The Lionel Gateman is probably one of the most popular train accessories of all time and it adds nice animation to any road on a layout. Trouble is that Gateman is about 12 scale ft tall and on the shed platform looks nearly as tall as some locomotives. I have been toying with the idea of replacing the gateman with a more scale size piece (like the Model Power man with the working lantern) but not sure that I can get it all to work. Anyone try this and if so how does it work?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
You might be able to get it to work but the only problem is the building would look way more out of scale with the new scale size figure. If you want one that looks more scale you could go with the MTH one with more realistic action.
Home about a 1.5" tall (6' O scale) gate man?
Dennis LaGrua posted:The Lionel Gateman is probably one of the most popular train accessories of all time and it adds nice animation to any road on a layout. Trouble is that Gateman is about 12 scale ft tall and on the shed platform looks nearly as tall as some locomotives. I have been toying with the idea of replacing the gateman with a more scale size piece
As Chris says....like the MTH one??....
...which is one of several versions they've done through the years.
Scale man, scale sign, more gentile motion, nifty shanty design (love that roof!).
I know, I know....it's not Lionel.
KD
ADCX Rob: I use that H0 version myself. They're a little hard to find, though. I looked all around for years before I found one in the TCA News. I'd recommend swapping out the incandescent for a direct replacement LED (no heat).
Chris Lonero posted:You might be able to get it to work but the only problem is the building would look way more out of scale with the new scale size figure. If you want one that looks more scale you could go with the MTH one with more realistic action.
I agree with Chris L. Why waste your time and energy?
Don't you have enough to do when doing "Builder of the Hill Lines ( New Delta Lines). Recreating history for the model RR community."
OR are you finished with it?
I found a K-Line by Lionel version on Ebay. I am about to install it on my layout. Here's a test I did when I purchased it a few months ago.
Never saw the MTH or the K-Line gateman/watchman but it looks like they would fit. I guess the Lionel unit stays on the shelf. Chris makes a good point about the size of the shanty; no sense having a scale size man with a huge shanty. The Lionel HO unit looks great but hard to find.
As for the guy that posted the Ellison pics. The town of Raymondale has be recreated many times and the work looks great. The layout here features that and other parts of that famous layout that are seldom recreated and after 15 years of building it there are a few spare minutes here and there to add accessories and signaling.
Dennis this is the MTH NAVY version I got in honor of my son who is a Master at arms and frequently guards the gates to the base.
Chris Lonero posted:Dennis this is the MTH NAVY version I got in honor of my son who is a Master at arms and frequently guards the gates to the base.
Wow, that's nice Chris. Just like the real deal ! Well, at the gates to any Navy base when I was on active duty.
Dennis LaGrua posted:As for the guy that posted the Ellison pics. The town of Raymondale has be recreated many times and the work looks great. The layout here features that and other parts of that famous layout that are seldom recreated and after 15 years of building it there are a few spare minutes here and there to add accessories and signaling.
Those are Some Great Pics! Got any more?
Dennis LaGrua posted:The Lionel HO unit looks great but hard to find.
There seems to be always a few on eBay.
you could build a scale sized one. the mechanical parts are available and part numbers are in the repair and operating manual. IT IS JUST A MATTER of assembling them on a base and building a shanty and using a scale figure
ALL GREAT ideas - don't you just LOVE this forum?
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
