Latest Lionel Big Boy “💥BOOM💥 “

Looking forward to the video of your first run!

Nice, I ordered one also.

Nice! How does the "Big Boy" graphic look on the smokebox?

Assuming the "white device" is the radio antenna?

Jon

The Big Boy graphic looks great. The fantasy gray version of the locomotive is very nice. (Mine arrived broken) As for the first run edition. Mine arrived looking as if a toddler had rattle canned it. Not too impressed with Lionel's quality control. (Will also add, each and every one of the Bush funeral cars received at the same time all exhibited broken parts).

N&W 1218 - Just for clarity, what's the item number of your Big Boy?  Thanks.

@vash44 posted:

The Big Boy graphic looks great. The fantasy gray version of the locomotive is very nice. (Mine arrived broken) As for the first run edition. Mine arrived looking as if a toddler had rattle canned it. Not too impressed with Lionel's quality control. (Will also add, each and every one of the Bush funeral cars received at the same time all exhibited broken parts).

 

I'm convinced after helping at my LHS on Saturdays, 95% of Lionel's issues with broken parts are not QC but packaging.  The boxes are flimsier, internal packing isn't always adequate, and why most are not a top bottom cradle rather than trying to pull a locomotive out and re packaging it from the side is beyond me.  You fix the packaging and you fix a lot of their issues.  From the looks of yours, some of that is definitely pre-packaging problems.

@PH1975 posted:

N&W 1218 - Just for clarity, what's the item number of your Big Boy?  Thanks.

Looking up the "Excursion Version" Big Boy at Mr. Muffin's, it comes up 2031261

Since that is the latest "oil burning" version of #4014, wonder why Lionel left those 2 big red "ash pan door" handles on?

So Vash, what are you thoughts on your engine? I know if I received something like that I would probably do the repairs myself assuming the parts were still in the box, but the paint, no way. The only fix for that is a complete strip and repaint. No excuse for that in this day and age.

Pete

@Norton posted:

So Vash, what are you thoughts on your engine? I know if I received something like that I would probably do the repairs myself assuming the parts were still in the box, but the paint, no way. The only fix for that is a complete strip and repaint. No excuse for that in this day and age.

Pete

Weathering?

@Norton posted:

So Vash, what are you thoughts on your engine? I know if I received something like that I would probably do the repairs myself assuming the parts were still in the box, but the paint, no way. The only fix for that is a complete strip and repaint. No excuse for that in this day and age.

Pete

My thoughts are the first run edition paint quality is very poor for an engine that requires a strong monetary investment. Not even sure I want a replacement for the exact model. The other 4014 would be a strong contender. Tender was sloppy compared to my VL challenger tenders. Had too much adhesive around the decals leaving dullness around those areas. Other than that, good details on the engine and the platform has strong potential. 

As for the 4012, if the front had simply fallen off, I would have replaced the parts. The brackets holding it in place bent and twisted. Wasn't going to risk breaking them and finding out replacement parts were not available. Had a few handrails that were broken too. Tender was perfect and felt like a waste having to send it back. Not sure how many people may be after the fantasy version, but it paired very nicely with the 3977 VL Challenger paint.

@Hot Water posted:

Since that is the latest "oil burning" version of #4014, wonder why Lionel left those 2 big red "ash pan door" handles on?

Probably because it was cheaper to make them like that instead of getting rid of them. Also, if that was the case, why is the dynamo by the ashpan when the prototype has it on top of the boiler? 

@PH1975 posted:

N&W 1218 - Just for clarity, what's the item number of your Big Boy?  Thanks.

First Run Version #2031700

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Probably because it was cheaper to make them like that instead of getting rid of them. Also, if that was the case, why is the dynamo by the ashpan when the prototype has it on top of the boiler? 

How is it cheaper to make something by not leaving it off?

Also looks like that there oil burning locomotive has the ash pan...

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

How is it cheaper to make something by not leaving it off?

Also looks like that there oil burning locomotive has the ash pan...

Rusty

Change the die versus do nothing 

@cjack posted:

Change the die versus do nothing 

Exactly. Looking back, Lionel has already changed the die for the pilot so they already spent some extra money on this product. Also, if Lionel did not put them on the locomotive there would be two screw holes. Now, if someone wanted to take them off then they could just unscrew the knobs but there will be two holes. In other words, it would be cheaper to do nothing because they do not have to spend more money to make a difference.

any photos of the entire engine and tender

Yes Please post pics of the greyhound and the overall photo of the 1st run version!

That is a beautiful looking engine.  I am really sorry to hear that they are arriving with pieces broken off.  That's a shame.

