I remember even from my TYCO days (cringe) that what is shown in the catalog isn’t necessarily what the actual model looks like.
It’s like those old Superman comic books where the front cover had nothing to do with the story inside…
Lou,
Lionel does, and has done many scale Cars and Locomotives, that are correct in dimensions and details, where one of the few compromises are the third rail for power pick up. My Scale Lionel Union Pacific FEF-3’s and Southern Pacific AC-9 are DROP DEAD GORGEOUS models, the AC-9 even has prototypically correct articulation, with the rear engine set rigid, not double articulated, which is a common compromise found in HO and N Scales.
Almost all Scales will have some compromise or other on a model that is considered “SCALE”. How many modelers are modeling even a segment of a sub-division in what is actually less than a 1/4 scale square mile? Model Railroading is a Hobby that is a balancing act of compromises. Personally, I find that third rail a very worthwhile compromise, for the MANY benefits that it enables, Wye’s?, Reverse Loops?, EASY Block Detection? Simple Signal and Grade Crossing activation? ALL of them so simple a third grader could do them with NO complicated wiring, circuits or other complications. A High-Rail layout can be built to just as high of a scenery detail level as an HO scale layout, if the builder is willing to put the time and effort into it, which is no different than HO or N Scale in that respect. Visit a Nice High-Rail layout some time and you will find that the eye/mind easily ignores that third rail very nicely, just as it does other common discrepancies often found in the Hobby.
BTW, the 1937 Lionel 700E was the FIRST mass produced “Scale Model” and from it, was where the term “Rivet Counter” was born. A modeler actually compared a 700E to an actual NYC Hudson, and the only discrepancy he was able to find was the number of rivets was off by three rivets on the tender. Joshua Lionel Cowan was so incensed, that he actually deman
I don’t quite get this, I am only getting my post and one other for this topic and it says I started this thread. I didn’t, only replied. Now I am totally confused.
trainfan1221, I don’t know what happened either, my first post and the OP and the two before my first post are all gone. This thread wasn’t even showing on the thread index page, I was only able to get the two remaining posts by linking through the email notification. Maybe one of the moderators didn’t like the thread, but I can’t imagine why.
Doug