Depleting Coal Load?

Saw it at the local hobby shop today. All I care to say is, for such a highly detailed scale proportions model, that rubber "thing" in the tender sure detracts from the over-all presentation.

I think Lionel should've giving big boy buyers the option with either the depleting coal load or just a solid real coal load. I would buy the big boy for it sound and size the depleting coal load;Not so much. 

Didn't MTH do this with a open top hopper years ago?

 

Clem 

Yes, and it look silly also.

I waited until Yesterday to decide whether to buy, or not to buy, thinking about all of the features, Which I Personally Think are So Neat, so, I could not resist, I Bought the 4014 VL BIG BOY. It does not matter about the Coal Depleting, It's all of the other Features.

I have the Legacy Big Boy and it's great, But, This one is Fantastic. Happy Railroading.

Of all the VL BB features this is the one that does the least for me.  When I'm running the engine I just don't notice it.  After I while I think"oh the coal's low, gotta push Alt-1 R".  I then listen to it refill and on I go.  It works but doesn't excite me.  The whistle on the other had - Oh Boy!   

I turned off the coal load after a couple of cycles, but I'm with Chris, the whistle has that haunting echo that sounds like a real train coming!

For those who don't care for it:

 

Simply turn it OFF-see page 10 OR 14 of the owner's manual.

 

A lot of good stuff in that manual....

I just want to know how it works underneath there.  Im just curious how things work.  Whose going to open theirs up, haha. 

I know the new big boy has a speaker in the boiler,but I would rather have two fat boy speakers in the tender.JMO.Nick

I would guess there are 2 Fat Boy Speakers in the Tender, and One good one in the Boiler.

This is a Fantastic Echo Effect...Just a guess. Happy Railroading

Read this reply and thought "wow -- let me look up the parts list."  And won't you know it, the only part cataloged is the whistle (which I had been thinking about buying before I loose it and then it's not available ) and guess what -- IT'S NOT AVAILABLE! 

 

VL BB Parts List

So far it is working as advertised. I think it is a neat feature. However, no feature is better than the whistle.

THAT VL Big Boy whistle has got to send shivers down your spine or you haven't got a pulse! 

 

DOUBLE WOW! 

The only thing that comes close is the JLC Y6B "Hooter"! 

It's just a way for Lionel to make more money using a semi fake looking coal load instead of a more realistic one.  one day they may decide to make this feature a little more realistic.    Cheers!

Do you REALLY believe Lionel would cut costs on this super-premium model?  

 

I personally doubt it! 

Of course they would.  It's a business. They knew that the feature is going to attract buyers weather or not is was more realistic looking or not

What happens when the 4014 is outfitted with an oil burner?  Will Lionel release a oil tender?  What about the ozone attacking the rubber?

Ypu guys with the depleting coal in that new VL Bigboy are lucky. I'm stuck with the older JLC Bigboy that runs out of coal.

That fireman has his work cut out for him as he waits on another coal load. 

Joe

 

 

It is a neat feature that the owners can choose to run or not. Good for Lionel for coming up with this innovative new feature.

One option if one feels that they would never use this features is to cover with real scale coal pieces.

great picture!

I agree, nothing matches the sound of the FatBoy SuperBass speakers in my TX Special and Southern PWC F3's

There are two fat boy speakers in the tender, one in the boiler.

I personally enjoy the depleting coal load.  I think Lionel did a great job with this new feature. 

 

I've had no problems to report thus far in about 1 week of ownership, functionality is as expected and flawless.

 

 

 

 

How! How! I enjoy the feature more that I thought I would. Like someone on here has mentioned before, I can just shut if off if I get tired of the feature.

Have they had quality issues on rubber?

 Car diaphragm splitting, foam breakdown, and cords I have had issues with. But not other rubbers. My Auburn rubber cars are still fine. Soft and twisty as 50 years ago. My PW rocket launching car raises fine. Never had a critter bumper die from ozone. I was losing some automotive trim once till I treated it. Zymol rubber conditioner?

The effect is cool, but the load looks like rubber to me even 6ft away without my glasses. If a problem ever occurred, Id rip it out.

For those ready to change the contrast. There are very flexible latex paints available to shadow and highlight better with. Mooovie make-up folk, horror fan/mask makers, would be good search sources.