In Praise of the Speeder

Agree 100%. They are crowd pleasers. Every time I put one on our modular layout, I see smiles and pointing fingers. I have a K-Line by Lionel scale size conventional speeder.  We usually have it share a track, so we have to keep an eye on it so it does not end up as a very unprototypical Helper. 

Bob

Here's an RMT speeder that I installed TMCC in.  First, it was customized with the generous help of Harry Henning, then I set to the command installation.  It has directional lighting, directional markers front and rear, and a switchable strobe.  It gets a lot of looks at our shows.

We had to enlarge the space behind the seats to fit the ERR MiniCommander 2, and the overly large passengers were replaced with some more appropriately sized O-scale ones.  Of course, it got a full paint job as it started out bright yellow.

Cute little buggers.

Then, on the spur of the moment, I put it on the main line. The public's response to it changed my mind about them. Adults and kids loved it. People would exclaim and point as it rolled by. It was a hit.

Same reaction with the Snoopy and M&M hand cars.....

The kids can relate to them....

That's the primary reason I bring stuff like the speeders, the Wienermobile, and the Gallopin' Goose to shows, the kids really get a kick out of something different.

I have been wanting to ask how many people had speeders or inspection vehicles.  I see them in the catalogs, but have NEVER seen either of them in pictures, videos, or discussion on this forum up until this post. 

The more I thought about it, the special deal being offered now on Lionel TMCC speeders, by one of our sponsors (thanks to the guys on L.I.) was too good to pass up. I ordered one and it came today. Sir Topham Hatt came out to take a look. It works great on the sharpest Super Streets curves, and the TMCC signal was effective as well. This is going to be fun!

Took a few stills, too, just in case someone starts a "Show us Your Speeders!" thread.  LOL.

BANDOB, I did the same thing and received mine today also. It is a great little unit and the TMCC makes it more special.

Speeders?  You want speeders?  Here's three, all TMCC, one factory, one with TMCC installed by me, and one fully custom one with TMCC installed.

The factory TMCC speeder--is there room in the rear for figures?  Mine is going to go both directions and I'd like it to look like someone is driving it.

The rear has the box for the electronics, same as my earlier upgrade.  There is no room for figures in the back, the whole area is boxed off.

Kind of what I figured

RMT Speeders are currently on sale for only $49.95 each...

UP - ARMY - BNSF - NY SUBWAY - METRO NORTH - SEPTA(Phila) - PRR - PINK/Cancer Cure

www.readymadetoys.com

Thanks.

Walter/RMT

I've ordered one - couldn't resist!

Ihave seriously pondered building a model of the ET&WNC's speeder (which still exists) in On30 someday for my layout but it's a long-off project at this point:

When I was active with an NRHS chapter in Florida in the 80s and 90s, we had several track speeders and took them to various meets around the South. I think those events have been sharply curtailed due to the lawyers, though and speeder meets aren't apparently as big as they used to be. They're a lot of fun, but OH SO VERY LOUD.

You could probably kitbash one of those from the Lionel speeder, just cut the sides out.

Yes, it would be easy to do.  Just a box, basically.  I'm not planning to keep the clown cars but they were so cheap and they have a good chassis and running gear.  I plan to do that, too.

  I was shopping for a speeder a few years ago, had one picked out, did some talking, and research. Even starting welding reinforcements to a trailer, and thinking about doing one from scratch!

 But even a ride is kind of off my bucket list now, the vibrations would be way too much sensation. I had a diaphragm injury, stopping some of the most simple activities.(I can lift heavy, but cant turn, push, step, or lower myself after) 

  Well, being pretty much confined to the couch running a few engines left down low (ceiling shelf layout), using a carpet layout assembled from a box of 0-27 left upstairs(don't care much for tv compared to most), dreaming about speeders still, and being limited too the upstairs bath, living room, & kitchen. It all had me stir crazy. So, one day, a "junk drawer trance" took over. Very easily actually. The drawer held cards I was after for solitaire. But also an early ho frame that caught my eye, bagged with plastic S gauge wheels, and Lionel O axle. Exacto saws, tin snips, CA, Goop, compound needle nose, Big safety pins, toothpicks, finishing washers, fishing sinkers, old carpet, nails and a handful of unused chopsticks I never eat with, but always get with deliveries, were all there too.( I keep only as many as I can hold in a bunch with my hands). I filled my basket, picked up a soup can, and Chinese carryout containers wire handle from the recycle bin, and made my way to the couch to work off some pent up frustration. Considering what I had to work with, I haven't decided if the med.s helped, or hindered my "junk art style"(*) here yet . The burnt ends are from letting a pal even ends up for me. He used my Thor high speed grinder...the one right next to the Delta disc/belt sander! Duh... The "throttle" moved in some if the pic.s, it is not low enough. (its a mech. drive rod on the original ho gear) I'm saving finishing for the next forced "couch lock".Ended up with a lantern assembled during a couple glue dry times too.

