Will this caboose look OK with semi-scale train

If you like the looks of it, and how it looks with the rest of your trains, go for it. 

John

I run semi scale engines with scale cabeese all the time. With the consist in between them I never notice the differences in size.

I agree with John, its your railroad and you're the only one it has to please and make you happy.  I don't see why it won't work.  If you don't like the looks of it or feel it is too big, park it on a siding.

"its your railroad and you're the only one it has to please and make you happy."

Correct - but he is asking for our opinions and our knowledge to help him with an informed decision. He is not asking for our permission.

When this question is asked (and it often is), saying "it's your railroad" is not helpful. He knows whose RR it is. Obviously the wrong size caboose will not please him.

D500 posted:

"its your railroad and you're the only one it has to please and make you happy."

Correct - but he is asking for our opinions and our knowledge to help him with an informed decision. He is not asking for our permission.

When this question is asked (and it often is), saying "it's your railroad" is not helpful. He knows whose RR it is. Obviously the wrong size caboose will not please him.

Thanks, yes, hoping to avoid shelling out $50 for something I don't like. My go-to LHS just closed forever and next nearest are all out of NKP cabeese, so I'm left with an online purchase as only option. Pics help, but real world experience is better if available.

Most traditional O gauge cars are going to look smaller next to this O scale caboose. An O gauge trailer on flat car coupled to the caboose  would be a way to minimize the height difference.

I would say it would fit in nicely. My scale bay-window caboose (Atlas) looks short compared to scale boxcars and PS-2 covered hoppers.

I mix traditional size and some semi scale rolling stock with scale MTH and Lionel cabooses.  As noted previously, the secret is what you place ahead of the caboose.  The Lionel quad hoppers work well with scale cabooses as do MTH Railking gondolas.  I also run Lionel flatcars ahead of scale cabooses from time to time.

Curt

Atlas Boxcar and Atlas Bay-window Caboose (both O scale)

Seeing the above pics, I believe you can see that a scale bay-window caboose is not likely to look too high for traditional freight cars.

k line use to make a shorty bay window caboose based off the old marx tooling, if you want something a little smaller they’re very nice. they are about the same size as a pw sp caboose.

This fast freight just knocked down the signal with three cabooses. One was a bay window Seaboard.

Signalwoman posted:

k line use to make a shorty bay window caboose based off the old marx tooling, if you want something a little smaller they’re very nice. they are about the same size as a pw sp caboose.

Thanks. That'd be perfect if I could find one in NKP. 

raising4daughters posted:

Signalwoman posted:

k line use to make a shorty bay window caboose based off the old marx tooling, if you want something a little smaller they’re very nice. they are about the same size as a pw sp caboose.

Thanks. That'd be perfect if I could find one in NKP. 

glad to help! the only one i’m aware of was in the k-1806 nickel plate road freight set. i have a pennsylvania one myself, they’re nice cars.  

Better to have it and not want it, as opposed to wanting it and not having it.

That's my motto, your's may vary.   

Signalwoman posted:

raising4daughters posted:

Signalwoman posted:

k line use to make a shorty bay window caboose based off the old marx tooling, if you want something a little smaller they’re very nice. they are about the same size as a pw sp caboose.

Thanks. That'd be perfect if I could find one in NKP. 

glad to help! the only one i’m aware of was in the k-1806 nickel plate road freight set. i have a pennsylvania one myself, they’re nice cars.  

Great tip, thank you! 

Does anyone know if the K-line bay window caboose (advertised as 1:48 scale) is roughly the same size as this Rail King bay window caboose?

I had one of these at one point in time. I run about 90% Rail King stuff, it's perhaps slightly bigger than the MTH bay window, but honestly looked fine running with Rail King cars. I sold it simply because I have 5 other NKP cabooses, and ran them more frequently, but thought it was a nice car. 

The KLine is bigger than the Railking version. 

I had and still have the original Lionel bay window caboose. I ran it through the MPC period. At that time my layout was all O27 sized. It looked great with those cars and engines. The K-line is more detailed but the same size as my old Lionel model. Most bay windows were larger than the older cabooses so go for it. The little stubby one looks funny to my eye. Don

Thanks. All great feedback everyone. There don't appear to be many options for NKP cabeese for us traditional-sized guys other than the Lionel from 2002.  Never been a fan of the Rail King woodside caboose in any road name.....way too oversized in height and length IMHO.  There are plenty of cheap plastic O27 cabeese out there to have, but I'd like something a little nice (lights, smoke even better).

