Williams ad deceiving?

[Anonymous]

On the back page of the current CTT and in their sales brochures, they show a MoPac Alco FA2 with three cars. The loco and cars appear to be articulated, yet other cars shown have a wide gap between them. Am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

By "articulated" I asume you mean "close coupled." I haven't yet seen the CTT ad, but all of the ilustrations in the Williams brochure are artist renditions, where--as it was with the Lionel catalogs of old--some "artist license" is used in creating the deptctions (Lionel use to use a whole lot of artist license in creating those wonderful catalogs of the 40s and 50s--that's what inspired the dreams of so many young boys). The Williams trains are traditional-size O27 items, complete with the customary wider-than-prototype gaps between cars that are so common in O gauge as well as other scales. There's no overt attempt to be deceptive, since side views of the various items clearly show that these items would not and could not be close-coupled like the prototype, and those familiar with traditional-size O gauge trains of any brand are already aware of the limitations imposed with operating trains on far-less-than-prototypical curves.

But let's give credit where credit is due. At least they're advertising in the magazine, which is more than can be said for a couple of their significantly larger competitors. [;)]

[Blueberryhill RR]

QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by Allan Miller
But let's give credit where credit is due. At least they're advertising in the magazine, which is more than can be said for a couple of their significantly larger competitors.

Very well put, Alan
I agree 100 %. And Williams is selling a good product.
Chuck

[brianel027]

And certainly no more "deceptive" than other companies that have used HO models as illustrations for what they intented to produce. Which might be fine for O scale proportioned replicas (since that's what HO models are). But when you are using HO scale proportioned models to illustrate semi-scale reduced diesels, it gets a tad confusing. On one hand, at least there was an admission that HO models were used. On the other hand, when one really desires less-than-scale proportioned models it'd be nice to see what they will actually look like (to see if a good job was done on the re-proportioning) and to also have accurate dimensions of the actual model. Again, might not matter to some, but on a smaller 027 layout, this is important information that determined whether or not I decided to buy. And an engine that is listed as 2-5/8 high is about the height of a gondola! [:D]

[Anonymous]

Deceiving? I don't think so. If you look closely at the picture you can see all of the the trucks. They've used the same artists licence Lionel, American Flyer, and others have used for decades. I like the retro look of their ads a lot.

[Buckeye Riveter]

If I were to vote more the most deceiving ad, I would give the nod to the Lionel's Polar Express where the cars were drawn using a 6-wheeled truck. The actual cars in the set have 4-wheeled trucks.

Williams has always played it straight as far as I know.

[jefelectric]

Just got a Williams flyer in the mail today, has some good prices. I have some of their products, they run fine if you don't have to have all the latest electronics.

[Anonymous]

I've had nothing but good luck with Williams. That's about all I'll buy anymore. I don't need or want the electronic stuff.

[Anonymous]

I, too, am very satisfied with Williams trains. I have other brands with all the up-to-date electronics packed inside, and do like them, but when it comes to long-term reliability and value for the dollar, Williams remains a top choice for me.

[okiechoochoo]

I am working on getting the entire Williams Golden Memories F 3 collection. To collect all the postwar originals in conditions that looked that good would cost you thousands and thousands of dollars. Besides the Williams look just like them

[Anonymous]

In that ad the only photos of actual products were the 44 tonner, NW2,GP9-AA,Caboose,a single passenger car that stands for a 4 piece set, a hopper ,a tank car and a gondola. The illustrations fall into two camps the computer renderings and the painted illustrations. The computer rederings are the single GP9, the hudson, the GP& with 3 O-27 passenger cars and the FA2 AA's. The only painting is the FA2 3 car set.

Part of what contributes to the appearance of close coupled cars is the fact that the set is shown in 3/4 view which forshortens the appeance. It is the only item shown in this veiw that is coupled end to end with several others. The NW2,44 tonner,and the GP9AA are also in this orientation. The GP9 AA is shown each unit side by side instead of coupled together end to end. If they were shown together they would appear to be close coupled like the FA set does from this 3/4 angle as well. If one really wanted to complain about misleading advertsing in this ad the fact that the GP9 pair appears side by side may lead some to believe that both are powered ( I don't believe they are). Why else would they not be paired end to end.

I dont think this illustration was an attempt to mislead the public. The same cars in the FA set appear in computer rendered form right benith the picture. Likewise I would not expect a Lightsaber like beam to emit from the headlight of the FA set like in the picture.

These are long lasting symbols that we have learned to understand as stand ins for the truth. Yes they are not totally accurate but these are toys after all and unless you were one that believed that you would get exactly the thing in the drawing on the back of the comic book you shouldn't be too disappointed by the drawing on the back of the toy train magazine.

[Anonymous]

I was referring to the unitiated train person who would look at it differently than a regular "train" person who could spot the difference quickly. If you were new to the hobby you could be fooled by the ad.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that someone truly new to the hobby wouldn't even give a thought to the coupling distance between cars. If they really did care about such things, they would also notice the lack of diaphrams that connect between nearly all contemporary passenger cars, not to mention many other details. Folks new to the hobby generally just want a train set--often enough a colorful one, or one they can associate with in some way--and they don't sweat the small details. They might like a horn or whistle, and smoke if it's a steamer, but beyond that I don't think the average newbie cares about accuracy or even knows what is or isn't accurate.

[crip]

I read the product review in CCT for the Williams Alco FA set. Said they embossed the Williams name on the back of the A unit Sounds straight and honet to me.

[Blueberryhill RR]

I think the answer to this thread is " perspective " or " angle"

This picture was shot at an angle such as you described


This picture was shot at a 90 degree angle. See the difference?

Just an attempt to answer the question
Chuck