I have the Lionel Conventional Classics Santa Fe F3 AA set from a few years a go and they are really nice, traditional runners.
Vertical motors and all of the postwar compliments.
The original release shipped with incorrect shells that had a red color that was too dark and too dull. Lionel offered free replacement shells that now sell for quite a bit on ebay. If you buy a set of these F3's just be sure that they have the replacement shells installed.
Yes, there are some cars with full length domes. Don't remember who runs them, though.
Canadian Pacific used to run observations cars that also had a dome. Budd cars, that were built in the late 40's or early 50's. Maybe other roads ran them too.
Someday I hope to add a set of F3 ABBAs and passenger cars. One thing I've always wondered about the Astra/Vista dome cars. Did some of the real ones also come with car-length domes? Did some observation cars also have domes? I was watching the Lionel Showroom Layouts DVD, and it showed the Lionel Visitors Center running a Santa Fe passenger train with an observation/dome car at the tail end. (I think that set came out in 1991.) I've only seen actual footage of a dome car in the movie Species (the original).
I always thought the postwar glossy warbonnets were the best looking. The horizontal motors had a growl that said "power" to a young boy. I didnt get my own pair till much later in life, but when I did I bought the glossy postwar 2343's. About the only set of warbonnets I would even consider is the WBB version with the chrome finish instead of a glossy silver of the 2343's. The only issue with the 2343's is you have to watch your choice of turnouts in 0-27 track as the fuel tanks on the diesels will not clear the switch motor housings when taking the diverging route. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I guess those guys beat me to it!
So what do you think? I feel the glossiness really shows them off. The fact they have StreamLighting®, red stripes, and passengers (not just silhouettes!) add a bit of classiness to the set.
The truth is, I always thought the Lionel catalog with the black Santa Fe F3s was meant to show the shininess of the silver when reflecting something dark. The shiny black ones have the opposite effect. They look silvery when reflecting something light!
Founr them guys,,Thanks.
"Midnight Chief" ABA F3 K-25303TC and the "Black Mesa" Business Car 6-21703.
The 4 pack set K-4630L, the 2 pack set K-4630M and the other 2 pack set K-4630N.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Kev, Here's a good starting point: http://www.legacykline.com/apps/kl/kline_ui.html
Not the easiest place to navigate and some info is not complete but it does provide a source.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
I remember making a choice between the K-Line Empire State Express Hudson and the black bonnet F3's cataloged about the same time. K-Line had matching black passenger cars to go with them.
I'll dig around and see if I can come up with that catalog this weekend to find the numbers.
A set of black cars do look nice behind the black bonnet F3's. I ran across a video on U-tube a while back showing a setup like that.
I'm happy with the Hudson, by the way.....
I've noticed a difference in the gloss level in the paint on the war bonnet F3's over the years. I think I like the glossy finish better. Any insight to what kind of finish came when?
phrankenstign,
Are you talking to me about the Black F3s I have? If so do you have part numbers so I can look. I do know K-line made black bonnet F3s but did not know of any cars. I don't know what all is out there but would be glad to look. The great thing about the people on this forum. But right now with the holidays money is tight. The Whilliams F3s Black Bonnet are satin black not gloss one of the reasons I liked them over the K-Line and Lionel.
If you're looking for a Warbonnet F-3 I'd stick to the current production ones. The post-war ones, nice as they are, are going for big bucks as collector pieces if they're in decent shape.
Williams, MTH, recent Lionel, even RMT's "Beefs" (pictured) are all good.
Have you thought of getting a set of K-Line black passenger cars? They'd look real nice behind those black F3s you've got.
How about a set by RMT
8N I recently got a set of the Williams by Bachmann Golden Memories Black Bonnet Santa Fe A-B-A s. I absolutely love them great detail and pulling power. So if you’re not set on Lionel you can get a lot for the money on these. The silver war bonnet are very easy to find. They are Numbers 20195 for the A-A and 20295 for the B unit. Here is a catalog link. Go to page 55
http://www.williamstrains.com/2011/2011_williams.pdf
I don't know about the modern models, but there are differences among the postwar ones that might affect your choice. The main one is whether the motors are horizontal or vertical. The original horizontal arrangement is known for the distinctive noise of the spur gears, which some like and some dislike. The later, vertical motors are smoother and quieter.
The truck center bearings are also different, farther apart with horizontal motors, closer together with vertical. This makes a difference if you're using Lionel O27 turnouts, which won't let the earlier, horizontal types pass.
There are also differences between the truck-sideframe colors, earlier models being silver, later ones black. For example, the only black-truck B units that match the 2-vertical-motor 2383 A units are the earlier 2243C, which makes those units, essentially simple plastic boxes, more expensive than they would otherwise be.
Bob Nelson
I enjoy my Midnight Chief postwar celebration F3's so much, I've decided that I 'need' a set of warbonet F3's.
I'm looking for opinions, pluses, minuses, etc., etc. How do the post war verssions compare to the the later versions?
Looking forward to your comments.
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