Eccentric Crank posted:Can't tell, but has the pilot been fixed to fit the body and not be wider than it?
Been looking at the couple of photos in the OP's posting....
I'm not sure I'm seeing what you're claiming.
I see some pilot overhang to the shell, but only on the engineer's side. And, frankly, with the lighting situation for these photos, there's too much shadow on the fireman's side of both engines at the pilot to judge whether there's any overhang to that side.
Further, what I also see in the second photo is that the front truck of the one engine is not perfectly aligned to the model. That is to say, it appears canted to the engine-left, which of course will cause the pilot to be shifted accordingly...as showing in the first photo.
I'm giving Lionel the benefit of the doubt here. With only two photos, questionable lighting/positioning, etc., etc., blah, blah.....I'd say there's insufficient evidence of a pudgy pilot....or skinny cab...at this point. Some of the other nits are worth picking, I suppose. I mean, now is the time to put the oars in the oarlocks and pull....for what it's worth.
OTOH, good luck getting all the i's dotted and t's crossed to everyone's satisfaction.
Discussions like this lead to little wonder why someone like Mike Reagan would bail after awhile. "Thankless" and "PITA" are a couple of job descriptor terms that come to mind in generating a new product of this sort......
I say, 'Wine a little....it'll make you feel better!'
