Large Scale Central

Father Fred wanted a new heading..............;)

General Discussion
#1

How’s this Fred?..:wink:

“WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEW YEAR?”

“Oh dear; what can the matter be, **** is so long at the fair”

Could be that we are all staring at the past, and forgetting to look at the future.

With the New Year ready to kick us into gear; maybe we should be speculating what the major Model Railroad manufacturers have up their sleeves.

Will B’mann’s issue of 1:20.3 equipment prove to be a major success. What will the lowest price for it end up being ?

Will Aristo goof up again or learn from their mistakes and become a dependable and admired supplier ?

Will a “New and Improved LGB” hit the market with true scaled equipment; whatever scale they decide on this coming year ?

Can Hartland survive ?

Will Chas Ro, and family keep up with the rest, and find something that hasn’t been produced yet ?

Will the past craze for BIG, BIG locomotives fade to a more useful production of smaller locos, like affordable 0-6-0’s, and 2-8-0’s, in generic designs for standard gauge ?

What will the market expect in new offerings of rolling stock ?

Which manufacturer be first to produce an RPO to match the existing open ended passenger equipment of LGB, or B’mann (US STYLE), or an express reefer ?

Will sales of 1:20.3 rolling stock indicate a real market for plastic passenger equipment at a lower price ?

Will we see an aquareum car in the AMS line, or a Giraffa car....oh heck how about an exploading box car (They may as well produce one, as most of the box cars of theirs I have purchased had parts broken off !!!)  ?

Will more intrest be shown in rolling stock purchases than the seemingly, never ending quest to have more locos than cars, by a great number of “Out-of-the-boxers”?

Will intrest in proto style operation grow more amung the “Out-of-the-boxers” ?

Will the likes of B’mann, and Aristo put on a conserted effort to promote Garden Railroading in the multitude of Garden Centres, the world over, or is this to remain the forgotten market place ?

Will we all stop bickering about scale and gauge issues and try to make some concerted efforts towards some needed, SENSIBLE, standards in the Large Scale, model railroad industry?

Aw heck; I might as well add; will anyone read this and have anything useful to contribute; or will it become another place for the knashing of teeth and stomache growels ?      !!!!!

Happy New Year to all.

#2

Thank you, young Ken…

#3

Ken,

Looks like you need to be working on the ON30. I think there is an awful lot of questions occupying your time and energy.

#4

LS Trains in a Garden Center…what a novel idea…

#5

I believe that Marklin have said that they are going into G scale if they don’t get control of LGB , which they haven’t . LGB will continue with their current line of repaints until they can get themselves sorted , and drag their new owner out of nick . The German banks who wanted someone else to run LGB will stop sulking and may even start being helpful . Or not . Meanwhile , I am not too perturbed about the future of Garden Rail Stuff , I have a load of scale stuff to make , in On30 , !/20.3 , !/22.5 , 1/35 , 1/87 . Enough to last me the rest of my life , at any rate .
But wouldn’t it be nice for most of us ( not the professional moaners ) to just SEE something new and different and popular and not necessarily buy it ? I like seeing new stuff on the market , it shows a healthy economy when models , toys , whatever , are good propositions .
I believe that the arguments about Large Scale will continue into the foreseeable future , or until it is deemed politically incorrect because of misuse of power leading to global warming . Or it becomes so popular that a tax is slapped on it by the green (with envy) brigade . Same thing , different approach .

Whatever , I wish you all a Very Happy New Year .------------------ Including Hans ,Tony , and Dave .

Mike

#6

I have always wondered about “New and Improved”

If it’s been improved then it’s no longer new, surely ?

If something is new, then is there is room for improvement ?

Dunno

Beats me.

#7

Fr. Fred,

That is quite a list! I pick just three

Fr. Fred said:
Will more intrest be shown in rolling stock purchases than the seemingly, never ending quest to have more locos than cars, by a great number of "Out-of-the-boxers"?

Will intrest in proto style operation grow more amung the “Out-of-the-boxers” ?

Will we all stop bickering about scale and gauge issues and try to make some concerted efforts towards some needed, SENSIBLE, standards in the Large Scale, model railroad industry?


First one: Not unless a great number of “Out-of-the-boxers” secretly or publicly start morphing/drifting towards operations.

Second: Hmmmm, only if they think it’s fun. The credo still seems to be :“I just want a hobby, proto operating sounds too much like work!”

Third: For my purposes - remember I model Swiss Meter gauge - there is a Standard. NEM-MOROP works nicely for me, the scale for Meter gauge on 45mm track is 1:22.5.
Of course convincing a certain mfg that there are Standards is another matter. :wink: :slight_smile:

#8

OK I’ll bite…

*Will B’mann’s issue of 1:20.3 equipment prove to be a major success. What will the lowest price for it end up being ?

Assuming the 3 truck Shay…Yes, $400

*Will Aristo goof up again or learn from their mistakes and become a dependable and admired supplier ?

Goof, same questionable brick on the both coming NG and SG Connies, look for fun after release. The E8 will be a success.

