Lionel's Hudsons variations

Although both are fairly accurate models of a J3a, the 6-38041 from the Ann. set is and will always remain a tank IMO. However, it can be difficult to track one down, and even more difficult to find one that’s been separated from a set. The Legacy J3a though, is no slouch, and is fairly well constructed. You can twist my arm either way on the great class light debate, as some subs of the Central Proper still used classification lights on certain divisions. If you don’t already own one, the 6-28072 J3a was the first TMCC J3a Hudson, and the Ann. set was derived from that model.

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Although both are fairly accurate models of a J3a, the 6-38041 from the Ann. set is and will always remain a tank IMO. However, it can be difficult to track one down, and even more difficult to find one that’s been separated from a set. The Legacy J3a though, is no slouch, and is fairly well constructed. You can twist my arm either way on the great class light debate, as some subs of the Central Proper still used classification lights on certain divisions. If you don’t already own one, the 6-28072 J3a was the first TMCC J3a Hudson, and the Ann. set was derived from that model.

Pat

The only issue I have with the “Hudson’s” are they are too far from the tender. I have the Lionel pre war version (700E) and the Gold version as well as the Legacy as delivered to the NYC with 6 wheel trucks and whitewalls .

@ThatGuy posted:

The only issue I have with the “Hudson’s” are they are too far from the tender. I have the Lionel pre war version (700E) and the Gold version as well as the Legacy as delivered to the NYC with 6 wheel trucks and whitewalls .

Not that hard to shorten the drawbars.

Pete

@ThatGuy posted:

The only issue I have with the “Hudson’s” are they are too far from the tender. I have the Lionel pre war version (700E) and the Gold version as well as the Legacy as delivered to the NYC with 6 wheel trucks and whitewalls .

Like Pete says, …..not hard to do, and usually the first mod on the list, …..We draw them danger close, ….. I make mine touch in my curves, then back up one hair.

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Like Pete says, …..not hard to do, and usually the first mod on the list, …..We draw them danger close, ….. I make mine touch in my curves, then back up one hair.

Pat

Very true, I just never did.......would have been nice for them to do it.

@Norton posted:

Not that hard to shorten the drawbars.

Pete

looks good, just never did.........wished Lionel took the two seconds to do it....

@ThatGuy posted:

Very true, I just never did.......would have been nice for them to do it.

Well, they have to make the locomotive be able to navigate certain curves trouble free. ….not everyone has wide radius track,…..you could never get my Hudsons through O54 …..the one I took a picture of won’t even do O72 anymore, …it’s that close….So it’s the curves that dictate how close you can draw it together. I’m fortunate to have O99, …..

Pat

There's MTH 700E proto 3 also. Seems like a good Hudson

MTH doesn’t call their Hudsons 700E’s ….but yes, MTH did build their Hudsons very well, …..the latest releases in PS3 also offer whistle steam.

Pat