butch1 wrote: Went to Home Depot on Black Friday and bought a North Pole Express by Scientific Toys.They also had a Santa Fe Set, but all cars only have 4 wheels, so purists will resist them.
Went to Home Depot on Black Friday and bought a North Pole Express by Scientific Toys.
They also had a Santa Fe Set, but all cars only have 4 wheels, so purists will resist them.
You can change them relatively easy, I've done it. USA sells an archbar truck frame for less than $10 a pair, 4 wheel sets from Bachmann for $12, cut away the side frames and use the same mounting screws for the wheels. Its actually pretty easy but for about the same price, just buy Bachmanns 20' freight cars, they cost just about as much as the converted Scientific car and look a whole heckovalot better than the Scientifics, but the Sci's are a great source for kitbash parts
I'm still converting them mostly cause I happened on a cashe of G scale compatable trucks from a cheep chinese noname battery trains sets Big Lots was selling 2 Xmas's back, I cleaned them out for scrap parts and still have a couple trucks left.
Have fun with your trains
It's not about the money to me, it is the way there built on the inside.
Vic loves those cars to kitbash. When I kitbash a Bachmann or even a LGB item cost adds up but I get what I want in the end. But they are good for kitbashing.
Toad in da Swamp
It is more fun than the Polar Express, and it cost $24.95.
I returned the Lionel Polar Express to the store.
Why the cost difference? Both made with the same labor rate. The Scientific Toys set actually has animation in 2 cars, and is made up of many more component parts.
I recommend the North Pole Express for play value, since kids can load and unload the open Gondola and the Box car with opening doors.
FJ and G wrote: butch1 wrote: My dachshund hated the Polar Express so much that he grabbed the engine in his mouth, and set it off the tracks. I wish I had a photo of that! That would be priceless. I often dream about taking a polar express and running it off the track onto an ice covered pond (R/C of course) and then making it careen around like in the movie
butch1 wrote: My dachshund hated the Polar Express so much that he grabbed the engine in his mouth, and set it off the tracks. I wish I had a photo of that!
My dachshund hated the Polar Express so much that he grabbed the engine in his mouth, and set it off the tracks. I wish I had a photo of that!
That would be priceless. I often dream about taking a polar express and running it off the track onto an ice covered pond (R/C of course) and then making it careen around like in the movie
Make sure you post the video here that would be cool
butch1 wrote:My dachshund hated the Polar Express so much that he grabbed the engine in his mouth, and set it off the tracks. I wish I had a photo of that!
Sorry, no pictures. It went back in the box while I work on the Garage-sized O-scale Christmas Display.
Polar Express may end up under the tree, but is in competition with a Bachman set for that location.
It will probably eventually be my introduction to outdoor railroading.
How about some pictures? The only ones I have seen are the fuzzy ones in the ad. It looked like a piece of dodo considering how hyped up it is in the ad.
-Brian
My own Product Review: Disappointing Overall
Engine: probably the best part, except box shows a bright headlight and silver side-rods, neither of which are there. The coasting to a stop is a neat feature.
Tender: Battery compartment pieces were falling out as I tried to insert batteries.
Passenger cars: brakewheels molded in, no details to speak of. Box would have you believe the cars are illuminated, but the windows are not even openings in the plastic. There are bright yellow stickers put over the window areas: Poorly done, especially when you consider how cheap tooling is in China. The rear of the observation car is nicely done, however.
Track: Does not go together well, and will not stay together.
Sound: great sound, but no volume control. When engine is running, the noise of the engine and gears is as loud as the sound effects.
I'll probably keep it, but they could have done such a better job! Especially with the idea of selling at new stores and getting new customers.
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month