im thinking about picking one up. They look pretty neat in pictures, how many here have one and can "attest" to how they look/run in person? Thanks
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I don't have one personally but I like the idea of it. It gives you the option of putting your own road name on it prototypical or not or just leave as is. Leaving it unmarked you can run anything you want behind it.
I didn't realize that anyone in O scale made one "undecorated." I suggested that in person to Mike Wolf, owner...MTH
If you are talking about Lionel's "Pilot" locomotives, they are technically not undecorated. They are finished products with a clear coat to protect the metal. In earlier topics, some think the clear coat will be hard to take off which is needed before you can paint it.
Yes I am referring to the pilot engines sorry for the confusion. The pictures of the engines on Lionel's website look very nice wondering how they look in person.
Lionel's pilot locomotives, IMO, are ideal for displaying the details of locomotive, and thus are more appropriate for display cases. Steam locomotives that are typically black on black on black make noticing its intricate details less than ideal.
That said, it is just my opinion.
I have the Milwaukee Road S-3 pilot on the mantle in my living room in a display case. Looks great there. It will never go on the layout, it was said that the production run was 50. It was also the first one ever done. I think of it as a slightly expensive piece of art.
I have the painted version of 261 for running, though it still hasn't been out of the box.
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I have a few, plus one of MTH's "Engineering" locos (an SNCF Chapelon Pacific); I love them - but that's the modeler in me. They are beautiful, and it gets the loco down to its basics, independent of the prototype. In many ways I am more interested in the model than what it models - I can actually have the model.
Unfortunately I think that they were a limited success - but not a failure - and I would be surprised to see them again. (Liionel/MTH - prove me wrong.)
If they are never made again, that will save me money - but a Pilot NYC J3a Hudson (especially 2nd Gen) or Niagara would get my wallet open.
Esthetically, they weirdly combine the appeal of intricate scale models and shiny Tinplate.
BIG BOY and D500 - thanks for the reply. Add some pictures please I'd love to see!
