What would you like to see in the next AF catalog?

May I ask a dumb question?  A lot of folks are asking for long cars -- well over 65 feet in scale length.  As I understand it, cars this long will not navigate the curved route of a classic AF switch without hitting the lantern housing and probably derailing.  Is this true?  If it is true, what is the most commonly used switch and activating mechanism that makes the use of longer cars possible?  I would very much like to find out how this all works.  Thanks.....Ed L.

>> one could make the argument that,except for those working in what's known as "fine scale" (Proto:48 and P:87, etc.) aren't the rest of us really all doing a form of "high rail"? 

>> Mark in Oregon

Hi Mark....

I think there are ten thousand shades of gray in the hobby of model railroading. And different people have different definitions for many of the shades.  It is a bit like the Tower of Bable at times.  I sort of like the idea of describing how you model things without attaching any label at all.  Then again, if you say "scale" most other scale folks will know what you mean.  IF you say "AF", most other AF folks will know what you mean.  If you say "high-rail", you will have many many shades of gray as to exactly what that means.  It sure can be very confusing at times.

Even the P:64 folks have a problem because they use electric motors in their locos instead of diesel engines or boilers with real fire.  And the brakes do not use air pressure to slow down the train.  So even the P:64 folks must make compromises.  Maybe we all are "model railroaders" and to heck with the definitions !!!!  How about "train hobbyists".

Time for a beer........Ed L.

Or, it could be said we're all just playing with toys.

This trying to parse things down to the n-th (or is it "s-th") degree is futile.  It's like adding 1 to infinity to achieve the highest number.

Rusty

I'm really surprised the telescoping, or "butterfly" drawbar isn't a standard of the industry by now.  The European HO train manufacturers have been using it on locomotives, passenger and freight cars for almost 30 years now.

As for the Mike's and Pacific's, I would add a change to the wheels so S Scale Locomotive and Supply could do the same magic it can do for the Y3's.

Rusty

Johnny,

The AM 85' Pullmans will negotiate Flyer tracks with their truck mounted couplers, but will not go through Flyer switches due to the high light towers on the inside of the curve.  Otherwise, the truck mounted couplers do the job of allowing tight curves.  But they look strange making the curves, as one would expect.  If you can live with (for argument's sake) 20" radii, then they'll work.

Jerry

Thank you Jerry. That helps.

Auto Racks...................

According to Charlie Nassau on the 3 rail side, early to mid February for the 2014 catalog.

Hopes high, expectations low.

Rusty

Repeating an earlier question:

January 6, 2014 11:20 PM

Well, seeing the catalog's about a month away, I'm going to list what I THINK (generically) we're going to see in the next catalog, with my precentage of confidence.

Pricing information for the Berkshire sets: 95%

New operating car for traditional Flyer: 60%

New fantasy paint on traditional Flyer freight cars: 70%

New "standard" roadnames on traditional Flyer freight cars: 50%

New traditional GP/SD: 50%

New Traditional PA set: 50%

Conclusion of the UP Heritage SD70 locomotives: 65%

New SD70's in "standard" roadnames/numbers: 55%

New ES44's in "standard" roadnames: 55%

New Legacy steam locomotive: 10%

Rerelease of the Pacific or Mikado w/Legacy: 5%

New "scale" freight car (60' box car and/or caboose): 45%

Fantasy NS and UP heritage paint for above: 99%

New "standard" roadnames on the cylindrical hopper: 35%

I have no inside information, this is all just a gut feeling. 

Rusty

Not into the modern era so I would like to see a scale proportioned Legacy Hi rail J3 Hudson in NYC with the centipede tender. Lionel could offer it as an option or as standard with the NYC locomotive. Or a scale proportioned Legacy N&W "J" with separate matching traditional style passenger cars. Or a SP GS-4 Daylight engine. Additional traditional daylight passenger cars could be reissued to compliment the engine and allow previous SP passenger car owners to add to their sets.  On the diesel side something different like perhaps scale proportioned Legacy baldwin sharks in multiple roadname paint schemes. Sold in AA configuration with dummy B units offered separately. Matching coaches and diner cars for the Rio Grande and MKT passenger sets.

Rich

In the past, River Raisin Models imported S scale Sharks in various paint schemes.  While they did not offer AF wheels, they were beautiful models and some are currently listed on RRM's Pre-Owned page.  Perhaps some AF wheels could be fitted to the existing axles?  Click here if interested.  Enjoy....Ed L.

http://www.riverraisinmodels.com/sharknose.html 

http://www.riverraisinmodels.com/models.html 

I'm inclined to agree with most of what you said Rusty. Purely on gut feeling.

I was told by a reputable source that there would be "newly tooled items" in this catalog though. I have no idea what that means so take it for what it's worth.

I have decided to teach myself how to paint and create my own decals in the mean time. If Lionel doesn't offer the roads I want then I will be stripping shells, repainting, and decaling my own. They are going way too slow for my taste. I'm not going to wait around for 5 years before they offer something in a road I like. Example: The ES44 I saw was very nice! I HAVE to have a pair in CP paint. If there isn't CP paint in this catalog then I will have to wait a minimum of two years before they could deliver them. Maybe more. I can't wait that long. Out comes the airbrush. I may even paint a pair in Chessie System fantasy while I'm at it.

While I'm at it- Hey Lionel, why not offer undecorated models too?

If enough folks were interested, maybe we could convince Lionel/AF to bring in a small supply of unpainted bare shells.  Just a thought....Ed L.

