Shining Time Station Recreation

Least expensive cars would be MTH assuming you want interiors and figures. They have been made numerous times over the years. Beginning around 2000 they came with interiors and around 2005 until today the have interiors with figures. Virtually all the auction sites have some nearly all the time.

Lionel also made a couple of sets of 18" aluminum cars that are even nicer but a bit harder to find. One set even came with a blunt end observation. Then there are K-Lines in 15, 18, and 21".  The latter two bring a premium though.

Pete

If there’s a problem with the 2015 FEF-3 whistle I don’t remember it. I have both that version and the earlier  2008 Legacy model and can’t say that any difference in the whistle sounds impressed itself on me.

And - sorry if this also sounds ill-informed but I am not aware of there being an FEF-3 844 sound package ever offered by ERR,  just the six different steam sounds versions which correspond to different loco sizes.

If it’s the best FEF-3 sound you want but not at relatively late model Legacy prices, then I recommend seeing if you can source one of the 2008 Legacy models to convert to 8444 livery, The basic body tooling is identical between the 2008 and 2015 Legacy models. The earlier model has a potentially problematic 6 Ohm smoke unit that you might have to service (see other threads on the AC regulator failures in engines that have these smoke units).

Assuming the smoke unit still works you only have replace the 6 ohm resistor with an 8 ohm one. As for renumbering an 844 be aware UP decals are like hens teeth. The shape of the "4" seems to be unique to UP an I have not been able to find a similar one in other decals or transfers so you would likely have to have custom decals made and with the current licensing requirements by UP that my not be too easy either.

Pete

That is news.  I have been decaling Challengers for a long time, and while 4s may not be in abundance, the old Champ decals still work.  I just bought new Microscale decals, but they were for the greyhound scheme.

The smoke unit issue is a bit of news to me, but I'm glad I know about it now.

The 2008 models still seem to fetch a good amount (usually I see in the $700-900 range), but still less than the recent 2015 models (which are often still in the $1200-1500 range).

I do definitely prefer the chuffing sound and CrewTalk dialogue (road specific, of course) of the 2008 models, in addition to the whistle.

The Weaver model often seems to go for peanuts depending on who's selling it online in comparison, but the upgrading costs might equal it to almost as much as spending on the 2008 model by itself anyway.

The older I get, the more I realize that so much of what we do in this hobby is about nostalgia and happy memories.  So I say, "Go for it!!"

But I have to admit, I was disappointed.  I was hoping this thread was going to feature an 8444 with moving eyes and interchangeable faces.  Maybe the 4449 could be a co-star!  Steve Lee could be Sir Topham Hatt!  

Well, you are right about the first half, Ted!

My vision is to recreate the opening theme sequence of Shining Time Station as I remember from a child - Britt Allcroft's taste in font and graphics, included.

I have a friend who is an excellent graphic artist who recreated the Shining Time Station logo and lettering.

I’ve kinda decided to just go straight for getting the more recent #8444 model. (The black 844 from 2008 seems to be something no one wants to part with) I just have to find one now...anyone out there who has one #8444?

Anyways, I decided to get a bit more creative with this project by recreating the station as well.

Does anyone know if an O scale station (or kit for that matter) exists that looks reasonably  close to how Shining Time is depicted?

Norton posted:

The shape of the "4" seems to be unique to UP an I have not been able to find a similar one in other decals or transfers so you would likely have to have custom decals made and with the current licensing requirements by UP that my not be too easy either.

Pete

Find just the opposite, Microscale made way too many UP sets versus other railroads. Friend just repainted two E units, a steam engine and 12 passenger cars into UP using their decals.  Extra 4's may require two sets or getting a pair from someone who used the other numbers. Did someone here mention the Weaver FEF engine having a too high mounted pilot?

Mikado 4501 posted: I just have to find one now...anyone out there who has one #8444?

Check your email. They may still have it.

BobbyD posted:

Mikado 4501 posted: I just have to find one now...anyone out there who has one #8444?

Check your email. They may still have it.

That is the one, but it’s far out of my price range I can afford right now.

I’m not sure if there are station kits that could be kitbashed together to be a reasonable likeness to how Shining Time is depicted, is there?