Is die cast not popular?

I think it comes down to price. Guys already complain about the cost of the plastic ones!

Limits how many you can pull with one loco. K-Line did a number of them....still out there on the market. Hoppers, box and tank cars.....all it takes is $$$$$

Atlas has some fine die cast hoppers on their "clearance" page.  You do have to add your own trucks and couplers but they are beautiful and super cheap considering it's Atlas.

My reference as an operator is for die cast metal locomotives because the weight is beneficial for traction. Otherwise, molded plastic is my preference for passenger and freight equipment.

 

I am down to one die-cast metal box car which is up for sale.

I think the price and the fact that pulling much more than 20 diecast cars usually requires a couple of locomotives.

Die cast cars look good.
When you pull a long train the couplers are the first thing that give out.
The plastics cars out on the market today have great deatale some better than the diecast cars.you can put 40 or 50 behind a good engine with no problems.

Die cast hoppers are heavy and make a poor choice for an O gauge layout.

 

Jim

 

p.s. If anyone wants to dispose of K-Line Reading two bay hoppers or Lionel PP&L hoppers, please feel free to send them to me and I will be happy to dispose of them!

 

 

p.s.s.  Okay, maybe I do like my die-cast hoppers.  I can easily pull 10 cars with a single Atlas powered GP35.  Got a second Atlas powered GP35, in part, so I can add another 5 - 6 cars to the drag.

I know hah...They cost to much and they are to heavy.But I love them Nick

Die-cast locos are great, but I don't see a need for die-cast rolling stock.

diecast, brass, tinplate, whatever, it's all good

I would not mind a bunch of them. I run BIG (some with dual motors) steam engines and they can pull the weight with no issues.

The Lionel Gensets are a thing of beauty...I still want a UP vision Switcher. Maybe some day when I win the lottery

Diecast is very old technology - - WW II era.   It is heavy and I think is still using a lead based alloy.    Also, if not done right it can disintegrate.   I have had a bunch of "new" Atlas O Reefers and one Express reefer, where the diecast trucks simply crumbled  apart.    Pieces not even big enough to repair.   

 

Diecast cars are too heavy and the detail is generally not as fine as brass or injection molded plastic.    Basically any cast on detail is starting to look crude compared to separately applied grabs and other details.     

 

So I personally do not have any use for diceast cars and I am too fond of of diecast locos.   The window frames and side panels and what not tend to be too thick on locos.   

 

I too have 2 diecast WM hoppers that I want to sell.

Die cast hopper cars are good to make track cleaning cars. Just affix a cleaning pad to the bottom of the car with a small piece of two sided tape, and add a little rubbing alcohol.

On an all die cast train, I must say stringling is not a problem.

Perhaps die-cast is not "decent" enough for some people..................

TrainsRMe:

That's what people who live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula call the people who live in the Lower Peninsula...we're "below" the bridge (Big Mac). We call them Yoopers - and that'll get John23 started. 

 

I have a few of the newer die cast cars and like them, but I can also see where a string of them would be problematic running on the curves and grades of my layout.

 

Neil  

 

quote:

It is heavy and I think is still using a lead based alloy.

 

I am not aware of any lead based alloys used to make Lionel trains.

They used ZAMAC, which is zinc with just a little bit of a few other metals.
There are several different ZAMAC forumulas.

Here is some information

 

I love 'em, and have quite a few hoppers. But, I have switching layouts.

 

Coincidentally, TrainWorld has 3-car sets of Lionel P&WV and GN offset hoppers for $99 today.

Our few die cast K-Line hoppers really roll free and will go 'forever'...