Help with PW 243X Lionel Lines Passenger Cars

Lionel's silver pant was notorious for fading, scratching and rubbing. Most postwar 243x, 244x passenger cars, silver tank and box cars, and the Alcoa hopper etc. have these problems. Repro roofs are available but then at times the shiny new roofs don't match the slightly faded car sides due to age. Also,your Clifton roof could be a repro.

In my experience the color of silver postwar Lionel trains will change if one attempts to wash them. I wonder whether someone cleaned your summit observation car.

Or, it's really dirty.

I have 3 243x series cars, all bought separately, including the 2432 and they all match pretty good.Don't know what happened to yours. I have used POLLY Scale  ATSF silver to brush paint the car I am working on now and it seems to be a good match.

A problem with silver paint is you cannot clear coat it because it will change the color darker. I have found testors spray can silver is a very close, if not spot on, match for lionel silver. I think it is number 1246.

Rob

CW and Jim

Do you think the Clifton in the center is the more accurate and I got hosed on the observation car?  The Clifton dome car came from my grandfather who was the original adult owner, and I'm certain he kept it as pristine as possible. No scratches nor signs of a repro part on it.

I'm betting the shiny silver is what's to expect, not the matted, almost gray like the UP set on the right.  Is that what you'd bet?

I checked my Greenberg guide and they show the 2436 with a darker gray body and a darker gray roof. Darker than the silver cars. Mine are in the2420 series. My bad. So, live with it, repaint the car or sell/trade it

To be clear, the one on the right is NOT from this set.  It's supposed to be gray and is part of the UP Alco FA set.  I just showed it to show that the Summit on the left is similar to it and not so similar to its supposed matching car in the center.