For those that miss(ed) the Aristocraft Napa Valley Wine Train, it appears that Märklin is apparently thinking to produce their own, though limited, version.
If its LGB, then its going to be spensive. If its truly Marklin, then it isn’t going to play nice with most gauge 1 switches.
David Maynard said:
If its LGB, then its going to be spensive.
Clearly you didn’t click and read the link posted.
No I didn’t, because the first time I read the post the link didn’t show up in a different colour, so I didn’t know there was a link.
So its LGB, and its expensive, as well as being a short run (limited edition).
I did not see the link either (Mark for us computer challenged guys, how about hitting the bold and underline button?)
The post did not say “click here” or “here is the link”…
Anyway, the Marklin 1:32 stuff does not work well on switches? Can you explain, have not heard that, although precious few in the US run Marklin G scale…
Also the completely wrong loco, right? The marklin is a F3 or F7, and the real thing is an FA type (actually an FPA-4), but the Aristo FA-1 is pretty close.
Marklin:
Real thing:
Greg
Edited OP.
Here’s the url -
Also the “real thing” hasn’t looked that shiny since when it was first placed on the line. It is currently pretty dirty and oxidized. However since the sale of the line about a year or so ago they have been adding some new cars and engines and refurbishing older ones.
I agree, have ridden it before, not real clean and shiny, but was more focused on the difference between the EMD F unit and the real thing.
I’m building up one of these trains to try to match the prototype: https://elmassian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=737&Itemid=1173
You can get sort of close with the Aristo stuff.
Greg
Quite the spendy version! And with it being an EMD and not an Alco that is kind of a cheap shot at people that think they are getting aan exact replica( for a big chunk of change) and they are actually getting something different. Kind of like answering an ad for a blue Corvette and they are selling a Blue Mailbu.
And pray tell why would they make the set with an FA loco. Dumb. Later RJD
I think what LGB is doing by offering their EMD F7 in Napa Valley is akin to what so many companies do by offering just about anything in Santa Fe War bonnet. Compared to the LGB offering, the Aristo ALCO FAs and Heavyweights are reasonably good representations of the Napa Valley Wine Train.
Of the LGB offerings, the most plausible item is the box car, but my preference would be to lower it and use body mount Kadees to make it more realistic.
To make the Aristo train more realistic, I lowered the FAs 5/16 inch and body mounted Kadee 907s on the locos and cars. The cars were not fitted with the truss rods but were fitted with 3 axle trucks like the real train has.
The Youtube video is set to start near the end so there is only about 1 minute to take a quick look at the train.
https://youtu.be/LkkTG21yW-c?t=10m11s
-Ted
Marklin already made an F7, I figured this is just a re-issue and re-paint.
But going to the web site, it appears that this is most likely the LGB G scale.
Box car 41915
https://www.lgb.com/products/details/article/41915
Observation car 36591 (completely wrong)
https://www.lgb.com/products/details/article/36591
Locomotive (F7 instead of FPA-1)
https://www.lgb.com/products/details/article/20580
Calculating the scale by length, somewhere around 1:29 for the box car, 1:32 for the observation
According to the link, Marklin is having LGB make it. So its just a limited edition of existing LGB models with a new paint job.
I have an FA that I cleaned up and did a light service on that my cousin picked up in a lot he bought. Looks like I need to get off my butt and finally list it for him! I didn’t think there was much interest in the Napa Valley stuff any more but apparently I’m wrong. Good news for him!
Steve
Ted Doskaris said:
To make the Aristo train more realistic, I lowered the FAs 5/16 inch and body mounted Kadee 907s on the locos and cars. The cars were not fitted with the truss rods but were fitted with 3 axle trucks like the real train has.
Very Nice Ted. I love the look of a nicely liveried multi car set running lazily round the garden. Did it with “Daylights” myself a while back.
The problem with most manufacturers is the “How can we get the maximum return on our expensive tooling”, mentality. Fair enough if the demand is there go do it, it’s your money. Let’s face it if you couldn’t get away with it you wouldn’t have risked the “prototypical” stuff it is foisted on in the first place.
But it gets a bit tiring when they slap any old “iconic” livery, no matter how inappropriate to the prototype, on something because the cost of the tampo printing pads is minimal compared to the hoped for returns. Endemic in the model vehicle industry. And if the job is done by one of the recognized “collectibles” outfits then there is always the hope that the punters will be suckered in with the thought process - "Ooh limited edition ! Might be worth getting one to stash in the loft and pitch at auction (select auction house/method of sale now) in a few years for a healthy profit. Oh yeah, everybody wins ! OK I’ll take the old cynic hat off now.
Note to Greg - there is no link hidden in my bold underlined italics (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Sort of like being able to buy virtually any diesel in Santa Fe silver and red warbonnet?
Aristo did it with the FA, USAT did it with the GP7 or some other non prototype, and LGB, well, LGB has sold the same Alco diesel under virtually any road name, and now they call the Alco an EMD SD40…
Yep, I wish they would have used that “energy” towards something more palatable.
Greg
It does amaze me sometimes, when certain people just don’t know the difference. I am not a diesel fan, but I do notice the difference between the model and the prototype, especially if the model is a completely different make then the prototype.
As for people collecting trains. Gopher it, if its for display. If its for reselling for a killing at a later date, buy a Certificate of Deposit, it will almost certainly give a better return for the investment. I get a good laugh out of folks who have “an old train set”, and think they are going to get rich by selling it. For every one who has a truly valuable old train set, there are hundreds of folks who just have an old train set. At almost every train show my club does, someone comes up and wants to know what their old train set is worth. They don’t have it there, but they try and describe it. I am not a collector, so I haven’t a clue, but they think I must know because I am in a train club. And many times they keep prodding me that it has to be worth something. It could be, or not.
I used to have a pair of the Aristo FA’s but sold them on as I was unable to do the roof details to my liking, nobody offers the beacon light as a casting with amber lense. The horn, bell add spark arrestor are easily done. The folks that want a really nice train will fork over the $$ for it a the gift shop after riding the train or online. Many could care less that the engine is not correct, nor are the cars. Just that they look nice and come from a premier brand of model trains. Bachmann could ride the coat tails, reissue the old FA in wine train colors, along with the heavyweights…since thier parent company Kader owns the old Aristo tools.
Mike Toney said:
Bachmann could ride the coat tails, reissue the old FA in wine train colors, along with the heavyweights…since thier parent company Kader owns the old Aristo tools.
Comes down to licencing rights. If Marklin come up with the $$$$$‘s then the owner of the rights to the Napa Valley Wine Train name and licencing rights will let them do it, to the exclusion of other rival makers in the same market, for a time. So long as the end product conforms to the owners standards of presentation of their “asset”, etc’. If the’re not fussed as to what “stock” is used to represent the train then that is what it will end up plastered over. It’s a free world and its a pretty livery. It’s just…aarrgh !
Yea, well, I have seen the Aristo wine train stuff at auction for the same prices as the other Aristo stuff. So there maybe a market, well, if LGB is doing a set there is a market, but the after market resale value just isn’t there. If someone really wanted to do a more accurate wine train, they could probably do it by trolling the used market. And do it for a lot less money.