"Separately Applied Detail Parts"

[tadowler]

The Lionel Hoods Milk Car I purchased off of eBay arrived today. My first reaction was that it looks nice, however it sure seems fragile with all those little pieces attached to it.

Are these cars as fragile as they look and does this keep you from buying them?

There is some nice detailed rolling stock on the market but if it isn't rugged, I think I will pass. [:p]

- Todd

[ChiefEagles]

Same witht he K-Line reefers. Fragile little ladders and etc.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I guess this is why they make super glue. [:D] Interestingly the molding technology has improved to a point that they can even make the very fine pieces. When the lights are dim and the layout is running I'm afraid I can't even see the fine details.

[Dr. John]

Unfortunately, they do not include a set of separately applied eyeballs to go with the separately applied detail parts!

[brianel027]

As for me, I really prefer the simple, more rugged details. A little extra painting can sure bring out some of those details, like the molded in grab rails on the K-Line retired S-2 or the AlcoFA.

Even on the box cars, I'd rather have molded on handrails and ladders in the same color as the car rather than black metal. The only nice thing about the added on ladders and roofwalks is that I can remove the roofwalk and cut the ladders down halfway to more represent how box cars really look today.

[ben10ben]

The detail on my one Atlas reefer constantly amazes me at how durable it is. I have yet to break a single detail part, and I've had some derailments and collisions. The closest was when I left too little clearance between curves and tore one of the little ladders under the door part of the way. Even then, though, I was able to snap it right back in place without glue and can't tell a difference.

My K-line scale caboose, though, is a different story. I've handled even more carefully than the Atlas, but still have a few broken railings that I can't even get to stay on with Superglue.

[3railguy]

I Own a good variety of Lionel's newly tooled freight cars, My feelings are their milk cars are probably the most fragile of the series. They could of invested in giving the cars more beef verses installing tanks. Overall they are nice cars.

[Roger Bielen]

We are the reason for all these fragile parts with our demands for more realistic, scale models. Luckily for those who still like to enjoy their trains without worry and let the kids join in there still are quite a bit of older style cars and engines that are more durable, and you can usually find reasonably price post war rolling stock on the internet.

We truely have the best of both worlds at this time, as long as you can afford it.

[FJ and G]

I've recently been breaking a number of tiny parts off some scale Weaver rolling stock. I'm a bit of a clumsy clutz; but Tom is right about the Super Glue.

For me price of the trains is what matters most. If more scale detail, all the better, but if it isn't there, heck, I can always fab some myself later on; and gives me a bit of a challenge.

But getting back to the detailed parts, yes, I've broken more than my share of them; and would prefer, believe it or not, a simpler die-cast over a fragile plastic car. I'm into heavy metal, so to speak.

[Anonymous]

So true, Roger! So very true!

Hobbyists are supposedly clamoring for "more prototypical detail," and the manufacturers are giving them what they want. Can't have it both ways--if you want all the detail, it's going to often enough be quite fragile. The O gauge manufacturers these days are darned if they do, and darned if they don't.