Anyone know if a Challenger 4-6-6-4 is in the works for LionChief Plus? I would like to have a Challenger with cool sound and smoke effects and not have to pony up for a command system. PLEASE!
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I said it some time back and I mean it. If they build it, I will buy two!
A new, updated version of the Lionmaster Big Boy is the manifest destiny of Lionchief Plus, I think.
Bring back Lionmaster steam!
Lionel has said that it isn't producing Lionmaster engines because the production costs aren't that much lower than producing the scale versions. Well, that thinking doesn't help those of us with space limitations who can't run the huge scale versions. That's probably the majority of folks, and that market has been abandoned by Lionel.
Yet MTH has managed fine with their RailKing Imperial line.
Originally Posted by breezinup:
Lionel has said that it isn't producing Lionmaster engines because the production costs aren't that much lower than producing the scale versions. Well, that thinking doesn't help those of us with space limitations who can't run the huge scale versions. That's probably the majority of folks, and that market has been abandoned by Lionel.
Yet MTH has managed fine with their RailKing Imperial line.
It's not going to help anyone regardless of space limitations since most will probably have a hard time justifying buying the smaller LionMaster if the price is going to be close to a full-blown scale version. People already complain about the proximity in pricing between traditional and scale sized freight cars as it is.
Plus, the original poster didn't specifically say he wanted a "LionMaster" (semi-scale) Challenger, he could very well be asking for a scale, LionChief-equipped version. So in essence getting a scale engine without the premium (and more expensive) command-equipped electronics.
Original poster here, yep I'm looking for a budget version of a Challenger that I can run on a conventional setup aka LionChief Plus. I noticed MTH Rail King produced a Challenger with Proto Sounds/smoke a few years ago. Anyone have experience with it? Lionel has a huge market opportunity with LionChief Plus. All of my household visitors like using the LionChief remote to play with the train. It's much more engaging for people on the outside of the hobby than using the typical transformer lever and buttons.
If they could have a changeable tool to make a Delaware and Hudson Challenger with a headlight centered recessed in the boiler front I would get one. Otherwise my money stays in my wallet.
Would you all still be willing to buy if it was a plastic shell on the tender and boiler? I know I would probably pass but this might help the price issue get down to a point where they could justify making the product.
Just throwin it out there.
Jim
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
A new, updated version of the Lionmaster Big Boy is the manifest destiny of Lionchief Plus, I think.
I might have to buy that one!!!!!!
Not too long ago, someone from Lionel, I think it was J. Don Reese, said to expect more LionChief +, but he didn't give any hints on what they might be.
I'm not sure how viable a scale LionChief + locomotive would be for a few reasons.
1. Does it fit Lionel's product placement goals? Only Lionel knows the answer to that. So far, the LC + locos have been semi-scale and filled a market niche between starter set locos and scale Legacy locos. Does Lionel want to produce a reduced feature scale product line? It if is successful, they are probably going to sell less Legacy locos which probably have a higher profit margin.
2. What feature differences would separate a LC + Challenger from a Legacy Challenger? From an operational/technology standpoint, the LC + loco might not be capable of all the features of a legacy loco. From a manufacturing cost / profit standpoint, Lionel might need to reduce scale details to make a decent profit margin on a lower retail price LC + loco. The big question, are hobbyists going to be interested in a LC + scale loco that costs less, but has less operational features and less detail compared to a legacy loco? The forum is filled with posts from hobbyists who like scale equipment, but are not going to buy a specific loco because it doesn't have this feature or it doesn't have that detail.
What is it that makes lionmaster so expansive to produce? If it's the electronics, use the molds and put Lionchief "guts" in it. If it's the molds/detail, scrap that idea.
As I have said before on other threads, I would LOVE a LC+ Challenger. Unfortunately, there has been nothing more than wishful thinking reported on this forum (mine included).
I would be OK with plastic bodies as a poster suggested. But I do not know if new plastic tooling would be cheaper than reusing the semi-scale Lionmaster tooling.
