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Product review in Feb 07 issue

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Posted by Ray Dunakin on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:20 PM
I agree that the scale an item is _supposed_ to be should be published by the manufacturer. It may not matter to me if the scale is a bit different from what I normally run, and it may not matter if the car or loco has been "selectively compressed" a little. But unless I know what the scale IS, I can't make an informed decision to buy or not to buy.

The fact that a manufacturer refuses to publish the scale of their products does not mean they don't care about scale. It means they are afraid of the people who DO care. If the "vast majority" of their customers were not sticklers for scale, the company would lose nothing by publishing the scale of their products.

 Visit www.raydunakin.com to see pics of the rugged and rocky In-ko-pah Railroad!
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Posted by Marty Cozad on Saturday, January 20, 2007 10:48 PM

MAN,,,Is this scale issue still going on????? Whos the door knob that started this thread any way/????

 Bottom line, buy what you want and make it work for your needs.

If I can't figure out the scale it will hinder me buying it sight unseen.  See shopping on line more we need more info. A photo won't cut it. Some times I will pay more and travel to a show or hobby shop to see it first hand and if it will work. 

Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?

Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:07 PM
 Curmudgeon wrote:

Why do you think folks buy other than LGB?

 

 

Its less expensive, much much less expensiveWink [;)]

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Thursday, January 18, 2007 10:46 PM

I am not sure where you have been hiding out for 50 years, but COMPLAIN about Lionel, AF and MARX was all the "scalies" ever DID.

 nmra looked down their noses at them until someone pointed out if they formed a "sig" for it, they could get more dues!

 

Why do you think MARX is gone?
Why do you think Lionel now does scale stuff?

This is the SAME argument, 50 years later.

Some wag in the late 40's, I think, said Lionel was 1:52, as that was the average of the errors in scale.

 The scale crowd went off towards 2-rail "0", Half Zero, craftsman "S", anything but the rubber gauge.

Why do you think folks buy other than LGB?

 

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Posted by dwbeckett on Thursday, January 18, 2007 8:09 PM
Wow what can I say, selective compreshion has been around since day one, no one ever complained about MARX, LIONEL, or AMERCAN FLYER so why the big flap about LGB. If it works for you then buy it. It dosn't work for me so I don't buy it. But the LGB Porters are cute.

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 18, 2007 3:17 PM

 FJ and G wrote:

........................................... 

LGB knows this and their business model is sound. That it isn't to scale and isn't labeled as such isn't really a company concern.

Some toy train companies like Lionel and MTH do this all the time.

Hello,

If a company's debts for the previous year are almost as high as the total turnover for that year - more or less 20 million Euro - because the turnover decreased by approx. 33% then the business model may not be all that sound. Of course it is a matter of interpretation, but sound business models very seldom end up in insolvency court.

 

Best regards

 

ER 

 

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Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, January 18, 2007 2:07 PM

I've thought this over and I've concluded that LGB does exactly like some toy train (3-rail) companies.

They purposely build their equipment so that it can take minimum curves. MOST operators would rather have stuff that can go around their curves and aren't as concerned with scale (or perhaps they might be if the ads stated it is a toy and not scale).

unlike the many "scale" adherents on this forum, your average garden railroader sets up a loop of track on the living room floor or on the grass in the yard, and runs the trains as fast as they will go.

LGB knows this and their business model is sound. That it isn't to scale and isn't labeled as such isn't really a company concern.

Some toy train companies like Lionel and MTH do this all the time.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 14, 2007 6:47 PM

 

You are probably right Curmy but i have read many times that the Richter brothers invented 22.5 - 1 back in the sixties and i can only go by what i read. I also have no doubts LGB bend the rules to suit themselves, i guess they all do.

I really don't care that much about scale as long as it looks reasonable.

Rgds Ian

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Saturday, January 13, 2007 8:00 PM

You can't really invent a scale.

They used marlin's #1 gauge track, and meter gauge trains, and that's what it is.

However, they are not, and I say again for possible penetration, NOT "sticklers for detail".

Find out what the "scale" is of their F-7's.

You'll come up with at least 3 different ones, none of which are 22.5.

 

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 13, 2007 7:11 PM

I have always understood that LGB invented 22.5:1 and everything they did was this scale!

