For those interested, here is a link to the OGR forum on Tinplate Trains. It contains the first pictures and discussion I’ve seen on the new Lionel 269e set.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1211056622/m/2851066624
That set appears to be getting mixed reviews. Just about everyone seems to agree that the set box is distinctive and very attractive.
Folks who have received the set have mixed feelings about the “flat” look of the locomotive and the non-tinplate wheelsets used on some or all of the cars.
I had given some serious thought to buying that set, but have changed my mind based on what I have seen and read. No big deal, because there’s plenty of other stuff out there to choose from.
As far as the paint I expect that’s a matter of taste. I think personally tinplate should be of a glossier (is that even a word) nature. I think the wheels maybe as someone else mentioned possibly to assure that they will work with modern track. Anyways I still think the set is attractive and being this is Lionel’s biggest jump into Tinplate in a while perhaps they are just ramping up. At least I hope so.
I saw th e set at my local hobby shop. The finish is a little different. The finish makes the colors look a little muddy. The tank car especially looks odd. May just take a little getting used to. The store also had a bunch of pre-war cars and the finish on those is definately glossy and the colors clear and true hues. Alot of people have been waiting a long time for these sets. Just hope there arent alot of disappointed folks.
Based on what I’ve read and seen over there, I think I’m going to pass on this set. It’s nice, but for a list price of $630.00 it should be true to the original in more ways than it is. Hopefully, what Marty said about Lionel “ramping up” is indeed the case.
- Clint
I spent the evening last night talking to a “Tinplate Guru” who is a very early member of the TCA. I’ll try to pass on what I can remember…there were beverages involved… but he had an original and the new set on-hand.
He informed me that the satin black finish on the engine is correct for the time period and trim on this engine. Nickel trimmed got satin, while brass/copper got glossy.
The cars came with both glossy and satin finishes in the time period. Lionel was starting to play with more realistic train designs at this point, and they wanted rolling stock that wouldn’t stand out against the coming die-cast pieces.
The cabooses were almost always glossy.
Lionel was switching wheels at this point from the shiny tin-plated style we all know to a composite two-piece all black wheel. He showed me examples of both, and the later wheels are pretty close in size and style to the wheels on the new Lionel cars, but the new cars have one-piece wheels instead of two.
All in all, we agree on the “LIONEL, LCC” and “Made in China” on the base plate as being unfortunate on an otherwise beautiful train.
Jon
PS: Much has been made of the wheel-sets. Here is a picture from an original set at auction last year:
Notice all the cars have the typical tinplate style shiny wheels except for the dump car, which are black. These sets were made during the transition period my friend was talking about.
I would want to see them in real life before making any real judgement. But, I’m not impressed with the set in the pics. The sheen looks more flat than satin and makes me think of the Krylon repaints you see at flea markets. It doesn’t look like origionas I’ve seen. But then I haven’t seen it all. I like 'em shiny too but not as shiny as the MTH variety. When it comes to imports and paint sheen, it’s almost a coin toss they get it appealing.
I do not like the solid wheels either. The stamped wheels have a soothing sound to them as they click across the rails. Sort of like tinkle bells. You gotta have that tinkle bell sound or it ain’t prewar.