Is this hopper real or repainted?- updated 12/16/17

I'm thinking its a repaint

Not that repaints are bad, but it is probably a repaint.

I'm a 2-rail modeler, so I am not very familiar with 3-rail equipment, but I do have a question: Why do you think this particular piece has been repainted? Is it something about the color, or the appearance that makes you say "probably a repaint" -- I'm just interested in knowing what your opinion is based on.

 Terrible color in the picture (too pale/ poor lighting), but looks like it is the 816 style hopper from the 51001 "Lionel Classics" set made in 1989. I have attached pictures of both sides of both of mine. Note the 8816 number plates are congruent with the Ebay listing.

Just like the original 816, they are empty. The central wheel permits the theoretical unloading of material through the bottom hatches.

The essentially identical, albeit larger Standard Gauge 516 often has a tin simulated coal load.

Überstationmeister posted:

 Terrible color in the picture (too pale/ poor lighting), but looks like it is the 816 style hopper from the 51001 "Lionel Classics" set made in 1989. I have attached pictures of both sides of both of mine. Note the 8816 number plates.

Thank you for the pictures.  I agree the one shown is very pale compared to yours.  I just didn’t know if the blue color was something that had been done at all. 

Did this car come with coal loads or did the original come empty as shown in the picture I found?

B Smith posted:

I'm a 2-rail modeler, so I am not very familiar with 3-rail equipment, but I do have a question: Why do you think this particular piece has been repainted? Is it something about the color, or the appearance that makes you say "probably a repaint" -- I'm just interested in knowing what your opinion is based on.

It is not a standard color variation that was originally sold and it is pretty easy to take one apart and repaint it nicely.  There are no decals to worry about, so it's pretty easy.  If the price is right and you like the color, go for it though!

It has nickel trim and box coupler. It is the 8816 hopper as Uber states. Doubt a repaint, just the lighting when the picture was taken.

Definitely bad photo and lighting.

Well I ordered it, so we will see what it looks like in person when it arrives

Thank you all for commenting

My new hopper arrived today and it’s much nicer than the picture. Here’s my new hopper up against an mth 2816.  I am pretty sure Santa has a few other colors of these waiting in the sleigh for me

I can’t wait to see a nice train of these hoppers strung together.

Now that they are side by side I wish the mth version didn’t have blacked out wheels and axle boxes.  (Not complaining - still thrilled)

jhz563 posted:

My new hopper arrived today and it’s much nicer than the picture. Here’s my new hopper up against an mth 2816.  I am pretty sure Santa has a few other colors of these waiting in the sleigh for me

I can’t wait to see a nice train of these hoppers strung together.

Now that they are side by side I wish the mth version didn’t have blacked out wheels and axle boxes.  (Not complaining - still thrilled)

The blue one looks (as others have mentioned) to be the Lionel Classics hopper from the 90's?  I can't remember when the set was made, but they did a whole freight train.  Nice piece.

The journal boxes and wheels could easily be swapped for shiny ones on your MTH car.  Lionel O gauge journals are common as dirt.  That being said, the black ones are more accurate with that car being rubber stamped, rather than having nickel or brass # plates.

Glad you got a nice car.

So the blue is the Lionel Classics hopper, but who made the gray one without the brass plates? LCT?

Tinplate Art posted:

So the blue is the Lionel Classics hopper, but who made the gray one without the brass plates? LCT?

The gray is actually black, just a little camera flash bounce back mixed in.  It is LCT (mth)11-70032.