was reading some old MR's this morning and came across an ad for fragrances such as coal burning and cow poop that you applied to this jobby that you then stuck around the layout to add realistic smells to various industries etc. I don't really remember this catching on. Was wondering what other great ideas that just never made it.
Sprung trucks, apparently.
Ed
Yeah, I know that's not REALLY an example; but it did "spring" to mind.
Oh, yeah, and X2f couplers.
And operating hopper cars. Ulrich, Mantua/tyco and Revell all used to make 'em.
I do remember seeing diesel exhaust scented smoke fluid being available for a short time in various hobby shops. I just can't see adding a smoke generator to a diesel loco.
Will
mokenarr was reading some old MR's this morning and came across an ad for fragrances such as coal burning and cow poop that you applied to this jobby that you then stuck around the layout to add realistic smells to various industries etc. I don't really remember this catching on. Was wondering what other great ideas that just never made it.
This somehow assumes the smell of cow poop in your train room was a great idea?
Having worked around a lot of different industies in my life, I'm happy to leave most of their smells right where I found them.
Sheldon
7j43k Sprung trucks, apparently. Ed Yeah, I know that's not REALLY an example; but it did "spring" to mind. Oh, yeah, and X2f couplers. And operating hopper cars. Ulrich, Mantua/tyco and Revell all used to make 'em.
I know you said it's not really and example, but I use sprung trucks on more than 90% of my rolling stock. But I did start in this hobby at a time when they were "standard equipment" on most brands.
Today I remove most rigid frame plastic trucks and replace them with Kadee sprung metal trucks, refitted with Intermountain wheelsets.
I think sprung trucks and X2f couplers had a fairly good run, but are definitely out of favor now. I still prefer sprung trucks, personally.
What didn't catch on at all (ignored or unpopular in general despite commercial and media support)
I'm sure there are other examples, too.
Fred W
fwright I think sprung trucks and X2f couplers had a fairly good run, but are definitely out of favor now. I still prefer sprung trucks, personally. What didn't catch on at all (ignored or unpopular in general despite commercial and media support) magnetic versions of the X2f coupler lever or slide action throttles Athearn rubber band drives (could be wrong on this, sales could have been high despite the reality) OO, TT, OOO scales to some extent, track with built-in roadbed DC walk-around and wireless throttles Twin-T signaling HOn30 I'm sure there are other examples, too. Fred W
Fred, that's an interesting list.
To a point, I think most of those things appeal, or appealed, to a select subset of modelers.
Rail Line magnetic X2f's, yea they flopped.
My first layout was Tru Scale wood roadbed track, quite popular in the 60's, every hobby shop in Baltimore carried it, and there were about 7 of them. Now the plastic versions are more "train set".
Most of the guys I know who use DCC now, used DC walk around of some sort before that, some memory, some not.
Agreed, I am in a small camp with the use of wireless DC, unless you count the large scale guys.
Signaling seems to scare off a lot of people, regardless of the methods.
Push button throttles like my TE are also "rare" like levers or slides, yet all three are more like the prototype? Go figure.
Those other scales, too much competition, not enough commercial support.
Narrow gauge, well you just have to like the "back woods" rustic thing.
Just my thoughts, good list.
Speaking of smells:
When I was a serious motorcyclist many a year ago, I read about guys who would put a frying pan of Castrol (racing lubricant) on the stovetop and listen to records (large engraved vinyl disks).
I later thought of doing the same thing with creosote and train recordings. It sure is railroady to smell creosote on a hot summer day. My wife has suggested I restrain myself.
fwright I think sprung trucks and X2f couplers had a fairly good run, but are definitely out of favor now. I still prefer sprung trucks, personally. What didn't catch on at all (ignored or unpopular in general despite commercial and media support) magnetic versions of the X2f coupler lever or slide action throttles Athearn rubber band drives (could be wrong on this, sales could have been high despite the reality) OO, TT, OOO scales
Agree with all of the above.
to some extent, track with built-in roadbed
I don't use it (except for temporary tramways,) but some of our fellow forumites swear by it.
DC walk-around and wireless throttles
I do use wired walkaround throttles. Sheldon likes the wireless variety..
Twin-T signaling
Since I don't know how the various occupancy detecting black boxes work I can't really judge this one. I suspect there's a considerable similarity in the technology.
HOn30
Maybe not in North America, but in Japan it's quite active. Of course, Japan had a plethora of 762mm prototypes, ranging from logging routes to high-traffic commuter lines.
I am tempted to "selectively compress" my 762mm gauge prototypes to 1:87 scale so I can model them with commercial products.
I'm sure there are other examples, too. Fred W
Cold steam (aka dry ice) locomotives, rack railroads, working funiculars. I recall seeing one-time offers for all three in MR many years ago, then nothing.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - including two 762mm gauge routes)
I'm very glad that that idea of putting ballistic missiles on trains never caught on. (Of course, if it did catch on, would they ever have told us?)
