LCT Armored Motor Car pictures

You can get entire starter sets for that price. It doesn't fit into my scheme of things at all, and I'm glad. For 400 bucks I want some cars to go with it.

The No. 214 set is not intended to fill the function of a modern tinplate starter set. Rather, the intent is to produce an accurate replica of a scarce iconic toy train from the distant past. The purpose of the Armored Car set is more akin to that of, say, M.T.H.'s reproduction of the Lionel "Electric Express" cataloged in 2005. The No. 200 powered and unpowered wood gondolas (two pieces) bought as a set totaled $800 MSRP seven years ago. Neither the No. 214 or the "Electric Express" were likely to have been produced in large numbers and both are Traditional offerings only. These are examples of reproductions aimed at the enthusiast whose main interests and desires likely do not include 'bang for the buck' PS2 starter sets. Different strokes for different folks.

The form and content of the No. 214 set, as delivered, really should not have been a surprise to folks. It and its MSRP were described and pictured on page 20 of the 2011 LCT catalog (with some later clarification) and it was pretty obvious that the No. 214 set was not to be some big box of trains. One could have done a bit of research (repro copies of the 1917 - 18 Lionel catalogs and the better books on prewar Lionel) to double check on the composition of the originals. Talking to M.T.H. representatives was also an option.

Happy tinplating.

Bob Bubeck

One thing that I find interesting is the availablity on the second-hand market of items that are made in limited quantities.  I find this especially true with the availability of the internet.  Items that have been made in even limited quantities seem to come up for sale at regular intervals.

How much something is worth is a rather personal decision.  IN my case, since this is an item I would like to own versus need to own, I thought $400 was high for the set and thusly spent my hobby dollars elsewhere.

I realize that LCT tried to keep the set as close to the orginal Lionel set as possible.  The Rich Art set, however, blows me away and I love the extra cars and the accessories that come with it.  If someone were to remake a set like this one, I would have a terribly hard resisting buying it! 

All in all though, I am very glad that LCT manufactured the set the way that they did.  This way you gentlemen who really wanted to own the set, got the chance to get this set.  Had LCT not manufactured it, it likely wouldn't have been made again.  Hope you guys get a lot of enjoyment from them!

Jim

Again:

"Different strokes for different folks!"

or my personal favorite worn-out expression:

"Whatever floats your boat!"

Having seen the original in the NYC Lionel showroom circa 1953 at about age 11, I instantly was attracted to this whimsical TOY train.

I am VERY happy to finally have my own reproduction of this iconic set after almost sixty-years. 

"It's a toy train thang - you wouldn't understand!"  

Just to give those who do not frequent Auction Houses an idea, a friend picked up the Lionel O Gauge RED COMET at Maurer's a couple weeks ago for $300 plus 10%(NEW IN BOX).  I picked up the same set at York last year for $400.  And most on here probably paid a tad more when it was released a couple years ago...AND I believe that was a relativey limited set.   SOOO, for the patient ones on OGR, if you wait, you can buy most things for less on the Secondary Market.  And you will likely have  more info as to defects, etc.  If you need to have the biggest and the best before the guy down the block, then you WILL PAY, perhaps in more ways than one???

An old truism to be sure, Ron, for practically every toy train ever made when new. A balance of a lower price later on against (possibly) several years of enjoyment in the meantime.

While one ponders the MSRP of the No. 214 set, it is useful to note that the complete motor assembly for the armored car is quite different dimensionally and in specific parts content than for any other that MTH uses for their other Traditional style O gauge tinplate. Consequently, there was a fair amount of new tooling required for the motor, as well.

As a side comment on aesthetics, the Rich Art set is quite pretty. But, maybe too pretty? Although I can see the appeal for many, it is looks oh so much like a toy made in the 1950's and not one made during WWI. The whimsical sense of a battlecruiser on rails is lost with that Rich Art color scheme which heavily corrupts the 'feel' of the original, IMHO (Also, see page 15 of the 1918 Lionel Corp. catalog).

Bob Bubeck

I had pre-ordered the Armored Car set and from reading this thread I wondered perhaps I should have waited and maybe got it cheaper.Well,it arrived two days ago and my grandson and I both loved it.I think it is a beautiful piece and I'm happy with the price.After admiring it for a while,a wonderful thought entered my mind.Seeing as how it(the original) was made in 1917 perhaps my father might have played with one or had hopes of owning one. That thought pleases me and I am one happy owner of this set.

Glad to hear something good about the set..How is Wappingers Falls?

Hi Eddie....Alive and well I'm happy to say.Did you live here at one time?

Awful slow getting to the west coast, but mine arrived today. Did a quick run before leaving the LHS. Looks and runs good, no issues. I will dig out my RichArt set and compare them.

Steve

I'm looking forward to your report on this.I think the set is great and hope that LCT makes some of those cars with loads in the future.

Steve,

Excellent analysis.   It would be interesting to see how the LCT version compares to the original.  Anybody have an original?

Paul

Here's a short video of the set running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRFmWzk_oZY

Steve

Nice comparison of those two units, Steve, and a nice video of the LCT version operating.  I did find my LCT version to be a smooth and quiet runner.  PS3 in the LCT version would have made it a real winner and worth the $400 MSRP.

Thank you for the comparison.I like the dark gray color the most but I would love to own all of these gems.

I just couldn't resist. I have a few Evans Design flashing LED's from a project that never materialized, so I decided to install them in the barrels of my Armored Motorized Unit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89gmNNq32rw

Steve

Picked up a couple of the Lledo vehicles and painted them. Not exact, but they will look about right.

Steve

They look great Steve!  What Lledo models are they?

BTW, I finally got my set, but an injury and then surgey prevented me from opening it up for almost a month.  

The paneled truck was like this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintag...;hash=item4ab9d55af4

The officers car was similar to this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-L...;hash=item45ee46fe64

Steve

If it had that I would have definitely pulled the trigger on it!

I picked up a used TTHF WWI Army Set on ebay yesterday.  No set box and the cars have a few "battle scars". 

I have dozens of TTHF Army Men, sand bags and a few tents to complete the set.

I'll just have to keep searching for a set box or make one myself.

If any one has a set box I would appreciate if you could post a photo.

Thanks,

Paul

Paul,  Nice find. Glad you were able to locate a set. I know these are rare so even a used set is a good score. 

Minus the note glued to the top, here is what the set box looks like.

 Steve

John, I've been looking for one of these sets of a for quite a few years.   It wasn't easy finding one.  

Paul,

Thanks for the photos. Here are some more photos.  This is a fun set, thanks to TTHF and Dick Mayer.

Ed

Ed,

Thanks!  Here is a picture of my Army set that just arrived this afternoon at 16:00 hours.

You have quite a nice collection!

Paul

Set up and posted by 17:30 hours. The set looks fantastic.