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Popi posted:

side question,

can a controller from a Lionchief set be used with any other locomotive beside the one that came in the set???

The controller is linked to that specific engine from the set. So if you bought the same set again the controller could control both of the engines. However, you can buy a separate Lionchief remote that can control up to 3 different engines.

Lionchief 2.0 is all an good, just removed Lionel from the mid range market, again. It looks good on paper, apart from even more confusion of what works with what, and abandons the small 9x5 foot and around there around market crowd from having the nice bump in features without having to spend $400 to $800 on controls that have a warranty. The complainers got their way, they priced out the entry level guys as a consequence of getting what they wanted for their convenience, got their details, just at the cost of the future of the hobby having new products for the beginners who are not supper flush with money. Yes, there are eight engines at $200, but it is not the verity it was even last year, nor are they current era engines. The average American would struggle to find $400 in an emergency, I don't think they will find much more to buy trains, Lionchief Plus was right around there and for the most part 0-27 compatible, making them great for small spaces and budgets if you did not want one of the limited Post-War engine road names, or don't trust Ebay. Mostly says the Legacy guys are running out of money, specifically those not buying build to order. And, no not every hobby shop can afford to learn about Lionchief, especially smaller ones, some towns only have one that does trains, like mine, and on the west coast space gets dedicated to HO over O-guage because of popularity.

 

Please refrain from telling me about how, everyone has money, every hobby shop is huge, everyone has high-speed internet, or smartphones/tablets.

Last edited by Allin
Allin posted:

The complainers got their way, they priced out the entry level guys as a consequence of getting what they wanted for their convenience, got their details, just at the cost of the future of the hobby having new products for the beginners who are not supper flush with money.

Are you saying that those who want more features in O Gauge are "complainers", are responsible for high prices, lack of availability (of what you want), and are furthering the demise of the hobby?  Is that correct?

Allin posted:

Lionchief 2.0 is all an good, just removed Lionel from the mid range market, again. It looks good on paper, apart from even more confusion of what works with what, and abandons the small 9x5 foot and around there around market crowd from having the nice bump in features without having to spend $400 to $800 on controls that have a warranty. The complainers got their way, they priced out the entry level guys as a consequence of getting what they wanted for their convenience, got their details, just at the cost of the future of the hobby having new products for the beginners who are not supper flush with money. Yes, there are eight engines at $200, but it is not the verity it was even last year, nor are they current era engines. The average American would struggle to find $400 in an emergency, I don't think they will find much more to buy trains, Lionchief Plus was right around there and for the most part 0-27 compatible, making them great for small spaces and budgets if you did not want one of the limited Post-War engine road names, or don't trust Ebay. Mostly says the Legacy guys are running out of money, specifically those not buying build to order. And, no not every hobby shop can afford to learn about Lionchief, especially smaller ones, some towns only have one that does trains, like mine, and on the west coast space gets dedicated to HO over O-guage because of popularity.

 

Please refrain from telling me about how, everyone has money, every hobby shop is huge, everyone has high-speed internet, or smartphones/tablets.

The last LC+ engine I bought had a list price of 429 or 449 dollars.   : )

Jim

 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I guess the question is, will LC+ 2.0 replace all the older LC and LC+ options?

Not this year at least ..  but who knows!   I doubt it in the starter sets.     I just hope the LC+ 2.0 will run on DC like the rest of the LC line did.   Nowhere in the catalog does it say it will or will not. 

Jim

beachhead2 posted:
Allin posted:

The complainers got their way, they priced out the entry level guys as a consequence of getting what they wanted for their convenience, got their details, just at the cost of the future of the hobby having new products for the beginners who are not supper flush with money.

Are you saying that those who want more features in O Gauge are "complainers", are responsible for high prices, lack of availability (of what you want), and are furthering the demise of the hobby?  Is that correct?

What I mean is everyone who complained it did not work with TMCC/Legacy to start with, it did just a different remote which is great since it added full feature compatibility with conventional layouts without a wiring change, a compromise not perfect, but a rather balanced one; complained about the lack of detail on a mid range product, it is mid range semi scale, it is supposed to be that way for the small guy. Yes, they are hurting the hobby, their behavior is toxic regardless of the hobby. Any hobby has to be multi faceted with different niches. It has been so bad for Gundam, not trains but shares the same general niche structure,  a whole three series anime was made about it focusing on a positive and inclusive attitude. Killing off the mid-range in not healthy, we now have children's toys and high income adult trains, no middle, something that leaves the future in O scale rather more precarious than before.

