Hi, I recently found a Greenberg Reprint of the Lionel Wartime Paper Train Set for $20, I was wondering how valuable or rare the reprint is before I try to build it, I originally bought it to build up for a shelf display, but I have since realized the reprint is about 30 years old, I might consider making color copies for building if it is a hard to get item.
I could only find a few photos and one article on Google about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Wartime_Freight_Train
Does anyone have a copy of the article in the July 1994 Classic Toy Trains about it? I'm having a hard time finding a cheap back issue.
Has anyone here tried to actually build this reprint, are there any areas that need attention to correct the original Lionel mistakes? I plan on using some sharpened brass tubes and a block of wood & hammer to die cut the round wheels out. I also plan on gluing the parts together.
I had even thought of adding a balsa wood inner structure with a model airplane style rubber band motor, or even a old prewar Lionel wind up motor to see if I could get it to run on some o gauge track.
I know It would need some brass bushings on the paper truck axle holes, I thought it would be fun to try something a kid or model maker during the war might have tried.
-Jason
Definitely make a copy of the reprint, as it will become as scarce as the original. Here is a nice page of the assembled set. Looks like it may be an advertising poster.
Larry
The original was supposed to be an absolute bear to assemble, I'm not sure I'd want to try.
I definitely agree with TrainLarry, if you want to try assembling the thing have a copy made and try it with the copy. Any print shop, FedEx-Kinkos, or UPS store should have a color copier on hand and make one for you.
Here's mine:
I bought generic wood wheels for the trucks and wood discs for the drivers at a craft store. To get an interior structure you would have to build it first and then take it apart to get the measurements you need. Speaking of building, it's best to glue everything since the tabs and slots aren't really strong enough to hold on their own.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Holy smoke, Becky you put one together and made a superb job of it! Why am not surprised?
You must have scratched the word "impossible" out of your home dictionary a long time ago!
Thanks for all the replys, I figured I would make a copy to build ,
I work in a sign shop so I can reprint it direct to card stock if needed, It might take a few practice builds to find the errors in the design, I could then fix them and print a better version.
I always assumed the original was made of heavy paper or thin cardboard, its hard to tell from your photos how thick the card stock is. I have never seen an original anyone know the original card stock thickness?
Becky is your model an original, Greenberg reprint, or home printed copy? Looks very good!
Last night I had thought of taking some original "fixer upper" tin prewar cars with bad paint or rust and re lettering them in a paint job to match the cars in the paper set....I really like the yellow & brown markings on that box car a lot....maybee someday I will get to create a one of a kind "what if" war time train set, I Might even try to use '47-'48 coil couplers on prewar trucks.
It's a Greenberg, like yours.
Ron Hollander's All Aboard! The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen & His Lionel Train Company says "The set was actually produced by the 'premium king' Samuel Gold, who made prizes for candy manufacturers." I've always heard the originals described as "like cereal box cardboard". However cereal boxes have changed a bit through the years so that could mean almost anything. When I design a model or download and print models to build I prefer to use 65 pound cardstock. It's strong, but bends, scores and glues easily. I use Aileen's Tacky Glue btw, better than Elmer's. The Greenberg model is made of a thicker stock which had a tendancy to "feather" a bit where it was bent (just like modern cereal box cardboard does). You can see it in the side view, look at the edge of the running board.
I don't remember there being any design errors, but the slots that were die cut on the wartime originals can be a bit hard to see on the repros. Most were shaped like this: \__/ Have A LOT of extra blades on hand, this kind of stock eats them faster than you can imagine. If there's anything else I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask! I think I built it in 2006 but I had it for years before I finally felt confident enough to not mess it up!
Back in the 80s I saw part of a huge Lionel collection owned by a large Lionel dealer. He had a new in the box original Lionel cardstock train as you are talking about. It had never been assembled or even separated or bent to start assembly. Another treasure of his was a new in the box "build a loco". I'm sure I only saw about 1/3 of his unique collection.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
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