What’s the next Flyer Chief Offering?

That's what I thought. Next a flyer chief EP5. I past on the last one until I saw that it had two vertical motors. No fly wheels but had a digital horn and a regular speaker,plus a digital bell. Have it and It runs well.

My hope is that there might be a throwback to the Pacifics and the Mikados from 2006 that had TMCC.  Lionel told me that the tooling is lost and gone for these, but they do have examples of the castings and running gear to use as models.  They were good looking engines.   

None of those AM engines.  Ron would never sell AM to Lionel.  I actually suggested that to him once.

Roundhouse Bill posted:

My hope is that there might be a throwback to the Pacifics and the Mikados from 2006 that had TMCC.  Lionel told me that the tooling is lost and gone for these, but they do have examples of the castings and running gear to use as models.  They were good looking engines.   

Lionel should  (or their builder) also have the data files for their O scale USRA locomotives.  It would be a matter of rescaling the drawings and making changes for a smaller drive. (Easy for me to say, I'm not paying the engineering costs...)  And of course, the cost of cutting new tools.

Still, with what little I've played with a freind's FlyerChief Geep, I have to say it's a pretty nice little system.  I could see it becoming the standard for all but extremely high end Flyer locomotives.

Rusty

Banjo

I think there is a reason that we have never seen a rerelease F9 from Lionel/American Flyer - and that is just fine by me, I have seen them in person at train shows and never had a desire I pick one up.  IF that tooling is still around, I hope it is nothing more than a paper weight for Lionel.

I want the Baldwin with FC/BT. If Lionel can fit it into the docksider, then they could certainly get it into the Baldwin.  I know it’s not a faithful copy of the VO1000, but I really dig it.  The last run of Baldwin’s I think were in production before the “let’s go all LionChief/FlyerChief” mentality took over at Lionel.  I am going to guess, that since they did not sell well, we might see a break before Lionel produces them again. (Even though, in my opinion, they were a lack luster offering when everything else in the catalog had FC and BT).  And I DO think a Baldwin RTR set is the way to go. 

Lionel has stated that they are done with conventional sets. All LC from now on (and I think it’s smart).  If the Baldwins had the FC/BT capabilities I would have been all over my normal road names.  

As for the mikados and pacifics, I don’t think we will see them again, I can not see Lionel paying the tooling cost all over again to make something that is already in the market (even if they are getting harder to find - that mikado was wonderful!). 

I guess there is the possibility of a FC Challenger? 

I would like to see some of the PAs with BT, but again, Lionel just run the largest single cataloged batch, and there was a decent flow of them before the 2017 catalog as well.

We should only have another month or so before we know what’s in store for 2018 and American Flyer.  

MTH who???!?

Ben 

Does Lionel not own ERR? How about selling FlyerChief conversion kits with the BT technology. I would be in for a few!

Log Cruser, it is perfect logic.  I would have had a few Baldwin’s and a PA set converted.  

But like apple and the IPhone. They don’t want you to like the old stuff as much as the new.  Why would you buy new stuff if you did? 

I talked with someone who has a bit of inside knowledge (IMO) about this very topic, and was present when the question of making the electronics available was asked to Lionel.  While it did not seem that it was impossible that Lionel would make this stuff available, it did not seem like it was going to happen any time soon. 

Ben

Since I own an O Gauge LionChief Thomas and Mikado locomotive, as well as a couple of FlyerChief Berkshires, I will say that I really like that control system, especially with the addition of BlueTooth (which none of my locos have). I was sorely tempted by the FlyerChief 4-8-4 loco, but it just seems too big of a loco. The Geeps fall too short in several categories for me to consider (four rubber tires, inadequate electrical pickup, and flat stamped handrails), as would the Baldwin switchers (it's just too ugly).

Last year, I dug a bunch of my old American Flyer locos out from storage in the loft of my garage, and got most of them running with very little effort, running them at my club's holiday display last year and this year. In doing so, I have rekindled my appreciation of the lowly Flyer Atlantic, and to a lesser extent, the 4-4-0's as well. I find myself wondering why Big L never did a run of Atlantics, was just because Gilbert made so many that they flooded the market forever to come? Or was it because being such a small loco, the perception is that they can't support a high enough price to make them profitable? Anyway, I would like to see a new Atlantic with FlyerChief, especially if it could be upgraded to be closer to scale, along the lines of the Berkshires. But please, whatever you do, don't mold the handrails into the boiler casting!

