What Tinplate set to get my son? Help me pick!

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There is a wonderful MTH Ives Circus Set for sale right now on ebay.  It's complete with steam engine, six circus cars with animals ,  and the Ives cardboard circus background set.  IMHO this would be ideal for your young boys.  Just add some track and a transformer and your boys can let their imaginations run wild. 

Bob Nelson

You can't go wrong with a 400E, but I always liked the Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt set that came out several years ago.. I don't know how available they are now, but that was a great looking set to me.

Try this. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Americ...p2060353.m1438.l2649

Beautiful set. It's one I tend to use quite often. I also use this engine to pull Flyer freight cars.

Steve

Thanks for the replies. I want something new, not used. Also I want something different than the Ives, I want them to have their own unique masterpiece.

Zett posted:

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Im leaning towards a 400E and I need the coaches to match. ..., and I want Tinplate Standard Gauge.

i'll always give the nod to O vs Std when it comes to small kids.  Standard gauge, especially in a 400e size, is even difficult for many adults to handle easily.  then again, with modern tinplate construction, you're better off not allowing hands-on activity in any case.

when it comes to kids, i try to think like Louis Marx ... where is the play value?

cheers...gary

Zett, Great that you are even considering trains as a gift. The decision is up to you, but Gary brings up a good point as far as being able to handle the equipment. I would also add that a used set of O gauge tinplate can last another 80-100 years and be handed down to more generations as opposed to the modern stuff. 

Tom 

Zett posted:

My dad got me my first engine when I was 3 months old on my first Christmas. I decided I wanted to do this for my sons as well.

My wife and I were blessed with the birth of our first son in 2015. For his first Christmas I got him the Ives Dorfan (Red) with coaches. What a beautiful set that he will be able to use throughout his life. I am extremely happy with this set. It is stunning, unique, and simply amazing.

Well my wife and I were blessed again in June 2017 with another boy! So instead of getting an American Girl doll and a few outfits I have to hit up some overtime to pay for another expensive set! Only problem this time is I am having trouble deciding what to get.

Im leaning towards a 400E and I need the coaches to match. The blue engine with the red wheels looks pretty great. Does anyone get tired of the blue after a while? Maybe I should do black with red wheels. I am sure whatever I get will be great.

Anyone have any other ideas? Id love to hear your opinions. Has to be something I can get by Christmas, and I want Tinplate Standard Gauge.

 

Thanks!

IF you wanted to keep it in the same family of the Dorfan (Electric style  loco with pass set) You might consider an American Flyer Pocahontas set. It the same type and the same style.  And its striking. Very different color palate, but a compliment to the Dorfan.  An original in C7-C8 is pretty tough to get.  There is a Poco Warrior set (11-1013-1), as well as A Legionnaire Set (11-2030-0)&(11-2030-1) with 11-40071 in those colors.

well Dad....if the set is really for your son...... I'd pick up some used Lionel O 27 cars and a steamer. Two reasons for this. First, the common stuff can be had cheap. This will allow a couple things. Then, give the boy  the trains to play with as intended, and you won't worrying about a new set getting banged up.Second....he may not get into trains, and if this is so, you won't get bummed out because the trains didn't cost much. But on the other hand, if you do get a new set, and the boy doesn't catch the bug, you'll be stuck with a new set....but we all know Dad's NEVER bought trains for themselves....

I already have plenty of trains my boys can "play" with. If they want to really go hands on that's what the Thomas set is for. 

My 2 year old knows what's up. Look at this stellar parenting!

Thats so cool!  one of the first word my older son learned was "articulated".  He learned to count and learned colors using trains!  What a great toy.

I have the Ives Circus Set, and especially the circus stand-up cutouts are fabulous!! This was the first Std. Gauge set I bought. This set is perfect for your young son(s) for his intro to Std. Gauge- I highly recommend it. I for many years had G-scale circus cars, and even did a Circus and Circus Train theme birthday party for my son one year. 

IMHO, a 400E is a bit pricey for a young un'. 

We were into G-scale when my kids were smaller, so they got Thomas the Tank Engine wooden cars, and the large (close to G-scale) Playmobil train first. 

I think you're doing exactly the right thing. Get him the 400E and never look back. He'll love it forever.  

I decided on the 400E Blue with Brass trim. It has the red wheels, looks really sharp. Rumor is MTH will release blue passenger cars with brass trim to match in this next catalog.

Zett posted:

I decided on the 400E Blue with Brass trim. It has the red wheels, looks really sharp. Rumor is MTH will release blue passenger cars with brass trim to match in this next catalog.

Great move.   One day, if you're lucky and take care of yourself, you'll hear him say " your grandpa gave me this when I was your age, now I'm giving it to you..."

Zett posted:

I decided on the 400E Blue with Brass trim. It has the red wheels, looks really sharp. Rumor is MTH will release blue passenger cars with brass trim to match in this next catalog.

Lucky kid. When I was a boy (circa 1969), I DREAMED of getting any standard gauge steam loco. Eventually an 1835E came along, but what I really wanted was that 400E. Never happened until adulthood and MTH.

My Standard Gauge Blue comet set is one of my favorite sets. I have a Blue and Nickle black wheels. I want to get a Blue and Brass with red Wheels. 400Es are super I have a Black and Brass and a Gray and Nickle. Running my Black one on the Layout now. 

Another nice engine I have is my Blue 392E with Brass trim red wheels. Looks very nice pulling the Blue Comet cars.