I was super excited about those Sharks...until I saw the price. $1600.00 for an AA set is just too much for this semi-retired kid. I'm sure they are beautiful though.

Jeff C

Good Day Jonathan,

Here are three Chessie color schemes that I created several years ago.

Regards,

Frank

Very cool Frank. Would you mind sending me the original file? I maybe able to use that first one. Thanks!

Hi Jonathan,

i'll send you the file this afternoon.

Regards,

Frank

Does Lionel own all the tooling from Gilbert American Flyer?  If so they should offer a Post War Celebration for American Flyer. It seemed like the O gauge product line was fairly successful for those that wanted traditional trains(I own a few myself).

Why not offer set remakes like the defender set, I would think these would be popular

especially a Silver Bullet, Royal Blue, or Circus steam engine re-do? Is this fantasy on my part?

As I recall from a friend who worked at Lionel back in the MPC days, most of the steam locomotive tooling was either worn out or missing things.  I'm pretty sure most of the latest Gilbert based stuff is from new tooling over the past decade.

As far as Postwar Celebration goes, according to the 3-rail side that series has ended.  I think it would be unlikely to applied to the Flyer line.

Rusty

Dandeo50, I too would like to see Lionel offer a Post War Celebration Series.

There are several classic sets they could produce.

Phil    

Since the defender set seem to sell well why not offer a new series of post war remakes ? Lionel could call it the "Gilbert Hall of Science series" or "Boys RR Club series" or even "The American Flyer Club series" What do you think?

That would be great,except those "re-issue" sets would no doubt be really expensive,and probably not be of the same high quality as the originals.

Think I'd stick with the stuff made in New Haven. 

Opinion.

Mark in Oregon

Strummer,

Take a look at the Defender set Lionel did.  I think the Quality is excellent.  They can do a good job.

It would be nice if they reintroduced the Gilbert B6s Pennsy 0-6-0 switcher and tender.  It was only in the line a few years, so I wouldn't think the tooling would be worn out (assuming they have it).  It was a great little model, and would be a fantastic operating piece with a can motor and sound board (assuming they can package everything in that slope-back tender).

Anybody know if they have the original tooling for this engine?

Diesel-electric Locomotives

GM EMD GP35

GM EMD DD35

GM EMD DD35A

Pullman-Standard single-door and double-door 60' Boxcars

Pacific Car & Foundry 57' Mechanical Refrigerator car

Greenville Steel Car Company three-bay, open-top hopper

ACF Center Flow 4600 Cu. Ft. Capy. 3-bay covered hopper

Andrew

ACF Center Flow 3560 Cu. Ft. Capy. 3-bay covered hopper

Pullman-Standard waffle-side 50' boxcar with locking plug door or standard door

65' Mill Gondola

Andrew

Thrall Car 61'-63' Center Beam Flat Car with wrapped lumber load

Thrall Car 50' Flat Car regular and with bulkheads

FreightCar America AutoFlood aluminum coal hopper with rotary couplers

FreightCar America CoalPorter aluminum coal gondola with rotary couplers

Rotary coal dumper

Operating coal loading conveyor belt and elevated funnel loader

Andrew

Good Day,

I sure hope the future production runs of the SD70ACe and ES44AC will be offered with two powered diesels each with a unique cab number. The ES44AC in Union Pacific, BNSF and Kansas City Southern would be great.

Regards,

Frank

I thought by jumping the fence from O into S....i would get more bang for my buck in S...500.00 engines , 6.50 for a piece of curved track, sheesh...where's the savings?? Am I missing something ......

Hi Ness,

No, you're not missing much here.  Cost savings are nil.  Especially on the most modern offerings with the latest electronics.  Personally, I can do without them, but most guys prefer them. Have you seen the American Models site?  Their locomotives are available without the latest gizmos, and if in straight DC, they're quite reasonable.  Even their AC models are much less expensive than Lionel or MTH.  There are those who disparage AM models, but for a great majority of us out here, they're nicely made, fairly true to prototype, and will run as well or better than any trains made today in any scale.  Here's a link to their site (if Yahoo allows it): http://www.americanmodels.com/

Have you seen the present pricing on HO lately?  Look at the current prices of new 03R items.  S is in the same ballpark.  Traditional, used Gilbert things are a tad less than comparable Postwar O items, but that may not be where you want to go.  The real savings is in space.  Figure 75% of O gauge.  Then there's the fidelity to prototype which in most cases is outstanding to all but the most finicky scalers.  There's also that middle rail thing...

Jerry

Freezing in Wayne, MI

Thanks Jerry.that about sums it up...a savings in space..which is a big deal. Cold up here in NH this morn too. Thanks

Hi Again, Ness,

I just want to add that if there's any shortcomings to S, it's that there isn't the variety or quantity of buildings in S, nor a "standard" track system.  Again, the American Models track system is the closest.  And waiting for new products in S can be a pain in the neck.

Taking the plunge into S can be daunting, and takes guts to rid yourself of previous scales.  When I was with my train club displaying our portable layout, I cannot tell you how many guys would tell us "Gee, S is really nice, and I'd go into it if I didn't have so much invested in my (name a scale) layout".

Would I like to see more in S from the large manufacturers?  Yes.  Could I afford a whole lot?  Not really.  Look at the previous posts by S guys and you'll see what I mean.  A lot of things wished for in S are available in O.  It only makes what we have all that more "S"pecial.

Jerry

Dunno why it took so long for me to come up with....2-8-0; either PRR class H(?) or C&NW class Z(?)

Mark in (wet) Oregon