Need suggestions on scale C&NW passenger cars...

Not many. K-Line's were pretty generic and are extremely expensive in the secondary market. MTH released two sets. The first, with tbe black trucks is correct color-wise, but the consist is pretty generic. Ignore the full dome car as CNW didn't get one until they were out of the passenger business. They got it from the Milwaukee Road and added it to the business train which has green on the skirting and silver trucks (matching MTH's second CNW streamline passenger set). I have that second set with the full dome dome and run it as a business train. Your bet shot would be something custom like OK Engines, but those are in kit form and you have to build, paint, and decal them.

I've been hoping 3rd Rail or Atlas will release an appropriate streamlined set to go with my F7's. Unfortunately I missed out on a set of Heavyweights to go with my H1 Northern, but I figure something will show up eventually.

MTH and K line also made the Gallery double decker cars that CNW used in commuter service. Both are also very hard to find.

Lionel Legacy C&NW F7's came out with "Zito" yellow. Nobody made "Zito" yellow on passenger cars to go with it. Lionel stuck with good number of unsold and discount the price. If Lionel used correct "Traditional" yellow, it would sold lots. MTH did use correct paint for "Traditional" yellow on F units for commuter train. Those Lionel Legacy F7 units paint scheme is for C&NW's business train. Matt is correct about business train 's trucks wear silver.

Yes, I keep looking at the F7s now offered, but cannot get over the color scheme.  Wonder what possessed them to ignore the traditional yellow.  Also looking for C&NW passenger.

My suggestion, go with the 21" K-Lines. They were issued in both Hi-Level commuter cars and low levels. They come up on eBay occasionally.

For what's out there now, they are the best.

From the looks of the Legacy Engine they were based on the restored F7 at IRM

If you notice the engine is slightly brighter then the Gallery cars

Here is C&NW "Zito" yellow F7 that is what Lionel used:

Here is other "Zito" yellow.

Difference between two yellows: Left is Zito. Right is Traditional Yellow like one at IRM.

1) I have both Lionel F units from last/this year, and MTH from a few years ago, plus the MTH bi-levels and the K-line bi-levels.  The "zito" yellow in the picture above doesn't do justice to how "off" the Lionel C&NW F7 yellow is from the k-line and MTH passenger cars.  I agree Lionel blew it and would have sold a ton more if it had come close to matching the traditional yellow.  I also understand it's a valid C&NW color, but I just hate it and it doesn't match what was in the catalog.  I've checked into getting them re-painted, but it's more than I wanted to invest right now.

2) Loved the price I paid for the Lionel F7's at York, but if I had seen them on display, I would have passed, because of how off the yellow looked when compared to the K-line and MTH bi-levels.  It looks like "Easter" pastel yellow next to them.

3) You must check the traction tires on these.  I just took them out of the box for the first time last night, tried to run them, and they were terribly jerky.  Found Forum info here that explained the traction tires are too thick and rub against the trucks/brakes and switch to MTH DE-18's.  EXACTLY the issue I had, and obvious after looking at the traction tires which were now worn/torn after about 20 feet of trying to run.  THANKS to the OGRR Forum here for advice.  Luckily I had 4 spare DE-18's on-hand.  Much smoother.  I blows my mind that Lionel wouldn't see this, check this, fix this, etc.  

4) The k-line and MTH look commuter cars look close when not next to each other, but next to each other, there is a difference.  Both k-line and MTH are very hard to find and expensive on the aftermarket IMO.

5) The Lionel F7's were my first Lionel Legacy engine purchase.  After having run them with a new CAB-2, I'm just neutral.  The "bad" color and fact I had to change traction tires out-of-the-box left me wanting more.  I "own" the color issue.  Shame on me for buying sight-unseen.  I looked at the catalog depiction and it looked like the right yellow to me.  I sent a nice note to Lionel questioning why the difference in the catalog (it didn't look "Easter" yellow in the catalog) and got a nice "yes, you are right, the produced color doesn't match the catalog depiction, but it doesn't have to because we have this disclaimer that says it doesn't...."  Shame on me.  Someday, a certain forum member that has mad C&NW painting skills will come out of seclusion and re-enter the world of painting and I'll go from neutral to happy.... Jeff???

The other "Zito" yellow that CGWforever posted is very close to the Lionel - Easter pastel yellow....probably accurate, but just not the color I was looking for...

There is a cat, at the Chicago  2rail show Heavy into CNW with an assortment of prototypical passenger cars, He was mentioned once on this forum some time back. I was interested because he was talking about releasing a custom prototypical blunt end casting that I could have used for my Illusive blunt end PRR observation. Have been unable to locate. This year in Chicago I'll be sure to get his contact info. He had really nice looking CNW cars too.

Almost buy them til I saw the actual pictures at York, decided to passed it. Yes, disappointed with that. If Lionel used Traditional Yellow paint, would buy them and go with MTH passenger cars.

Now I feel like Santa might be bringing me lemons... Hmmm, time to make some lemonade!

Great photo; it's PERFECT for this discussion.  You nailed it!

If you want the C&NW as a signature passenger train for your layout/display, and there are already scale passenger cars/sets available, I'd find a painter to shoot the Zito F7's to match the passenger car set you select.

From a domestic standpoint, it's unwise to return "Santa's" gift after it's what was asked for.

What if I said Santa is very understanding! 

I'd say you are very fortunate, but there are only a finite number of "do overs"--use them wisely.

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

Charlie,

   Like I said on this forum, I was happy til I saw the actual pictures of Lionel C&NW F units, realized there is no way to match with C&NW passenger cars, changed my mind.

   In fact, C&NW DID repainted business train into Zito yellow from Traditional yellow for short time and C&NW realized the Zito paint didn't last longer and returned to Traditional yellow.

  If  Lionel or MTH run C&NW passenger cars with Zito paint, I would buy it.