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I just received my engine and I have no idea where they got the Neon Orange for this engine but I absolutely Hate it ??? It's nowhere's close to any orange on any of my Milwaukee road engines or cars !! If I'd have known this was the color I wouldn't have ordered It. I can't get my camera to take a decent picture showing this Ugly color. I'm considering repainting it but not sure what I'd be in for to disassemble. Anyone else buy one and share my thoughts on the color ??

Last edited by Lee Concannon
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I'd say that your "fade away" maroon impression is more a result of the darkness of the shade of the maroon used on the model (it's lighter on the model, darker on the prototype) than a result of a difference in the shades of orange. Photos posted on the internet, and differences in computers, can sometimes make color shades deceiving, but I see little difference in the shade of orange between the model and the prototype.

MichRR714 posted:

I have alot of Milwaukee equipment.  I can assure you the orange is very wrong!

It isn't painted this color orange.

 

These two prototype pictures posted above of the same engine show very different shades of orange. Of course, when the photos were taken the light was different, the cameras and settings may be different, the media they were recorded on may be different, etc.  The bottom switcher photo shows a color much more like the Lionel model.

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It's easy to find photos of Milwaukee equipment which show different shades of orange. How much of that is due to photo and reproduction variations is hard to say.

I don't know if the MR gave some of these switchers that bright paint or not, but personally I don't care for the shade of orange Lionel used, either. My idea of Milwaukee orange, or at least what I like, is a good deal darker. Just my taste.

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  • mceclip0

Thanks for posting! I was interested in buying this model when I saw it in the catalog,but I knew not to pre-order it due to the likelihood that Lionel would be way off on the orange. I assumed the orange would be too dark,like the F3s they offered a few years ago,not too bright like the new switcher. Not good when a manufacturer is assumed to fail in execution of a new product,and they do,yet again.

Last edited by Dan986

If a manufacturer was having to follow only vintage photos of the prototype, we can see from the above examples, how the final color chosen might not be to everyone's liking.

However, the question that I have is when that manufacturer has a stable of recently created models, in that same road name paint scheme sitting on the shelves - why not specify the color-to-be painted  based on those? That would ensure consistency for the modeler who focuses on a specific road name.

Lee Concannon posted:

I'll have to check on the return policies but I'm sure it would cost me more than I care to throw away by returning it.

Or you can sell it. I can't guess how much money I've lost (along with many others) over more recent years by selling something, always at a big loss, that I bought that was disappointing when actually seen in person. It's a fact of life these days with so many local train stores gone. For most folks, there's no longer any way to see anything before you buy it. It's a serious downside to what has become the norm -- buying by mail order.

I know what your saying, I've done my fair share of that too. I think I'll just try taking it apart and painting it the color I'm happy with. I'm not worried about resale because of not being original, after all I just have to please myself. Won't cost much since I have the paint, the Crane car shown was yellow (except the black flat car) and the orange is pretty close to what I want.

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Lee Concannon posted:

I contacted the vendor and he said no one has complained about the color even an avid Milwaukee modeler. He says his looks fine to him. So looks like I'm stuck with it. Thanks for the comments.

Wow x 1000! Lionel puts out a lousy product and the customer is out the substantial money paid in good faith for a quality item."No one has complained"is no excuse for a defective product. I am so glad you posted your experience. No chance I would ever pre-order any product from any manufacturer unless there was a full refund guarantee if not satisfied,no questions asked. So glad I avoided this headache. 

I have plenty of Milwaukee Road equipment and run them at a club which runs plenty of Milwaukee equipment. There is no one color for Milwaukee Road orange on our models. Nor is there one color on the prototype, where the orange fades readily in the sunlight.

Here’s a sample from 2017 on the club layout, with my MTH 44-tonner in the foreground.

802CE2AF-E705-4B0D-AECA-B0A57234C8F4Found this prototype photo of a Milwaukee Road switcher (not a 44-tonner) that inspired the MTH paint scheme.

A53E4E43-118E-4C9C-AED3-072671858677

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