John

I unpacked a NIB Vision Line Big Boy and due to poor packing the boiler door hinges were mangled by the door opening in shipment.  However, I was able to buy the parts necessary and make it as good as new.

The biggest packing one so far that had me shaking my head is the VL GG-1.  If there ever is a candidate for a top / bottom styrofoam pack it's that one.  Trying to get that engine into and out of that foam on it's side is extremely difficult and I suspect  more that a few folks did some damage packing and unpacking.

Hopefully Lionel will make good for you.  It just seems packing was better years back.  Unfortunately the more detail we ask for the better chance of these issues.

@jim911 posted:

any photos of the entire engine and tender

Here’s a video I shot this am!

https://youtu.be/XHnr1dCP9Dw

Wow Guys, Thanks for posting!  That 1st run doenst look as bad as I was led to believe...  I would have preferred gloss tender but I get why they did this...  it will say 3985 on the back of the tender?

I love that greyhound.  My dealer is getting both in next week, for me to pick which one i want.  I might have to have both!

@N&W 1218 posted:

Here’s a video I shot this am!

https://youtu.be/XHnr1dCP9Dw

Sounds like it has the dual chuff!

@Super O Bob posted:

 it will say 3985 on the back of the tender?

 

I’ve seen several videos and I don’t see 3985 on the rear of the tender during the First Run or the excursions. I’m pretty sure they used the 3985 tender. Once again Lionel got it right. 

too bad on the tender.  I wonder if they covered over the 3985 lettering in the first run in real life...  I will have to go look...

ok, looks like the 3985 was covered over.  here it just says UP.

 this is probably where Lionel got the idea to dress down the tender.  It looks more satin here, but appeared shiney in the later runs.  Note only 'UP' on the back and '3985' lettering was painted over...  4014 tender is next to this 3985 tender!

I really like the cab floor logo!

@Super O Bob posted:

Wow Guys, Thanks for posting!  That 1st run doenst look as bad as I was led to believe...  I would have preferred gloss tender but I get why they did this...  it will say 3985 on the back of the tender?

 

I love that greyhound.  My dealer is getting both in next week, for me to pick which one i want.  I might have to have both!

The greyhound is very impressive! My favorite of the 2 by far. When I get the new one back I will get pictures of it and the challenger.

Given Lionel is doing both a first run set and and excursion set wouldn't the excursion set have the glossy tender. Otherwise what differentiates the two?

Pete

@Norton posted:

Given Lionel is doing both a first run set and and excursion set wouldn't the excursion set have the glossy tender. Otherwise what differentiates the two?

Pete

Good question Pete. I’d like to see the Excursion Version also. 👍🏻

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Exactly. Looking back, Lionel has already changed the die for the pilot so they already spent some extra money on this product. Also, if Lionel did not put them on the locomotive there would be two screw holes. Now, if someone wanted to take them off then they could just unscrew the knobs but there will be two holes. In other words, it would be cheaper to do nothing because they do not have to spend more money to make a difference.

Like you said, they are add on parts, not part of the die.  It would have been cheaper to not put them on then make them and add them.  And due to how far under the cab they are, you're not going to notice the empty holes.  But being they are tapped hole, they may not even be in the mold and are drilled after the fact.

But this is a beautiful locomotive.  I wish I could have gotten one, but I can't justify the cost at this time in my life.

Which diesel are you going to use to shove the Big Boy around the layout?

After all, that would be prototypical. 

@Rich Melvin posted:

Which diesel are you going to use to shove the Big Boy around the layout?

After all, that would be prototypical. 

LMAO.  Rich keep that up you are going to get banned.

@N&W 1218 posted:

Good question Pete. I’d like to see the Excursion Version also. 👍🏻

excursion version is all in standard satin finish, and no big boy chalk.  I was trying to find out if it comes  with silver painted bearing caps... The greyhound was cataloged with black caps, but came in silver...

So was the run to the Golden Spike considered the first run? I had assumed it had its original tender by then. All the pictures I saw of that train everything including the tender and 844 were in high gloss black.

Pete

@N&W 1218 posted:

Here’s a video I shot this am!

https://youtu.be/XHnr1dCP9Dw

Great video, looks and sounds terrific great smoke too.

JohnB

@Norton posted:

So was the run to the Golden Spike considered the first run?

Yes.

I had assumed it had its original tender by then.

No. They didn't have enough time to rebuild/convert the original tender, thus the tender was taken from 3985 (which would never run again anyway) which had already been rebuilt & converted to oil fuel.

All the pictures I saw of that train everything including the tender and 844 were in high gloss black.

Correct. That's the way the UP likes them.

Pete