Just a few thoughts to add regarding Lionel's reissued K-Line Lima A1 demonstrator. Lionel released this model with an incorrect tender and has yet to correct the error (when I called their attention to this they basically ignored me).
There were variations among the tenders built for the early Lima 2-8-4s. K-Line made tooling for one tender. To make multiple tools for casting the various tenders would have been cost prohibitive. Apparently Lionel feels the same way. That is one of the disadvantages of diecast construction.
If you really want a specific tender take a look at what Bob2 has done. To get a model of an ex-B&M Berk as modified my the SP he started with a C&NW model, modified it and provided an SP whale back tender. Great work Bob. 
Maybe I am being overly picky about things but when Lionel charges $1,200.00+ for a scale steam locomotive it should be accurate.
I especially like the Southern 2790 in its green and silver paint scheme even though it never existed in real life.
Wouldn't it be fun to be working in a model company marketing department trying to figure out what train buyers want! 
They do the best they can with the budgets they have to work with and their best understanding of what we would like to buy. Where there is a gap we can either decide one of the available models is close enough, modify it to our liking or wait for a manufacturer to invest more tooling money. Fortunately we have quite a number of choices for out of the box dead on models of early Lima, Erie and several AMC Berkshires.
