“The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing." Eugene Delacroix
Back to interesting photos
“The model designer who can not replicate width, length and height in a consistent, uniform scale is an artist; namely a caricaturist” Hans-Joerg Mueller
Jack,
Back to the wheels… They gonna be that small?
Later,
K
Yes- they are the production wheels.
K,
The model has much larger wheelflanges than the protoype.
If we duplicated the engineering (dimensions) of the actual prototype’s wheels on the G model it would not be able to stay on the track. Sometimes the manufacturer has to compensate for running ability in a product that must preform well in the garden.
Kevin,
Larger wheels would mean the car rides even higher! And by the looks of it it is plenty high enough already.
On the wheel flanges, interestingly people who use Sierra Valley wheels have no problem keeping them on the tracks.
Very nice wheels with properly shaped tread, flanges and a fillet that does the job fillets on wheels are intended to do: keep things on the rail!
Jack, you misunderstand. I’m not picking on the flanges. There’s not a scale that doesn’t benefit from them. (And while Sierra Valley wheels do roll beautifully, the discrepency between their flanges and those on most of my locomotives make switches difficult to engineer.) It’s just that the standard LGB wheel scales out to around 32" in1:29, and the prototype Amfleet cars ride on 36" wheels. Flanges notwithstanding, that’s a 4" difference in diameter, and is noticable when compared to the prototype. Tell me the protruding axle ends will at least be cut off.
Later,
K
Yes the Axles will be trimmed.
Jack, I think with some of the money I will get from work will go to the Genesis, and a few of the Amfleet cars. By the way, I am going to see the display in Epcot when I go to Florida
When are you going to Florida Colin?
Jack, Since RHB_HJ has been so vocal, I thought I would jump in. I own one LGB car (I own 3 -one from each 1:29 MFGer). ** large edit here, most of my large rather lengthy bash of LGB was here, I fould out today that the model I heavily critiqued was not a 55’ hopper, but a 47’ hopper, so my exaple of a bad scale error was wrong** But my I would prefer them to be closer to scale. I will look closely at each LGB model for accuracy before buying. (FYI, for those who had read my original post here, I found I was wrong, so I removed my error, my sincere apologies, please forgive me)
I will be in Florida the Wednesday before Memorial Day, through the rest of the week. Are you going back down?
(By the way, I don’t care about scale, but I am not going to bash other people’s idea of “fun” in our hobby, as there may sometimes be too much criticism in the hobby. Maybe someday I will)
Colin,
I’ll be in Florida until next week and then I return for the last week of the flower and garden festival so I don’t think our paths will cross. Do make yourself known to the LGB folks at the display/demo area!
Jack, that’s too bad. I am doing the Steam Up with my Dad, and is there a way I can meet some of the train guys before opening hours? By the way, I am going to email you an application form for our club. We had a very “heated” meeting yesterday, but all is well now. We are really trying to make it better now, because it was falling, but we brought it back up.
(PS, is there a way I could help run some stuff?)
"If I had know LGB was building KIDS TOYS rather than SCALE MODELS I would have saved my money for a scale model! I may be just one, but I will be heard-I dont care if it falls on deaf ears, I want scale fidelity! "
How can you talk about scale fidelity then in Large Scale - you mention Aristocraft? They are generally 1:29 which is the wrong scale to gauge of track you are running on…measure the height of your Aristocraft and tell me how accurate it is…
As I said in another forum but when people get upset over fidelity to prototype and then ignore the 1:29 thing PLUS run them on track that is WAY to high profile for considered realism and stick HUGE couplers on the engine [and it goes on and on]…well then by their own admission - they have “compromised” the total experience kick of the model. It all goes down to this: what is the acceptable % of compromise that a Large Scale RR’er will accept? 1%? 2%? 5%? By accepting “fealty to the prototype” in 1:29 - you are already [more or less] accepting a 10 % fudge factor, yes?
Even the AMS fleet of 1:20.3 cars that are generally considered to be the best accurate bang for the buck built their gondola .2 of inch to high…
Regardless - if scale fidelity is your thing…and you like US Mainline stuff - you need to look to other manufacturers than Aristocraft or USA Trains or widen your track to 49.5 mm.
Pod,
Most of the US standard gauge following in Large Scale would be happy if - even if it’s not to true scale - the mfgs could at least stick to 1:29. That has been accepted as the de facto compromise.
But hey, give us items that are consistent i.e. length, width, height are all in 1:29!
IMNSHO the scale cocktail that LGB serves up is a direct result of their past. If they would go with 1:29 like the others - Aristo USAT - it would show up their “models” from the past and recent past as what they are - not to scale!
If I read Jack Lynch’s statement of “As close to 1:29 as I can get it” and then see the results, I draw two conclusions
either Jack can’t measure all that accurately
or Jack’s pull/influence at LGB/EPL is not quite enough to make sure we get 1:29 models uniform in length, width and height. If someone tells me the incorrect width and height are a result of R1 conformance - yes sure and pigs fly!
As the saying goes “It doesn’t cost more to do it right!” [;)][:)][;)]
PS On the Flying Pigs, two years back on the way to Switzerland we had some time in Vancouver Airport. Well, wouldn’t you know one of the souvenir/novelty shops had flying pigs (on a stick, no less) cruising around the ceiling. My immediate comment to my equal half was “Perfect gift for some politicians”. Of course it was a toy, there are lots of those around! [;)][:D][;)]
Sounds like a line from, well, never mind [:D][:D][:D]
Kenny,
I always find it very entertaining when you roll out English usage. As a rule it is a clear indication that there are no factual errors in whatever you take aim at; in which case one quibbles about word definition.
In my opinion it’s a hoot since I read so many of your posts and articles to have a reasonably good idea how “well versed” you’re in English.
BTW for those who have further quibbles with my translations, verbatim or otherwise, I would like to remind them that
Direct quote from our company website http://www.easternmountainmodels.com/eng/html/gartenbahnprofi.html
I’m the website author therefore I can assure you: that’s how it is.
As a rule I find that the English speakers appreciate getting meaningful reviews, as a matter of fact some even ask for reprint rights for their club. A good indication that “things fit”!
Since you’re so observant, did you see our ad on page 118 in the April GR with the slogan “North American or European… our products and services fit!” [;)][:)][;)]
HJ,
I think your confusing my post with Axles. I mention nothing about translation. I simply pointed out, the use of one word in a sentence, (rudimentary) and looked up the meaning of the word used in a sentence.
Thanks.
Kenny,
I’m not easily confused, least of all by posts I read. [;)][:)][;)]
HJ - I know you didn’t miss my point - the 1:29 manufacturers are not as 1:29 as everyone thinks…and even if you box it right with height, width, length - they still fall short on many details. Aristocraft consistently has the height wrong - pick on them for awhile lest we all think you have it in for LGB…[;)]
But in truth, I think the Genesis looks great as do the Amfleet cars. Let everyone pick and nit as they will. I just love people getting their kicks on this stuff and making sure that LGB is held “accountable” to “scale ethics”.