(*)-Folk art turned to junk art, then larger junk art, and then "heavy metal furniture". It is another old hobby. It made far more money in our circle than any other hobby I was involved in, without even trying. 1/3rd ton "granny rockers" & 1/4 ton bar stools; life sized skulls from hot solid-ball-ingot; wizards & baby dragons; helicopters, planes, & zeppelins; warriors & guardians; freaks & skeletons driving wild hotrods, or work, or service vehicles etc. etc.. Steam shovels, & locomotives? Of course! Lightest too. About 40lbs each for two commissioned ones. An American, and a drop bucket steam shovel. Both "coffee table sculptures" . A virus ate all my old pictures, but I may have found the disk. 

You fellows have me convinced, I'm bring mine to the show!

Peter

Oh, Lee, keep the clowns. It was a welcomed laugh when I saw them. Clowns in small cars are just funny. They bring all sorts of comments to mind...

If anyone has a speeder figure or two (non clown variety) left over from a kit-bash...please let me know...email address is in my profile...thanks...Howard...

Adriatic, your images don't appear.

Thanks John, they did when posted. I reloaded them.

And there they are!

That's certainly a bare bones speeder!   Does it have command?

Adriatic, I like it!

I don't know about command...maybe quaint presence.

I could command it alright...but not even the dogs listen.

I've still got room for a can motor, don't temp me like that John! You've been a bad influence already . A couple years ago, without even knowing it, You, Dale from JCS, and Dale M. talked me into doing N gauge dome cars with magnet wire, multiple l.e.d.'s, breadboard of "goodies, and the biggest cap I could jam in them and still be hidden(lost one window). Solder wick loop for wheel pick ups. Oh... they worked great. thanx  4 leds ea, near a 1 min. of reserve, and finger cramps are gone now.  

 It just sort of "is" while sitting in the background "rotting", but I like it too.

 Weathering, paint/stain, and some more details, and it should fade in. On the list: Air cooled, it will get one more large finishing washer as an air intake. And a fan blade behind it (one hold up: what to use for a small turbine fan blade?)(or a radiator . Silver vinyl pinstripe, or split & painted tooth picks to create panel frames. A fuel cap & can. Exhaust. Raise the drivers seat. Add the other "cushions"(lost, & why leg room to foot rest is so short). Add a long grab rail behind pass. seats & short ones over cushions as dividers. Wrap wire insulation/tape/putty around carpet nail shaft to thicken lantern's chimney. A Flag kit!   

Well all these posts about speeders made me order one from RMT.

I'd just like to know what you were smoking when you cooked that one up!

Here's the ultimate speeder.  Someone should produce a model of this in celebration of the movie's 50th anniversary.

Stuart

My only knowledge about speeders, real ones, came from an acquaintance who was

contacted by a friend looking for one of the real hand-pumped ones, since I was known

to have an interest in railroads.  I knew nothing about them, but did track down several people who had an interest, found out there was a club for them, and a section of track somewhere dedicated for their use.  All the ones I found were motor speeders,

and people who had had access to a hand pump one said they were a bear to move and

that you'd poop out fast.  Somebody lurking on here probably knows a lot about those

than I was able to find out, and I did not find an available hand pump one that the

party wanted to restore.

Check this link out; it's a long gone vehicle, but this pic was taken in 1992. A Mack railtruck with maybe a modified speeder cab.....Fairmont?

http://tinyurl.com/m8nxh4c

No experience with Lionel or others speeders. Are they single axle drive, or like a geared diesel truck? The ideas are startin'..........

I have a couple of the RMT speeders, D&RG and ARR, they are good runners. Only downside is the seated giants.

Cute little guys. The opening video was nice , sure hope the UP passenger train didnt catch up to them!!

My speeder.

That's a very cool little speeder, someone should model that one!

The Lionel speeders have a single axle drive with one traction tire.  Truthfully, I wish they had left the traction tire off, as it's not needed, and when you run over insulated rail sections, sometimes you only have one wheel with power.