LOTS OF NEW AMERICAN FLYER ITEMS IN THE 2018 CATALOG

Well the C&NW Baldwin fits the bill for my narrow focus on S now.  I’ll get the caboose too.  That Wabash caboose is neat looking, I wonder if we will see a locomotive to match it in the V2 catalog.  

Nice to see Legacy steam back! 

I would have thought that Flyer would have had the SD70ACe UP1943.  Guess not this time. 

Ben

Mark, Thanks for the link.  Of note, on pages 200-201, is the Legacy Berk with DCC capability and "separate locomotive handrails!"

Mike A.

I have a couple questions regarding the new Legacy Berks...

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

*** Answered by Dave below ***

jonnyspeed posted:

I have a couple questions regarding the new Legacy Berks...

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

If you don't have usable couplers on both ends it really limits the usefulness of the engine. Also, a lot of people use Kadee couplers. If there is no way to put Kadees on you are effectively limiting the potential customer base. 

My question is how many people want a Legacy Berk but don't care if it only has one AF style coupler? I suppose that will be answered soon by the number of BTOs.

Maybe I'm wrong, but the Legacy Berks look an awful lot like FlyerChief Berks with Legacy electronics and wire handrails, particularly with a $499.99 price point. 

I don't think these Berks are going to meet things like the Y3 or even the old Mikado's and Pacific's detail-wise.

Rusty

jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Dave, the description only mentioned the separate handrails on the locomotive.  Does the tender also have them along with other details not present on the Flyer Chief version?

Thanks, Mike A.

banjoflyer posted:

jonnyspeed posted:

 

My question is how many people want a Legacy Berk but don't care if it only has one AF style coupler? I suppose that will be answered soon by the number of BTOs.

Did the earlier Legacy steam engines have those Kadee coupler features? I suppose it would be more scale oriented to have 2 working couplers front and rear but the AF style electrocoupler on the tender will satisfy the majority of the S gauge crowd I suppose.

Mark

The Challengers, Y3's, along with the U33C's, SD70's and ES44's all came with user-installed Kadee mounting pads.

Rusty

Mikeaa posted:

Dave, the description only mentioned the separate handrails on the locomotive.  Does the tender also have them along with other details not present on the Flyer Chief version?

Thanks, Mike A.

Yes. I'll do a separate post/topic outlining this engine. It'll make it more clear.

Dave Olson posted:

jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Thanks Dave. That changes things for me. Literally the difference between ordering 2-4 or zero. While I'm at it...

Will it get proper 4 chuffs per revolution?

I can't get the catalog to open Dave is that because so many people are trying to see it>

Dave

The communication about this is really nice for the S Gauge guys, it’s a big book with a lot of stuff people will be asking about and the vast majority of the conversation is not S obviously.  Thanks for taking the time to communicate with us about this - I’m mean really...catalogue has not been out more than an hour and we have good line of communication on its contents.  

Ben 

Dave Olson posted:

jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Dave, perhaps when the dust settles, you can enlighten us as to the added details.

Rusty

Dave Olson posted:

Mikeaa posted:

Dave, the description only mentioned the separate handrails on the locomotive.  Does the tender also have them along with other details not present on the Flyer Chief version?

Thanks, Mike A.

Yes. I'll do a separate post/topic outlining this engine. It'll make it more clear.

Thank you.

Rusty

Roundhouse Bill posted:

I can't get the catalog to open Dave is that because so many people are trying to see it>

.

Rusty

It is encouraging to see that Lionel has introduced another Legacy locomotive and, as promised, upgraded the Berkshires for a very reasonable price. The catalogue descriptions do leave a number of questions that I hope you will answer, Dave.

• The $130 price difference for the Legacy version adds Legacy electronics. Does this also mean that the locomotive will operate on conventional DC as well as AC? The Y-3, SD70ACe, and ES44AC locomotives did.
• The Flyer Chief is $20 more than last year. It appears to also have separate handrails in the pictures, but that may simply be that the same pictures were used for both versions. Do the Flyer Chief versions include separate handrails and engineer and fireman figures, or are they only on the Legacy versions?
• Other possible distinctions may include cab illumination and directional lighting for the Legacy version. These features are not listed under the Flyer Chief features.
• The locomotive measures 11 inches, and the tender is listed as 8 inches. The Flyer Chief Berkshires from 2015 were listed at a total length of 14 inches. Why the difference?

These are, indeed, handsome locomotives. Having Legacy versions with the frequently requested detailing improvements at a very attractive price allays any worries about American Flyer combined with Lionel O gauge in one catalogue. To me this is a very welcome addition to the American Flyer line.

banjoflyer posted:

Well there you go! I completely missed the fact that the first 6 Berks are Legacy!

And at a price of $500.00 MSRP that's way way way below the predicted ~$1000.00 tag for a new Legacy engine from some of the S gauge group!

A note at the bottom of the description of the engines features says they are NOT  Bluetooth equipped.

So for all those waiting patiently for a Legacy Berk (with detailed handrails) this is it!

Mark

If you recall, ahem, someone (won't say who) has tried to let folks know for some time that a Legacy Berk need not cost a king's ransom. 

Bob

Dave Olson posted:

jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Barring some unusual surprise, Dave, I'm in!  ... as I promised to you at York.

Thanks!

Bob

Well, Lionel is listening.  Thanks Dave, for awhile I thought I had gone down the wrong side track with S, but with all this kind of material coming out, the Scale should grow (both hi-rail and scale).

Bob Bubeck posted:

banjoflyer posted:

Well there you go! I completely missed the fact that the first 6 Berks are Legacy!

And at a price of $500.00 MSRP that's way way way below the predicted ~$1000.00 tag for a new Legacy engine from some of the S gauge group!

A note at the bottom of the description of the engines features says they are NOT  Bluetooth equipped.

So for all those waiting patiently for a Legacy Berk (with detailed handrails) this is it!

Mark

If you recall, ahem, someone (won't say who) has tried to let folks know for some time that a Legacy Berk need not cost a king's ransom. 

Bob

Depends on the size of your kingdom...

Rusty