Rgds Ian

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Posted by kstrong on Saturday, January 13, 2007 5:23 PM

Actually, those aren't the 1:20 Bachmann hoppers, they're the much older 3-bay hoppers from their 1:22.5 line. When compared to the prototype for those hoppers, they're closer to 1:24 in height, 1:22 for width, and 1:20 for length.

Later,

K

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Posted by DMUinCT on Saturday, January 13, 2007 2:39 PM
For what it's worth, the photo at the bottom of my replies: Dash-8 (1/32nd MTH) RS3 (1/29th  AristoCraft) Hopper cars (1/20th Bachmann).

Don U. TCA 73-5735

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Saturday, January 13, 2007 12:42 PM

Plus, if you do start mentioning scale, or even complain that it ISN'T to any particular scale (or one magazine "believes" the hype and calls it one scale without bothering to check anything, while another magazine does measure it and calls it what it is), you might as well give up on staying around once the lynch mob comes after you for daring to tell the truth.

 Maybe the new owners will get it sorted, but I don't think so, so don't hold your breath.

They are and always have been a toy company, which is not a criticizm at all, it's just that if you know and accept that, the scale issue become moot.

Now, if Bachmann put out a propeller-driven vehicle in the 1:20 line, we'd have a real problem.

Or, if Aristo came out with something with the leftover ends of observation cars on a power brick.

But, ya know, Chicken Dance Cars are the wave of the future!

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Posted by kstrong on Saturday, January 13, 2007 10:52 AM
 DMUinCT wrote:
... Is it a problem to phone, E-Mail, check with the German Railways (or any other Railroad), or look up in books the Length of the Prototype Coach or Locomotive.  Then measure the LGB or Piko Model and do the math.


No, it's not--and many of us who review LGB's products do just that. At issue is LGB's insistence on not specifying a scale when most other manufacturers do so. As reviewers, it should be our job to compare a model to published drawings to see how it measures up to the specified scale, not to figure out which scale it is in the first place. I think they owe it to the consumer.

Personally, I keep having this vision of the LGB product design conference room with a plexiglass "Maximum size" gauge like what's on carry-on baggage scanners. On one side, a sign reading "Wenn es nicht paßt, es schrumpfen." On the other, "Wenn es zu klein ist, es grösser bilden."*

*"If it doesn't fit, shrink it; If it's too small, make it bigger."

It will be interesting to see if the new owners bring a slight change of philosophy in that--or any--regard.

Later,

K
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Posted by DMUinCT on Saturday, January 13, 2007 9:25 AM

Product review after product review, "No Scale Designated".

 Is it a problem to phone, E-Mail, check with the German Railways (or any other Railroad), or look up in books the Length of the Prototype Coach or Locomotive.  Then measure the LGB or Piko Model and do the math.

Don U. TCA 73-5735

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Posted by Marty Cozad on Friday, January 12, 2007 4:29 PM

No really, for the past year I've been looking for a different , cool looking coach that can have my colors on it and look like the rich owner of a RR traveling around his right of ways.

Something that stands out.

Besides, I don't have any German looking items .

Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?

Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.

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Posted by gtrainman1 on Friday, January 12, 2007 3:30 PM

Hi Marty Smile [:)]

<><> A German Coach would look nice behind one of your dash 9's ..Wink [;)]<><>
 
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Posted by FJ and G on Friday, January 12, 2007 2:45 PM

I'm thinking that it's likely semi-scale (meaning parts might be selectively compressed). Advertising the fact would not help in sales.

Another case of let the buyer beware.

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Posted by Marty Cozad on Friday, January 12, 2007 1:28 PM
Woow, got some fast off line responces. I thought it would be a good topic to chat about.

Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?

Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.

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Product review in Feb 07 issue
Posted by Marty Cozad on Friday, January 12, 2007 12:38 PM

I was reading the one on LGBs standard German Coach.

 Very nice looking car but what scale????

I'm so glad that it was pointed out that it would be NICE if LGB would scale out their cars.

Someone someplace in the design process must have seen the prints or used a ruler to figure some measurements .

 

Please LGB give us some kind of idea in print? Why is it such a sercet?????

I love their modern cars. 

 PS , I thoughgt about a private car for my own RR logo and if it was NOT for the product review giving measurements I may not have even thought about this car. 

Is it REAL? or Just 1:29 scale?

Long live Outdoor Model Railroading.

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