Need your opinion--scale vs toy

If it is for the kids, the more fun cars you can pull, the better. You might want to consider some passenger cars as the kids love the lighted cars.

I would go for the operating cars. Kids will be entertained and I doubt any kids will know or care if it's scale or not. They like the smoke and sound of the train going by.

Most kids could care less weather the stuff is scale or not. They like movement, sounds, color and the fact there is a layout to see. I think it great that you doing this. Most of all "HAVE FUN".

agreed, the kids aren't rivet counters...yet. They want the sight and sounds of the steam, the fun of the operating cars.

Definitely go for the operating cars. They're colorful, they're animated, and kids love them. The locomotive pulling them is pretty much irrelevant unless it's a Christmas locomotive.

I will also agree with operating cars. But I'll go a step further and suggest running some sort of affordable starter set engine.

 

I've done many train shows and find that while many will find the big scale locomotives impressive no doubt, it can also deter them from ever thinking about the hobby when they find out the price tag of those locomotives.

 

Sure, run the scale one. But have something else to run also so that folks can look at and say "wow, I think we could swing getting that one." This is one of the major flaws of trains shows that allow kids... running expensive scale locos that no kid can reasonable expect to get as a gift.

 

Really, no use in exciting the kids with operating cars and then mom and dad find out the loco costs and never look back again. This is part of the reason why when Lionel goes on the Today Show, they bring affordable starter types of products.

 

If your show was bonafide train meet with adults only, running nothing but scale fidelity would be another matter.

Great idea !1  Go for it.   Kids and adults will love it

 

Brent

Brianel has it right!  And then some!

 

Pete

Definitely pull the toy consist as kids will be entertained more by it.  

It's great you set up the trains each year!

-Greg

I agree with the above "starter set" suggestions.  No sense in winding kids up and

getting them screaming, "Mommy, Mommy, I want one", and Mommy finds out they

are priced out of reach.   And operating cars will hold kids' attention, while a long

string of boxcar red house cars would not.

Public display.......go with the animated cars....folks love them...no one will notice a scale loco....

 

 

Very good point!

My 2 cents - I agree that the more fun (operating) cars, the more fun the audience will have.  Good question - shows you care - kudos.

Thanks to all for the positive feedback! WILL DO ALL ANIMATED CARS.

 

The layout has become a big hit at the Christmas party.  At one point I was going to drop out as it is a lot of work for only 2 hours but every time I see a little face light up when they see the trains "they keep pulling me back in".  This is what the hobby is really about; bringing joy, happiness and love to these kids and yes even the older kid in all of us.

 

Again, thanks

BTW this is the link to our first layout in 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w-bfG3V67U

 

I re-read brian els' post 2x to sure I understood. I'd say that is great advice.....do bring a "starter set" loco along with a fancy steamer or diesel.

   And spot on about the giraffe car.....hobo n' cop.........etc  you will get rave reviews for bringing those cars.  I do that with my Christmas Carpet Central........

 

 

 

Starter set, possible mid range like lionchief plus with it fan driven smoke units, I would see as a better fit for children with out losing the wow factor. As for matching I don't think they will notice, and if they do, will not care.

Public display.......go with the animated cars....folks love them...no one will notice a scale loco....

 

Yeah Dave, your right, but only until the point where some kid says to his parents "Can I have one of those" or "I want a train for Christmas."

 

Two-hundred dollars (give or take) for an entire starter set is one story. Tell mom that the engine you see running costs over $600, $700 and up... Well this is in part why there is the perception that this is a rich man's hobby.

 

Again, in my years of doing train shows, I was surprised how much mom needs to be convinced of the prices the rest of us are familiar with... mother's are the starting selling point of getting that first train set. When the interest kicks in, dad starts justifying the spending. And we all know what can happen next! 

 

Allin makes a good point about the LionChief and LionChief+ should you happen to have one of those kinds of locos.

 

We all talk about growing the hobby. You don't want to scare them away before they even get started.

