I honestly do not follow the “O” scale very much at all these days. But I am old enough to remember the Bright Pink Lionel 4-6-4 that was introduced as an effort to encourage Girls to take up the hobby. Talk about a non-event.
We are a country at war. For right or wrong our President has seen fit to send us first to Afghanistan and we are going back over as I type this. The second fight was Iraq, I felt that the first gulf war ended way too soon and was mishandleded. I am joyful that for once we went down to Badghad and finished the tyranny that has hurt so many people. Now were going back to get Osama. He must know that by coming over here and killing those people on 9/11 we must respond in kind and we did. It is not over yet.
As for the products on the catalog, I feel that from a marketing viewpoint it would be valid to a professional who is trained in the field of Advertising. However poor taste it may have been done in, it certianly achieved one aim… generate attention and therefore a demand for that item.
We are certianly affected in different ways both good and bad when images of leadership or current issues are yet being played out on the world stage.
Wow, one thing is for sure - people have different opinions.
Lest we forget: during WW2 there were all sorts of advertisements in the main stream media about the “japs” and the “krauts”. We interned alm ost the entire japanese population in the United States - whole families sent to “camps”.
My point you ask?
I don’t see anything wrong with these items and look forward to seeing them on my doorstep when I come home from my current business trip. Every week I look at the gap in the New York skyline, and a missile up the A%^ is too good for those who espouse our destruction.
I respect the opinion of those who don’t like them, but that is part of this great hobby - different trains for different brains. To each his/her own.
I wouldnt buy them because they are in bad taste, and are too expensive for a novelty item.
These will sell, because they are a goof, and a good conversation piece.
I actually admire K-Line for having the stones to market these items, as they are quite anti-PC in a PC world. The other train companies would never do this one, or even the Iraqi Freedom set.
Geez I thought they were pretty good and I did order them. I’m not old enough to remember but weren’t these types of things produced during WW2 that depicted the Germans and the Japanese in not so flattering terms? Maybe not by train companies but by other companies? Anyhow to each’s own, that is what makes this country great if you don’t like don’t buy it.
I don’t see anything wrong with the two cars being produced mocking two of America’s worst enemies. K-Lines latest catalog has something for everyone at prices that are affordable.
I think they’re pretty cool, although I’m not buying them. The Polar Express set and the 027 Thomas set are on the Christmas list for the two youngins, so cash is limited[:(][:(].
The interesting thing to me about the car was that it was so politically incorrect. The guys at Kline do not usually do things like that. When they made the Georgia Quarters boxcar the state flag still was a rebel emblem and they replaced it with a peach. The Georgia flag has been changed now, but I thought that was funny that they would not print a rebel flag, but will make this one. I also do not know if it was meant to honor the effort of Dubya to get these guys or if it was supposed to make fun of him as a cowboy. I plan to buy one of each.
You know it really doesn’t matter if you like them or not. If they are politically correct or not. They are selling. I personally think they are hilarious but I wouldn’t buy them because I like more prototypical trains. This could lead to more joke cars though
1- The previously mentioned Bill Clinton chasing Monica Lewinsky
2- The Martha Stewart Jail Car
3- The John Kerry Chasing Gorge Tenet car - changes direction occasionally
4- The Teddy Kennedy operating accessory - Car drives off bridge into water w/ 2 people and only one comes up
5- The Enron Voltmeter car - Meter never moves
6- The Parmalat Milk Car - Has a bank slot with no way of getting money out
7- The Koby Bryant car - see the Bill Clinton car
8- The Rush Limbaugh Car - Chasing a doctor around the car
How about a car with Bush chasing the national debt? What about two versions of the same car with Kerry chasing Bush for Democrats and Bush chasing Kerry for Republicans?
Its funny you should mention the bank car with no way to get the money out. K-line is already producing these. I have the state quarters tank cars and if you put money in there is no way to get it out unless you can rattle it through the slot. I had to stop my kids from sticking money in!!
Interesting. A car with Bush chasing Bin Laden & another with him chasing Saddam are offensive, but the Bill Clinton chasing Monica car is funny. I think people’s political biases are showing.
I think the cars are funny. Even the Bill chasing Monica one. I’m not going to buy them, and yes, they’re in bad taste. But they’re funny, just the same.
I keep reading about these cars being “collector’s items,” or their “collectibility.” Let me tell you–if you are buying these cars because of their collector’s value, then you need help:
What are the cars collectors look for today? Factory-mistake cabooses painted brown instead of blue, with only 327 being made… These cars are rare, in other words, which makes them appealing to collectors. The very fact that a large number of people are buying these cars negates this “collectibility” farce! My plastic caboose from a starter set will probably be worth more in a few decades!
Anyway, I’m not going to buy one, since I like prototypical stuff.
And let me just say one more thing about this and then I’ll shut my yap about it…Where are your STANDARDS? I suppose a boxcar with a graphic of Bush mooning the Middle East would appeal to you? There are plenty of ideas that I have suggested to K-Line and other companies to make, but all of them required a royality because a licensed character. K-line just found something that was “duty-free” and could make some dollar signs with no thought of tackyness. What’s next? The Jesus Christ Crucifixion accessory that uses a vibrating motor (like the Lionel cow/horse set) and “walks” Jesus complete with cross up the hill? It would be perfect for Easter.