k-line vol 2 superstreets additions

[brianel027]

I said recently here, and have been saying for years that the companies are wasting money doing 2 large excessive catalogs each year, even though it has now become expected by the average train buyer.

Doing one large complete catalog and then later in the year doing a second smaller catalog that focuses on items that would appeal to newcomers strikes me as a better approach. Besides, it is the fall season when most novices might have the idea of purchasing a train set. It would make sense to not overwhelm these potential customers with a load of products chances are they cannot afford and to put the emphasis on the kinds of products that beginners would be interested in.

K-Line has always made a respectable line of trains that have always been for the most part, reasonable priced. K-Line's troubles seemed to begin when they started going after the upscale hobbiest, and thought could apply to others. Most of us modelers don't consider the expense of new product development and tooling when demanding new products every year. Using components from one locomotive for the next new locomotive isn't as acceptable as it once was if the result is not prototypical. The problems for K-Line culminated with the "theft" of engineering information from Lionel and then somehow re-inntrepreting the entire original legal settlement with Lionel.

All that aside, K-Line's Superstreets is more along the lines of the kind of product introductions they did years ago. Superstreets may not appeal much to the prototypical scale modeler, but it's easy to see the appeal they could have with many other 3-rail enthusiasts. There is more of an element of play, fun and action to Superstreets than true prototypical train operation. I think this is one of the better more universally appealing products K-Line has introduced in years. Anyone with young kids in the family knows that moving automobiles on the layout has as much excitement and appeal as do the moving trains.

[Bob Keller]

I might be wrong, but I don't recall much hullabaloo with people being especially mad at K-Line over their new catalog, lawsuits, or anything else on this forum.

The Super Streets is pretty nifty - a smart enough idea that it is my lead review in the December issue.

[laz 57]

Saw it running at YORK over the weekend and it and looked GREAT.
Should add something to your layout. No problems with it.
laz57

[Anonymous]

It seems that although several people on this forum and others seem upset at K-line these days for whatever reason. The last few things I've purchased were made by (or more accurately for) them and I've been quite happy. I really like the Plymouth and the new (a bit oversized) Porter.

The second volume of thier catalog came out and was very small for various reasons and amid all of the grief about what was not in it, it seems not much atention was made to what was. The Superstreets track is great for trolley or street trackage. I don't care much one way or the other about the trucks they make for it. I already have several packs of track. What is out now seems in somewhat limited release but I am very happy with it.

The new catalog / flyer adds greatly to thier offerings with left and right turnouts and wider radius curves that could fit outside of the existing curves. These greatly increase the layout possibilities for this track.

I hope the company can make it through this rough time because I do like this product and would like to see more of it.