What does everyone have against lifelike?

[emdgp92]

I have a pair of HO scale LL engines (well, P2K really) and they run great. Both (a GP7 and an E8) weren't all that expensive, considering that Kato and Atlas were *much* more than the $50-60 I paid for them.

When LL came out with their BL2 all those years ago, and I noticed the massive price increase, my reaction was "are you *bleeping* kidding me?" Up until then, they were well-known for selling inexpensive engines and somewhat-crude structure kits. In fact, I still had that bias until I got the previously-mentioned engines. Changed my thinking overnight :)

That's not to say that LL stuff doesn't have its uses. Many times, after the cars are repainted, fitted with metal wheels/Kadees, etc. they actually work very well. They're also great for trying out new techniques or materials. Why screw up a prized creation?

[Tjsingle]

   Life Like Proto series are great, but the normal cheap line, is poorly put together, one motor for most locomotive and the paint sometimes fades.

[SteamFreak]

Old threads never die...

[wjstix]

I think the point really is, why spend $30 on a Life-Like toy-grade engine that in a few years you're going to embarassed by, when for not much more you could pick up a decent engine from say Atlas Trainman, that you'll be running someday for your grandkids??

[Don Gibson]

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR "EVERYONE", but their 'Entry' into the market were 'Proto 2000 'GP'-20 /GP-30 engines.

They copied Athearn's BB chassis - using a better motor, directional diode lighting, more detail, better paint, and 'non horn-hook plastic 'knuckle' couplers.

 - MAYBE you should ask Athearn?

Those of us with minor skills, replaced the couplers with Kadees, and axle gears with better plastic.

[rayw46]

This is a rather strange thread; why does everyone hate Lifelike?  It's like the old joke, "This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, 'Doc, everybody hates me.' the Doctor says, 'Don't be silly, you haven't met everyone yet.'"  I haven't, and have no intention, of reading 5 pages of complaints and some compliments by a very small percentage of the model railroad buying public because personally, I've never met a Lifelike I didn't like...life.  Whatever.

Ray

...and is why this post died 2 years ago, but was "re-born" by someone yesterday reading really old posts.

That's what I get for not reading dates and all the posts (which I seldom do with these multi-page monsters where all the answers are going to be, for the most part, the same).  Check out the first post at the top of the page and the quilty party shall be revealed.  Wait a minute, I'm posting too; I guess we're all guilty on this page.

Ray

[Geared Steam]

This is a rather strange thread; why does everyone hate Lifelike?  It's like the old joke, "This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, 'Doc, everybody hates me.' the Doctor says, 'Don't be silly, you haven't met everyone yet.'"  I haven't, and have no intention, of reading 5 pages of complaints and some compliments by a very small percentage of the model railroad buying public because personally, I've never met a Lifelike I didn't like...life.  Whatever.

Ray

...and is why this post died 2 years ago, but was "re-born" by someone yesterday reading really old posts.

[rayw46]

This is a rather strange thread; why does everyone hate Lifelike?  It's like the old joke, "This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, 'Doc, everybody hates me.' the Doctor says, 'Don't be silly, you haven't met everyone yet.'"  I haven't, and have no intention, of reading 5 pages of complaints and some compliments by a very small percentage of the model railroad buying public because personally, I've never met a Lifelike I didn't like...life.  Whatever.

Ray

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The Life-Like trainset stuff, compared to what's available in other affordably priced lines, is pure-dee junk. Many other companies got smart and got away from single power trucks and pancake motors.

[dr.bones]

Well my first train set is an lifelike set and it still runs after 30 years the only thing that I have modified are the couplers and metallic wheels, and the transformer i still use to check on  any locomotive thats in my blacksmith shop, so i can't complain about lifelike my F7 CN zebra stripe scheme, and it's right beside my  second trainset a bachmann with  an old 0-6-0 CP engine,  from there i have moved  up on the food chain and have bought athearn, Bowser, Atlas and some Mantua.

It got me back into the hobby.

They help me relax.

Sooo..... remember your supposed to have fun and relax with this hobby

[Autobus Prime]

Seriously, LifeLike used to be one of those bi-polar companies.  They produced low-end stuff that really wasn't very good, but also the Proto line that was excellent.  Walthers has continued the Protos, and, to my knowledge, has let the junk disappear.

MB:

Walthers is still making the trainset line.  I think they may be discontinuing the single-packed cars in that line.  I suspect this stuff sells in a lot higher volume than the better-grade merchandise does.

The pancake-truck locos, to be fair, do run if you keep the wheels clean.  They're waaay above the Tyco Powertruck drive which used roughly the same principle and was aimed at the same market.  They also, in my experience, run a lot better than Bachmann's very similar drive.  They're fast, and noisy, but they do run.  I have an old F which I pull track-cleaning cars with.

I'm using mostly LL trainset cars at present, and I have 2 LL brass Atlas-clone switches.  These switches are probably the best Snap-Switch clones I have used; they work about the same as the Atlas ones, though the ride may be slightly rougher.  They are very old, so some of this roughness may be due to age.   The cars are what they are, but they're usable; my biggest problems with them are the light weight, truck-mounted couplers, and high axle friction, in that order.  The weight is by far the biggest problem, but that's easily fixed with a handful of pennies and some glue, and the other problems aren't so hard to fix, either.

I wouldn't have bought these cars new, but at trainshow prices of up to $2 each, they were worth it.

 

[NSlover92]

I have to say i would take a L-L trainset model over my athearns i have had, I tell you I dont like L-L trainset but Athearns do nothing but take craps for me, I feel for you though i started out with a bachmann, But i tell you save your money and buy a good P2K, BLI, PCM, or atlas and you will love it, but dont go with athearn, but i feel for ya. Mike

[dale8chevyss]

I like the idea of an affordable way of getting the younger generation in the hobby and I myself have started with Life Like.  Once you start getting some Athearn/Roundhouse/etc products you will discover how wonderful Life Like products really are. 