Bill in FtL

NotInWI posted:

Log Cruser, it is perfect logic.  I would have had a few Baldwin’s and a PA set converted.  

But like apple and the IPhone. They don’t want you to like the old stuff as much as the new.  Why would you buy new stuff if you did? 

I talked with someone who has a bit of inside knowledge (IMO) about this very topic, and was present when the question of making the electronics available was asked to Lionel.  While it did not seem that it was impossible that Lionel would make this stuff available, it did not seem like it was going to happen any time soon. 

Ben

I have an EP5 with a Bluerail board in it.  I put a voltage regulator in and the Bluerail board.  Runs fine.  

Brendan

Roundhouse Bill posted:

My hope is that there might be a throwback to the Pacifics and the Mikados from 2006 that had TMCC.  Lionel told me that the tooling is lost and gone for these, but they do have examples of the castings and running gear to use as models.  They were good looking engines.   

I have the Union Pacific Mikado with TMCC and it's one of my favorite engines!

Dang,  just found 3 Mikados on “that auction site”.  Boy are they awesome.  Always wanted one.  I know things happen - but who lost the molds? Were they promoted or fired?  Put BT in one and I am in for 1 or 2 for sure.  I would look at having Valley Forge try to convert it to scale flanges (doesn’t look easy - rivets on undercarriage on current model).  

Paws2k posted:

Dang,  just found 3 Mikados on “that auction site”.  Boy are they awesome.  Always wanted one.  I know things happen - but who lost the molds? Were they promoted or fired?  Put BT in one and I am in for 1 or 2 for sure.  I would look at having Valley Forge try to convert it to scale flanges (doesn’t look easy - rivets on undercarriage on current model).  

It's been about 17 years since the Mikado's were introduced and there's been one or two management changes at Lionel since.  The people responsible (who also actually TALKED to S folks at an NASG convention in Milwaukee) for bringing the Mikado's to market are long gone.  All the tooling would still be in China if it exists at all. 

The NYC and B&O models were the first release.  The NYC was separate sale and the B&O in a set with AF streamlined cars:

Rusty

I'm all for another steam offering in flyerchief.  Wouldn't mind a Hudson at all. The northerns turned out great. Great build quality, great paint job, good detail on the casting. And if they tooled a 6 wheel driver it would open up allot of options for the future. 

All tooling lost on TMCC Mikados and Pacifics.  Lionel doesn't know where the tooling went.  

To build a Hudson with FlyerChief new tooling would be needed. My guess is to keep price down it would have to be a one piece cast shell like Berkshire not like Gilberts 4 piece unit.  Maybe even cast in handrails!!  

I would agree a Hudson would be a natural.  As long as all new tooling would be needed, charge a couple of bucks extra for wire handrails if necessary.  The cast on ones on the Berks look, well, cheap.  Heck, even most of the LionChief Plus O gauge steamers have wire handrails.

We all know Lionel can do it.

This is the 21st century after all...

Rusty

Heck, I'd even be happy with a one piece plastic shell if the detail was good, and it had wire handrails. Heresy, I know.

Here's another thought, but it would only be possible if the GP7's motor could be relocated to the rear of the locomotive.  The so-called Flyer "GP20."

The new frame and power truck won't allow for the chop-nose and motor to occupy the same space, so the motor would have to be in back.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Here's another thought, but it would only be possible if the GP7's motor could be relocated to the rear of the locomotive.  The so-called Flyer "GP20."

The new frame and power truck won't allow for the chop-nose and motor to occupy the same space, so the motor would have to be in back.

Rusty

Didn't we work out some time ago when others gave some additional motor data etc that on paper it seem feasible to put the latest truck assembly in the long hood  which would make the GP20 possible?

Greekchief posted:

I'm all for another steam offering in flyerchief.  Wouldn't mind a Hudson at all. 

I only want a Hudson that is super detailed and Legacy. I'd pay whatever it cost. Just sayin'.