"Spirit of the Union Pacific" Boxcar Artwork

The aircraft theme fits in well for the Air Force, Navy and Marines. For the Army, instead of a Sherman, I would have featured a C-117. My initial impression of the artwork had me thinking of Roy Lichtenstein and his comic book art from the 60's.

The art work for the cars are not my favorite for these cars . I would rather have seen more subdued schemes painted in the colors of the service represented. For example the Air Force car could have been painted blue w/ U.S. Air Force on the sides and the dates of when they came into being. 

The cars look to comical for my tastes but let's see them and then I will decide. 

In the mean time I will order the engine and caboose. 

Dave

I'm definitely in for a locomotive and caboose.  But I'll echo Dave's comments above, in that I think the artwork ventures a bit too much into the realm of a comic-book appearance for my liking.  So I'll wait to see what's actually delivered.  I'd prefer something closer to the WWII-style artwork -- i.e., closer to what Menards has done with their WWII nose-art boxcars and Lionel has done with their Coca-Cola boxcars.  The MTH images are OK -- I just think if they'd pull back on the comic-book effect and stay in the realm of subtle HDR filtering of a real-world image, they'd really hit the mark for a winning set. 

Having said that though, I give MTH lots of credit for offering something unique like this.  No company is ever gonna offer something that EVERYBODY likes.  But it's good to see them out there offering SOMETHING different and eye-catching.  Personally, I'm not into buying stuff anymore just to own an entire set of something.  That's not important to me.  However, I can easily see where this locomotive and caboose could work well with my existing military consist, so the freight cars just recently announced aren't a "must have" for me.

David

I just wrote on MTHs Facebook page and basically said what I said here about the new artwork of the boxcars which I do not like.

Dave

Well...not much response here...so, far.  But, I agree with all that has been written.

I am not moved to buy the cars...I don't like the 50 plug door boxcar chosen for the artwork.  Additionally, I don't think the art measures up to the "classy nature" of the locomotive...though I also agree that BDU pattern (what was that called...the "woodland camouflage" pattern IIRC)  on the rear looks really out of place on the SD70ACe.  I guess that artwork is supposed to be some kind of throw-back to the artwork of that period...but, does indeed, look like comic book artwork of the 60s.

I'll be ordering the locomotive (I think) and as someone else typed...I think it may work well with the GHWB locomotive.

The people at Lionel have only announced the UP 1943 SD70ACe locomotive coming in the next Catalog.

Lionel could have a series freight cars with different graphics. 

Did the box cars need to be approved by somebody at the UNION PACIFIC? 

Andrew

There seems,to be too much going on in the artwork. Seems a little too busy for me .

Uninspired, cartoon like, lacking in meaningful representation of the services during the Second World War. 

I am sure someone loves them, but then again someone thinks Bub Light is great tasting beer too. To each their own. 

SD60M posted:

...though I also agree that BDU pattern (what was that called...the "woodland camouflage" pattern IIRC)  on the rear looks really out of place on the SD70ACe.  .... 

Actually, I love the fact that the locomotive is decorated like this, because I've been patiently acquiring a string of those Lionel LCCA "flag" boxcars for the right price, and they have a similar style paint scheme.  Should make an interesting unit train (I hope). 

DAS BOOT

I agree it looks like comic book art from the 60's.

I still want the engine and a caboose and probably the POW car and probable the Marine Corp car, what the hell, I'll end up with all of them

Larry