Catalog Review video, there hasn't been all that much said about products catalog'd in 2017 Volume 2.  I guess the year-end 2017 deliveries and the 21" passenger cars slipping into 1Q2018 have been getting most of everybody's attention in terms of what's coming out of the factory, what's "on the water", and what's being shipped to dealers and ultimately consumers.  Next up will likely be the Mogul repairs, and after that I suspect attention will turn to product deliveries of 2017 Volume 2.

April York would be a good time for Lionel to display production samples of these goodies, including the Santa Fe F3's.  I think they had the Hiawatha S-3 on display at this year's Big-E show in January, but I don't recall anybody saying much about it here on the forum.  I only saw a glimpse of it on that video I mentioned above.  Nothing I'm aware of on the F3's yet.

David

Lionel said they will have the stainless panels, as discussed in threads several months ago.

I asked specifically and was told by Ryan @Conrail6358 they'd be stainless.  Because of this I ordered a shell from the 2010 PW Paint scheme F3B during the warehouse sale because I wanted the super bass unit for my 2010 set to match.  It's patiently waiting for it's new frame.  I will most likely have a stainless shell for sale soon after.  

From Steve Nelson’s special run of additional road numbers. See the annotated note regarding the panels. 

Thanks a lot fellas for the good information here.  I have a set of the earlier TMCC units, train #18 in the ABBA configuration that I'm most pleased with. Don't know if I could justify paying the difference from what I could sell them for to 'upgrade' to the newer set. Given a choice, how many of you would buy the new Lionel's over the recently issued Atlas, 3Rd Rail, or MTH's beautiful stainless F units?

Have these ordered.  I still would like to see the Kinematic pilot on the Legacy/Bluetooth F3's. 

Offer for sale the decorated shells for owners of previous scale F3 renditions to upgrade?  An act of good will by Lionel ( at no cost to Lionel ) to past customers?  Yeah, right!

Rider Sandman,

What is this about Steve Nelson's "special run?"

Hello  Brad.  Steve (Mr. Muffin) realized the long-felt demand for Legacy ATSF Warbonnets and created a second set of road numbers beyond what is in the catalog. He should (may) still have some left. He is the only guy who has them. They are identical to the catalog units, but in an additional road number. Good stuff. 

Yes - we still have some left if you'd like to preorder a pair - no deposit required..... you can find them here. 

brwebster posted:

Offer for sale the decorated shells for owners of previous scale F3 renditions to upgrade?  An act of good will by Lionel ( at no cost to Lionel ) to past customers?  Yeah, right!

Now that would be a great marketing idea. Upgrade existing sets. I'm sure Lionel would make money on this.

c.sam posted:

Can anyone tell me if the new AT&SF F3's (6-85196) will have the stainless panels like Atlas, 3rd Rail and MTH have in recent releases?

Thanks 

Just a note - the correct number for the Santa Fe F-3 is 6-85186. The OP's number is for a Texas & Pacific F-3.

Ro has these coming in on May 5th. If that date is accurate then the Santa Fe F3's should be just about ready to ride a vessel across the sea. Perhaps @Dave Olson could share a few production pictures. 

If these have the lower ride height of the early TMCC versions, and the close coupling of the late TMCC/ Legacy F7's they could be a real hit.

For all of the raving over the Atlas versions, the length of the couplers, and the gap between the units is hideous. I understand alot of folks are swapping them out with Kadees but jeez.

RickO posted:

If these have the lower ride height of the early TMCC versions, and the close coupling of the late TMCC/ Legacy F7's they could be a real hit.

For all of the raving over the Atlas versions, the length of the couplers, and the gap between the units is hideous. I understand alot of folks are swapping them out with Kadees but jeez.

Do you have the Atlas F7's? I have the Atlas F7 ABBA's . The couplers are not long between the units . There is no large gap between them. I think you are thinking of some other F7's as the Atlas look good.

RickO posted:

If these have the lower ride height of the early TMCC versions, and the close coupling of the late TMCC/ Legacy F7's they could be a real hit.

For all of the raving over the Atlas versions, the length of the couplers, and the gap between the units is hideous. I understand alot of folks are swapping them out with Kadees but jeez.

The Atlas units couple very close. Guessing you're thinking of the Lionel F's with the extended operating coupler, our latest MTH units have the same issue.