Now hold on here:
There is a little mis-information going on in this thread.
Fact: The Lionel cataloged and produced F7 is the correctly numbered AND very closely painted BUSINESS units. I say closely because if you Google the following: “C&NW f7” and select images, you can see the wide variance of the Zito yellow. Even the images posted above are not that correct, way too yellow.
Fact: There has been no correct passenger cars made (either in scale or decoration) with the Zito yellow scheme, which would have been the business train anyway.
Opinion: Lionel selected a very obscure scheme and (again opinion) ugly version of the classic C&NW green and yellow.
Fact: K-line F7s are the closest option for the F7 passenger units. My units leave a lot to be desired, but it’s either that or nothing for now.
Fact: There have been a few C&NW Freight schemes done (MTH and Atlas). I think these are F3's and maybe FT's but I'd have to check.
Opinion: The guy at the March Meet O scale show has done the passenger cars, but I did not recall the observation car being produced yet, I could be wrong. The cars are in kit form and do have the decals.
It is a shame that Lionel chose this scheme, but what’s done is done. The catalog showed the business train and that is what Lionel produced.
CGWforever, we spoke about this before the set was released and you stated you were happy Lionel was going to do this set, why the change?
Charlie
MTH did the FT's, F3's and (IIRC) F7's in the freight scheme, and the F7's and F3's in Yellow. They did two sets of heavyweights -- one in Pullman Green and the other in Yellow/Green (did see a prototype photo of the latter scheme). They did two streamlined, smooth sided passenger sets -- the first in the correct CNW passenger scheme; the second in business train trim. They did offer full dome cars for both sets, but the business train was the only one that had a full dome as they got it from the Milwaukee road post-Amtrak.
Anyone able to get in touch with Eddy Wicham, the guy who makes the correct CNW streamliner kits?