If you don't have a starter set or starter set loco, maybe a buddy has one you can use; or, ask the LHS for a "loaner"--heck, the LHS may want to participate even if it's only having some business cards on a table in return for the use of the train/loco.

 

Another thought; if you show the kid the fancy, "all the bells, whistle, sounds, etc.," locomotive, he may not want the starter set that Mom would buy him/her--so don't show it to him/her.

 

 

Scale trains are "Toy's" also.  Makes no difference, a toy train is a toy train, scale size has nothing to do with it.  G scale is even larger and they are toy trains also.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

You need a good MTH helicopter car.  Mine out of the box was lack luster, but with some adjustment, mainly a large drill bit to open the passage in the copter for the shaft, it will now from the floor almost hit the 9ft ceiling every time.  My kids love this one.

 

Note, with the activation track, the helicopter does not get enough voltage if it is controlled via the AIU type device that has a long cable run.  It is better to keep the wires short and big.

 

The simple package dumping car is neat and easy to load, we have the Christmas version.  The  dry ice MTH car is also very cool with the smoke that pours out.  This one is a pain to load, but worth the action.

 

Bill

 

When kids are involved, it matters not what scale one chooses so long as they enjoy all that rail traffic. The Challenger in scale versus some Lionel cars in 0-27 I presume will look just fine and I doubt anyone except a pure unadulterated train snob would say anything at all. So, I say let her fly and put some really cool stuff behind her and let the kids have fun.

 

Pete

I might add that scale trains, whether steam or diesel look awesome and yes I personally prefer them over their un-scaled counterparts. Be that as it may, I believe many train hobbyist opt for the real look because it is fun to try and replicate all those railroads we all love and admire.

Keep a train of operating cars. Watching operation is partially what O is all about for most kids.Combine that with Christmas expectations, and "toys" is the obvious choice. Make sure they can & do get operated, otherwise even kids will start looking at, and comparing scale details to decide "what's best". And the other gauges will represent "scale" just fine. Any of them running diesel? I bet so. Passenger, or electrics? Likely. In O, steamer smoke shines! Do you have basics covered as a "team"? Bet your close. The Challenger? Reliability, pull, and wow, are there for sure but... 

 Billy and Sally would love it if they opened exactly what your running, or better. It isn't an economical choice for the average beginner. A starter, or closer to one, might be a better "friendly" choice. (A Challenger sitting idle on a table can speak volumes too! But Its your head end).

 Johnny and Sue have a Polar Express, but are now ready for a fun change behind their engine, after seeing yours!. 

 Showcasing the Challenger does cast an O scale presence, lights, smoke, and rod action, etc. Behind it, Id think about a nice scale passenger car, then a semi-scale one but matching, creating an obvious break between scale, and semi-scale, then operating freight, toss in a big non-op scale car, or two, and follow it with a red tin caboose. 

On my layout, scale trains rule.   However, since the intent is to entertain people from outside the hobby (especially the kids) the more operating cars you can put on the layout, the better.

Anthony,

   My Christmas layouts are always child like wonderlands, use the action rolling stock of all different kinds, kids love Tin Plate trains also, further if you have a P2 work train with all the sounds, it goes over big time with the kids.  As Brian indicated, lighted bright colored passenger cars, like the old two tone Green Northern Pacific the, kids are drawn too almost immediately.  Have fun with your layout!

PCRR/Dave 

Toy train all the way!

I suggest animated cars, such as the aquarium, cop & hobo, Sherrif & Outlaw, Bobbing Horse (Rodeo) car. A rotating searchlight car would be good too.

 

I agree with the rest of the crew.

Really appreciate all the comments and suggestions.  Will be adding a lot of animated rolling stock including the rotating search light car and the Lionel animated caboose. 

 

Thanks

Animated toy trains hands down. Sounds, lights and animation all captivate a child's attention! Definitely pull them with a steam engine, (again, more animation) with smoke, whistle and bell.

Anthony, I was remiss in my earlier reply not saying that it's a very, very nice thing you are doing for all of those, especially the grandkids, who will enjoy the trains.  Happy Holidays and thanks for sharing.