Darth Vader likes Marklin HO!
I thought I'd start a thread for silly, bizzarre, satirical, sublime and even maybe a bit macbre toy train related comedy. Things like Darth there having his own rr (probably so he can run over miniature rebels), or this:
1:48 scale rocket on a flatcar! Think it will fit through Lionel tunnels??? I may need 2 flatcars for the 1:48 scale Saturn V!
I thought we could also post photos of some of the more "unusual" items we may have. Here's one of mine:
A Three Mile Island commemorative car (35 years this Friday) is in my opinion one of those "dark horses" in my collection as-is. However I decided to make it even more unusual by adding props:
Those drums are a paper model available at paper-replika.com. The kit builds one four inch high drum but it's easy enough to miniaturize them. The "spillage" is a water based glow in the dark paint containing the rare earth element Europium I purchased through United Nuclear Laboratories (they make old style chemistry sets). I juiced up the paint with a blacklight for a couple of minutes and turned it off a few seconds before my camera snapped this photo. The paint dries clear and since it's water soluble and non toxic it shouldn't hurt the value of the car.
But that's beside the point! This shouldn't be a thread where we worry about such serious stuff! Here's one of 3 standard gauge cars I've had a bit of fun with:
Take a styrofoam block, cut it to length, spray paint it brown (yes spray, so the paint eats a bit of the foam), add glow paint and you've got yourself a uranium train! This is the 112 version but I also made them for the two 512 gons I own.
By the way, I keep a big chunk of lead ore in the 4 inch toxic waste drum model and dare people to look inside! It's fun to watch them freak out when they see an actual rock!
So, do you have a milkman you're fed up with? Maybe you could get creative and find some funny way to let him know how frustrated you are with his inconsistent delivery schedule!?! Or maybe you're tired of cows with a bad sense of balance? Anyhoo, keep it Looney Tunes and Peter Sellers funny or satirical, not Michael Moore preachy and political.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Becky, you had me in hysterics! When I saw the title "Dark side of Toy Trains" I was expecting Gomez Addams with his explosives and detonator box!
I think the only thing scarier than Lord Vader with his Maerklin's would have been Hermann Goering with HIS Maerklins!
By the way, that's a fine assortment of shootin' irons in the background, looks like an '03 Springfield on the top with and M-1 carbine on the bottom. Two of my favorites.
PS: The only thing missing is a "Firelock"
PPS: Like that side-hammer shotgun too. Is Elmer Fudd in the neighborhood?
really great stuff Becky as usual! Although, I too thought the title meant something else...actual issues within the hobby which actually I've been thinking a lot about recently. But great stuff, hope to see more of you in CTT.
Hey if anybody wants to Gomez on their Santa Fe F3's I'd love to see it!
Dad was the collector and firearms expert, I don't know much about them other than we have a BB gun version of the M-1 too.
I wonder if I'm the only toy train collector who has a life-size Darth Vader action figure???
Becky you are fabulous!
That 1:48 model of the Vostok is pretty impressive.
Once for Halloween long time ago and being 6'7" I dressed as Darth Vader with helmet costume etc. Great stuff Becky
Great job Becky, this is a long overdue thread. It's hard for some folks to realize these are just "toys". Thank you
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
If you are into Mayhem and Destruction, check out this link posted on the MRR forum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MUzA3RmeIM#t=187
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
I find your lack of faith dis-tur-bing.....showing us a photo like that!
Is that Darth Vader or a psychotic Easter egg?
Darth's minions will take care of that kitty lovin' interloper!
I just knew there had to be more than one Dark Lord of the Sith...
Well, there's always my Radioactive Gi-raffe Train... ;-)
Mitch
How about dropping off electronic parts for a radio telescope?
'Witness the power of this fully armed and operational battle station!'
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
I'm gonna' hav' tah' bounce over here more often. Gooder stuff over here.
Good show, Becky!
Frank
I enjoy Darth Tater. It brings a smile to my face.
Did someone mention Gomez?
I thought the 'dark side' of the hobby was when the power failed...
Have fun with your trains
A clockwork train makes as good a wreck as an electric one! If you use the right kind of explosives...
vsmith Did someone mention Gomez? I thought the 'dark side' of the hobby was when the power failed...
YEAH! THERE'S THE MAN! The REAL Gomez Addams!
With all due respect to Raul Julia, God rest his soul!
INTRODUCING THE PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II !!!!!!!!
Are you tired of those sticking track pins?
Fed up with bent and busted track?
WELL, FRET NO MORE!!!!
NOW YOU HAVE THE PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II!!!!
With your track securely nailed to your layout table, kitchen counter or whatever you have available that's securely secured and won't allow the rails to move, simply insert the end of the pin into the jaws of the PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II and start cranking! As your speed increases, friction will heat the rail causing it to expand farther and farther away from the pin until the pin slides out with ease! That's all there is to it!
ORDER YOURS TODAY!!!!!
Just call 1-800-dopey to order at 34 easy monthly installments of 29.95 plus postage and a modest $800 handling fee. Offer only valid in Lionelville. PIN PULLER INCOMPETENTATED is not responsible for fires or other personal or property danage caused by the use of this product. PIN PULLER 3000 MARK 2 is 50% more useless than our PIN PULLER 3000 MARK I.
Good One! Becky.
Penny Trains INTRODUCING THE PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II !!!!!!!! Are you tired of those sticking track pins? Fed up with bent and busted track? WELL, FRET NO MORE!!!! NOW YOU HAVE THE PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II!!!! With your track securely nailed to your layout table, kitchen counter or whatever you have available that's securely secured and won't allow the rails to move, simply insert the end of the pin into the jaws of the PIN PULLER 3000 MARK II and start cranking! As your speed increases, friction will heat the rail causing it to expand farther and farther away from the pin until the pin slides out with ease! That's all there is to it! ORDER YOURS TODAY!!!!! Just call 1-800-dopey to order at 34 easy monthly installments of 29.95 plus postage and a modest $800 handling fee. Offer only valid in Lionelville. PIN PULLER INCOMPETENTATED is not responsible for fires or other personal or property danage caused by the use of this product. PIN PULLER 3000 MARK 2 is 50% more useless than our PIN PULLER 3000 MARK I.
DISCLAIMER - Note that this device is Lionel type track compatible only.
I happen to have one in my toolbox. So I decided to try the technique on Flyer track, with it's flat pins. Let's just say that things got real ugly, real quick....
stebbycentral DISCLAIMER - Note that this device is Lionel type track compatible only. I happen to have one in my toolbox. So I decided to try the technique on Flyer track, with it's flat pins. Let's just say that things got real ugly, real quick....
I'll bet it mixes pancake batter real good, though!
I've got one of those! You can even drill holes with it! Amazing!
It definately has the "Fortress Firelock Seal of Approval"!
Actually a vid does exist wiith Darth creating havoc with Thomas the Tank Engine
Its under Captain Punjab and is called Thomas the Bachmann Engine The Railway Inspector
if it is still up its a two parter
Hey, just one more thing on Gomez:
It's John Astin's 84th birthday today! Happy birthday Big John!
Happy Birthday Big John!
It's not "three rail"...
it's DUAL GAUGE!
Uh, who's got the right-of-way?
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