Another great pic from a fellow TCA member. The next thing I'd like someone to produce: this amazing Flyer station. As I recall, most of them were made from cardboard thus only a few exist in any kind of decent condition.
By the way: file this under "kick yourself afterwards" - I had a chance to buy that bridge in the background at a garage sale for 10 bucks some years ago. Mint condition, no box. Insert foot in mouth, attempt limbo under a hot fire.
5 comments:
I know that a reproduction of the AF cardboard station have been made. Someone I know was selling them a few months ago at the Great Midwest Train Show. As I remember they were a bit pricey, 4 or 5 hundred dollars. A bit out of my price range so I did not get one. Still it would be nice to have. I did not ask if he still had some when I was at the show Sunday. I did buy 2 track clips fom the AF Mail set in nice condition from him. Tom
I have to agree - a couple of hundred bucks for cardboard is a little pricey. Go for sheet metal & lithography. I think a working clock and some basic interior lighting might be in order as well.
This station would definitely be a winner.
I think a tin-litho version of this station is in order. One reason I really like this station is that it starts to capture the granduer of big stations without gobbling up huge amounts of space.
I love the 113 and 116 Lionel Stations and terrace but I'd like something at the other end of my layout that looks a little different. I could scratchbuild it but I would rather have a great looking tin product.
Marc
I agree that this is a problem with some of the early reproductions. I don't really think it is a problem anymore though. Most of the Williams, Cohen, and all the MTH reproductions have the company initials stamped in the sheet metal. Not to mention that most of the time the paint and trim look just a bit different on the originals. I suppose you could flatten out and fill the initials before you repainted something. That might help fool people and make it look like an original. But the whole thing would probably cost more then a restored original unless it was something very rare. Let me make it clear that I am for having these stampings on reproductions. I think that their should be marks on all sheet metal parts. I just don't think they should be right on the top.
I like reproductions because most of the time I can't afford the original or I found one cheap but it is missing some parts and needs fixing. If there is a good reproduction I can probably replace the missing parts with ones from that company. I have a set of 4 T-Reproduction round houses. I don't think I have ever seen 4 originals together. I know I couldn't afford to buy 4 originals.
I have though about a tinplate copy of the AF cardboard station and I like the idea. Assuming it is done well, a tinplate copy would be really nice. If I had a cardboard copy I would still have the same problems with dust and dirt. A tinplate copy would be a lot more durable.
If Cohen still ran Lionel I don't think he would have brought back standard gauge. I just don't think there is enough call for it. I doubt that MTH sells a couple thousand of a piece. The reason they cost so much is the limited production. They would be cheaper if there was more demand. Though I do think if the price was lower they would sell more of an item, up to a point anyway. Tom
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