@Big Jim posted:
Yes, there is proof of the light colored graphite smokebox AND "Whitewall Tires"! N&W Y3 #2009
I remember when I first saw N&W #2020's smokebox details I thought it was so weird that airpumps were on the smokebox, but I decided I look into it before writing off the model. During my search I discovered that picture of the Y3 you linked, which convinced me that not only were the smokebox pumps and "whitewall" tires prototypical, but so was the shorter tender. I didn't pay attention to the smokebox though. Some Sunset/3rd Rail N&W models have the silver smokebox, so I can accept #2020's silver smokebox as plausible. For the Y3a #2050 though (which I have ordered), I really want to see graphite.
@Big Jim posted:Never mind the color of the smokebox!
Personally, I wouldn't touch this thing because of the four, yes count them, 4 air pumps. Two on the front of the boiler and two on the engineer's side under the running board.
It is hard for me to understand how Lionel have done these engines pretty well in the past and now they screw them up royally!
Earlier I just assumed it was a natural result of mass production, but in thinking more about it I think it comes down to maximizing potential order numbers with the minimum number of molds. Use a single chassis and then add different smokebox details for different road names to get the number of orders needed for production. More molds means higher chance things don't get made in a BTO order format. At this point I've accepted that, even at this price point, there will be design imperfections and model inaccuracies. If I want something closer to a museum-grade replica, I can wait for a 3rd Rail model. For me, the extra air pumps where they don't belong is a small detail I can overlook for an otherwise great looking model I don't think gets made too often (and here I'm talking about the early Y3 #2020 with the smokebox airpumps, harkening back to the design of the Y2/Y2a). Where the appearance of the model falls short, the technology and sound make up for it. I realize that the incorrect details are not a small thing for some to overlook though, and for that reason I don't blame someone for not buying it on those merits.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:I remember also when the newer versions of the N&W Class J's came out and the red color stripe was off from what it should have been. I think someone had said that either there was a time when that off color was right, or that it was closer to what 611 had now(forget which).
The ones from the 2019(?) catalog? I have one of those J's. The engine stripe looks about correct in certain lighting (see this color photo - maybe this isn't the lighting but when it was actually painted this way?).
