I am about to take the leap on a modern aquarium car and was curious if our forum members have a favorite between the MTH and Lionel offerings? I have only seen a few in operation and the youtube videos don't appear that plentiful.
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I won't vote for a favorite, but I'd suggest to make sure to be aware that there are some operational (mechanism) differences.
A lot of Modern Era Lionel ones up until a few years ago used a worm gear on the axle to mesh with a gear that turned the spindle the film was on. Some work OK, but it could be a little inconsistent. Some more recent ones have a motor to move the film. I'd suspect the motor variants are probably a little more consistent in operation.
It's not that ones using the gear are "bad", just not as nice IMO. Of course if you have a particular car where you like the graphics, this may be secondary.
I'm not sure what mechanism the MTH ones use (nor do I know if it's the same for every MTH aquarium car ever made).
-Dave
Grampstrains posted:The favorite that I own is the Lobster car made a couple of years ago in Bangor& Aroostook markings. Another one I like and wish I had
is the Shedds Aquarium car.
Yep, fun car car. Needs a melted butter tank car. 
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My favorite is the one made around 2000 that had floating X-files style aliens floating in green goo.
A traditionalist here. Have the original made in the 1960's. Not a great specimen of operational efficiency but a nice nostalgic piece to have on the shelf.
Here are my daughters aquarium cars parked in front of a building I'm making out of paper printed from my printer. Her favorite is the Clown Fish Car... because of Nemo.
The only thing I don't like about them is the ones with motors are noisy. I saw a really cool clown fish car with real blue liquid (water) and clown fish just freely bobbing around. I was fearful to pull the trigger for 1... What if it leaked and 2... What about mold and junk junk on the inside.
Have Fun! Ron
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Ron045, have you had issues with the film separating on any MTH aquarium cars? I have avoided them because of some some durability issue stories I have heard about them here on the form. With that said, I have only Lionel aquarium cars, some with the motor drive, some with the gear drive. My main disappointment is that, despite their demanding price, Lionel only equips its aquarium cars with ONE measly lite bulb... & right in the middle of the "L" emblem, preventing proper illumination of either aquarium car "window."
RADIORON - I have had a couple of issues over the last 10 years. I have had a film separate. I just re-taped it with clear packing tape. I had one stretch. I cut it to size and again used packing tape. A few light bulb replacements too.
I agree, none of these are worth the price. But when your little girl says, "Daddy Daddy..." well anyone with a daughter would understand.
She's 13 now and still runs trains. She has an MTH M1a and pulls these cars and some open hoppers to give her small stuffed animals a ride. It totally drives her twin brother nuts, because he likes everything scale.
Have Fun! Ron
I am no veteran on the subject, but the best I've ever seen is the MTH skipjack tuna car. It has two motors and two LED lights, a backdrop that completely covers the windows (you can't see the motor spools on either end), and those (louvered?) windows. When the tuna pass, the windows give the illusion that their fins and mouths are moving. Very realistic, the motors run very smoothly and make a minimum amount of noise. This car attracts the most attention of the sixty cars I have running up there because of the lights and motion. Just my opinion....
Jerry G
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I am not much into aquarium cars, but did add sound to one to make it a favorite.
PeterA posted:I am not much into aquarium cars, but did add sound to one to make it a favorite.
Petera,
Very nice! How did you add the music?
I only have the Peanuts Halloween Aquarium Car.
Sean
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PeterA,
Gotta love the Beatles! Very cool.
Your layout is completely awesome. That subway is beyond belief.
Jerry G
johnstrains posted:Grampstrains posted:The favorite that I own is the Lobster car made a couple of years ago in Bangor& Aroostook markings. Another one I like and wish I had
is the Shedds Aquarium car.
Yep, fun car car. Needs a melted butter tank car.
I can't find these anywhere. EBay or other. Cool car. Any ideas?
Thanks
My favorite is the deep sea or finding nemo. Both are great love the aquarium cars in general.
MattR posted:johnstrains posted:Grampstrains posted:The favorite that I own is the Lobster car made a couple of years ago in Bangor& Aroostook markings. Another one I like and wish I had
is the Shedds Aquarium car.
Yep, fun car car. Needs a melted butter tank car.
I can't find these anywhere. EBay or other. Cool car. Any ideas?
Thanks
Matt, I know. A really tough find. When the B&M set was released there were a handful of these released as set break ups. And only a few on Ebay. Hard to believe but I've actually forgotten where I found it. It may have been from Charlie Nassau?
My suggestion is to post a "Want to Buy" here on the forum. I know Christopher (the postwar guy) had one for sale several months back.
My favorite is my original 1959 that came with my NP GP set. Has worked well but noisy as hell. The one that came with the CC set has worked pretty well but not consistantly
I've had MTH films break.
The gear driven ones I have found spotty for mechanical consistency.
so my opinion is that they are cuter than functional.
Alan
Ron045 posted:I agree, none of these are worth the price. But when your little girl says, "Daddy Daddy..." well anyone with a daughter would understand.
She's 13 now & still runs trains. She has an MTH M1a & pulls these cars & some open hoppers to give her small stuffed animals a ride. It totally drives her twin brother nuts, because he likes everything scale.
Have Fun! Ron
Ron: How good that it is she's still interested in trains at 13! My daughter was not interested much past the age of 7 or 8. When she was into them, she would use an empty gondola to give her Barbies a ride. She's a high school senior now... oh for those days again.