[Anonymous]

Ahh.... Just so everyone knows, as of before the first post on this page, all the previous posts are from 2006. DNFTT!

[MisterBeasley]

Let's see - LifeLike started the Proto line.  I've got 2 Proto GP-9's, and a Proto RSC-3.  I've got a set of Proto subway trains.  Then, Walthers bought LifeLike, and continued the Proto line.  I've got a Proto 0-6-0, and another set of Proto subway trains.

So, what was the original question?  "What does everyone have against LifeLike?"  Gee, I dunno.  Maybe they don't like good stuff for a reasonable price?

Seriously, LifeLike used to be one of those bi-polar companies.  They produced low-end stuff that really wasn't very good, but also the Proto line that was excellent.  Walthers has continued the Protos, and, to my knowledge, has let the junk disappear.

[Bapou]

avoid L-L turnouts too i bought a couple and they are crappy -one of them something broke and it doesn't change posisiton anymore, alexander13 -at www.trainworld.com they have a life-like PROTO 2000 (high-quality) alco pa for $29.99 that's what you'd pay for a "train-set" engine. there are deals on quality stuff- you just have to look

2 Things

1 He is in austrailia it says, so shipping is 24.95 minimum from Trainworld.

2 Original post 2 years ago. 

[Packer]

Life-like buildings are better.

As for the screw, I perfer them with, since I can adjust them to tweak the cars performance.

The newer bachmann engines that are around 30 bucks are alright; it was an F9 that got me seriosuly into the the hobby. Now I hav SD9s GP9s and GP30s, all P2K, all had for under $50 a pop.

[okonite]

the reason everyone hates LifeLike is that the weights in the cars are inferior to those of bachmann(and cause the cars to derail) but that's a bad reason, because, to their credit, the trucks on LifeLike cars are better(no stupid screws), their details on the cars are better, AND LIFELIKE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO BETTER THAN BACHMANN'S

[Darth Santa Fe]

I don't have anything against the cheaper LL engines. My first HO engine was in a LL train set I got at a garage sale for $5. It's a GP38 in the SF Warbonnet. I now have a lot of Spectrum and some other high quality engines, but I still use that old GP38 once in a while. It runs pretty well for $5, and I'm not about to get rid of it.[:D]

[ICRR1964]

Yes alexander thats what LHS means, Good luck to you on your start in MR, it will be fun and enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dinwitty
local LHS

A Local local hobby shop?
just thought i would point this out.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to all who have helped me out.

[Wdlgln005]

LL in Nscale has been very good the past 5-10 years. They have improved their quality tremendously. They could have been the 3rd best mfr, right behind Atlas and Kato. From the GP20, BL2, SW's, Alco FA1/FA2's, Erie builts, Cliners, they have some excellent locos. I'm looking forward to their new PA's and DL109's. Mising from the Nscale lineup is any passenger cars. They only have a few freight cars, but their NE style caboose was great. New paint scemes on some of the box cars & hoppers. THeir super cheap Industrial freight cars were perfect for repainting projects. They had a nice line of plastic kits.
LL has had some problem with their Nscale steamers. At least they look right. What they need is a way to use traction tires on some steamer drivers for better traction & TE.

I hope the purchase of LL by Walthers dosen't put an end to this development. Walthers seems to be replacing ConCor in the vaporware department. They keep ignoring the Nscale market at their peril. Athearn seems to have done a better job at renewing the MDC line, with improved trucks/couplers and new paint schemes. I'm waiting for the Athearn/MDC Mogul to go to work on my line. THe Athearn/MDC Consolidation may be the best Nscale steamer on the market!

[jacon12]

I only own six locomotives, three LifeLike Proto 2000s, two Broadway Limited and one Kato. While all are good engines, (I'm not the fond of the BLI diesel I have), the P2K models are the best detailed and the best runners AND the best sound of any of them. I can't speak for their other lines.
Jarrell

[Anonymous]

Yes it will.

[Anonymous]

thank you to all of you who have helped me out. it is my understanding of the situation thaty my life like equiplmet will get me goung untill i can get better stuff.

[loathar]

As far as the cheap trainset stuff goes, my LL locos ran a lot better than the cheap Bachman or Tyco stuff I have. I've got an old F-7 that's a better puller than anything else I own.

[Anonymous]

You get what you pay for. I love my Photo 2000 loco's. A little more money you can much better. Trainset's are great for the beginner, but alots of us are past that here.

[Chris_S68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by alexander13

To all of you who pointed out that i am 13 years old, with maybe $30 bucks in my pocket, you are quite right. i know that the realisiam is not that good, but i don't exaimine my locos with a maginyfing glass. i have already had extremely generous realitives gige me over $250 in presents at christmas. to those that say they are cheap, weell i can not use the junk. oh, i only realised, all my locos are junk. better leave the hobby. itf all the young kids leave, and you all die, the hobby dies out. i won't do that, but you must realize that.

13 with 30 bucks? You're doing a whole lot better than I was doing at your age. Heck, doing better than I've done all too recently.

The important thing is that this is a hobby. If it works for YOU, and brings YOU happiness, forget all about the naysayers. It's been said here before, it doesn't matter which hobby, or how far you get in said hobby, there's always someone who's got "better", and far too many who feel it important to point that out.

So, run what ya got and have fun. If you want, weather your trains - a touch can make a huge difference. Create some scenery for your trains to run through. Look around your house and, especially, your own yard. Think about how everyday items can be used to replicate real life in miniature. It's amazing what you can accomplish if you get creative.