Last edited by Allin
beachhead2 posted:
Allin posted:

Killing off the mid-range in not healthy, we now have children's toys and high income adult trains, no middle, something that leaves the future in O scale rather more precarious than before.

I get you.  But I think your beef lies with the manufacturers not consumers.

True , then there is the old saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", and they unfortunately they were the more vocal of the group. To behest Lionchief 2 is Just TMCC with Lionchief remote support. They should just call it TMCC and be done with it, since they have effectively canceled Lionchief Plus and simply borrowed the name to make advertising cheaper.

Allin posted:
beachhead2 posted:
Allin posted:

Killing off the mid-range in not healthy, we now have children's toys and high income adult trains, no middle, something that leaves the future in O scale rather more precarious than before.

I get you.  But I think your beef lies with the manufacturers not consumers.

True , then there is the old saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", and they unfortunately they were the more vocal of the group. To behest Lionchief 2 is Just TMCC with Lionchief remote support. They should just call it TMCC and be done with it, since they have effectively canceled Lionchief Plus and simply borrowed the name to make advertising cheaper.

If its just TMCC.  how does it use a Lionchief remote? : )    

Jim

carsntrains posted:
Allin posted:

Lionchief 2.0 is all an good, just removed Lionel from the mid range market, again. It looks good on paper, apart from even more confusion of what works with what, and abandons the small 9x5 foot and around there around market crowd from having the nice bump in features without having to spend $400 to $800 on controls that have a warranty. The complainers got their way, they priced out the entry level guys as a consequence of getting what they wanted for their convenience, got their details, just at the cost of the future of the hobby having new products for the beginners who are not supper flush with money. Yes, there are eight engines at $200, but it is not the verity it was even last year, nor are they current era engines. The average American would struggle to find $400 in an emergency, I don't think they will find much more to buy trains, Lionchief Plus was right around there and for the most part 0-27 compatible, making them great for small spaces and budgets if you did not want one of the limited Post-War engine road names, or don't trust Ebay. Mostly says the Legacy guys are running out of money, specifically those not buying build to order. And, no not every hobby shop can afford to learn about Lionchief, especially smaller ones, some towns only have one that does trains, like mine, and on the west coast space gets dedicated to HO over O-guage because of popularity.

 

Please refrain from telling me about how, everyone has money, every hobby shop is huge, everyone has high-speed internet, or smartphones/tablets.

The last LC+ engine I bought had a list price of 429 or 449 dollars.   : )

Jim

 

Yup, most of the range was about 350 to 480 dollars, which if one knows it will be available could be saved for. I used emergency to get a frame of reference on average fiances in a pinch, which would also come out of recreational spending, just like the trains do.

Hopefully they keep the regular LC+ around. There is a big difference between $325-400 LC+ and $500-550+++ LC+ 2.0.  

Maybe they were just trying to make a big splash with the LC+  2.0 line in this catalog, and will have more LC+ (1.0) in the fall catalog. The lion master big boy (many clammored for this one), PE berk (likey will be big seller), FTs, and tier 4s are all nice splashes for the LC+ 2.0. 

carsntrains posted:
Allin posted:
beachhead2 posted:
Allin posted:

Killing off the mid-range in not healthy, we now have children's toys and high income adult trains, no middle, something that leaves the future in O scale rather more precarious than before.

I get you.  But I think your beef lies with the manufacturers not consumers.

True , then there is the old saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", and they unfortunately they were the more vocal of the group. To behest Lionchief 2 is Just TMCC with Lionchief remote support. They should just call it TMCC and be done with it, since they have effectively canceled Lionchief Plus and simply borrowed the name to make advertising cheaper.

If its just TMCC.  how does it use a Lionchief remote? : )    

Jim

They just add a module to TMCC for the optional remote and Bluetooth would be my assumption from what I have read, given TMCC already supported add on boards.

From my perspective, I do think it's a good idea, but it did come later than I would've liked.

My biggest takeaway is that the Lionmaster engines sure aren't as inexpensive as they used to be. A semi-scale Big Boy is at $1200 when I could likely buy a full scale version from MTH for maybe the same. Keep in mind, the catalog states nothing about the new Big Boys having whistle smoke, whereas the previous Legacy version from 2010 did, and was priced at $900.

Last edited by Mikado 4501
gunrunnerjohn posted:
rtraincollector posted:

Does anybody have them in stock to buy?

