How many of you have the Lionel F3's from the 2013 catalog.

My unsolicited advice is to be very nice to her. She's on to something good here! I have 5 Legacy f3/f7 units in ABBA configuration. I like them a lot! To much in fact. I have the Burlington, Denver Rio Grande, Milwaukee Road, Southern Pacific and the Legacy Western Pacific from a few years back. I also have the Santa Fe F3 ABA with the post war paint from 2010.  What can I say I like the California zephyr and I have never met an F unit I didn't like. But if you buy the power B unit your rear coupler will let loose under load. Every one of mine did. Most units will have the brake details on at least one truck per unit requiring thinner traction tires. (Otherwise units will be jerky at slow speeds and/or shred original tires) You may also try bending brake detail but this is a hit or miss solution. I broke part of a side frame doing one of them! Side frames are quite detailed and look good. I don't know about smoke as I never use it. Otherwise they run and sound very very nice.  Everything else worked well out of the box. Just be careful removing them from the box there is more detail than you think. However I am not a rivet counter. I am sure others will not like them due to this or that. 

Now that's good news Mike!!!  Do you have a favorite in the bunch?

I just bought the CNJ version. The catalog depiction looked unappealing, however once I saw the set out of the box I decided to buy. They looked great! Even have the  56 57 cab #s.

they run well, after new tires, very pleased.

i have an cab 2 icon for a Mars light but no action on the engine when pressed. Anyone know the story on this?  Fred

I just got the nyc aa sharks-love them-highly detailed-

Some photos would be nice...

I have the Neil Young Pennsy AA units.

I love them and got a great pre-order price from one of our forum sponsors.

I would think now is a great time to purchase an ABA or ABBA set, as many dealers are blowing out some of the roadnames.  The Southern Pacific Black Widow was reportedly underproduced, so you probably won't find that one on blow-out -- if you'd even find it at all.  But I've definitely seen the Burlington, Rio Grande and Western Pacific sets "on sale".  Enjoy!!!

David

I am partial to Milwaukee rd as I have life experience with them but I must say the Burlington is striking and can hardly wait for the Atlas O Zephyr cars are complete. I hope I am young enough to enjoy them by the time they finish.

SP is getting harder to find but I just received my powered B and AA set yesterday from Ro. Already had the Non power B.

Would love to see photos of UP and Texas Special units. 

CNJ

Heres some video (not mine) that does a good job demonstrating the prime mover sounds, note the flange squeal. ( On a side note, Lionels f units are tricky to fill with smoke fluid. Its best to fill them, gently blow down the stack, and let them sit overnight so the fluid can make its way down the smoke outlet to the wicking)

Au Contraire.  As a rivit counter I agree they are the nicest F units available.  I have a bunch I am 2-railing/repowering.

And I think you'll find the cat whiskers ATSF harder to find than the SP.

Now I like them even more with that seal of approval!

Have any of the F7's from the 2013 catalog been released yet?  I really want to get my hands on the C&NW A-As.  When I was 5 yrs old I actually saw those exact locomotives pulling the Circus World Museum train back to Baraboo Wisconsin.  The bright Zitto Yellow F-units left quite a lasting impression.

The real deal:

Pre-Production sample at York: