LCT Armored Motor Car pictures

Indeed, Marner Steel works in Mercer did a fine job with the latest big gun for the tinplate version of my Army empire.  She runs smooth and quiet (albeit with no ability to reverse direction).  But, as Steve noted above, my little army also does not know the word "retreat."

It's always a whole lot of fun to visit with Dave Minarik at his wonderful store, and this time I even ran into and met fellow forum member Ernie Lambos, whose drive to Mercer, PA, is considerably longer than mine.  He had two layout-building buddies with him though, which I'm sure makes the driving time go faster.  

Ernie is building a very large hi-rail layout, and the benchwork photos he showed me (I believe he posted some on the forum--perhaps the layout design forum) are VERY impressive. 

Ernie departed Dave's shop with one of those truly impressive GE Evolution Hybrid locomotives from MTH, and I came home a happy camper with my little Armored Train.  I must also thank Ernie for treating me to a very fine lunch at the Iron Bridge Inn--a place I had not visited before.  I know where I'll be dining now each time I pay a visit to Mercer Junction.

Oh...by the way...I did ask Dave to put me down for the "next" (11-6029-0) armored train, which is due for release next month.

In America we speak and write english.

My capsule review of the Armored Set:

Finish:  Excellent

Operation:  Smooth and quiet (conventional operation only)

Limitations:  No reversing mechanism

Overall:  Definitely a cute and very different set.  Overpriced (based on $399.95 MSRP) by about $100 or so given the fact that there is no E-unit or electronic reversing mechanism, no PS3 or other features, no distinctive graphics or lettering of any type on the locomotives or cars, no additional items included with the set (track, transformer, figures, etc.), and no distinctive set packaging.  Fans of the originals will like it (assuming they don't already have an original); others probably not so much aside from its value as a display piece.

Allan, Thanks for the quick review, and your thoughts are about what I would have anticipated (without having seen this item myself).

I'm one of those on the fence (very much on the fence) and I keep going back and forth about ordering the upcoming olive green set. I really think it represents a nod to a classic tinplate item and I'm glad LCT made this, but the price point keeps me up on that fence. 

Will debate this with myself and my wallet. 

For what it's worth, John, I asked Dave Minarik (Mercer Junction) to order the green set for me when I visited yesterday to pick up my gray (very dark gray) set.  I have no idea why I did that, but it must have had something to do with the almost summer-like heat or the fact that I can't seem to leave Dave's place without ordering or buying something else. 

I know the feeling!

Follow-up to my previous post:

I sent Dave an e-mail this evening asking him to cancel the order for that green set if he hasn't already placed it (if he did, I'll stick with the purchase).  Asked him to substitute another 11-5506-1 set instead.  At a relatively few bucks more than the armored set, I just think it's a better value--ProtoSounds, lights, horn, bell, etc.--and more set for the dollar. 

Good call. Along those lines, I've been regretting not getting the Orange/Blue Celebration Series O gauge set from the 2011 catalog (listed again in 2012). Have been toying with the idea of diverting some of the train budget to that set. In fact I'll be visiting Sidetrack this Saturday when I'm down that way for the holiday weekend, and will see if Al & Co. have one in stock.  

I believe you'll really like that set once you see it up close and personal!  I certainly like mine.

I also don't think the Armored Set is a good value at $400.   Too bad, I too was looking forward to this release, but as delivered it is not worth it for me.

At $250 street price I might bite.

Hopefully MTH will improve the set in future releases.

In my view, now that I own the set, that would be about right.  But, then, it wouldn't be the first time I've had just a bit of buyer's remorse, and I imagine it won't be the last.

If you're patient, I imagine you'll be able to find that set at around your estimate soon enough if it's something you want to add to your collection.  And my recommendation to MTH would be to put a whole lot more value into that forthcoming green version if they want to maintain that same price point.

Steve, when I was commenting on another thread that my brass #7 had not arrived, you reassured me by saying that "wherever it is, the Armored Car is there to protect it." Now with the armored division seeing delivery and the #7 put off until August, I'm concerned about this protection issue.  It's always good to see the troops come home, but that kinda leaves my civilian #7 a sitting duck out there without cover.  Are you sure this is the right course?

Hojack

The green set is still out there covering the flank.

Steve

I agree the price is steep considering the lack of accessories, but after about 5 years of searching for a gray RichArt set, I'll take it.

Steve

I believe you'll like the set, Steve.  I have probably just been "spoiled" by all the extra features offered in most other sets and the far more detailed items they include.

The set I ordered yesterday to replace my order from the green armored train costs just a bit more, but it is a complete set--track, DCS Remote Commander, plus a locomotive with PS2 features such as lights, sounds, reversing, etc., and detailed, multi-colored rolling stock (three cars).

Alan,

In the past I have been very happy with the value of MTH sets.  I am very surprised at the $400 price point for the Armored Set.   MTH seems to have overpriced this one.

Could it be the cost of new tooling and the limited demand for this item?

Paul

I don't really know, but I do personally feel that the price is excessive in light of what you actually get for the dollars spent.  And that's especially true when you compare the price of the armored train set with virtually any other starter-level set in the tinplate or RailKing line.  There's not even a close basis for comparison.

