Yesterday I got a package delivery from Charles Ro. I had to think a while at work to figure out what it was.
When I got home, it was the pre-ordered Lionel 40 ft. Scale trailer twin packs.
Opening up one of the packages, I see some great detailing on these trailers... from the paint to the "landing gear"
The Mud Flaps are made of rubber just like the scale 30' tractor trailers done last year.
Lionel even modeled the embedded Air line hook ups and electrical connection
Lionel included a second set of ends with Opening doors. Unfortunately there are NO instructions on how to remove the "closed door" rear and replace with the "open door" rear. It appears one has to pry them off [ that's not good engineering] without damaging them.
Below one can see the tiny plastic nibs that hold the end to the trailer wall. I don't see these lasting long of someone attempts to do the swap. Lionel should have taken a que from their diesel locos with the removable hatch and used those N50 magnets to hold the rears onto the trailer.
Here is a pick of the underside. There is a nice ribbed floor, scale trailer hitch pin, a rectangular underslung reefer unit? and the trailer bogies.
Notice no air diaphragms for the trailer brakes that one would see bolted to the trailer axles.
Ok lets compare to other trailers in O gauge. Below [from L to right] we have a Pecos River Brass Trailer from the 1980's. It's a SCALE 40'. Next is the K-line ATSF "scale 40'-really 38ft" trailer with the more modern stamped steel wheels. and finally the Lionel "40 ft- really 37.5ft" trailer.
Below is a pic of the K-line[rear] vs. Lionel in Trailer Length.
At least the Lionel Kingpin and Landing gear wins in scale fidelity hands down from most the O gauge mfgs to this point. Not even the AMT 1:43 kits from the 1980's have landing gear this detailed.
So here's the skinny so far:
- Pros: Great paint job and
- some great add on details.
Cons : 
- NOT Scale Length! [here was an opportunity missed to be scale and "differentiate" their product with other mfg's!]
- Light Weight- lighter than the 027 [s gauge] trailers!
- No instructions on how to swap the closed end with the open end.
I will have to get back to everyone to see how these trailers sit on various flat cars and TOFC equipement. I hope you at least enjoy and comment on the above pics for now.
