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I was wondering why no one has ever done a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid train set.  I realize that the train in the movie was a narrow gauge one (D&RGW’s K-28 2-8-2) but since we take so many "liberties" in O gauge with things like scale and fictional paint jobs I thought it would be an awesome idea for Lionel or MTH to do.  Can you just imagine the fun you could have with this set and the trackside vignette you could setup.  It could even come with 3 - 4 scale "outlaws" on horses.  Of course, the train would have to have an exploding box car and it would start with the chatter between Butch and Woodcock where Woodcock refuses to open up because he was entrusted by "Mr. E.H.Harriman" to not open the car or the safe.  Then the car could "explode" with a loud explosion sound effect and the final sound effect would be Sundance asking, "Think you used enough dynamite Butch?"....

Anyone else like to see this?  MTH and/or Lionel are you reading/listening?

I have debated creating my own with a lionel exploding box car and recording the sound clips on my own but it would be a challenge getting the right time period car and cutting it apart to put the guts of an exploding box car inside.....

Thanks and have a great day,

Randy

Last edited by trainsonthemind
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I would love to see more toy trains honoring our "western" heritage, as in the great TV shows of yesteryear. A Gunsmoke train, Bonanza, Have Gun will Travel, etc. Lionel did such a poor job on the Lone Ranger set though, that I doubt it would ever happen. I've been building my own western trains for awhile now, perhaps that's the way to go.

brr posted:

I would love to see more toy trains honoring our "western" heritage, as in the great TV shows of yesteryear. A Gunsmoke train, Bonanza, Have Gun will Travel, etc. Lionel did such a poor job on the Lone Ranger set though, that I doubt it would ever happen. I've been building my own western trains for awhile now, perhaps that's the way to go.

A model of Sierra Railway #3 and the Angel's Branch combine and coach could cover most of those shows. 

No matter how it was executed, Lionel's Lone Ranger set couldn't make a silk purse out of the sow's ear the last Lone Ranger movie was...

Rusty

It also seems that the movies chosen are more based on the characters not just a train scene in it. While it was a good movie, it isn't exactly in the public's mind anymore after 50 years.  I'd be all in for a well done boxcar series honoring great western movies and TV shows.

Brendan

Rusty Traque posted:

Plus there's probably licensing fees even for a 50 year old movie.

I like the way you think Randy.
However, some Kiljoy always has to play the "Licensing fees" card, don't they.

~~~^~~~^~~~Again, Lionel and the Margaritaville conglomerate are missing out not marketing the "Fins" box car~~~^~~~^~~~
Fees to the left, Fees to the right...!!! 

BKobernus posted:

I had a Cowboy and Indian scene on my modular layout at a train show...….. I was asked to take it down as some folks may be offended.

But back to the main subject...… I think any General set is close enough for the cowboy era.

Cowboys are an overly sensitive bunch

Brendan

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of my all time favorites.  There are so many good lines in that movie.  Like the one Randy pointed out.  

"Who are those guys ?"

"How can they do that.  I can't do that.  Can you do that ?"

"Can I move ?"

"Nobody's gonna rob us going' down the mountain."

No, we'll jump."  "I can't swim."  "The fall will probably kill us."  

 

Just for the record, most western series are still copyrighted by the studios. Warner Brothers has kept their series and renewed. Gene Autry foundations still has all his shows and off springs copyrighted. Even an old series like Death Valley Days is held by the Borax Company. So Licensing Fees would have to be paid.

I know this because we checked with several of the studios to see if we could put on and use TV series westerns for our yearly western train rides which end with the train stopping at a western town with a shootout final. We could, just couldn't advertise with pictures or showing that the theme was related to a TV westerns we were thinking about. I've been acting since age 16, and still get some residuals and have signed some away.

Many say westerns are dead, but the 2 weekends we put the western themed shows on, almost every show is sold out and youngsters love em with many returning year after year.

Add: With todays and yesterdays Videos, also studios making series and repeat using titles, they are less likely to allow series and movies to go into public domain. So paying for residuals and rights is a money making addition for studios.

wwwest2018

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I seem to recall many years ago now that Tyco brought out an HO set modeled after Petticoat Junction which featured a steam train that ran through a fictional community and would set off passengers at a hotel/resort.  The show was still running when the set came out. Apparently, Tyco was able to work out the licensing issues with the show's producers. Maybe the producers thought it was a win-win for both sides, i.e. their show was being promoted by the set. If Tyco could do it, why not Lionel or MTH?

tncentrr posted:

I seem to recall many years ago now that Tyco brought out an HO set modeled after Petticoat Junction which featured a steam train that ran through a fictional community and would set off passengers at a hotel/resort.  The show was still running when the set came out. Apparently, Tyco was able to work out the licensing issues with the show's producers. Maybe the producers thought it was a win-win for both sides, i.e. their show was being promoted by the set. If Tyco could do it, why not Lionel or MTH?

Tyco also did a set for "Iron Horse" and a "Disneyland & Santa Fe" set.

Were talking 50+ years ago, it's a different world now.

I believe licensing wasn't quite the money grab then as it is today.

Big Jim posted:
Rusty Traque posted:

Plus there's probably licensing fees even for a 50 year old movie.

I like the way you think Randy.
However, some Kiljoy always has to play the "Licensing fees" card, don't they.

~~~^~~~^~~~Again, Lionel and the Margaritaville conglomerate are missing out not marketing the "Fins" box car~~~^~~~^~~~
Fees to the left, Fees to the right...!!! 

The "killjoys" as you put it, are the studio's.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Were talking 50+ years ago, it's a different world now.

I believe licensing wasn't quite the money grab then as it is today.

Big Jim posted:
Rusty Traque posted:

Plus there's probably licensing fees even for a 50 year old movie.

I like the way you think Randy.
However, some Kiljoy always has to play the "Licensing fees" card, don't they.

~~~^~~~^~~~Again, Lionel and the Margaritaville conglomerate are missing out not marketing the "Fins" box car~~~^~~~^~~~
Fees to the left, Fees to the right...!!! 

The "killjoys" as you put it, are the studio's.

Rusty

Well, the "money grabbers" would be the biggest problem!

"tncentrr posted:

I seem to recall many years ago now that Tyco brought out an HO set modeled after Petticoat Junction which featured a steam train that ran through a fictional community and would set off passengers at a hotel/resort.  The show was still running when the set came out. Apparently, Tyco was able to work out the licensing issues with the show's producers. Maybe the producers thought it was a win-win for both sides, i.e. their show was being promoted by the set. If Tyco could do it, why not Lionel or MTH?"

Yes, why not?

Thank you for all of the awesome comments and feedback.  So unless Lionel or MTH is planning on paying the licensing fees/royalties I guess I am out of luck with having one of them make the set which means I am back to my own devices.  

So basically, I am going to need a "general" type engine 2-3 passenger cars and a freight boxcar from that era that I can cut up and try to reverse engineer with my Lionel exploding boxcar parts that I currently have.  Can this group help with suggestions on current models (MTH or Lionel) that I could buy to fit the bill?  Obviously, UP road names are desirable.  Either way, I would like to have either TMCC or DCS control of the engine.  

Thanks,

Randy

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