Does anyone rememember that several years ago Lionel had a problem with the tires on vehicles were meliting into the body of the flatcar?
How did they fix the problem?
Bob
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Didn't they issue little plastic pads to place under the tires?
That's right; I have a couple of flatcars with that setup. They were thin clear plastic sheets, or maybe celluloid. They looked a lot like the stuff you take out of the collar on a new dress shirt.
Originally Posted by C W Burfle:
Didn't they issue little plastic pads to place under the tires?
I think they did that on the VW beetle cars. There were two, an orange, and a blue flat, with the beetle being the opposite color. They could be used in a blue and orange Lionel consist or part of a "Beatles" train to go with the limited offering of box cars that have been produced. I also throw in the yellow submarine, purple flatcar.
Yes, I have the first BN TOFC car and it did it. Lionel replace the flat car for me back in the day.
It's packed away with the TTUX trailer stuff for my grand son.
I have one of the sets somewhere and just left it - would not dare change it now. I think it is hilarious - the cars look like they all have flat tires.
Some folks may remember that the original Lionel Corp had a similar problem with the men on the #65 hand car. The chemicals in the men's plastic attacked the superstructure, making it look melted. On mine, the men no longer stand upright.
Reportedly, the problem was fixed on later production pieces.
I have seen reproduction figures attack the plastic bases to which they are mounted too.
I only have a couple of modern era pieces with "rubber" tires" - a flat with vans, and a flatcar with circle-L racing cars. I don't think either one has the problem, but the cars have been packed away for quite a while.
I know some of the flatcars w/ construction equipment made in mid 1990s had this issue.
Later ones came with the thin sheet of clear plastic. If I recall correctly, the later series of flatcars w/ autos, (Dodge Viper, Prowler, Police car) came with the thin plastic also.