*Will a “New and Improved LGB” hit the market with true scaled equipment; whatever scale they decide on this coming year ?

True scale? Not a chance. You can’t retool Chrysler overnight.

*Can Hartland survive ?

Yes, I hope, they’re showing more flexibilty than the big guys, the planter kit being a prime example.

*Will Chas Ro, and family keep up with the rest, and find something that hasn’t been produced yet ?

Yes, a much needed 0-6-0T, but its going to be diecast and $700 freakin’ $%#@ dollars

*Will the past craze for BIG, BIG locomotives fade to a more useful production of smaller locos, like affordable 0-6-0’s, and 2-8-0’s, in generic designs for standard gauge ?

I dont see it happening as long as they keep sell out the biggin’s and no affordable engines as long as people keep paying thru the nose for the privledge of $2000 diecast engines.

*What will the market expect in new offerings of rolling stock ?

Bachmanns new 1/20 proto will be a hit, more larger modern SG stock.

*Which manufacturer be first to produce an RPO to match the existing open ended passenger equipment of LGB, or B’mann (US STYLE), or an express reefer ?

I aint holding my breath, if you want an LGB RPO, I suggest a razor saw and “have at it” to a Combine.

*Will sales of 1:20.3 rolling stock indicate a real market for plastic passenger equipment at a lower price ?

If Bachmanns 1/20 line sells as well as the interest predicts, yes.

*Will we see an aquareum car in the AMS line, or a Giraffa car…oh heck how about an exploading box car (They may as well produce one, as most of the box cars of theirs I have purchased had parts broken off !!!) ?

Hahahhaaa, I’d rather see a smoking dynamite car.

*Will more interest be shown in rolling stock purchases than the seemingly, never ending quest to have more locos than cars, by a great number of “Out-of-the-boxers”?

Well as someone who HAS more locos than cars, and almost none of those locos are “out of boxers” ahhh, no. Building locos is one of my prime joys in the hobby, tho I’m hoping to shift to building rolling stock.

*Will intrest in proto style operation grow more amung the “Out-of-the-boxers” ?

Doubt it, most “out of boxers” seem to me more round-n-round than ops types. I’m building a point to point layout, so ops will be a big part, but it wont be mainline ops, but backwoods ops, bit looser.

*Will the likes of B’mann, and Aristo put on a conserted effort to promote Garden Railroading in the multitude of Garden Centres, the world over, or is this to remain the forgotten market place ?

HLW moving this way with their planter kit. The Q is a great idea. Very logical, I mean that. Which of course means that if you post this Q on the B’mann, and A/C forum, then take a deep breath, hold it, start counting till they do something, Santa and the Easter Bunny will be along to inform you of progress.

*Will we all stop bickering about scale and gauge issues and try to make some concerted efforts towards some needed, SENSIBLE, standards in the Large Scale, model railroad industry?

Hahahahahhahahahahhahaaaahahaahahahahhhaaaaaaaaaa …oh got catch my breath. HAHAHAHHAHAHahahahahaahaaaaaaaa…Oh lordy, I think I wet myself hehehee

*Aw heck; I might as well add; will anyone read this and have anything useful to contribute; or will it become another place for the knashing of teeth and stomache growels ?

Knashing Teeth? Growling Stomachs?, I think I have both their albums :slight_smile:

#9

Cale said , LS Trains in a Garden Center…what a novel idea…
yes indeed , why a garden Center , LS trains should be in a modern machine shop so they can be measured , and remeasured , and checked with a lazer , and dial calipers , and then have all the measureing equiptment sent off to be calibrated , so the LS trains can be measured again for tempreture changes against specifications , why would they be in a garden center , where there are no defined edges , just dirt and plants and other items all touching … good grief , it could be like a backyard where the blades of grass just grow any which way , and touch the dirt and everything . LS trains should be measured ,not operated outside !

#10

Dennis Paulson said:
Cale said , LS Trains in a Garden Center…what a novel idea… yes indeed , why a garden Center , LS trains should be in a modern machine shop so they can be measured , and remeasured , and checked with a lazer , and dial calipers , and then have all the measureing equiptment sent off to be calibrated , so the LS trains can be measured again for tempreture changes against specifications , why would they be in a garden center , where there are no defined edges , just dirt and plants and other items all touching … good grief , it could be like a backyard where the blades of grass just grow any which way , and touch the dirt and everything . LS trains should be measured ,not operated outside !

Dennis, :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: Some LS trains fit very well in Garden Centers, right along with the cute garden ornaments - I don’t believe they have a specific scale - mixed in with the gnomes, trolls and other assorted “Fun Stuff”. :slight_smile: :wink: :slight_smile: On that measuring bit, wouldn’t be necessary if the mfgs would do it in the first place. Works like this: Obtain original dimensional drawings, plenty of pictures of all the variations within a type (if there are any), decide on a scale to follow, produce tooling accordingly, run the product, package in a suitable manner. Last: affix a label that names the product i.e. 40ft PS1 Boxcar; 1:29 Scale; 45mm track. PS: Oooooooops, some mfgs do that already. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: I promise: If and when I score the BIG ONE on 6/49, I will produce 1:22.5 rolling stock for Swiss Meter Gauge! PPS: I could then call it the “No need to measure” product line. Should sell well; except to those “aficionados” who have less than fond memories of my reviews and translations.

