Just received this weeks Video Plus and watched the video of 3 rail trains. Copy and paste link if you have to.
We all know that 3 rail or 0 gage is toy like but imo it doesn't have to be so much so. Those O gage guys need to come over to this forum and learn a few things about scenery and presentation.
The first improvement on my HO layout was painting the track. What an improvement that made. With 3 rail sectional track it would be so easy to paint before installing, not like what we have to go through.
Also you will note the spaghetti bowl of track with trains running from all directions plus the clutter of buildings.
Three rail could look so much better if they tried. I'm sure you will see where you could make it look so much better.
http://mrv.trains.com/series/tracks-ahead/2015/12/tracks-ahead-season-9---rekindled-toy-train-memories?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MRVP_News_151229_Final&utm_content=&spMailingID=24350644&spUserID=MTE2MDcwMTI0OTE1S0&spJobID=702913172&spReportId=NzAyOTEzMTcyS0
Just my Worth
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
superbeThose O gage guys need to come over to this forum and learn a few things about scenery and presentation.
Hi, Bob
From what I have observed, and of course much of this may be conjecture, the 3 rail, O-27 folks are quite content with their loops of track, tinplate cities and speedy trains running around those tight curves. Its all about the fun of recreating those memories of the huge Lionel layouts in Macy's store window.
O scale modelers try to recreate as much realism as possible given the constraints of the size of the equipment (and before HO took off after the War it was the most popular choice) and some of the Lionel equipment was designed to satisfy their desires. 2 rail vs. 3 rail.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/7789?size=_original#caption
Then there's the collector who's prized trains in their pristine boxes may never turn a wheel on any layout. In fact much of the collection may never see the light of day!
I think what you're saying is that the Venus de Milo would look so much better if somebody would just 3D print some prosthetic arms for her...
Just wouldn't look right, would it?
I think there will always be the divide between the tinplate collectors and the scale modelers and all those in-between.
Luckily, the world is big enough for all of them and I enjoy, or at least appreciate, the variations of hobbyists that make up the model railroad community.
Regards, Ed
Hi,
May I add.......... In the late '50s I was a Lionel guy, and it was great. But in the early '60s I got introduced to HO and no longer wanted to play with "toy trains", but wanted to put up a realistic RR in a realistic setting.
But in the late '80s, I started collecting postwar Lionel, to recapture my childhood and of course to get the stuff that youngster could not possibly afford.
A number of HO layouts later, the current one is as good as I can make it. It has few operating problems and looks good (to me).
But you know what? I have yet to have the FUN with an HO layout that I had with the Lionel. In fact, I almost sold off my HO and built a Lionel layout when I was designing the current HO pike.
In my "senior wisdom" I'm thinking the two - Lionel & HO - are really very separate mindsets, and we get different rewards from each.
Whew, that's deep stuff.............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
As an old American Flyer guy, I never understood the appeal of Lionel. Who ever saw a 3-rail train? Here in Chicago, the only 3-rail is the elevated mass transit system. Lionel is already unrealistic so why bother trying to improve the look?
Rich
P.S. I kept clicking on the spot indicated, but nothing happened. I never did see the video. Did I miss anything?
Alton Junction
It is important to realize that for those of us who model vintage "toy" trains, that there are actually two camps of railroader. There are the so-called "Hi-Rail" modelers who work to the same standards as HO railroaders aspire to; with scale structures, realistically landscaped scenery, and more prototypical track plans.
And then there are those who specifically wish to recapture the nostalgic past. They have nothing but Plasticville buildings on their layout, don't care if some of their figures are taller than the trees, and like the trestle set in the middle of the train table that goes up and down for no apparent reason. It's simply a different approach to the hobby.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Lionel is already unrealistic so why bother trying to improve the look.
And this isn't? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4
Especially when compared to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4
Andre
This thread really got me thinking! 52 years ago, I started my "career" as a model railroader with an HO scale tinplate Marklin starter set, which grew each year into a little empire. At first, I set up my "trains" on the family dining table and later on my bed, which I had covered with a green blanket, and stuffed boxes under the blanket to simulate scenery. Of, course, all of it had to be packed away when bedtime came.
Since then, I have built a number of layouts, each one more detailed and sophisticated than the one before. Although I thoroughly enjoyed building and operating them, none of them gave me the fun I had in my early days as "carpet model railroader" playing with his toy trains.
I sometimes think I should just chuck what I am doing right now and go back to the roots!
Btw, the video can only be viewed to subscribers of MRVP+, so posting the link here is worthless to non-subscribers.
andrechapelon Lionel is already unrealistic so why bother trying to improve the look. And this isn't? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4 Especially when compared to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4 Andre
Great stuff, Andre.
But, you linked twice to the same thread.
Hi again!
I've been giving this comparison of HO to Lionel/Flyer some thought.
It seems to me that most of us adult, old timer HO guys are serious about our layouts and what goes on them and to one extent - how we operate them.
Those of us that had Lionel or Flyer as youngsters had them for their fun/play value. Of course some of us were serious about our layouts (I was), but it was still our "toy" and playground.
Again, I've never recaptured the true "fun" I had with that Lionel layout I had as a young teen. And yes, I know if I scrapped my HO layout and built a Lionel, it would just not be the same.
And that's the way it is................
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all !
I have never understood the arguments between the different scales and then the arguments between the factions within the individual scales.
It seems pretty obvious to me that the different scales are marketed to folks TO fulfill different needs and desires and to ultimately make some share holder money for their investments.
It is like getting in a fight over whether Mint chocolate is better than dark chocolate. They both are designed to fill a niche and for that purpose they perform their function well.
To me the the other scales and individual factions with in the scales are simply as the kids say today " a brother from another mother"
YGW
YGW, the argument isn't so much about the difference in scales as it is about the difference between scale and gauge.
The old Lionel was O gauge, 3-rail track whereas the modern O scale is 2-rail. A similar argument exists between the old S gauge American Flyer and the modern S scale trains and layouts. The old O gauge and S gauge were all about "toy like" trains and layouts, whereas all of the current scales, ranging from Z to O are more about prototypical look and operation. At least, that is how I see it.
No question about it........... DARK CHOCOLATE RULES !!!
richhotrain andrechapelon Lionel is already unrealistic so why bother trying to improve the look. And this isn't? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4 Especially when compared to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Az2avzrT4 Andre LOL Great stuff, Andre. But, you linked twice to the same thread. Rich
LOL
This will work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-eDCXurBYc