lionel tmcc j3a hudson?

Took this years ago. I "removed" 5444's improper class lights by unscrewing the die-cast details and then shoving the LED's themselves back into the smokebox (I assume that they are still operating). I then Bondo'd the holes and, surprisingly, had some old acrylic gray that essentially matched the smokebox color. Used a brush. But now, I wonder if I should use some of my 3-D rivet decals to replace the missing bolt heads?

Nah - at this point. I may change my mind. But, sometimes you can see the decal film. I'll stick with the wee blank spot.

Lionel's J3a's just have "the look", even with the improper early-style headlight "barrel" (why, Lionel? Why?). I filed mine to more suggest the correct shape from the side.

@D500 posted:

... even with the improper early-style headlight "barrel" (why, Lionel? Why?).

Because the Chinese manufacturing engineers have never seen a NYC Hudson, so they have no clue what is correct or not. They are also extremely reluctant to make any changes once their minds are made up.

Lionel is not the same engineering/manufacturing company they were 100 years ago. There is no continuity of design, no common knowledge or memory of what looks right or not, or what worked the last time or did not.

The factories that make our toys make trains one week, cell phones the next week, DVD players (not so much any more) the following week.

@RoyBoy posted:

Because the Chinese manufacturing engineers have never seen a NYC Hudson, so they have no clue what is correct or not. They are also extremely reluctant to make any changes once their minds are made up.

Lionel is not the same engineering/manufacturing company they were 100 years ago. There is no continuity of design, no common knowledge or memory of what looks right or not, or what worked the last time or did not.

The factories that make our toys make trains one week, cell phones the next week, DVD players (not so much any more) the following week.

But - as these products (like the scale J3a) are in most areas excellent - even exquisite - scale models, I don't really buy that. No matter who does it, making relatively complex products (like scale model trains) is not something they can "jump on tomorrow after making cell phones for a month". The name on the box (Lionel, etc) may not actually turn the screws and paint the bodies, but they do the primary design and specification work (informed, certainly, by the company that will do the actual physical labor). I still blame Lionel. Not that it keeps me awake at night.

Also, I'm not sure that either one of us knows what he's talking about.

I can only dispense wisdom, but cannot compel anyone to appreciate it.

@RoyBoy posted:

The factories that make our toys make trains one week, cell phones the next week, DVD players (not so much any more) the following week.

Do you know this to be true?  Or are you taking a SWAG?

Also, we're rapidly approaching a time where no one currently alive has ever seen a NYC Hudson, since they were all scrapped long ago.  In light of this, photos have been sufficient in the past, and should still be, for both Lionel and it's Chinese manufacturers.

Mike

@harmonyards posted:

The TMCC J3 family: 6-28072 J3a, 6-38041 J3a ( from the Ann. set ) and 6-28084 Dreyfuss Hudosn ….all share the same mechanicals, as mentioned above, bullet proof drive lines, all have bolt on removable drivers, so upgrading is a wee bit easier…by far, one the best built Lionel Hudsons to come out of the Far East….as many of the turn of the century Korean built Lionel TMCC engines were…..

Pat

Guys, as Pat indicated, these were made in Korea like the other early stuff from Lionel. Also, Lionel designed the the engine, so they are to blame for class lights.

The Chinese ( actually,  in the case of the J3a mentioned above is made by the Koreans )  don’t give a hoot or a holler what they’re manufacturing, ….the engineered drawings & plans come from state side, they ( Far East vendor ) take those plans and make the tools necessary to produce it …..then those nifty engineering samples come back state side and the parent company says yay or nay, fix this, fix that,………I think it’s a little more complicated than Lionel calling someone overseas and saying “ hey we’re gonna send you this picture of a Hudson ….think y’all can figure it out??.” …” let us know, and send a sample asap” …

Pat

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Have you worked directly with Chinese manufacturers in in the past?

AAMOF, I have.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How is it that we're all experts on Chinese manufacturing?

Have you worked directly with Chinese manufacturers in in the past?

Mike

Me too

Pat

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How is it that we're all experts on Chinese manufacturing?

Have you worked directly with Chinese manufacturers in in the past?

Mike

I don't understand what your statement has to do with where the engine was manufactured? I grabbed this screenshot after some looking because I don't have the engine myself, but most know that Lionel did manufacturing in Korea but probably got out of ton after the big lawsuit that we always talk about from time to time involving the 3 engines which Lionel has not made(on their own technically).

I may not have experience like John and Pat do, but the company I worked for, and the one I do know dealt with sister companies in China as well as manufacturing. Anyway, lets get back on topic about these engines instead of where they popped out from please.

@D500 posted:

Took this years ago. I "removed" 5444's improper class lights by unscrewing the die-cast details and then shoving the LED's themselves back into the smokebox (I assume that they are still operating). I then Bondo'd the holes and, surprisingly, had some old acrylic gray that essentially matched the smokebox color. Used a brush. But now, I wonder if I should use some of my 3-D rivet decals to replace the missing bolt heads?

Nah - at this point. I may change my mind. But, sometimes you can see the decal film. I'll stick with the wee blank spot.

Lionel's J3a's just have "the look", even with the improper early-style headlight "barrel" (why, Lionel? Why?). I filed mine to more suggest the correct shape from the side.

That is impressive work popping them inside. I know that the recent run of Mr. Muffin's custom run Hudson there were some that had bumps where the lights were, and some like mine that it wasn't noticeable.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How is it that we're all experts on Chinese manufacturing?

Have you worked directly with Chinese manufacturers in in the past?

Mike

That's all well and good, but for the loco in question .

We need an expert on Korean manufacturing.😉

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

That is impressive work popping them inside. I know that the recent run of Mr. Muffin's custom run Hudson there were some that had bumps where the lights were, and some like mine that it wasn't noticeable.

Yeah, …bumps are no bueno!…these ain’t button bucks!….I ditched mine on the Legacy J3a ….pushed the lamps in the boiler, and filled in the holes …..I used heavy AC foil tape to protect the bolt detail while I worked out the filler….same as D500 did …..the class lights had to go, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me,….not to drift off topic, but I wonder if those cats ever got their fonts sans class lights from Pat’s Trains …..

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

…..the class lights had to go, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me,….not to drift off topic, but I wonder if those cats ever got their fonts sans class lights from Pat’s Trains …..

Pat

Pretty sure after numerous inquires to Lionel from Pat, Lionel said fuggetabotit.

Pete