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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 17, 2024 14:17:27 GMT
In an ideal world, catalog images and illustrations would reflect what's actually delivered... and Lionel's factory would ship the ENTIRE set of themed offerings comprising "the set" in the same container to the North Carolina warehouse.
Unfortunately, even though it's 2024... neither of those suppositions seems to be happening with Lionel's Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) "glow-in-the-dark" premium set. Case in point: Lionel has chosen to ONLY ship the set's SuperBass GP9 now, while holding off on the powered locomotive and rolling stock pieces comprising the boxed set until the first week of December.
So when UPS delivered the SuperBass GP9 this week, I couldn't wait to see the coloring of this set that's designed to "glow in the dark". You can be the judge.
From the catalog illustrations, I expected the set pieces would have a light mint green coloring (see photo from the catalog):
Surprise, surprise... as this is what was delivered...
Behind the SuperBass GP9 in the above photo is a Lionel AEC Mint Car from several years ago. And silly me was hoping this new AEC set would at least come close to matching that color. But what appeared as a pleasant mint green in the catalog is practically a vanilla white in real life.
Now the full boxed set isn't due to ship from Lionel until December 4th. So buyers have the time to mull things over: either return the add-on SuperBass unit, or accept the coloring as delivered -- knowing that the set will not be as represented in the catalog. Not sure why these color variations continue to happen on Lionel's BTO products... or why there's never any communication that delivered colors will be different than those catalog'd. Buyers are left to be surprised when they open the product box for the first time -- just as I was.
Why is the BTO category of products such a crap shoot these days? Often many grand slams like the H-7. And then some definite misses in color like the AEC coloring and Mr. Muffin's B&A roaring green Berk that should have been shipped with sunglasses included.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 16:37:27 GMT
Silly you indeed!
It looks like alabaster or soapstone. Yuck. Looks as though my dealer will have a disappointment ahead unfortunately for not only the super bass, set; but also the add on cars in the latest Lionel catalog.
But before I make a hasty decision, our local hobby shop has an AEC Burro Crane set NOS which I will look at to see the color on that and report back later today.
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Post by dasboot on Nov 17, 2024 18:12:54 GMT
RM,
How does the "glow in the dark" feature appear when your train room lights are off?
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 17, 2024 18:33:24 GMT
RM, How does the "glow in the dark" feature appear when your train room lights are off? I’ll be checking that out tonight… and will keep you all updated.
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Post by seayakbill on Nov 17, 2024 18:33:48 GMT
My version from 15 years or so ago. Does the new version have the siren, grandkids love the siren, it is darn loud. I have all the glow in the dark freight cars that were separate sale items over a few years of releases back then. The glow in the dark feature is semi OK, engine and caboose glow better than the freight cars. Bill   |
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Post by josef on Nov 17, 2024 18:34:51 GMT
RM, How does the "glow in the dark" feature appear when your train room lights are off? I'm glad you asked. I was thinking of asking same.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 19:11:51 GMT
In the Burro crane set from long ago, one of the gondolas is a dead ringer for your new super base alabaster appearance. Who knows where the green tint came from in the catalog, however the as built color seems true to the original. Too bad as the green hue gave it a sort of alien vibe.
Perhaps the whiter than white color is needed for the glow in the dark formulation to absorb as much light as possible to do its' magic.
Decision time.
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Post by madockawando on Nov 17, 2024 20:03:02 GMT
The green color represents the locomotive glowing the dark. How does it look in the dark?
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Post by Charlie on Nov 17, 2024 20:16:14 GMT
Like Bill above, I have the older version and has been trouble free. In my opinion, the fantasy sounds are the best on this engine and hopefully the new one will be at least as good, if not better.
I think, again my opinion, the intent of the color in the catalog was to represent the "Glowing" effect. The final product looks very much like the older version and honestly, might be an engine I pick-up just for the operation quantities. The original is a pullmore, open frame motor.
Thanks for posting the image David.
Charlie
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 20:31:13 GMT
The green color represents the locomotive glowing the dark. How does it look in the dark? Excellent point.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 20:32:03 GMT
RM, How does the "glow in the dark" feature appear when your train room lights are off? I’ll be checking that out tonight… and will keep you all updated. It should glow in the dark off power. Have a walk in closet?!
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 17, 2024 22:15:23 GMT
I’ll be checking that out tonight… and will keep you all updated.
I recall reading somewhere — perhaps a social media post by Lionel or someone “in the know” — that exposure to black light will help intensify the glow-in-the-dark effect. Does anyone else remember reading that?
I believe the Halloween Triplex and Halloween woodside passenger coaches just released also have a glow-in-the-dark feature. And none of those items have the alabaster white coloring.
Stay tuned…
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 22:18:54 GMT
I recall the black light comment as well, but I have not verified it. I have nothing that glows in the dark except my nose.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 17, 2024 22:21:58 GMT
The green color represents the locomotive glowing the dark. How does it look in the dark? In the catalog shot that David used, the background is pitch black. I believe you are onto something.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 17, 2024 22:26:13 GMT
The green color represents the locomotive glowing the dark. How does it look in the dark? In the catalog shot that David used, the background is pitch black. I believe you are onto something. But if you look at the other catalog images, the background is pure white… and there is no difference in the color of the rolling stock. Same coloring is also represented in the add-on pieces due out in 2025.
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