lionel tugboat

domer,

send me an e-mail and I may be able to help you with locating tugs and barges for your application.

Alan graziano

The Lionel tug is a nice size.  I never was a fan but many owners are pleased.  

Dumas makes one or two nice 1:48 tugboat kits.  Here is one I prefer over the Lionel.

http://www.micromark.com/us-ar...d48-scale,10943.html

 You can find others on this website by typing the word Tug in the search bar at the top.  Some of the others are 1:48, some 1:72, but all are tugboats worth considering.  

Supply and demand. Those that have them typically want to keep them. I have a LV version. They were offered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2010 catalogs. If you can wait, Lionel may make more. They have lights, smoke, and sound. The 2010 version was over $250.

They show up on eBay from time to time. You never know, you may just be able to pick up a deal. You may also want to try the "Want to Buy" forum.

Gilly

thanks lee. it looks much like a kit i built a couple of years ago. the "harbor tug" made by revell. i have to check what scale that was.. its still laying around but i would have to dremel the hull to make it waterline. somehow i think it was 1:350 though

The only Revell tug I have seen is around 1:100 scale, just a tiny bit too small to look good on HO, and too big to fit N.  Very frustrating, although otherwise a nice model.  The dumas kits are okay, although not the same type of plastic as Revell, Monogram, Glencoe, etc.  The hulls I've seen are very thin vacuum formed plastic, but nice, and the superstructures and all PVC, which only works with some glues.  But they make really nice kits when done well.  They are meant to be powered and remote control if you want.  Some of Dumas' tug kits, even the `1:48 models, are nearly three feet long (ocean-going tugs).  I like the small one best.

Note that there are full hull models and "waterline" models of boats.  The Lionel tug is a waterline model where the bottom of the hull is not modeled so that it will sit on model water on a layout and look correct.   A full hull model wont work well on a layout, unless you are showing it on land.

Bill

Shop around and be patient. I picked up a Lionel NYC Tug for little more than the Micro Mark kit. Its quite accurate as well.

One other thing. You may not have a use for it but these also have lights and Railsounds which may account some for the prices.

Pete

And here's one right now on the Buy/Sell Forum. PRR Tugboat

Gilly

Frenchman river has a 1/48 scale tug and barges.

I am considering this for my river.

http://www.frenchmanriver.com/...esel/oDieselTug.html

Tom

wow thats nice. thanks. being that i hope to model a canal , that small work tug would fit in. i want to try to convert one of those deck scows into a petroleum barge as well.

Sylvan makes a nice O scale kit for a tugboat in resin.

Here's my rendition...

It's not in the same class as the prototype for the Lionel tug genre, but being a smaller tug, it tends to fit my O scale layout space a lot better.

Re prices for the Lionel tug...  Back in 2004 one of the larger east coast dealers had a 'call' note on their magazine ad for the Santa Fe tug.  So I did.  $79 + shipping later it arrived...quite a drop from the original MSRP.  Since then I've watched this...and other versions...go all over the map re local shows, on-line auction sales, etc..  They're out there, for sure.  Run again?  I'm not sure there's enough demand....for what flag(s)?

'Scuphee' has a small Sylvan coal barge for company/chore, too....don't have a picture of it.  I had George at ITTProducts custom create a sound chip for this tug.  Found a single chime whistle from a website that sounded appropriate.  Engine burbles, sloshing water, seagull squawks, and an occasional toot of the whistle....it's pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

Sylvan's website is on the Scenery Sourcelist .

FWIW...

KD

I think Lionel did a terrific job on their tug boats. Just shop around. Here are the two originals tied up at the wharf.

I found the pic by googling New York Central Tugboat. Further searching brought up these websites.

http://www.tugboatenthusiastso...allery-nyc-tug16.htm

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki...k_Central_Tugboat_13

Pete

While doing research for a harbor scene on our club layout, I have collected a number of tugboat pictures. Here are some of them.

Our harbor scene is still in the planning stages but it will definitely include at least one if not two Lionel tugboats

When I do the next layout for my grandkids, it will be a hybrid 3r main with 2r street tracks and sidings. I plan on doing a forced perspective version.

These big items in O are not practical in cost or valuable real-estate.

All background items will be in H.O.

Layout attention and focus this time around will be more on O trains, not the secondary items.

Also planned are more realistic paper printed buildings.

H.O. marine rail module link -

https://steves3roscale.shutterfly.com/pictures/3821

I Really like this one, if I had a need for one, this is the one that I would be looking for. What are the dimensions on this one? It looks like it wouldn't burn as much space as the Lionel tug.

Doug

For $250.00! (And it's sold)

I'm sorry...when I went to the Sylvan listing in the Scenery Sourcelist, I found it needs re-doing....the listed link doesn't work anymore.  I'll email Dave with the gnu link.

Meanwhile, here's the item link...

Sylvan Tug Link

Being a 45-footer, that works out to 11.25 inches...roughly...in 1:48.

KD

I've seen the Sylvan tug on a layout.  It is short - less than a foot.  It's not a bad little tugboat, looks good, but it is a little tugboat, and looks a bit compressed to me.  The advantage is that it will fit places many others won't.  But If I had the room I would go with something about 13-17inches if I could.

Yep, my Scuphee is, indeed, "not a bad little tugboat". ...

Just can't let go of the favorite parts of my own childhood!!! 

Love this hobby!

KD

Oh wow!  I had forgotten all about him.  I had that very book when I was a kid, dkdkrd. 

Have you noticed how similar to Lionel's orange and blue Scuffy is on the cover?

i blame this book for my merchant marine career!