Help: Are any of the new RailKing Imperial steam true O scale?

Most of the steam are not scale. Do a search on both the scale and Railking version of the same engine on the MTH site.

In comparing the decapod, you will find it to be about 5 inches shorter than scale. (or about 20 scale feet off) Width and height will also be off a bit. Some of their small steam switchers are pretty much scale.

Their old time engines (like the General) are actually larger than scale.

The Decapod is smaller than a scale model, but some of the steam switchers are pretty close and were available as "Imperial" models.

The RailKing Scale diesels are early molds where the cast-in detail isn't up to elevated current-day expectations.  Rather than retire the mold, MTH elected to integrate these models into their RailKing line at a lower price point.  They are approximately scale-sized, but generally lack the detail level of Premier, or top-of-the-line Lionel models.

The Imperial designation usually means a few added details or upgraded decoration.

Hope this helps.  -Ted

Very interesting topic, I, for one, hope that somebody can post a pic of an imperial steamer next to an 0-scale steamer for comparison. Say, for instance, the imperial M1A next to a scale M1a?

RailKing Imperial is more detailed like Premier, but not scale. Any RailKing that is scale will say RailKing Scale in the catalog, these are not as detailed as Imperial or Premier.

This is all explained in the beginning pages of the MTH V1 & V2 Premier catalogs, which are available on the MTH website, if you don't have a print copy.  

pro hobby,

i'll be interested in the answers you get. i purchased a RailKing one over a decade ago when it was first issued. Size wise it was very disappointing as in most dimensions it measured out to a perfect S scale (1/64) with O gauge wheels. It looked particularly undersized next to that "coast to coast" 210F82A tender. Paid $425; sold on the auction site for $165.

When this new one (RailKing Imperial) was listed in the catalog, i wrote MTH asking if they were using the same basic boiler casting as far as size goes. They responded curtly that it was asking for proprietary information and they would not divulge it.

Good luck.

jackson

The new decapod looks the same as the old (2001) version (30-1176-1).  The boiler casting of the 2001 decapod is the same as the 2010 K4s (30-1551-1).

Take a look at the recent RK Imperial M-1 Mountain. It is closer to scale MTH even lists it as a feature and several forum sponsors still have them in stock. I bought 1 about a month ago and really like the look.

No; they are all (except: see below) sub-1:48 - but still can be very nice. I have the RKI Triplex, and it is one of my favorites, and many features are indeed scale-sized (cab, for example), so it is completely at home among the true(er) 1:48 pieces. It reminds me of a 1:48 model of a smaller real loco, as I have said here before.

(Having said that, the RK USRA 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 are 1:48 with good, basic detailing; I have the Premier 0-6-0 and a friend has the RK 0-6-0, and his is the same size as mine - but, nice as it is, is definitely does not have the good looks of my Premier loco.)