Williams Lays an Egg

[Dr. John]

I am probably one of Williams' biggest fans. I own several locomotives and numerous freight cars. I've been happy with nearly all of them.

Until I recently purchased an NW-2 in the ICG paint scheme.

The unit runs well. Horn and bell are fine. No problems with bodywork - fit and finish are excellent, as usual.

So why did they pick the wrong color of paint?

As most of you know, the IC and ICG used an orange and white paint scheme from the late 60s to the late 70s. An eye-catching and attractive scheme. I have several models of IC and ICG locos and rolling stock in this scheme from Lionel, K-Line and Weaver. All companies have got the paint job spot-on. Sure, there are slight variations (as there are with the prototype) but overall, they are fine.

The orange that Williams used is, well, brown. [xx(]

Sure, it might pass as a "burnt orange" but it is not even close to the right color. I'm no rivet counter - and I don't really care if a particular road used a particular piece of equipment of not. But please! Get the paint job at least close!

I will keep the engine and run the wheels off of it. But it sure is jarring next to any of my other orange ICG stuff.

End of rant! [:)]

[Anonymous]

Send it back. No point in accepting something you're not happy with. And I say that as one of the staunchest supporters of Williams around.

[brianel027]

That's not the only egg. I too am no rivet counter and can accept liberties taken in detail, length etc. But I also like the paint job to at least correct.... it has alwasy bugged me that Williams squishes the Norfolk Southern logo on every loco they offer in that road name. Years ago when I did have money to spend on train engines, I was at YORK and seriously wanted to buy one of those but the squished logo kept me from doing it. If Williams had offered me a rebate so I could justify repainting the loco again and decaling correctly, I might have done it. Yeah, dream on.

Williams really does make nice basic locos and I applaud them that they do some modern road names too. But that NS logo just isn't right.

And I've looked at hundreds and hundreds of NS loco photos trying to find just one example of the squished logo Williams uses on their NS locos, but have yet to see one.

[Anonymous]

What might have happened is that someone randomly chose a color that ICG used for the F-7 Diesel Locomotives and Passenger Cars. The color they chose randomly was Brown. Then Brown was applied to the NW-2 Switcher, instead of Orange.

Illinois Central "Orange" on the Weaver PS-2-CD 3-Bay Covered Hopper looks like it is more Deep Orangish-Red than a real Bright Orange. Williams is not the only one to apply a variation of the IC colors that are off.

The SOO Name on Williams Soo Line Diesel Locos looks a bit Squashed compared to the real thing. The curve of the red paint on Soo Line units is a bit more severe than it was applied on the GP9 and F-3 units.

All these squished graphics means they only have photos from a 3/4 angle and never went looking for true side photos. The people at Williams Trains need more photos.

Andrew F.

[darianj]

I say send it back to. Getting one of the main colors right should not be brain surgery and shouldve been caught before it left the factory.

[Jumijo]

Dr. John,

Williams has a 30 day money back guarantee. Send it back and get your money refunded.
The color being wrong is always going to bother you, and detract from whatever enjoyment you'd get from the locomotive.

Jim

[Blueberryhill RR]

Dr. John,
I, too, am a big fan of Williams. But I must agree with the other guys, as to
you sendind it back. And, I would tell them why, in a firm way.
You'll be much happier that way.
Chuck

[Anonymous]

They also use that color on the gn e4 and a box car