On the brighter side, rubber-band drive engines had a long run. As one who owned several, and who still enjoys them after turning them into dummy locomotives, they were less expensive than gear drive engines, they ran smoothly and were very quiet. They could also attain incredible top speeds unheard of in their heyday. Perhaps Joe Biden should look into rubber-band powered high-speed rail? Sure, France has a high-speed bullet train, but we could have one powered by a wide-body GP-9.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley I'm very glad that that idea of putting ballistic missiles on trains never caught on. (Of course, if it did catch on, would they ever have told us?)
According to something I read many years ago, part of the reason this was never done was because the Air Force could never figure out how to disguise the cars that carried the missiles well enough to fool the railfans.
Dan
I wonder if TT would ahve been more popular had been introduced later - like today. The convenient scale, no crazy millimeter/inch mixing, and the fact that it is enough smaller than HO to give more layout in the same space yet large enough that modern sound systems would probably fit, without an impossibly tiny speaker like N scale would really help. Of course, witht he trend away from building anything yourself, who really cares about an easy to measure sacel?
Rubber-band drive locos were HUGELY successful for Athearn. There's probably more peopel that have examples packed away somewhere with missing or rotted rubber bands that simply have forgotten they ever owned such a thing/
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Combining slot cars with model railroads. Some train set producers tried this, and a few guys incorporated slot car tracks into their layouts, but it never really went farther than that.
Westside Models announced a series of freelanced HO brass locomotives. The only one that was released was a 2-10-0 called "The Brute". One was reviewed in RMC back in the late 1970s - 1980s, but I've never seen one in a hobby shop, never encountered one on the internet, and no other models were produced in this series.
AHM-IHC produced a series of couplers that was supposed to mate both with Kadees and X2Fs. I actually bought a package.
Mantua in the 1980s was selling a one-piece plastic coupler that was shaped like a knuckle coupler. They were included in "Mantua Heavies" freight car kits. (Something else that was never really popular, but I liked the cabooses and the hoppers.)
Then there was the attempt to revive TT scale in the 1990s. It was sort of a partnership between a manufacturer from the former East Germany, and an American firm. Former MR editor Russ Larson seemed to be intrigued by the idea.
O17 (17/64" = 1') scale. A few purists used it, but the wide availability of commercially produced 1:48 scale items was too great to resist.
The ALPS Printer. It could print white lettering on clear decal stock. I understand ALPS printers and their "white ink" cartridges are still made in Japan, and still available outside of the US. In my opinion, this was a tragic loss.
Didn't Lionel once make a trainset marketed toward girls?
I suppose we could now add kit-built steam locomotives to the list.
CD scale Pennsy B6 switcher kit that required one to carve the drivers and frame from Balsa stock by means of a pocket knife or double edged razor ( so states the instructions) Ouch!
Dave
Was that in the April issue?
Enjoy Paul
Fred!
Oh NO! You finally let the cat out of the bag! My HOn30 critter will not be seen on everyone else's layouts. Hey! Suits me fine! Thank goodness that Peco supports the scale with proper track and turnouts. There must be some demand for them to do that.
P.S. I draw the line at cow poop smell simulation, although it could be used to limit the time that uncomplimentary layout vistiors spend in your home!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
IRONROOSTER mokenarr: was reading some old MR's this morning and came across an ad for fragrances such as coal burning and cow poop that you applied to this jobby that you then stuck around the layout to add realistic smells to various industries etc. I don't really remember this catching on. Was wondering what other great ideas that just never made it. Was that in the April issue? Enjoy Paul
mokenarr: was reading some old MR's this morning and came across an ad for fragrances such as coal burning and cow poop that you applied to this jobby that you then stuck around the layout to add realistic smells to various industries etc. I don't really remember this catching on. Was wondering what other great ideas that just never made it.
At a show once, I did actually come across an old cardboard standee advertising such a product. The sort of thing that would have been on a shop counter as a display. It listed maybe 10-14 scents and depicted a bottle not much larger than the sort you'd see eyedrops come in. Had a twist off cap with a black rubber top, presumably because it was a dropper.
One feature that I still enjoy but a number of modelers complained about:
Openable doors on HO locomotives (Proto 2000).
I did and still do like that feature which is on the majority of my HO P2K diesel units manufactured from the late 90s thru mid-2000s.
Since a locomotive terminal will be a major feature on my layout, I like having the ability to open cab doors when units are parked at the terminal, getting serviced, or on local industrial runs.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Live steam, the real deal. Hornby made models of Flying Scotsman, Mallard, another A1/3 and a few other A4s. I saw an advertisement in Model Railroader somewhere.
The coal scent wouldn't be a bad idea. Pennsylvania, hard and soft coals, Illinois, Southern coal, and for us British modelers, Welch, LMS, and LNER coal..
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
No, it was a real product, called "Olafactory Airs". They sold the various scents (I don't think there actually was one for cow dung) in small bottles, with small squares of dense foam where you'd put a drop on. Hide the foam near where you wanted the scent to eminate from, and there you were. I recall scents for diesel oil, gasoline, coal, and probably another 10 or so.
