There are a few things I can say about the 3rd Rail Santa Fe F7s in regards to the detailing.
The Warbonnet F7 is being detailed to be accurate to the post 1956 era as that is when the final El Capitan cars were delivered to the Santa Fe. This will also cover the 1958 combined Super Chief / El Capitan as well. Numbers to be determined, but they will not be the same as the Atlas set due to the detailing being done. They will be done in LABC configurations for those who purchased ABBA sets. They will also be numbered with correct numbers for the LAB configuration that was used as well.
The Yellowbonnets will have slightly different detailing to accurately capture the locomotive that were painted in that livery.
The freight F7s will also have different detailing from both passenger versions.
That covers 3 of the 16 different variations being produced as a single run. While many won't notice or particularly care about this level of detail which is absolutely fine, this is the kind of commitment to the product that makes the extra cost worth it to me.
One thought that occurred to me reading through the various threads is that if anyone who ordered the 3rd Rail F7 is looking to add dummy units, purchase the Atlas ones to mix with them. I'm considering purchasing a dummy Atlas F7B to mix in with my powered 3rd Rail F7s and FP7s.
I don't want to knock Atlas here at all, as I don't think there is really a true fair comparison. The two models are really being made for two different markets and there is a place for both. Atlas will be largely sold as 3 rail units and competing with MTH's latest and very good F7s, while 3rd Rail is mostly reserved as 2 rail units and the best 2 rail option without having to spend the money on a Key unit.
