Greetings. I recently purchased the 37112 helicopter twin pack. I didn't inspect the items. I wound up the 3410 helo car, placed a 37112 on the mechanism, pressed the tab and no flight. Upon closer inspection of the helicopter, the notched piece that should be on the blade shaft is missing. I then checked the other helo and it is the same way. Were these intentionally made this way to protect us from ourselves?
Steve
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During the postwar period Lionel made both operating and non-operating helicopters.
I would have expected the separate sale ones they are making today to be operating too.
Did the package say "Operating" anywhere?
I doubt they made an error.
C W Burfle posted:During the postwar period Lionel made both operating and non-operating helicopters.
I would have expected the separate sale ones they are making today to be operating too.
Did the package say "Operating" anywhere?
I doubt they made an error.
No, it does not say operating, but they are the same in every way except for that.
I looked on Lionel's website, part of their 37112 description states "manually rotating propeller."
I bought the "dummy" helicopter once as a kid....I still have the car, never got another heli since, and still want a refund. "Ripped off" was my thought 
.
The best flyer I had was the two wing with counterweights. I think the shaft's drive might have had two sizes or a sleeve change or something too. There was some kind of difference for sure.
Go on eBay. They have both but you have to be careful. There is one re[pro with no Lionel markings, $14.95 + $3.95 shipping and there are others. The one that you want would have the black cog on the bottom to match with your launcher car.
I would also go to the next train show and find a dealer who is selling re pro parts they may have it or check with one of the dealers on the forum, maybe Hennings?
Most Lionel parts dealers carry the reproduction helicopters, which were made in a wide assortment of variations to match what Postwar Lionel did.
I have had quite a few helicopters pass through my hands. As far as I know, they all had shafts with a square cross section. The non-operating ones had a black plastic ring to hold the shaft in.
I have seen the non-operating postwar helicopters with three different blades:
- long blade fixed to the shaft, they turn together.
- long blade not fixed to the shaft - turning the blade does not necessarily turn the shaft
- short blade fixed the the shaft.
The operating helicopters came two ways:
- two long blades, one fixed to the shaft. The second one has a cam that locks into the first. This allows the blades to be folder together.
- one short blade.
The long blades are known to come in black or brown.
The short blades are black.
There are variations in the markings, including unmarked.
I don't remember them well enough to write about the markings or the different tail pieces.
The 419 heliport used a different helicopter, the tail piece was not a separate casting.
Chicago Line, the folks who originally made the reproductions, also made some custom decorated helicopters. The Coast Guard one is very attractive.
They also made a Coast Guard 6801 boat, 6800 plane, and 6830 submarine. (Also very nice)
Some might have been made by Bob Geller. He stops by the board now and then. Maybe he will comment.
Other odd pieces from Chicago Line include:
all olive boat - including the windshield
6820 Missile racks and afterburners in yellow
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