That hooter whistle is also an older file from the Lionmaster A. Sure would have been nice to get some updated sound files on a “Vision Line” engine. I’m sorry, I’m just not seeing the “Vision” in this engine. What Vision features are on this engine that aren’t on engines with an Orange box? Oh, I guess the Black box and badging, plus a 4 digit number capabilities must be the “Vision”.
To be fair, based on Lionel’s history with sound, I’d personally tend to prefer they take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to sounds rather than ditching something that works perfectly well for new sounds that may be decent and may be terrible.
I also think I heard they have a second hooter whistle option in the lineup.
I’m good if one of the whistles is a copy of the Lionmaster Class A. That’s one of my favorites and running it with 3 speakers would be awesome.
Think I’ll just listen to one of the ones you guys get 🧐
One thing I’ve noticed is how shiny they are. Are all the different Versions the same? Definitely need a weathering job to tone that shine down. Kind of like this
Gary - that's a beautiful job he did for you there!
The A clsss is my favorite articulated and this one is spectacular
@superwarp1 posted:One thing I’ve noticed is how shiny they are. Are all the different Versions the same?
I believe that's the "excursion version" with the gloss paint. The video link that N'awlins posted on the first page shows a loco with a more satin finish.
@RickO posted:I believe that's the "excursion version" with the gloss paint. The video link that N'awlins posted on the first page shows a loco with a more satin finish.
Certainly sounds logical, i.e. the 1218 "excursion version". Having seen and photographed the real 1218 over many, MANY years during her excursion career, and can attest to the fact that she was very glossy!
@RickO posted:I believe that's the "excursion version" with the gloss paint. The video link that N'awlins posted on the first page shows a loco with a more satin finish.
That makes sense
@Hot Water posted:Certainly sounds logical, i.e. the 1218 "excursion version". Having seen and photographed the real 1218 over many, MANY years during her excursion career, and can attest to the fact that she was very glossy!
I seen her fresh off her “ restoration “ ……she was indeed glossy, and classy,…..I do believe Lionel got it right this time for the excursion service, …….what people fail to realize, even when new, locomotives were painted in gloss, albeit a lacquer at the time, but nonetheless, a very high level of gloss, …..they weren’t flat like most models are painted, ……over time as the lacquer aged & weathered, then they’d go flat,…..gloss finish in scale is hard to achieve, ….this is a J I did for a fella in excursion service, ….no satin flat finish here,….
Pat 
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Pat,
Actually gloss finish is no longer had to achieve on the prototype steam locomotive restorations over the last 30 or 40 years, when the Dupont Imron paint is used. Plus, the Iron is really easy to clean, and keep clean, no mater what gets on it. We had a fuel oil spill on 4449's tender, and washed off the mess with diesel fuel, then used Dawn dishwashing soap as the final wash. She looked as good as the day she was painted!
@Hot Water posted:Pat,
Actually gloss finish is no longer had to achieve on the prototype steam locomotive restorations over the last 30 or 40 years, when the Dupont Imron paint is used. Plus, the Iron is really easy to clean, and keep clean, no mater what gets on it. We had a fuel oil spill on 4449's tender, and washed off the mess with diesel fuel, then used Dawn dishwashing soap as the final wash. She looked as good as the day she was painted!
Agreed, ….I’ve sprayed a gazzillion gallons of Imron, …..I knew you fully understand finishes, Jack, ………it’s some of the folks on here **** bent everything is supposed to be painted flat finishes, ……a sight to see in the books are examples of Lima’s newly minted locomotives, sprayed in Glidden’s triple black lacquer, …..so glossy, you can see the reflections of the camera man & his tripod in the still,……😉
Pat
Just looking at the video, there a couple of details that I am liking. I'm waiting on a "as built" version and keeping my fingers crossed. It looks very good so far.
Heres video of 1210. ( not mine)
Nice Video! Love that whistle selection! 😎
I’m wondering what is up with the deck plate? Looks awfully high compared to the tender???
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@RickO posted:Heres video of 1210. ( not mine)
I ordered 1210 to have a WW2-appropriate Class A, looks outstanding in the video! Thank you for sharing Rick!
@N&W 1218 posted:
I’m wondering what is up with the deck plate? Looks awfully high compared to the tender???
It looks like it is not fully rested on the tender deck. This layout has a grade, so I'll speculate that the deck plate may have been nudged up when the engine started climbing the grade, and the hinge is not loose enough to let the deck plate move freely back down. I guess we'll find out when the rest of us get ours delivered.
@N&W 1218 posted:Nice Video! Love that whistle selection! 😎
I’m wondering what is up with the deck plate? Looks awfully high compared to the tender???
If that’s the version with the Y3 tender, they probably didn’t match the deck height.
Similar to the smaller Atlantic tender they paired with their “stoker equipped” K4s in the Harding funeral set.
@0-Gauge CJ posted:I ordered 1210 to have a WW2-appropriate Class A, looks outstanding in the video! Thank you for sharing Rick!
It looks like it is not fully rested on the tender deck. This layout has a grade, so I'll speculate that the deck plate may have been nudged up when the engine started climbing the grade, and the hinge is not loose enough to let the deck plate move freely back down. I guess we'll find out when the rest of us get ours delivered.
And, maybe the owner just didn't take the time to push it down just like the cut lever on the back of the tender. I wouldn't be getting your panties all filled with hot cinders yet!
I’m curious to see how the fantasy scheme looks in person.
