|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Nov 3, 2024 17:35:09 GMT
I'd post this in the other thread but that thing was off the rails like twenty pages ago. LOL Enjoy
|
|
|
|
Post by madockawando on Nov 3, 2024 19:34:25 GMT
The criticism of the shoddy construction and missing screws is legitimate and it’s on Lionel.
However, the green color looks exactly like the pre-order art on Mr Muffins website.
|
|
|
|
Post by david1 on Nov 3, 2024 20:36:41 GMT
Nice video gary, well done. Sorry for the issues. If it was me I would have sent it back, but that's me!
The color is subjective some will like it some will not. In my opinion it is UGLY!!! No matter how you spin it IT'S UGLY!!!! Sounds good though!
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Nov 3, 2024 21:01:38 GMT
Here is the artwork before production you be the judge  |
|
|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 4, 2024 0:25:51 GMT
It must be the lighting?  |
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 4, 2024 0:44:40 GMT
Gary, you beat me to it. I saw your thread earlier today, but then got tied up doing Autumn-cleanup yard work most of the afternoon.
But I was gonna post the "illustration" right above/below a photo of the locomotive "as delivered". And it's CLEAR that there is a noticeable difference... no matter who tells you there's no discrepancy.
I'm not talking about whether folks LIKE the "as delivered" color. Some will... and some won't. But ALL OF US should maintain some semblance of credibility and be man enough to admit THERE IS A DIFFERENCE from the illustrations/drawings.
By the way... we're admittedly seeing this with Lionel's "delivered" products at increasingly alarming rates these days. And I've told them about it VERY politely. In a BTO environment, Lionel really needs to DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE the way they COMMUNICATE product appearances as the product moves through different phases of production. Even their Vision Line products need this attention.
For example, let's look at the Vision Line Hudson in the NYC Pacemaker scheme. That's the one which is calling my name. HOWEVER, it's not without reservation. Will the red be glossy? Or will it have a softer, satin finish? And then there's that dang smoke-box gray color... will it be the gosh-awful, chalky primer gray that makes locomotives look like O-27 starter-set fare? Or will it have more of a silver satin finish or dark gray speckled finish -- something that's more worthy of a scale model? Lionel got the smoke-box gray color right on its METCA custom-run Christmas and Halloween A5's. But the early "as delivered" pictures I'm seeing of the A5 models in the catalog appear to indicate Lionel chose that chalky, primer gray color again. Ughhh!!! Who's making these decisions?
Lionel REALLY needs to begin communicating these nuances to their buyers -- especially when they're asking prices in monthly mortgage payment territory. AND when they offer multiple roadnames/roadnumbers, where some units have glossy finish, while others have more of a satin/flat finish. Buyer's shouldn't need to wait until the product is delivered on their doorstep to find out what they've actually purchased. But that seems to be more "the norm" these days.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobthetrainguy on Nov 4, 2024 0:50:12 GMT
 That color is, out of gauge. Not. Even. Close.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDaddy on Nov 4, 2024 0:53:51 GMT
Nope. Not me... that is LIME Green. And it needs to go.  |
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 4, 2024 0:57:38 GMT
BTW, the saga of the Boston & Albany A1 Berk isn't over yet. Keep in mind... a caboose and passenger cars are due to be offered as well.
So let's take a look once again at the "as delivered" B&A Berk:
And here's the "illustration" of the matching caboose.
Do these two images depict a MATCHING shade of green to you? To my eyes, the caboose shows a softer appearance of color that's more appropriate for scale models. But will that be what's actually delivered? Or will it be the BRIGHTER, LOUDER green that's on the steam locomotive's boiler.
Are you feeling lucky?
|
|
ben
New Member
Posts: 33
|
Post by ben on Nov 4, 2024 8:02:20 GMT
Gary, sorry you got burned by the color blind product development team at Lionel. I've been kicked to nuts by their Crayola colors myself. This is why I try to stay away from their products.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartyE on Nov 4, 2024 11:25:49 GMT
Good and fair review Gary. Hopefully once you get it weathered it will be more appealing to you.
The stripped screws are a bit ridiculous. That needs to be better addressed.
It will be interesting to see how the caboose and cars come out. I know I have a Polar Express Observation car coming and I'm really hoping it's close to the previous releases. If not it won't come home with me from the shop. Now I don't expect it to be exact as there is almost 10 years between the cars I have and it's release but it should be darn close.
|
|
|
|
Post by harmonyards on Nov 4, 2024 12:01:06 GMT
When we look back to the not so distant past, Lionel announced the “newly tooled “ NYC Dreyfuss locomotives, and matching 21” cars to make up the 20th Century Limited. I know of at least 3 people not including myself, that offered assistance absolutely free of charge. These were some of the brightest minds in the NYC modeling world. I offered a lending hand, but had no idea some others had offered to do the same thing. In the world of O scale modeling, and still using the Dreyfuss as the example, the Lionel Smithsonian set is the widely accepted “high bar” that was set as the way the set looked. After talking with other modelers that I had no idea they too contacted Lionel to lend a hand, We all agreed Lionel need to look no further than their own backyard………..the point of all of this is, not one of us heard so much as a peep, not a response, not a “thanks we got this “ …nothing!!…..and what became of the latest iconic set?……a disaster!….and if you go to Lionel’s store in Concord NC, there’s a pile of these locomotives at deep, deep discounts….sure, there’s plenty of folks that either think it looks great, and plenty that just took it in the kiester and accepted it,…..So it begs the question and refers back to this B&A Berkshire, with free help, models at their disposal, history buffs reaching out in mass, how & why are these gaffs making it all the way to production??…….The green on Gary’s example is absolutely so far off from artwork, from suggestions made by B&A fans, it’s a sin. We’re all grown ups, so tell us straight Lionel, if you just don’t care, just say so, and all this discussion can then stop, ……
|
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Nov 4, 2024 12:10:02 GMT
We’re all grown ups, so tell us straight Lionel, if you just don’t care, just say so, and all this discussion can then stop, ……
I think that the last home run Lionel hit was the VL Niagara but even that has issues (traction tires wrong size and replacing them is near impossible) that indicate to me an incomprehensible lack of design and quality control. So does the failure even to acknowledge offers of help.
|
|
|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Nov 4, 2024 12:34:44 GMT
It will be interesting to see how the caboose and cars come out. I know I have a Polar Express Observation car coming and I'm really hoping it's close to the previous releases. If not it won't come home with me from the shop. Now I don't expect it to be exact as there is almost 10 years between the cars I have and it's release but it should be darn close. I didn't order any of the cars. B&A never had that type of caboose and the berks didn't pull passenger cars. So this is totally fantasy which is fine if you are into that, not for me though. Great if they sell for Steve all the more power to him.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobthetrainguy on Nov 4, 2024 12:42:54 GMT
We’re all grown ups, so tell us straight Lionel, if you just don’t care, just say so, and all this discussion can then stop, ……
I think that the last home run Lionel hit was the VL Niagara but even that has issues (traction tires wrong size and replacing them is near impossible) that indicate to me an incomprehensible lack of design and quality control. So does the failure even to acknowledge offers of help. But we all do have a dog in this fight. Lionel is a "pre-order" company now and if you want to order something to ensure you get one, the artwork is all you can go on.
Now, sure you can "refuse delivery" but that only hurts the local hobby shops.
Even if someone is just a "Lionel apologist", they should want Lionel to get things right - or at least match their artwork - so they will survive for the long term and be able to continue to make high-dollar scale, detailed, locomotives. It costs next to nothing to get matching/correct colors - or at least not fluorescent shades that are awful looking.
|
|
