Comparisons of the model particles and APOGEE stars. Top: bar frame density distributions of the model particles (red contours) and APOGEE stars, both restricted to |b|< 13° and R_GC < 7 kpc. The straight grey lines mark sight lines at longitudes of 0°, ±15°, ±30°, and ±45° and the red star shows the Sun’s position. Bottom: comparison of the heliocentric velocity distributions of model particles (2D histograms) and APOGEE stars (red points) with |b|< 3° in the bar region (left column, black ellipse in the top plot) and in a nearby section of a ring around the bar (right column, black arc in the top plot). Dashed and solid lines give the running means of the model and APOGEE distributions, respectively.