Terrance
The deck plate on my 1210 on RickO posting was newly out of the box yesterday. I had not adjusted and was taking it on its first run of my friend Jay Hines layout. My friend had picked up at the Lionel Store in Charlotte Friday. I can assure you the deck plate will line up properly. If you like the video please subscribe to his video channel. My only foul up running on his layout I neglected to see the Polar Express was on the same line. Luckily I manage to stop in very close the the Scale Observation Car. Please review his channel and enjoy. The Class A smooth run and functions is a home run for Lionel.
Got my 1210 today, looks and runs great! The deck plate needed a little gentle persuasion, but does rest on the tender floor. I'm very pleased with it!
@Big Jim posted:And, maybe the owner just didn't take the time to push it down just like the cut lever on the back of the tender. I wouldn't be getting your panties all filled with hot cinders yet!
Oh I'm not, I'm just happy to have a scale Legacy Class A! 
@SouthernFan56 posted:The Class A smooth run and functions is a home run for Lionel.
Thanks for clarifying things! Do you know the track radius that you were running the A on? I've been working on various layout design ideas for awhile now and I am trying to decide what balance of articulated overhang and curve tightness (thus more track) I want.
We were running on O72 yesterday. I have not tested my 1210 on anything but the O72. My friend Jay Hines was running his 1201 fantasy scheme on his Youtube channel.
I ran on O72, and there is a fair amount of overhang and the drawbar must be put in the longest position for the deck plate to clear the tender sides. If you have room, I'd suggest larger radius than O72. O72 is tight for fast running, S-curves, etc.
I see a lot of people have gotten these or atleast notices that they are shipping. Has anyone gotten theirs from nassau hobby? I pre-ordered this and the two bay hoppers from them.
Speaking of the excursion, yeah that was the one with the gloss finish. I do remember a few people wanted the option to have 1218 without a gloss finish. At the time Ryan assured people(this was at York), that there would be several versions of the Class A. He did say that the 3D printed shell probably made the gloss finish even more so than what it should have been.
I got to pop a look at some of the videos. I haven't had a chance to look into anything lately other than a few posts. I really can't wait to see what the real model looks like, but mine has not come in as yet anyway. I have to wait until next year.
When the Class A was run as an excursion loco, were the cars the same (similar) to the cars run behind the #611?
@Jerryrails posted:When the Class A was run as an excursion loco, were the cars the same (similar) to the cars run behind the #611?
Judge for yourself. This is a video that I took back in 1991 on my home district.
I just went through my inbox and saw the custom PRR Class A Mr. Muffins put out. It looks good except the red roof on the cab IMO. I do realize that the Pennsy often had red roof cabs, but to me it just looks a little crazy. Yeah, I do know it is a fantasy paint scheme, and a fantasy engine for the Pennsy, but ack. I think it would have looked better with a black cab roof. I guess the red in the tender would have to be black too as they would match?
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:I just went through my inbox and saw the custom PRR Class A Mr. Muffins put out. It looks good except the red roof on the cab IMO. I do realize that the Pennsy often had red roof cabs, but to me it just looks a little crazy.
Interesting it wasn't the 2 different reds Lionel has been using on pennsy stuff these days.
It's actually quite similar to the red mth uses.
It appears that the fantasy scheme red for the “J” inspired Class A is the same awful red that branded the last run of Js. I don’t have the fantasy on order, but it would’ve looked soooo much better using the proper J paint. Oh well. (And I do understand it’s fantasy)
@RickO posted:Interesting it wasn't the 2 different reds Lionel has been using on pennsy stuff these days.
It's actually quite similar to the red mth uses.
I thought that it looked similar to the Black Bonnet Santa Fe red, but that could just be the contrast of black to red. Either way, I stuck with one of the regular models that is black.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:I thought that it looked similar to the Black Bonnet Santa Fe red, but that could just be the contrast of black to red. Either way, I stuck with one of the regular models that is black.
Yeah, the Red is closer to SF red than any shade of Tuscan, Freight Car, or other shade of red the PRR used.
MTH showed a Premier model (20-3036-1) of Norfolk & Western Class A #1218 with PS1 in its 2000 Volume 1 catalog at MSRP $1399.00. It was delivered in February 2000. I believe this was the first O gauge model of N&W #1218.
MELGAR
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N’awlins
I totally agree! They have no clue how to paint a true N&W Tuscan stripe.
@SouthernFan56 posted:We were running on O72 yesterday. I have not tested my 1210 on anything but the O72. My friend Jay Hines was running his 1201 fantasy scheme on his Youtube channel.
@Burl posted:I ran on O72, and there is a fair amount of overhang and the drawbar must be put in the longest position for the deck plate to clear the tender sides. If you have room, I'd suggest larger radius than O72. O72 is tight for fast running, S-curves, etc.
Thanks for the info. I am aiming for O72 to be the absolute minimum on my layout and am currently looking at O96, but O96 curves leave less straight space for things like large yards. Thanks again for sharing.
@MELGAR posted:MTH showed a Premier model (20-3036-1) of Norfolk & Western Class A #1218 with PS1 in its 2000 Volume 1 catalog at MSRP $1399.00. It was delivered in February 2000. I believe this was the first O gauge model of N&W #1218.
MELGAR
And, despite my pleas, they put the wrong trailing truck under the firebox!
Big Jim,
Many thanks for your info on the excursion cars. I am looking for an N&W smooth side baggage for the train.