I actually saw this product being demonstrated at the 1986 NMRA convention in Boston. The distributor had large one gallon glass containers with a square of the scented foam on the bottom. To sample the scent, you would remove the bottle top and take a whiff. They did smell realistic, and a friend who was with me took a sniff and almost became nausiated.
The same firm also offerend "Dampf Bild" or something like that, a special effect kit for taking photos of steam engines with "smoke" painted on a glass slide that was held in front of the camera lens. I was interested in that product, but their ads really never spelled out exactly how it worked, so I never proceeded further.
Both products went off the market after a short time, obviously because not many people were interested.
So now you know!
A previous mention of openable doors on diesels said having them open would add to the realism of a yard scene. But the ones I had were spring loaded, and would not stay open. Especially useless were the doors at the back of cab units. The only way you could see them in the opened position was to pick up the model! Also the movable sunshades worked, but were way out of scale.
What about the operating fans on the Life Like FA units? Neat idea, but they were almost impossible to see in motion. I painted mine silver, but that didn't help much. The model also had operating side louvers, another waste of effort.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Grover Cleveland?
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
Paul : was in April of 1987 ( i have way to many old model railroaders
oh and there was one called cow manure , which is the same as cow poop. guess it was suppose simulate stockyards. wonder if it came with an optional fan to replicate a breeze to stink up a near by town?
Does anyone here still run their 1960s rubber-gumband-drive HO Scale diesels like an EMD F7 Santa Fe warbonnet? And, how about those small-rubber-connectors that held together the metal-rod for the gumbands, and the engine/loco motor?
Things did get easier to replace broken gumbands once you got braces.
Who wanted one of those new-fangled worm-gear engine-drives anyhow?
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
The Lionel RailScope. I got one of these last year but after realizing I'd need to get a separate capacitor for every power feed, just to get a black & white image, I left it in the box. The powered engine, however, is one of the most powerful & sensitive engines in my fleet, being able to go so slow that you can't see it move. I put a CN zebra shell on it for my Supercontinental, and use one of those pocket 'spy cams' for on-track filming. [View:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/:550:0][View:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]
Lionel came out with the "pink" train set for girls. I think Tyco came out with a combo train & slot car set and went on further to come out with a slot car track designed for big rigs where it had a bunch of industries for the trucks sometime in the 80's. It had a catchy name to it but i can't remember.
Railscope caught on - just not the Lionel product because it was already somewhat behind the times when it was introduced. A few years later, better technology caught up with it and we have plenty of train cams now out there, now in COLOR.
The truck thign was US 1 Electric Trucking from Tyco, I had a bunch of stuff. It wasn;t a runaway hit but it wasn't a total failure, either.
Smoke in a diesel sounds silly? Then you haven't seen many Alcos. Honorary steam locos, they were called.
The scents were, as Bob pointedout, called "Olfactory AIrs" - they were advertised in MR aroudn the time Bob was having lots of his pictures published. They advertised for a while, then disappeared - they started out with full poage ads and I think they had some very tiny ones at the end. There's still someone producing multiple scent smoke fluids, so you can have your smoke smell like taditional Lionel, or like coal, or liek pine wood. Not quite the same thing, but really, not too many people want their homes smellign like paper mills, slaughterhouses, or farmyards. I don;t think many would liek their model locos drippign with grease and oil liek the real thign, either. Large scale lve steamers excepted.
Here's the smoke oils - hey look, party time with the pina colada smell! http://www.megasteam.com/
A friend had the Lionel Railscope locos, and we tried using it on our club's modular layout. It worked fairly well, with our simple loop of track. It didn't work very well on his large home layout though, as each track joint needed a capacitor, which was not practical.
I recall it was neat seeing the train pass another one on the opposite track. It's main problem was the camera ate batteries - it needed a 9v Duracell Alkaline battery, which only lasted maybe 20 minutes of continuous operation. The receiver needed the same battery. They did have an optional battery pack that held I think 6 AA batteries, mounted in a boxcar next to the loco, but they too didn't last very long.
My friend gave the units to me and I later sold them on eBay. Nice idea, but too costly to be used much.
Some things that didn't make it....
1. Lionel's pre-TMCC electronic control efforts: Magic Electrol, Teledyne Couplers, the Electronic set.
2. Lionel's efforts to make HO - 0 for 3.
3. Operating cars.
4. Pre-built layouts.
5. "Track with scenery" modules, like Gilbert's "All Aboard".
Years ago a casual friend showed me an HO model RR set he had picked up which had some very unusual features that I've never seen anywhere else. There were operating track accesories that took their power from the locomotive. There was a track section with rollers that you backed the locomotive on to, you then somehow engaged the rollers and applied power to the locomotive. A length of fine piano wire transmitted the motion to the accessory. I think it was a Life-Like set. AS I said, never seen one again.
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!