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Today I communicated with my contact at Lionel about getting a Polar Express set to review for the S Gaugian.  He wrote me that he hopes to have one to diplay at the York meet in October and if he gits one he will send it to me after the show to try out and write the review.

 

I have hope!!

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Sometimes if feels like the manufacturers go out of their way to make their models dissimilar to the "prototype".  (I realize in this case the prototype is just a cg/cartoon rendering) 
 
Originally Posted by RadioRon:
Originally Posted by Martin H:

Any chance of convincing Lionel to write "Polar Express" under the windows instead of above them, like it appears in the movie?

Yeah, its interesting Lionel ignored such an important feature of the cars in creating the Polar Express units.  I guess there was not enough "stamping room" below the windows, or perhaps the "rivets" posed application problems.

 

 

Originally Posted by RadioRon:
Originally Posted by Martin H:

Any chance of convincing Lionel to write "Polar Express" under the windows instead of above them, like it appears in the movie?

Yeah, its interesting Lionel ignored such an important feature of the cars in creating the Polar Express units.  I guess there was not enough "stamping room" below the windows, or perhaps the "rivets" posed application problems.

 

It doesn't seem to affect sales of the O gauge versions.

 

Rusty

Exactly my point.  Why get the details right if Lionel knows the average o-gauger will buy it anyways.
 
This is a segment of the hobby where "good enough" usually is.
 
Originally Posted by Rusty Traque:

Yeah, its interesting Lionel ignored such an important feature of the cars in creating the Polar Express units.  I guess there was not enough "stamping room" below the windows, or perhaps the "rivets" posed application problems.

 

It doesn't seem to affect sales of the O gauge versions.

 

Rusty

 

Well, this is where I usually fly into a tizzy, exclaiming how dare Lionel get this wrong? What an imbecile I am for preordering this atrocity without noticing that fact. Didn't they watch the movie?
Probably not.
Didn't they do the research?
Let's see.......
Research on a fantasy train that exists only in a movie.
Or as a 4-6-2 in a children's book. Is the lettering also below the windows in the book? I don't have a copy handy. I'm at work.
For some reason, this doesn't disturb me. Go figure.
Who's to say this isn't an earlier, or later paint scheme? The author, movie producers, and the elves ain't talking.

So buy it, take it out of the box, decide if you like it or not.  Sell it on the forum if not. 

Last edited by Quick Casey
Originally Posted by Martin H:
Exactly my point.  Why get the details right if Lionel knows the average o-gauger will buy it anyways.
 
This is a segment of the hobby where "good enough" usually is.
 
Originally Posted by Rusty Traque:

Yeah, its interesting Lionel ignored such an important feature of the cars in creating the Polar Express units.  I guess there was not enough "stamping room" below the windows, or perhaps the "rivets" posed application problems.

 

It doesn't seem to affect sales of the O gauge versions.

 

Rusty

 

This is really no big deal. 

 

The Polar Express particularly isn't aimed at the rivet counter.  It's aimed at the people who want to get something for their little tyke.  If the so-called "serious modeler" buys one, so much the better.  I'd be willing to bet there's a lot more O gauge Polar Express sets in household that aren't plagued with model railroaders than those that are.

 

And it's even better if it gets someone in S.

 

I can recall many toys and models of my youth that weren't accurate to what was represented on the TV or movie screen. 

 

Rusty

Last edited by Rusty Traque
Thanks for backing up my point above.
 
Lionel was lazy, but you will buy it anyways.
 
No motivation to get anything right...
 
Originally Posted by Quick Casey:

Well, this is where I usually fly into a tizzy, exclaiming how dare Lionel get this wrong? What an imbecile I am for preordering this atrocity without noticing that fact. Didn't they watch the movie?
Probably not.
Didn't they do the research?
Let's see.......
Research on a fantasy train that exists only in a movie.
Or as a 4-6-2 in a children's book. Is the lettering also below the windows in the book? I don't have a copy handy. I'm at work.
For some reason, this doesn't disturb me. Go figure.
Who's to say this isn't an earlier, or later paint scheme? The author, movie producers, and the elves ain't talking.


So buy it, take it out of the box

 

More than happy to help you hammer home your point. 

That's why the post in the first place. 

I hate inaccuracies, and I don't buy fantasy. 

 

But I made an exception. 

For Christmas. 

Remember Christmas? Love, joy, peace on Earth? 

I'm buying this inaccurate fantasy to have some fun around the tree maybe.

I don't rivet count non-existent trains. 

Originally Posted by Martin H:
 
 
Lionel was lazy, but you will buy it anyways.
 
No motivation to get anything right...
 
 

 

Lazy in that the passenger cars aren't even close to what's represented in the movie.  American Models coaches are closer to what's seen on the screen.

 

Lazy in the fact the model train doesn't change in length without stopping from anywhere between 5 to 30 cars depending on the scene.

 

Lazy in that the O gauge versions have a third rail.

 

Lazy in that the O gauge sets have been selling well for 10 years.

 

Lazy in helping Lionel remain relevant in today's world.

 

Lazy in the WB get's their cut without complaint.

 

Lazy all the way to the bank.

 

The accurate stuff should be so lucky.

 

BTW, I'm not buying one.  Not my thing...

 

Rusty

Last edited by Rusty Traque
Originally Posted by Roundhouse Bill:

I think a bunch of you guys always try to pick apart anything Lionel does.  This is a toy train to mimic a child's movie. I hope it sells sells by the thousands and gets kids excited about toy trains.

Ditto...  Except, gets kids excited about S Gauge trains.

 

Originally Posted by Roundhouse Bill:

On a good note I heard that the tender of the polar express is now cast and it has six wheel trucks not four.  This makes it more prototipcal doesn't it?

Looking forward to seeing a sample.  Looking forward even more for the NKP freight set next year.

 

Rusty

Producing and delivering it would seem to be only half the battle here, if this set is not marketed in the same locations and is not as visable as the o gauge set it will be hard to expect the set to draw any new people into s gauge.  I hope Lionel incorporates the set into its train show display. To see the set at a retail store like a Walmart or target would be fantastic, in addition to traditional train rich places around the holidays. 

Ben

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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