You're jumping the gun, most likely by many months or a year!  The catalog just hit the streets, and those items haven't even made it to the Lionel shipping list!

Well I didn't see any BTO signs on them, so I thought just maybe Lionel got ahead of the game for a change. I see Pat's trains is take pre-orders but I don't do Pre-orders. To many disappointments with then and when you will get them. And when I looked he didn't have what I wanted listed but I'm sure if I asked he would.

Last edited by rtraincollector

No Remote Controller

I did notice that LionChief Plus 2.0 / comes with no remote controller. Have to use their APP or Universal Remote, but there are more features, marker lights, ditch lights, strobe lights. (See page 75)

Click on this image to make it larger to read........

1 Features LionChief Plus 2.0

My Lionel 2019 Catalog came in today's mail. I am going to keep it in the plastic wrapper because my Grandchildren are spending the night this Friday, I will let  them open it up and we will read it together.

Gary

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 1 Features LionChief Plus 2.0
gunrunnerjohn posted:

They also went from the LC+ somewhat anemic sound set to the full RailSounds set, obviously with a separate audio board.  It does sound like they just built a new TMCC locomotive, added BlueTooth and called it LC+.

Did anyone else notice the note under the video in the online catalog?  It says:

"Lionchief Plus 2.0 engines can lash-up with Legacy engines with a Legacy controller!"

So they are not TMCC, they are actually Legacy locomotives in non-scale bodies.  They are exactly what I've been wanting from Lionel since they introduced LC+.  The Big Boy price seems rather high, but the Berk is right in the sweet spot where I'll be happy to buy.  If they add LC+2.0 to their other LC+ offerings, I'll be getting quite a few (Hudson, Mikado, and Camelback).

I'm okay with them not coming with a remote because I can use my Cab controllers to run them.

Last edited by sinclair
rtraincollector posted:

I just went to trainworld page  and here what they have stated once you open a item

"This is a backorder item and is not currently in stock.
It will be shipped when we receive it from the manufacturer and you will be charged at that time.
Date due: 12/31/2019"

So that gives us an idea the soonest we will see them 

This is dealer boilerplate.  

So this gives us really no idea when we'll see the new trains.  

So basically the "new" LC+ 2.0 is the same thing that was built into all of the Legacy stuff in last years 2018 catalog. It's TMCC/LEGACY with Bluetooth added on which allows it to be used with the universal remote and the Bluetooth app as well as the CAB1 & 2 remote.

I'm not really seeing anything "new" here other than the 2018 Legacy electronics (with Bluetooth) are now replacing the old LC+ electronics.

sinclair posted:

Did anyone else notice the note under the video in the online catalog?  It says:

"Lionchief Plus 2.0 engines can lash-up with Legacy engines with a Legacy controller!"

So they are not TMCC, they are actually Legacy locomotives in non-scale bodies.  They are exactly what I've been wanting from Lionel since they introduced LC+.  The Big Boy price seems rather high, but the Berk is right in the sweet spot where I'll be happy to buy.  If they add LC+2.0 to their other LC+ offerings, I'll be getting quite a few (Hudson, Mikado, and Camelback).

I'm okay with them not coming with a remote because I can use my Cab controllers to run them.

You assume facts not in evidence!  That statement doesn't make them Legacy locomotives.  You can lash up a TMCC locomotive now with a Legacy locomotive, you just have to have the TMCC locomotive the lead locomotive.  And yes, you can do this with the Legacy CAB2 as the remote.

Truthfully, I'd suspect if they really were Legacy locomotives under the skin, they'd have said Legacy and not TMCC in the ad copy.

To me this makes much more sense.  Having compatibility with TMCC/Legacy which really fulfills the Lionel mantra of no train left behind 

This was my one concern with LionChief and LC+ as a concept in general. 

I think MTH got this correct with PS2/3 being in nearly every locomotive from the cheapest set to the most expensive scale engine.

A lot less confusion for your punters.

A very positive step by Lionel though.

Nick

Nick12DMC posted:

To me this makes much more sense.  Having compatibility with TMCC/Legacy which really fulfills the Lionel mantra of no train left behind 

This was my one concern with LionChief and LC+ as a concept in general. 

I think MTH got this correct with PS2/3 being in nearly every locomotive from the cheapest set to the most expensive scale engine.

A lot less confusion for your punters.

A very positive step by Lionel though.

Nick

Nick, That is 100% spot on!

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