Ben....
I would be very happy if both AF and MTH offered a mix of both fantasy and realistic paint schemes on their freight cars. At least with some realistic schemes there would be a reason to buy a Lionel product. Obviously, fantasy is not my thing. Nor is it something most serious model railroaders are interested in.
The new cylindrical hoppers are beautifully molded, but lack an authentic paint scheme. Even the gorgeous Canadian paint schemes are not authentic for this car. They belong on a car with an one additional unloading bottom hatch, different ends and other differences. So we have an exquisite car, beautifully molded, with wonderful detail, and which is painted in a variety of non-authentic paint schemes. This is the part that I find most confusing.
Wouldn't it be better for both AF and MTH to have a mix of both realistic and fantasy paint schemes? Everyone would then be happy (or happier). But to have only one or only the other makes no sense (to me, at least). Obviously, I am missing some key concept here. Is there some logical reason why this is happening?
Since you mentioned the SD70, I agree it is a beautiful model. Like the cylindrical hoppers, I am looking forward to running two of them on my layout. However, the NYC version comes only with AF wheels. Scale wheels have been promised, but my inquiry to Lionel (two days ago) resulted in a response that was rather strange. They still, to this day, do not know if the wheels will be replaceable or if it will be necessary to replace the entire truck assembly. Price is not known. Product number is not known. Availability date is not known. So I will soon have in my hands a loco with inoperable wheels for a scale layout and without any definitive means, at this time, for obtaining scale wheels or (possibly) a total truck replacement. But my wallet is $400 flatter.
Lest you think I am just a whining scale rivet counter, let me add that I am VERY impressed with the quality of the newer Lionel/AF molded parts. The Y-3 articulated, the SD-70 and the cylindrical hoppers are all going to run on my layout. Every one of them -- one way or another. Wheels can be changed (machined) even if AF does not offer scale wheels (as with the Y-3). SD-70 wheels are still up in the air, but my buddy with a lathe can deal with that. And the cylindrical hoppers are an unknown at this point, but are probably convertible to scale if you have a machine shop.
The part that escapes me is that the serious cost is in the body tooling which is wonderful. The minor expenses are the paint job and the wheels which are trivial compared to the main body tooling. Yet the minor expenses, which can open an entirely new market area, are avoided like the plague.
"S"haking my head, but still glad to have what is being offered even if it seems weird to me.
Cheers.......Ed L.