Think I'll take a flyer on one of the bay window versions, K-Line or Lionel. Might end up out shipping costs and a few bucks if it doesn't look right.

Great idea on putting a TOFC in front of it.  Have two of those in NKP to disguise an oversized caboose.

I have that caboose. I like the look

Sure, why not. A small scale car looks better with semi-scale than semi-scale will look with larger scale cars.

raising4daughters posted:

Does anyone know if the K-line bay window caboose (advertised as 1:48 scale) is roughly the same size as this Rail King bay window caboose?

They'd be very close in size.

I'm assuming the traditional sized caboose you already have is the Lionel no.19752, in the first picture below, which would be the ideal size for what you're running, it sounds like. For an additional caboose, there are a numbe of choices. In the second picture is the Lionel Northeast style caboose. This is a scale caboose, but isn't too large. The main difference from the Lionel traditional bay window is that the scale cabooses are a bit wider. The bay window in the next picture is an Atlas O Trainman caboose. These are scale sized as well, so, again, will be a bit wider than much of the traditional sized rolling stock. Both of the these cabooses are on sale at Mr. Muffin's trains, and other places as well. I think the K-Line caboose (next picture) you mentioned would be fine as well, about in the same size as the scale ones, perhaps just a bit smaller. I have several K-Line bay windows, and I think they'd work fine with traditional rolling stock.

Below that are the MTH 30-77167, MTH 20-91647, and MTH 30-77307. They'd all be about the same as the other cabooses mentioned above. Lots of choices, although they may not all be available, so look around. If you already have a line on a K-Line bay window, I'm sure that would work fine for you.

breezinup posted:

I'm assuming the traditional sized caboose you already have is the Lionel no.19752, in the first picture below, which would be the ideal size for what you're running, it sounds like. For an additional caboose, there are a numbe of choices. In the second picture is the Lionel Northeast style caboose. This is a scale caboose, but isn't too large. The main difference from the Lionel traditional bay window is that the scale cabooses are a bit wider. The bay window in the next picture is an Atlas O Trainman caboose. These are scale sized as well, so, again, will be a bit wider than much of the traditional sized rolling stock. Both of the these cabooses are on sale at Mr. Muffin's trains, and other places as well. I think the K-Line caboose (next picture) you mentioned would be fine as well, about in the same size as the scale ones, perhaps just a bit smaller. I have several K-Line bay windows, and I think they'd work fine with traditional rolling stock.

Below that are the MTH 30-77167, MTH 20-91647, and MTH 30-77307. They'd all be about the same as the other cabooses mentioned above. Lots of choices, although they may not all be available, so look around. If you already have a line on a K-Line bay window, I'm sure that would work fine for you.

 

Thanks so much.....wow, you really turned it into a great research comparative analysis. Thanks!

I think the photo of Lionel Northeastern caboose didn't make it to your post, but I know which one you meant. I think you cited 7 different options but only saw 6 photos, but still got the message clear.  Yes, the first one is the one I have. Bought it in 2002 with my Lionel NKP Jr. Berk. 

I'm going to try to find the dimensions for the K-line and see how they compare with my Rail King bay window.  My guess based on the MTH  Premier (1:48 scale I assume) is that they're close. The Premier bay window is almost identical, 3/8" longer 1/16" wider, and 1/16" shorter in height than Rail King.

Don't know why the Lionel Northeastern picture didn't show up for you. Here it is.

I measured a K-Line bay window. It's 9 1/2" long (not including couplers), and 2 7/8" wide at the bay windows.

Give me an example of the size cars you’ll put next to it. I’ll throw that caboose on the track next to the cars and send a picture or 3

Hawkshaw posted:

This fast freight just knocked down the signal with three cabooses. One was a bay window Seaboard.

3 Cabeese?!?!?’  😜 I know we agree it’s your RR, but.... but..... but..... that’s as bad as mixing eras or adding in a car with Santa Claus on the back.