LionChief Plus NW2 Milwaukee Road Orange color choice

They painted the scale NW2 the same neon orange.

Here is the prototype in the Monticello Railway Museum.   Is it brighter than this?

(photos removed 8/18/19)

Bob

Yeah it is.  The orange they used glows!  It's easy to see in the example you provided.  Look how the maroon stripe fades away on the model compared to how distinct it looks on the photo you posted.

In the photos of the prototype and the model, the orange color looks pretty close. The stripe probably looks too light.

I'd say that your "fade away" maroon impression is more a result of the darkness of the shade of the maroon used on the model (it's lighter on the model, darker on the prototype) than a result of a difference in the shades of orange. Photos posted on the internet, and differences in computers, can sometimes make color shades deceiving, but I see little difference in the shade of orange between the model and the prototype.

Maybe a layer of Testors Dulcoat will reduce the neon effect.

Now that I see Charlie's model, it is a little more of a day-glo orange.

Maybe an airbrushed light coat of dirt and grime would tone it down . . .

breezinup posted:

 Photos posted on the internet, and differences in computers, can sometimes make color shades deceiving, 

So true.   The 2 photos above of the same prototype are very different.  White balance and saturation make a huge difference.

Bob

MichRR714 posted:

I have alot of Milwaukee equipment.  I can assure you the orange is very wrong!

It isn't painted this color orange.

These two prototype pictures posted above of the same engine show very different shades of orange. Of course, when the photos were taken the light was different, the cameras and settings may be different, the media they were recorded on may be different, etc.  The bottom switcher photo shows a color much more like the Lionel model.

It's easy to find photos of Milwaukee equipment which show different shades of orange. How much of that is due to photo and reproduction variations is hard to say.

I don't know if the MR gave some of these switchers that bright paint or not, but personally I don't care for the shade of orange Lionel used, either. My idea of Milwaukee orange, or at least what I like, is a good deal darker. Just my taste.

breezinup posted:

I don't know if the MR gave some of these switchers that bright paint or not, but personally I don't care for the shade of orange Lionel used, either. My idea of Milwaukee orange, or at least what I like, is a good deal darker. Just my taste.

I agree 100%

I agree with the darker color !! I have a Williams NW2 and the color is Very nice and detail is great !!

That's how to solve the problem....go to a manufacture that makes it correct....buy what you like, like what  you buy.

Agree with Andy.  Perhaps go to your point of purchase and explain the problem>>

Thanks for posting! I was interested in buying this model when I saw it in the catalog,but I knew not to pre-order it due to the likelihood that Lionel would be way off on the orange. I assumed the orange would be too dark,like the F3s they offered a few years ago,not too bright like the new switcher. Not good when a manufacturer is assumed to fail in execution of a new product,and they do,yet again.

If a manufacturer was having to follow only vintage photos of the prototype, we can see from the above examples, how the final color chosen might not be to everyone's liking.

However, the question that I have is when that manufacturer has a stable of recently created models, in that same road name paint scheme sitting on the shelves - why not specify the color-to-be painted  based on those? That would ensure consistency for the modeler who focuses on a specific road name.

Well...... that orange is a heck of alot closer than the graphite Lionel used on the H10 smokeboxes 

The Milwaukee Road did change the color of orange it used...somewhere around the transition from first to second generation diesels the orange got darker.

I’d love to see a picture if possible - I know it may not be perfect 

Also - other than color what’s your thoughts 

Thx

Here's my best shot I have but it doesn't show how bright the orange is. I have not run it yet but I do like the LionChief so I'll say it will run great just the color bugs me. It's alot more Neon Orange than shown.

Atlas made an early O scale switcher with the correct shade of orange. Are you going to keep your new Lionel switcher or return it?

I'll have to check on the return policies but I'm sure it would cost me more than I care to throw away by returning it.

That orange looks like the orange that Lionel painted the Tropicana cars in the. 90's, yes they were heinous. 

Dave

I contacted the vendor and he said no one has complained about the color even an avid Milwaukee modeler. He says his looks fine to him. So looks like I'm stuck with it. Thanks for the comments.

Lee Concannon posted:

I'll have to check on the return policies but I'm sure it would cost me more than I care to throw away by returning it.

Or you can sell it. I can't guess how much money I've lost (along with many others) over more recent years by selling something, always at a big loss, that I bought that was disappointing when actually seen in person. It's a fact of life these days with so many local train stores gone. For most folks, there's no longer any way to see anything before you buy it. It's a serious downside to what has become the norm -- buying by mail order.

I know what your saying, I've done my fair share of that too. I think I'll just try taking it apart and painting it the color I'm happy with. I'm not worried about resale because of not being original, after all I just have to please myself. Won't cost much since I have the paint, the Crane car shown was yellow (except the black flat car) and the orange is pretty close to what I want.

Lee Concannon posted:

I contacted the vendor and he said no one has complained about the color even an avid Milwaukee modeler. He says his looks fine to him. So looks like I'm stuck with it. Thanks for the comments.

Sounds like you need a new dealer.

Lee Concannon posted:

I contacted the vendor and he said no one has complained about the color even an avid Milwaukee modeler. He says his looks fine to him. So looks like I'm stuck with it. Thanks for the comments.

Wow x 1000! Lionel puts out a lousy product and the customer is out the substantial money paid in good faith for a quality item."No one has complained"is no excuse for a defective product. I am so glad you posted your experience. No chance I would ever pre-order any product from any manufacturer unless there was a full refund guarantee if not satisfied,no questions asked. So glad I avoided this headache. 

Defective ??? 

I have plenty of Milwaukee Road equipment and run them at a club which runs plenty of Milwaukee equipment. There is no one color for Milwaukee Road orange on our models. Nor is there one color on the prototype, where the orange fades readily in the sunlight.

Here’s a sample from 2017 on the club layout, with my MTH 44-tonner in the foreground.

Found this prototype photo of a Milwaukee Road switcher (not a 44-tonner) that inspired the MTH paint scheme.