This is why I’ve all but decided to pass on the Armored Set.  With the preorders I already have in the pipeline (2011 and 2012!)  and whatever else comes down the pike, I’m going to hold on to that $399 MSRP (maybe a little less with some dealers).  If I really feel like I want one later I’m sure the secondary market will accommodate.

Part of the problem may be the lack of ability to re-use the tooling over & over, so all the cost need to be recouped in the early runs. You look at their other tin products and the same tooling gets used over and over through the years. There are a limited number of versions of the Armored set to be made. I doubt it will be done in a pastel version

Steve

It is pricey, but compared to the scarcity of finding a RichArt set or an original for that matter I think it is worth the money if you really wanted one.  Ironically, here I am more than willing to plunck down my $399, yet my preorder still has not come in.  Anyone else still waiting on their preorder?

I would imagine that few are paying the full freight ($399.95) for the set in any case.  Most dealers probably offer a discount of some sort, so it wold behoove folks to shop around a bit if you want the set and didn't already place an order with someone (who probably offered a pre-order discount).

For what it’s worth, our friends at M.B. Klein’s have the Armored Motor Car Set in stock at $352.  Fair warning: they have only one in stock!

My dealer called today, and mine is on its way. The discount price was $350.

I have always wanted this set ever since I pressed my then much-younger nose against the "museum" display case at the old NYC showroom to view the original! 

I believe the sixty-year wait will be worth it!

Here is a picture of the Rich-Art set

Now that's a set that I would pay $400+ for!  I don't know what it cost when it was issued, but I'm sure that if you could find one new-in-box today, you sure would be paying a healthy price for it.  A very attractive set!

Here is a picture of the Rich-Art set

The Rich-Art set would great with my Marx Army Train.
 
 

I certainly hope the Lionel Corporation decides to manufacture additional cars for their Armored Car train such as the the ones on this set. 

Originally Posted by MOPAC:

Here is a picture of the Rich-Art set

 

 

The Rich-Art set would great with my Marx Army Train.
 
 

I also have that Marx set, as well as the Thor units.

Steve

Love the two-tone paint job on the Rich-Art set. Really sharp!

Looks like a re-painted Lledo "days gone" vehicle.

My M.T.H./LCT No. 214 Armored Car set arrived just in time for Decoration Day, courtesy of Wild Bill’s Trains.

This set is an example of new tinplate that justifies reproductions. The originals are scarce and costly. This reproduction provides a means of enjoying the train in reissued form with affordability. The ‘sound system’ is provided by the happy whirring of a lovely three pole open frame motor. The reverse function is provided by an ultra dependable four position reverse [i.e., (1) pick up armored car; (2) rotate said car 180 degrees, (3) place car back into track, and (4) reapply power.]. Other than being a bit too glossy, the dark battleship gray paint is a reasonable representation of the hue for examples observed and shown in color in publications. For instance, see pages 7 and 37 in the 2^nd edition of the TCA’s “Lionel Trains – Standard of the World, 1900 – 1943” for pictures of examples of Nos. 203 and 900, respectively.

M.T.H. is to be commended for offering this reproduction with reasonable fidelity to the originals and having some respect for the history of an iconic toy train. There is no letter stampings on the side, electrical reverse unit, or electronic gizmos because the originals did not have them. And, a check of the Lionel Corp. catalogs from 1917 and 1918 reveals this set to be, essentially, a simple starter set in battleship gray. The M.T.H. folks have delivered very much upon what was catalogued recently by them and 95 years ago by Lionel (Happy I am to leave potential flashy two tone color versions with all of the modern conveniences to others so predisposed, just so long as someone does not request one in pink ).

Nothing is perfect, and there are few things that could be addressed. I would have liked to have seen this set done with the No. 702 cars. Maybe M.T.H. could manufacture some matching two car sets of these in the future. When Lionel, L.L.C. was issuing their Prewar Celebration sets, these came in very handsome, robust set boxes. M.T.H. should consider doing the same rather than just placing the component boxes in a corrugated cardboard shipping box. Oh, and don’t use a Philips head screw on the turret top.

Remembrance, this Memorial Day weekend.

Bob Bubeck

Received mine earlier today, and I pretty much agree with Bob's review. The Phillips screw does not bother me, but the packaging could have been more "robust", to borrow Bob's term. The 900 series cars are smaller than I remember, so maybe the gray baggage cars would look better behind the armored loco?

RE: Pricing of this set:

At least $100 TOO high!  $300 MSRP would have yielded a "street price" of about $250. 

Well, true. The street price would have been ~$270. But, then, neither of us paid MSRP.   On the other hand, the set was produced.. and produced with considerable honesty relative the originals with a nicely done three pole open frame motor and accurate decoration. There was not a PS-whatever version to enlarge the size of the production run and decrease the per unit cost. 

Bob Bubeck

True, and I like mine @ $350. 

True, those of us who wanted the set paid whatever was necessary to get it (and most probably pre-ordered).  But I hope they made them in fairly limited numbers because I don't imagine there will be many sales among those who had not pre-ordered the set.  I stand by my much earlier pronouncement that it is overpriced based on what you actually get for the dollars spent.

Hear you, Allan. I suspect that those who strongly wish that the No. 214 set had been also available with PS-2 or 3 might be less sanguine about the purchase, while those who wanted a traditional version might be more comfortable with the set.

Bob