TAS Smoke Fluid Loader

I wish you the best of luck on your search. The few guys that have em don't want to give em up

 

 

Looks easy enough to build

Well, it's taken Lionel 5 years now and it was already made by TAS!

This is the video that made me want one. I dont understand why Lionel cant get their S**T together on this one and get it done.

There is probably a myriad of electronic inventions that Mike Regan and his folks did at TAS. With him in one of the driver's seats at Lionel, a person would think this one would be out. Probably a lot about patents, and "getting paid for my invention", that we don't understand. 

I'd buy one for our club layout!..................................Brandy!

According to scuttlebut the issue is with sourcing a motor for the unit. If you made all the tooling for part A then part A became obsolete then a redesign and a retool is in order and that takes time.

I read a post by the original designer and builder from TAS that he handed over a sample unit that mirrors the Lionel photo in their catalog to them quite a while back.  Also I am pretty sure that Lionel dropped the Smoke Fluid Loader from their "shipping schedule" when they recently changed their web site.  It was originally schedules to shop December of 2015 (LOL).

My distributor states the shipping date of somewhere in Feb 2016. For me the hype is gone, its cool and I want one but having to wait so long kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I've added it to the list of disappointments from Lionel along with the Acela and Rotary Coal Un-loader re-releases. I now have a Rotary Coal Un-loader but wont buy an Acela, they've gotta be at the point where all that fancy crap is breaking all the time

I actually forget which dealer I pre-ordered the Smoke Fluid Loader from.  I mistakenly paid in full for the Rotary Coal Dump and when they dropped it from the line, I had a difficult time getting a refund from the dealer.  I think is was about $400-$500.  My feeling is that until you have a working model and can get the parts to build these accessories you should not advertise them.  It is really unfair to operators.  I designed my entire layout around the coal dump then they decide not to make it.  The problem is that this has happened numerous times recently.  I build animations as a side business and until I have something built, operating and can get the parts I do not advertise the item.

Matt, I agree with everything you say, so let's turn this one over to Gunny John!

 

That guy can do anything, and his favorite saying is "There is no job as easy, as the one you think someone else can do"................

 

Again thank for showing this clever little addition!...................Brandy!