Lionel Titantic Set: who will buy?

Hi Brad, I'm sorry but what's the Titanic set? Was that in the volume 1 catalog or is that in the pipe line?

 I did a search at Lionel with that name and got nothing.

Later, Mario E.

I assume this will be a tie in with the theatrical re-release of the James Cameron film in 3D?  Girls set was both iconic and ironic.  This just seems crass/silly.

Think this set is pretty interesting, its not really a theme set in the sense of the Lone Ranger and Christmas story sets.  The engine and caboose have somewhat believable looking Maritime markings.  There is a flatcar with propellors, mint car with hull fragments also. Pretty neat in that the GP diesel in the set has smoke also.

I'm waiting for the Hindenburg set...

Rusty

I can't recall the faintest inference to trains in Titanic (Wizard of Oz either).  NTTAWWT, but I think LIONEL is missing the boat (or train) by not doing something with the the James Bond franchise.  Several Bond films have trains as a plot component.  I am sure there are Bond fans on this forum.

About as collectable as the Lone Ranger set

How about a model of the Titanic with a picture of a Lionel train printed on the side?

Geeeze!

The number of folks interested in "O" gauge trains is shrinking, most of the sales of anything above a starter set are going to established collectors and operators. Therefore in my opinion  it is very unlikely that anything made in the last 10-20 years is going to become valuable because the supply will exceed the demand.

Such is not the case for earlier Modern era product. While prices on many (perhaps most) of the early "instant collector" stuff have fallen, the prices on some of the early mass market stuff has been steadily climbing.
The difference is that a lot of early MPC trains were purchased for kids, who are now adult.

As far as a Titanic set is concerned: I did a Google search, and took a look at the Lionel website, and could not find anything. Where is information and/or pictures available?

Maybe Lionel will do a General Slocum steamboat or a Triangle Shirtwaist factory themed set next.

Personally, I'm waiting for the Star Trek set.

The set dosn't look all that bad. It has a Mint car in it that those collectors will want. The flat with two props is back and the Sub car is neat!

Careful what you ask for. 
Bill B.

I could understand a maritime set, as that might be pretty cool.  Of all the famous ships in history, why tie it to the Titantic?    Regarding a posible release tied to a re-release of the the movie, why bother, as that ship has already sailed!

Jim

I want the Orion Slave Girl car

ok,i'll bite where can i find pics. of this set?...joe

Hopefully it doesn't hit an iceberg on its first crossing from China to the US.

The release is more due to remember the 100th anniversary of the disaster than the re-release of the movie...well obviously the re-release of the movie is also due to that.

Bradford Exchange already did one in HO...

Rusty

I'll hold out for the Costa Concordia set.

How about the "Custer's Last Stand" train?

As someone else so eloquently put it...What is Lionel thinking? Trying to get people interested in what has become a very expensive hobby, by creating fantasy equipment, rather than true-to-life models. The question was asked a few days ago, about how to make O scale the King of Scales again. This is probably NOT the way to go about it.

How about a "Roy Cohn & Friends" train? 

Does anyone have links/pictures of this set?  Unable to locate any....

Can't imagine why people who rabidly collect ANYTHING with Titanic on it would buy one just becasue they have to have EVERYTHING that has Titanic on it.

We aren't the audience for this set--though some of us may buy one for various reasons.  The audience isn't people interested in trains at all.  This set is an opportunity to sell trains to people who don't buy trains by making a minimal investment.  It's not to build the hobby or draw in new people.  It's to get the $$$ of Titanic afficianados/collectors.  They are out there, and they spend money.

In this sense, it much like the Disney and the Coke sets:  trying to appeal to non-train people just to make a few bucks off them.

More power to them!  Selling a truckload of these things may help finance trains WE want.

Complaining about Lionel doing it makes no sense whatsoever.

The set is in the new SET Catalog, I don't think Lionel expects to sell any to you rivet counters. It might be a good seller as it is quite colorful.

Actually, Hello Kitty would be a smart move---especially if they made a transformer that worked in Japan.    I lived there and frankly, you would have to see it for yourself---grown ups spending hordes of cash on HK gear [for adults]...

I think the comment above that they are reaching for a broader audience is true and actually smart on their part; they would be wise to combine production with a better advertising campaign IMO.

It's like buying a model ship with a train emblazoned on it or an automobile with a bicycle on it's flanks. The market for this set is unimaginably small even for collectors who, like myself, will never live long enough to see it appreciate ( if it does) and as for running..in a hi-rail dominated hobby, this would look like a pimple on realism. It's just "too cute" for it's own good. What kid wants a "Titanic" toy train? This one is a misfire. Some distributors have enough of the sum total of all the collector series to exhaust most credit card balances.

This thread is useless without pix!   PIX...or it didn't happen!

quote:

The set is in the new SET Catalog,

I don't see a "SET" catalog on the Lionel.com website. The newest catalogs appear to be 2011 volume II, 2011 Christmas, 2011 Signature edition, and 2011 Ready-to-run. If these catalogs are print only, then I guess I will receive them through my membership in the LCCA.

The set catalog is supposed to be online Friday (March 2) morning.

Rusty

Don't need it and don't want it.

Pete

Don't care about the Titanic set, but would definately go for a train set based on the Firefly episode "The Train Job". I suppose the hover train would require super conductor magnets...

-bruce

People are describing the set as they have seen it in the initial catalogs sent to Lionel dealers. As far as I know, copies for mass distribution have not arrived at stores yet. The new R-T-R catalog which shows the set is NOT on-line yet.

I think the set will be a dud. I note other (non-train)Titanic commemorative products coming out this year but I think the whole concept is kind of ghoulish. Does Lionel plan a "Terrible Disasters" series? Hum...Pearl Harbor...9/11...Hurricane Katrina?

It's ridiculous.

The pictures in the RTR catalog show that most of the set has graphics for Maritime Exploration (engine and caboose). I didn't realize it was the Titanic set until I read the description. It is not overpoweringly "Titanic", looks like the aquarium car has graphics for part of the ships hull in it.

That being said, not my cup of tea, won't be purchasing one.

I'm sure glad this is only ONE person's opinion on the Titanic set.  The neat thing about this hobby is there is something for most everyone.  One person's interest in an item may not be for another.  I believe that is true for, not only the O gauge hobby but for most things in life. 

Even though we have not been privileged to see the set yet, I am sure there will be a market for it especially among Titanic historians and collectors and it also sounds like a very interesting starter set also.

I wish Lionel good luck with the set as well as other items they are releasing.  Their success means more of everything for the hobby.

TEX

Steve

Here are the photos of the set:

After seeing the photos, I don't think it's as dumb as I first thought. I don't think i would buy it. but it's still kind of a nice set.

They should include a train barge to be towed offshore w/ this set on it, pulled by a Lionel Tugboat, and a crane car (w/ a really long cable payout) & crane tender for "added realism". 

I hope they sell a million.

After a more educated consideration of the facts I think it's safe to say that I can find a far better use for four hundred pluss dollars of my toy train money.

I'm glad to see that Lionel is following the fine tradition started with the Lone Ranger and Nascar sets. Oh well!

I first head about this set last week from a distributor I know at a TCA meet.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in April. It's not a bad looking trainset as new sets go but it's too much of a novelty for me.  I'm more into realistic trains.  As for future value, I wouldn't live long enough to see it.

Ray