Life-like

[Anonymous]

Does anybody use Life-Like trains (not the Proto Series)?

[Anonymous]

I've got several Life-Like locos, and I like them. They run fairly well, seem to be fairly durable, and you can't beat the price!

[Anonymous]

I have some amtrak and other roads in Life-Like but i don't like the noise they make.

[Anonymous]

I have a cople of Geeps that I have gutted( they still light up) for dummies. I have added detailing to them though. [;)]

[bluepuma]

In N scale I've bought quite a few LL locos. Was lucky to have bought a GP38 when I first started back in N scale after 30 years. A big difference from the noisy FA2 Arnold or the Atlas 4-6-2 Santa Fe that came with the train set, neither of which had any slow speed. I like some of my LL locos very much, quiet, smooth. Some locos were only $20 instead of $35-45, thus I have 3 GP38 in ATSF, CSX, Conrail, double head/triple head, a set of two F40PH, two older "F7A" SP units from LHS that are FA2 length, nice runners, quiet, smooth, my favorites are SP Daylight PA/PB, got two sets from N scale supply for around $60 ea, run nice, and another UP PA/PB set, a B&O E6A/B set, SP E7A/B, and three SD7/9 locos in SP and UP, two SW9/1200, RI and ATSF. Also have a FA1/FB1 in UP, and FA2/FB2 in NYC. Some are excellent. I like my Kato locos, but the LL were good buys, the SD7/9 seems much better than the Atlas GP9TT. Most of the B units are dummy, but not a bad deal, except that the dummy wheels/axles float and can easily pick a switch, esp. with the Kato track.

I forgot my GP18 in RI. My first high nose GP! $20. About like GP38.

If in N scale, the FA1/FB1 and FA2/FB2 are good buys, PA/PB and SD7/9 - even bought a LL train set to get one SD7/9. It was about the same cost as the loco
separately from another source. About $55. Gave me a nice running loop.

If I was doing HO instead of N, would still try LL - good value.

[Anonymous]

I've had a LL loco. They're nice, but noisey.

[Anonymous]

I had many when I was younger. I haven't had any since before I was a teen. If I was given one, I would give it away.

I don't run any life like cars either....but they were great for practice painting and weathering projects. Learned a lot.

Warren

[Anonymous]

It's good to hear that I'm not the only person to buy the LL stuff.

[ShaunCN]

The life like cars are okay but usually require more weight added so they do not derail. other than that I have been ver happy with my life like cars. I have yet to buy a life like loco. The one at my local hobby shop was selling for $70. The proto 2000 ws selling for $218. Too expensive for me.

ShaunCN

[Anonymous]

I've got a fair amount of Life-Lke stuff. They may not be the quality of many of the manufacturers out there, but I still like them.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Cmdr. Antilles

I'm assuming that you are in HO scale.

I've had LifeLIke units before. They look decent but please be aware that many modelers no longer purchase the old LifeLike line because:

[1] Locomotive Body: The paint jobs are too thick & glossy. Body lacks detail.
[2] Motors / Truck gears: "Usually" noisy. Draw higher than average current. While they may last years, the quality is not very high. For low speed running operation (switching cars) they may start "jerking" and stalling at 5 to 10 scale mph.
[3] Freight cars: Paint often too shiny, too light in weight, inaccurate colors, trucks look unrealistic.

Don't take this negatively. These are the basic reasons me and many modelers that desire to have models that look similar to the protoypes and run smoothly at very low speeds have "switched" away from Tyco, LL, and the old Bachmann line. If you like LL, by all means stick with it! They can be modified like anything else.

One point: If price is an issue, consider buying the regular Athearn engines. They're usually cheaper than comparable LL engines but are far better in quality. They run much smoother, draw less current, run quieter, and are easier to maintain. Paint jobs are very accurate. Athearn freight cars are reasonably priced, come with weights, and look much more realistic. Athearns are very easy to modify. I always buy and install the Proto (LL) metal wheelsets on my freight and Pass. cars. Keeps the track clean while the cars roll even better.

Just explore for yourself. Talk with other modelers and go to "swap meets" or train shows whenever you have the opportunity. Keep us all updated and continue to share your views & ideas!

happy new year and God Bless!

[Anonymous]

I bought some LL rolling stock. [banghead]
They make good targets for learning how to shoot my new airbrush. I'll not buy another LL product... don't need anymore targets [:D]

[juanc_707]

Im from argentina and i have 2 locos from life like .. and some rollin stock of tjis firm.. are really cute but the noise isn´t good . some photos from my collection ..

 my locos

 life like F7 santa fe schemme

 life like gp38-2 long hood conrail schemme

[Boiler-man]

I model in N-scale and only have one LL diesel A unit powered and a B unit came with it but non-powered, it is an older one with the plastic frame, got it for $20.00 new at a show in Portland, OR years ago, can not remember what model it is, however it ran good, has lead block type weights and pulled like no tomorrow, was quiet and had good slow speed so I installed a decoder in it and it still runs fine.

[Mr. SP]

Life Like wasn't very life like and was considered junk by us serious model railroaders.

