Don't get me wrong! I have a Bang! that I think is great. I have a pair of the open hoppers and have 2 more coming and 4 of the ore cars. And Super Snap track has convinced me to stick with O as viable Hobby (along with HO, N). I have a 2nd hand Beep sitting on my desk in PRR tuscan red. It's a little stiff which I attribute to being used and in need of aclean and lube. The detail is excellent, I love the metal rails and the chain. But 2 fixed axles? I just don't get it. Even the Beefs look great the detail looks pretty decent but the length????
Now I will say this, I am more of a scale guy than a toy guy but I am not an absolutist. I also build scale models and there are plenty of compromises in that, too, but again it is IMO a cost versus reasonableness. Some errors/compromises are forgiveable some aren't.
But that's not what these are. These are not a case where someone set out to make an F7 or GP7 and OOPS! missed half of it.
And I am more disposed to shorter engines/cars in all scales, shorter means more for a given length of track and to me that makes it look good. A drag of ore cars, a fast passenger of shorter coaches is what lloks "right" to ME.
So you might think the BEEPs and BEEFs would work, but the "non-scale" aspect doesn't sit right. For example, I had O27 and Fastrack. The O27 was more affordable and reliable but seriously, where would you see that in the real worls? And Fastrack, well, looks much better, pretty reliable but fairly expensive, noisy and that middle rail (shudder). Along comes Super Snap. LHS had some boxes of K-Line Super Snap. Looked at it, looked at it again, asked around. Seems as if people like it. So I bought what hw had. Was VERY happy even the first time I used it. Ordered a bunch more from RMT. Stuff shows up faster than ole 460. More joy! Great switches, wonderfui appearance, QUIET!! The coal hoppers are lovely. (Though what I'm going to do with an Army of Wally's is beyond me.)
So for me appearances that are pretty case is good enough, but what do I make of these little buggers? Even as switchers it's still a stretch BUT it is a lovely little engine none the less.
Let us not talk about the PEEPS, with the gaps between model passengers already an issue for me, the gap just exacerbates thier shortness and makes them look less natural.
Now I'll admit I am not really a "toy" train type but more of a "scale" train type so maybe it's just me and again I think technically they are clearly good products. But why not a scale(r) sized piece? Looking at the AB next to a scale E8 (in the video) makes me think it would not take much to do it. And they do have a good price point IMHO. Anyway, just my dollar-3.80 and with every cent.
Walter this is not a shot!!! In fact I already sent an email to Anyrail, asking them to include Super Snap in thier libraries. Can't wait for more variety in the line, new raodnumbers for the coal hoppers and ore cars, etc.
Just a little Saturday night ruminations.
Frank
