Conversation with LHS about Rail King military cars.

Michael,

Have noticed that the aftermarket offerings of (something close to O scale) U.S. military vehicles is very thin and spotty? Maybe a Sherman here and a Jeep there, but, if you need something German it's more than likely out there.

Tanks by Mini Cooper

It is a Railking fantasy car, for the folks that like to operate toy electric trains, which probably is the majority of operators.

I fully understand that it's a "fantasy" car, which also allows one to poke fun at it.

The catalog says "mini" in the description, so I understood what my eyes gugested was the case: the tanks aren't scale.  And I think your LHS techie has nailed the reason.  They're fun, and kid's don't care: my grandkids put Lego people in gondola cars and pigs the size of houses on flatcars and just don't care.

I have some MTH flats with scale Sherman tanks on them that are quite nice, so I think it's just that one product, not a trend in MTH's entire military line up.  I hope so . . .

There's a fair amount of 1:48 plastic model kits and 1:50 die-cast assembled vehicles for sale depending on what era is being modeled. 

Modern stuff may be slim pickings, but its not to hard to find WWII/Korean/Vietnam vehicles.

What era are you looking for?

Jim

p.s. my guess is that Railking has 1:64 scale vehicles because of the price.  It's not to hard to find these vehicles for $5 or $6 each.

Not looking for anything in particular, thanks. Rather just commenting on these cars.

I don't see a problem with it. 

Clearly those tanks are being delivered to the Shriners Club for the 4th of July parade

Tamiya recently introduced finished (pre-built) motorized 1/48 tanks...about $25 street price so perhaps a bit spendy compared to static loads.

I'd think driving a tank on and off a flat-car for transport could be big fun in the spirit/fantasy of the missile launch car, helicopter launch car, etc. for kids or kids-at-heart.

OK, I saw those in the catalog and said, Nope, not for me, too small.

But some will buy them, more power to them.

And Lee is right, Kids do not give a hoot about scale, they load whatever is handy in the train and run it.

25 foot tall dolls, pigs the size of a pickup truck, whatever.

Stan:

Now THAT I gotta get. Motorized RC 1/48 Tank for my tank train.

Unloading that live will draw a crowd at a show.

I can add it to the end of my Shermans on Flats train.

I have the MTH Premier 20-XXXXX military cars, abrams tanks 6 flat car set, sherman tanks 6 flat car set, the bulldozers flat car, the scraper and a couple of others including the 7 car Premier troop train set (5 car and 2 car add on from 2005).   I even have the Premier US Army Schnabel car.  They all appear to be 1:48 or very close.  I have no issue with them.   I am ready to send the war train with equipment and supplies to the front.

And those are nice ptalar. I was referencing the Rail King military car carriers.

How is the overhang on the Abrams tanks?  I have about eight early Patton tanks that overhang as much as my flatcars can tolerate, and I understand the Abrams is a bit wider.  I like Shermans best among tanks as they fit with just a bit of room side to side.

The Abrams are in the modern yellow painted MTH TTX flat cars.  No overhang.