Inexpensive-er Flyonel cars

Wasn't the Lion Scale cars was it? Lionel has a new line of less expensive rolling stock called Lion Scale (scale sized O gauge- 1:48), but I didn't think it was going to be that inexpensive? That is really reasonable. I believe they are using the tooling they acquired from Weaver when the owner retired. They are supposed to be pretty nice and made here in the USA with some of the work being done at Lionel's headquarters. I don't know if they have anything like that planned for S gauge or not?

they actuallygh were pretty nice. Crisp lettering, somewhat beefy weight-wise, nicely painted, and a variety of road names. I would think they'd fly off the shelf at that price. The "train guy" had just set them out and already had sold a few in the middle of the week. Well, I just thought I'd throw it out there and see what sticks.

They're not LionScale cars.  They are the standard postwar based O gauge flats and gondola's.  These cars are not boxed individually, but in a counter-top point of sale type box display containing 12(? Don't remember) cars.  That saves on packaging and labor.

What remains to be seen is how many flats and gondola's folks will buy simply because they're 20 bucks or how many want endless strings of flats and gondola's on their layouts.  I'm constantly amazed at the same people chiming in that they're buying 8 Menards cars every time another roadname is released.  Seriously, where do they put all this stuff?

As to whether Lionel would do anything similar for Flyer, I kinda doubt it as so few dealers stock American Flyer and the big mail order/internet houses would have to package them for shipping.

Rusty

"They're not LionScale cars.  They are the standard postwar based O gauge flats and gondola's.  These cars are not boxed individually, but in a counter-top point of sale type box display containing 12(? Don't remember) cars.  That saves on packaging and labor.

As to whether Lionel would do anything similar for Flyer, I kinda doubt it as so few dealers stock American Flyer and the big mail order/internet houses would have to package them for shipping.

Rusty"

Besides, in S we are buying "postwar" reissues from Lionel at $60 apiece as they're meted out in each new Flyonel catalog. For what reason would they churn them out at $20? There is no competition as Lionel has with Menard's.

Also, back in the final days of K-Line, they were offering recycled Marx O27 cars with S trucks for around 20 bucks each.  They were being sold on the street for 10-15 bucks each.  I don't recall Lionel quaking in their boots.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Also, back in the final days of K-Line, they were offering recycled Marx O27 cars with S trucks for around 20 bucks each.  They were being sold on the street for 10-15 bucks each.  I don't recall Lionel quaking in their boots.

Rusty

That's right. Actually only the cabooses looked a little top heavy. The rest looked great!

As a matter of fact I have over 40 cars I am going to sell here soon. Anyone need a bunch?

I remember them, they also had a Reading box car - if you have any let me know price, shipping etc.

Francine

Francine posted:

I remember them, they also had a Reading box car - if you have any let me know price, shipping etc.

Francine

I think I do... let me check through all my boxes... At one time I was going to put up a large American Flyer layout... but I went to O. The cars have been so elusive that pictures are hard to find on the internet... I could not find your email, mine is jwcrowley@peoplepc.com

You can find photos of many of the S Gauge K-line cars at http://aftrainmaster.com/

The K-Line boxcars have their own link http://aftrainmaster.com/priva...simagesbox_kline.htm while the tank cars, cabooses, and hoppers are listed in their respective categories under subsection "Other Manufacturers".

Portlines also has pictures of some of the K-Line cars. One is definitely a photo, the others may be drawings or clipped from photos. http://www.portlines.com/K_LINE.htm

I have two of the K-Line boxcars and they are slightly bigger than Flyer or S-Helper boxcars.  They have excellent wheel sets.  AF Train Master has a nice page about the size range of S Gauge cars http://aftrainmaster.com/private/gauge.htm

Craig

Thanks Craig... that is great information... I do remember I have quite a few of these cars... They  looked good at the time they were produced... yes, great trucks!

J Daddy posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Also, back in the final days of K-Line, they were offering recycled Marx O27 cars with S trucks for around 20 bucks each.  They were being sold on the street for 10-15 bucks each.  I don't recall Lionel quaking in their boots.

Rusty

That's right. Actually only the cabooses looked a little top heavy. The rest looked great!

As a matter of fact I have over 40 cars I am going to sell here soon. Anyone need a bunch?

I may be in depending on what you have.  

Rusty Traque posted:

They're not LionScale cars.  They are the standard postwar based O gauge flats and gondola's.  These cars are not boxed individually, but in a counter-top point of sale type box display containing 12(? Don't remember) cars.  That saves on packaging and labor.

 

Rusty

Thanks, I have totally missed these...was not aware they existed. I will be watching for them and also for the LionScale cars. Hoping my LHS will have both some time soon. I haven't been there for about a month (foul weather), guess it's time for another visit.

Chris Lonero posted:

J Daddy posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Also, back in the final days of K-Line, they were offering recycled Marx O27 cars with S trucks for around 20 bucks each.  They were being sold on the street for 10-15 bucks each.  I don't recall Lionel quaking in their boots.

Rusty

That's right. Actually only the cabooses looked a little top heavy. The rest looked great!

As a matter of fact I have over 40 cars I am going to sell here soon. Anyone need a bunch?

I may be in depending on what you have.  

Chris - I will be checking boxes under the layout this weekend...

I will drop you and email.

Rusty Traque posted:

Also, back in the final days of K-Line, they were offering recycled Marx O27 cars with S trucks for around 20 bucks each.  They were being sold on the street for 10-15 bucks each.  I don't recall Lionel quaking in their boots.

Rusty

Well, Lionel *did* acquire K-Line and then promptly discontinued their low price, competing products...

I actually like the $15 K-Line boxcars better than the $50 Lionel American Flyer.  Although the bodies of the AF cars are better proportioned, the trucks have been ridiculous looking ever since the 1991 redesign when they went to needle point bearings.  The K-Line cars are fantastic operators, with smooth-rolling wheels and knuckle couplers that are superior to Lionel Flyer.  The decoration is first rate.

Actually, I recall Lionel only had access to certain K-Line tooling for 2 years.  Any S Gauge cars cataloged were probably leftover unsold stock.

As to the K-line cars being taller than Flyer: True enough, but this in itself wasn't a bad thing.  Prototype boxcars had varying heights depending on who built them, when and what the capacity of the car was.  Gilbert chose a relatively low height prototype for his boxcars, but it it still a scale proportioned car.  SHS deliberately chose their boxcar prototypes to be visually compatible with Flyer's overall height.

The K-Line cars were all fairly attractive. The one thing I could never wrap my tiny, little mind was the steeper pitch of the roof on the box and stock cars.  Too much work to try and correct, so I never bought any K-line cars.

Rusty

I am a fan of the K-Line box cars also, and I keep an eye out for them on ebay.  I have 3 of them, and I like the diversity they bring to the consist being larger than my other box cars.