One more MTH aquarium car question: how many bulbs are in each car? There must be two given their appearance in your photos. The MTH cars are certainly better illuminated than Lionel's.
RadioRon posted:One more MTH aquarium car question: how many bulbs are in each car? There must be two given their appearance in your photos. The MTH cars are certainly better illuminated than Lionel's.
Yes... 2 bulbs in the MTH.
Ron
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I am partial to my 3435, a Christmas present from 1959 from my godmother....but you can't be this MTH quiet one!
Peter
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Ed, great article from TCA, thanks.
Peter, I had no idea that was your car at the great big greenhouse, that is what got me in the mood for one of these. I assume that is the new version?
Wish someone would make the Shedd Aquarium Car. It was named "Nautilus". I could see the old K-line making something like this. Don
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hokie71 posted:Ed, great article from TCA, thanks.
Peter, I had no idea that was your car at the great big greenhouse, that is what got me in the mood for one of these. I assume that is the new version?
MTH......it's fabulous!
scale rail posted:Wish someone would make the Shedd Aquarium Car. It was named "Nautilus". I could see the old K-line making something like this. Don
Don: K-Line did, in fact, make two aluminum-body aquarium cars shortly before going under. They contained a liquid inside a sealed plastic container ... with plastic fish floating inside. I have the first one, but not the second. In fact, maybe K-Line didn't get around to making the second. This car is really heavy, too.... couldn't see hauling a string of them.
Ron045 posted:RadioRon posted:how many bulbs are in each MTH car? The MTH cars are certainly better illuminated than Lionel's.
Yes... 2 bulbs in the MTH. Ron
LEDs! Nice. Its the least that Lionel could do, given what they charge for them.
johnstrains posted:MattR posted:I can't find these anywhere. EBay or other. Cool car. Any ideas?
Thanks
Matt, I know. A really tough find. When the B&M set was released there were a handful of these released as set break ups. And only a few on Ebay. Hard to believe but I've actually forgotten where I found it. It may have been from Charlie Nassau?
My suggestion is to post a "Want to Buy" here on the forum. I know Christopher (the postwar guy) had one for sale several months back.
They seem to have one on their site right now. Priced a bit higher than most aquarium cars, but being that it's the only car from that set anyone would likely care about as a break up, it seems to not be too out of line.
-Dave
MattR posted:johnstrains posted:Grampstrains posted:The favorite that I own is the Lobster car made a couple of years ago in Bangor& Aroostook markings. Another one I like and wish I had
is the Shedds Aquarium car.
Yep, fun car car. Needs a melted butter tank car.
I can't find these anywhere. EBay or other. Cool car. Any ideas?
Thanks
I got mine from CHARLES RO last year about June for $40.00. Great deal.
Casper the Ghost, and Finding NEMO are my favorites......WOW Great Post
Dave45681 posted:johnstrains posted:MattR posted:I can't find these anywhere. EBay or other. Cool car. Any ideas?
Thanks
Matt, I know. A really tough find. When the B&M set was released there were a handful of these released as set break ups. And only a few on Ebay. Hard to believe but I've actually forgotten where I found it. It may have been from Charlie Nassau?
My suggestion is to post a "Want to Buy" here on the forum. I know Christopher (the postwar guy) had one for sale several months back.
They seem to have one on their site right now. Priced a bit higher than most aquarium cars, but being that it's the only car from that set anyone would likely care about as a break up, it seems to not be too out of line.
-Dave
Dave, who has one on their site?
MattR posted:Dave, who has one on their site?
Nassau Hobby. Look in the set breakups section.
-Dave
Penguins aquarium car looks like they are really swimming with the wave in the plastic glass, has a motor, and seems well lit.
Also enjoy many others like the Disney theme cars and alien suspension car even though there is nothing moving.
Glancy Trains Aquarium Car Display at Novi Mi train show.
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I have one aquarium car and it’s the one our club did last year in conjunction with MTH and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
Curt
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I've got the penguin car and its great. Purchased it not for one of the grandkids but my wife who loves anything penguin. Added leds for more uniform illumination.
Scotie posted:I've got the penguin car and its great. Purchased it not for one of the grandkids but my wife who loves anything penguin. Added leds for more uniform illumination.
Scotie.. MTH is offering a new "Polar Railroad" aquarium car that is in the just-released, 2019 Ready-to-Run catalog. As you may know, MTH comes with LED illumination, so that is a major advantage over Lionel from the get-go! https://www.mthtrains.com/30-79597
Tom, neat Aquarium Accessory model, nice line up of cars, the aquarium cars are definitely beautiful cars in motion. Great post...Happy Railroading.
Radioron
Thanks for the head up--looks like a perfect Christmas present for her, different from the Lionel one.
Scotie posted:Radioron
Thanks for the head up--looks like a perfect Christmas present for her, different from the Lionel one.
Yes! It should be out by Halloween or Thanksgiving time, but I would pre-order with Chales Ro or your favorite MTH dealer to be sure to get one. I have about a dozen Lionel aquarium cars, but switched to MTH a couple years ago because MTH offers LED illumination which is much brighter, & more uniform, than the measly little single incandescent bulb Lionel still plops in the middle of its cars.
My favorite? Next one I buy! I have ten. All the postwar ones plus new ones. The Koi car is nice