#11
Ric Golding said:
Ken,

Looks like you need to be working on the ON30. I think there is an awful lot of questions occupying your time and energy.


Matter of fact I am working on my 0n30. I was just posting that for Fred. When have I ever worried about all that stuff…?? It’s a hobby, not a college thesis…:wink:

#12

Dennis Paulson said:
Cale said , LS Trains in a Garden Center…what a novel idea… yes indeed , why a garden Center , LS trains should be in a modern machine shop so they can be measured , and remeasured , and checked with a lazer , and dial calipers , and then have all the measureing equiptment sent off to be calibrated , so the LS trains can be measured again for tempreture changes against specifications , why would they be in a garden center , where there are no defined edges , just dirt and plants and other items all touching … good grief , it could be like a backyard where the blades of grass just grow any which way , and touch the dirt and everything . LS trains should be measured ,not operated outside !

Sheesh! you scale-retentive guys never learn do ya… Lionels been around for over 100 years, and STILL hasn’t made an accurate to-scale car yet. Why would LS mfrs be any different.

#13

I believe this year will be the end of my large scale trains. None of my plants are in scale and I can’t convince myself the mosquitoes are scale birds.:slight_smile:

#14
Marc Bergmueller said:
I believe this year will be the end of my large scale trains. None of my plants are in scale and I can't convince myself the mosquitoes are scale birds.:)
Ya, hereabouts the mosquitoes are far too large to be scale birds. Heck, some of them are bigger than condors, and a couple of them can carry off a deer -- though oddly enough, few will touch a politician (maybe the skeeters are afraid of blood poisoning). We don't use insect spray on them; a Bofors 20-mm is fairly effective on the small ones, but the big ones eat SAMs for snacks. The only effective prevention is (a) become a politician or (b) maintain a blood-alcohol level of 100 percent (the mosquitoes will still bite, but you won't feel it so bad, and they'll pass out after a couple of sips). As for plants, just grow the right kind of grass and you won't care about scale. And those transparent LGB F7s with all the lights inside will look REEL PURTY, man.
#15
Quote:
Lionels been around for over 100 years, and STILL hasn't made an accurate to-scale car yet.
Heck, Lionel can't even get the number of rails right, much less accurate scale!
#16
Ray Dunakin said:
Quote:
Lionels been around for over 100 years, and STILL hasn't made an accurate to-scale car yet.
Heck, Lionel can't even get the number of rails right, much less accurate scale!
Uh huh, anyone can see they should've used FOUR rails if they wanted to run tube trains. Anyone remember Trix Twin, where you could run one loco with power through the centre and right rails, and a second loco powered through the centre and left rails. Dunno how you handled reverse loops ...
#17
Chris Vernell said:
Ray Dunakin said:
Quote:
Lionels been around for over 100 years, and STILL hasn't made an accurate to-scale car yet.
Heck, Lionel can't even get the number of rails right, much less accurate scale!
Uh huh, anyone can see they should've used FOUR rails if they wanted to run tube trains. Anyone remember Trix Twin, where you could run one loco with power through the centre and right rails, and a second loco powered through the centre and left rails. Dunno how you handled reverse loops ...
Trix Twin... wasn't that the chocolate and caramel covered cookie crunch?
#18

Something to watch out for in the Noo Yeer

A German modeller has built a Lego model of the carrier Harry S.Truman .

It was made from 300,000 Lego bricks , weighs in at 350lbs , is just over 16 feet long , and cost about 18000 dollars in Lego .

The crew of the real ship have endorsed the model , which may be seen at the Brickworld 2007 show to be held in Chicago in 2007 .

Look out for it , you will see a practical demo of the joys of modelling .

Of course , scale maniacs will deride it because real ships are not made from little square(ish) blocks .

Mike

#19

Mike

No…stop…don’t even think it…real ships are made from little square(ish) blocks…Well, really more like flat rectangles, I guess…But the Righteous, Religious Rivet Revellers will consider these square(ish)…Don’t ya know!

Got your Cham-pag-knee for the New Year’s Toast at Midnight in the Switching Yard, yet?

The Lone Railroader
Watchman on the Dirt Poor Line to Nowhere

#20

Mike Morgan said:
Something to watch out for in the Noo Yeer A German modeller has built a Lego model of the carrier Harry S.Truman . It was made from 300,000 Lego bricks , weighs in at 350lbs , is just over 16 feet long , and cost about 18000 dollars in Lego . The crew of the real ship have endorsed the model , which may be seen at the Brickworld 2007 show to be held in Chicago in 2007 . Look out for it , you will see a practical demo of the joys of modelling . Of course , scale maniacs will deride it because real ships are not made from little square(ish) blocks . Mike

Hey Mike, they have an entire theme park in So. Cal. built from Lego’s…so why not a carrier…:wink: