would you but a flyer set offered by LCCA

Depends on the set. Remake of flyer set or new set with one of the new Lionel designed engines?

 

For example, I pre-ordered and have been waiting 2+ years for the remake of the Defender set but do not own any of the new Lionel engines.

 'Yes' would very much depend on what was proposed. Some of the 'tougher' sets from 1956-59 that have not been already reissued by Lionel might draw in more takers.

 

If it was a prewar 'Chicago' Flyer tinplate set, yes, I could be very interested. At this time, there are no reproductions of any Flyer O gauge tinplate at all. But unfortunately, there is no existing tooling to serve as a basis for such an offering.

 

Bob Bubeck

 

PS: I have been informed by the folks at Lionel that the Defender set is still slated for production.

Lou,

 

I would absolutely buy an S scale set if it was done as faithfully as you did the NH 209 set in O scale.  With your commitment to quality and accuracy in making reproductions, a good repoduction set with the older style heavyweights in green or red would very, very nice, IMO, especially if it had reproduction boxes!!! 

 

I may be in the minority here, but I would also be interested in one of the early link pin hudson passenger sets like the: 4613  or one of the old 332 passenger sets like the: 4617.

 

 

 

"but" no

"buy" maybe if its tinplate O gauge.

Interesting thought, Lou. 

 

This wouldn't be a veiled attempt to snatch some dues money out of my poor, weary wallet now, would it?

 

I've observed you doing some interesting things with Lionel and you almost had me with the 208's and 209's.   It took a lot of cold showers...

 

Seriously, as others have stated, it would depend on the offering.  For myself, I've pretty much stopped collecting Flyer made with or based on Gilbert designs (except for the EP-5's, I'm a sucker for those...)

 

The newer scale offerings on the other hand, if they're not fantasy (or too much fantasy...) I might be interested.

 

Rusty

Bob:

 

Talked with the Lionel folks recently and they think now the Defender will be pushed out again, perhaps into next year (web site still says July). They still are having problems with the bell ringer and the box car and launcher combo.

Lou,

 

Great idea. You are so creative!

 

Seriously, there are two basic ways to go here. One is a reproduction of a hard-to-find AC Gilbert Flyer set. The problem with that approach is Lionel has done so many Flyer Sets, Geeps and PAs over the last three decades that there would be resistance among collectors to buy more Gilbert inspired equipment unless it had not been made over and over again.  For example, I bought the new Texas Special PAs because that is the first time Lionel has offered them with modern electronics and features; command control, RailSounds and fan driven smoke. I would not have ordered them otherwise.

 

The other approach is to use the newly tooled offerings with the electronics Lionel is packing into their S scale steam and diesels these days. Here, someone with your proven ability to create desirable trains could do wonderful thing for us hobbyists. How about a New Haven passenger set led by the electronically enhanced PAs for starters.  Or you could use the new U-33 and SD-70ACe diesels to create a memorable freight set. Lionel has several newly tooled steamers that could be the basis for colorful freight or passenger sets. the possibilities are endless for someone  with your fertile imagination, historical knowledge of O and S gauge trains and access to Lionel tooling.

 

Or you could really go crazy and convince Lionel to do the NYC Hudson with new scale tooling. Gee, it worked for the Vision Lionel Hudson. 

 

Just a few thoughts to get things rolling. Stay tuned, film at eleven

 

Ed Boyle

Just my personal opinion, but I would be interested only if it were scale. I don't have any interest in any postwar type reissues.

Ed, if Lionel does an S scale Hudson I think I might go crazy! Seriously, I will buy 2 or 3, especially if they were in a unique set. How about one freight and one passenger set? Drooooooool.....

jonnyspeed,

 

Agreed!

 

Now that would be the way for Lionel to reintroduce an S scale Hudson to the line.

 

The Vision Line Hudson with all its great operational features can show the way for its new little brother.  Might take a while for them to do it given how much it would cost and depending on the reaction of the market to current Lionel S scale steamers, but it would be a watershed steam engine for ALL S scalers.

 

Better for the postwar Hudson tooling, if still existing, to have an honorable retirement.  It is sort of a 700 E in S, without the same level of accuracy. For example, the engine is a tad too wide for S scale, although there was a good reason for that.

 

Ed Boyle

YOU GUY'S CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR I WILL DO REPO BOXES IF WE DO POSTWAR VERSIONS. NOW IF WE DECIDE TO USE SOME OF THE NEW SCALE PRODUCT I WILL CARRY OVER SOME OF THE POSTWAR ERA TOUCHIE FEELIE STUFF.

I PROMISE YOU NOTHING LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE! NOW IF LIONEL WILL ALLOW US TO REPRODUCE A POST WAR SET EVEN THE BOXES WILL BEE RIGHT!

I REFUSE TO USE ALCO DIESELS.

I HAVE CONSIDERED A HUDSON, -0-8-0 AND A K-4

MODERN ERA AC-6000, SD-90, E-7'S- , SHARKS, JC BABY FACE, UP DD-35

Well, this is more helpful.

 

All new E-7, Sharknose, JC Baby Face ideas are all very interesting to me but these would require new tooling. Would Lionel-AF do this for you? Suggest a first generation diesel because most S folk have steam or transition era equipment and these would fit in more readily than the more modern locomotives. Would love to see BF-15 Sharks (other than the lovely but expensive scale brass River Raisin jobs) and DR-6-4-2000 JC Baby Faces in S!

 

The steam engines you mention (Hudson, 0-8-0, and K5) might be best if all new, scale detailed, and full-featured. There are plenty of Gilbert originals out there and I rather doubt the old tooling is up to being used without a lot of reconditioning. Lionel had to make new tools to produce the UP FEF Northerns a few years ago.

 

I'll give you one PA set that really should be redone -- the No. 20480 Santa Fe "Chief" freight set from 1958. This should include, however, the updated 6-wheel power trucks and TMCC/RS in the freight scheme PA-PB-PA. This is a magnificant big 8 car freight set with an operating Gilbert's milk car and bakeman BW caboose. And, Lionel has all of the tooling to produce this one, too. Done with the proper Gilbert 'feel' in terms of rolling stock decoration and packaging (but with updated PA's), this might sell well.

 

Further thoughts?

 

Bob Bubeck

A newer Legacy featured hi rail wheeled scale sized hudson with the PT style centipede tender with 3 heavyweights would do nicely. Speaking of an AF styled Hudson, there was one proposed to be offered which as I recall was even pictured in a catalog ( don't remember the year) which was not made due to either high price or lack of some key parts molds from Gilbert.

 

Rich

The very high pricing of the 1988 cataloged 6-48200 Wabash and 6-48201 AT&SF Hudsons relative to the then current prices for Gilbert Hudsons in LN or E condition 'killed' the project.

 

Bob Bubeck 

I would agree Bob! As much as I like steam powered passenger sets, I would enjoy seeing this one done as well.  I would say this is one of the top five postwar freight sets and would be a strong candidate for a reproduction if that is the direction Lou wants to go.

I suggest you make the two unit Seaboard Baldwin diesel switcher set Flyer offered in the late 50's.

Lou If it is post war s gauge then yes. I love the Santa fe alco idea. How about one of the 4-8-4 up sets, Lionel should be all tooled up for that because the have reissued them. Put a set of green Pullmans behind them with Lionel's new flyer heavyweights and I think you would have a winner. Ben

No

may i ask or get your opinion please

thanks

louie