Same for Bachmann their line was also considered as junk.

The P2K models (now Walthers) was a excellent line of models. Bachmann's Spectrum line is a big improvement but is still not as good as P2K.

[luvadj]

 I'm still running some LL plastic framed locos....mind you, the quality wasn't the greatest and they don't have the best slow speed or pulling capibilities, but the price was right on them and the ones I've purchased have been pretty good runners. The girls always go for them first when they want to run trains.

BTW, they're N-Scale, which suprises many of my friends modeling HO.

[Packers#1]

 If we're talking the palstic frame/wires/spring driveshafts, I'vce had some in the past, great loco for about $20

[caldreamer]

No one mentioned the Life Like N scale GP20's.  Smooth, quiet runners and I believe the last Life like prior to selling out to Walthers.  The only compalint is they are not DCC ready, but none of the Life like engines were.  I would rate this engine  a solid B+. 

[SteamFreak]

 Wow, this topic is so old it needs mold testing.

The only LL cheapies I've owned came from a friend who moved about 15 years ago, and gave me all of his model train supplies. There was an F40PH in Amtrak, and two Cheesie GP40-2's whose entire shells glowed like jack-o-lanterns from the headlight bulb. I didn't really want them, so I ran them at a train exhibit. They were probably the quietest of the pancake drives, but none of them lasted very long. The motors finally smoked, and the armatures read open when I tested them with a VOM. They now reside in that great HO scrapyard in the sky.

[emdgp92]

I only have a few LL engines, and they're both N scale--an SW-something, and an E7A. They run pretty well, but aren't on the same level as my Kato and Atlas engines. LL drives, IMHO, don't seem as smooth. In HO scale, I don't have any LL stuff. After my first foray into the wonderful world of Athearn, I turned my back on the "train set" market. Well that, and I got tired of replacing various parts on my Bachmann F units. Ended up retiring both of them.Oddly enough, the freebie F's I have now, were fitted with Tyco RF16 shells, yet still run great. What's up with that?

[cudaken]

 I started with Life Less, I mean like and it was a start. Mine did not last very long. I still have around 10 of them, some of them may still even run. I was thinking about them today, might be time to make some dummies out of them.

 Far as the Life Like and cheap Tyco and Bachmann rolling stock? I learned a lot from them! Taught me how to make junk track and roll like the good stuff!  I have 55 or so that still get used and around 15 more to be worked.

 Cuda Ken

[chugchug]

Yes they are noisy

[Anonymous]

I have none of the *old* Lifelike stuff running, either locomotives or cars. I have some heavily kitbashed work car equipment that may have some Lifelike components, but nothing stock.

Their Proto 2000 series is different. My entire active roster is P2K (before Walthers bought them), with a GP7, two GP18s, and a GP30 as stand-in power until I get my last GP18.

[BRAKIE]

MR.SP.Wrote:Same for Bachmann their line was also considered as junk.

----------------------

At one time I would have agreed with that assessment.

However..

 I seen some Bachman Spectrum locomotives run for hours at the club.

So,now I'm not so cotten pickin' sure if'n they are as bad as many says.

 

 

Back to Life Like..Indeed LL was considered inferior until they release their P2K line of locomotives and cars...Everybody and I mean everybody sung praises to LL for such detailed locomotives..

[Donstaff]

Hi, I am looking for replacement springs used to joionn the motor to the truck on Life-Like n scale. GP18 and others. Do you have 1 or more for sale? [email address removed by moderator.  Please contact via PM.]

[luvadj]

I'm still running my Erie A/B units and still lovin' them.....

[Shock Control]

Among the many cheap, glossy plastic freight cars Life-Like made, every once in a while you would find one in flat colors that looked OK alongside Athearns and Mantuas.

The engines I had only ran fast. If I tried to run them slowly they would jerk and sputter. 

[Darth Santa Fe]

Donstaff

Hi, I am looking for replacement springs used to joionn the motor to the truck on Life-Like n scale. GP18 and others. Do you have 1 or more for sale? [email address removed by moderator.  Please contact via PM.]

 

I'd check with Walthers.  They own all the Life-Like tooling now, so they might have what you need.

[SeeYou190]

Donstaff

Hi, I am looking for replacement springs used to joionn the motor to the truck on Life-Like n scale. GP18

.

I fixed one, I believe it was my BL-2, with small silicon tubing intended for fuel line in R/C aircraft.

.

-Kevin

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[doctorwayne]

The only LifeLike locomotives I had were a pair of RS-11s, bought really cheap from  Hobbies For Men.  After placing them on the layout, and seeing them run...well, sorta run, sometimes, I set them aside in my workshop.  I later got a couple of Atlas RS-11s, with predictably better results.

That prompted me to haul the LifeLike units out of storage, removing the truck-mounted motors.  I then replaced the heavy cast-on handrails and added a few details and paint to match the Atlas units...

In the photo below, the first unit is a LifeLike dummy, followed by two Atlas units and the other Lifelike, out of the picture, following...

The locos were later sold as powered/dummy pairs, along with this Atlas S-4...

Wayne