Target "Station Building" At my Target, in the $1.00 section, they had some styrene small buildings that appear to be short enough for Zscale. Buildings are similar except for color. Base 5.1/4" L, 2.5/8 W First floor 4.5" L,1.5"W,.5/8"H Second floor 2.3/8"L, 1.5"W,.5"H Fairly modern design 2 story plastic. 3 colors, 1) White/green trim "hospital" 2) Blue/red trim "police" 3) Brown/red trim "fire station" For the price, at least a source for some cheap molded styrene. They definitely need paint/weathering to make them look good. Made in China by World Trump inc in Hong Kong It's supposed to be used on a plastic play mat for 3+ yr olds. They had some little cars that appear to be a fat style with big wheels.
I just got a book today, Trains of the Twin Ports, which has NP, DM&IR, GN, and SOO trains, and I see lots of pictures of SOO Line GP9's pulling Heavyweight Car trains. This is a great use for an MTL GP9 and a few of these Hallmark Heavyweights! As for these buildings, I better go check these out before they disappear from our local Target!
Pray59 (Robert), If you've worked out a solution for the PA and coach trucks to fit Z tracks, please advise. Hallmark wheelset gauge on mine are too wide for Z and too narrow for N. They display well on N track, but with wheels completely inside rails. Thanks,
Truck mods covered here: http://zcentralstation.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=591&forum=11
Hi Dave! Welcome to Trainboard! If you want some of those truck sideframe inserts, let me a private message with your address.
I was just looking for other Hallmark passengers. Did somebody know about the "Lionel SP Lighted Observation Passenger 1414" from the year 2003 and what is the scale of this car ? Is it in scale bigger or smaller as the Freedom Train set ?
Checking the Internet I found this car on E-Pray Lionel 1414 and this is a Lionel Car not a Hallmark car so it is O gauge. The Hallmark cars are reproductions of Lionel cars of the past and in 2003 the Liberty set was in close to Z-scale and the set contained one PA, One Sleeper and one Observation. cheerz Garth
Hi Garth, There was also in 2003 a Hallmark SP train in reduced size with one observation car in +- 4 1/2 inch. I give you a link http://webspace.webring.com/people/kh/higbytoys/ks2003p.htm It should be, if size is Ok, a good patching base for the early LV passengers with rounded windows.
The 2006 UP Turbine is very close to Z scale. Not sure if the tender & stock car from that year are also that small. For 2010 Hallmark is releasing the UP City of Salinas type 3 car streamliner. Due in July. I have no idea what scale.
One of the ornament web sites is stating "This is the 15th ornament in the Lionel Trains series. The wheels turn on this handcrafted and metal Hallmark ornament. 3 1/2 inches long." -James
The UP stock car sits on 9mm track without modification and is close to N-scale in size. The Turbine tender is Z-scale and will sit on 6.5mm track unmodified. It is easily converted to Z by inserting metal wheel sets with the points ground off from Fox Valley or Full Throttle. I converted the UP Turbine to power using a MTL GP35 chassis and had it running at Medford. Mine is not the only one there are a couple that have been converted to run on z-scale track. There are several videos of them running. cheerz Garth
Well 3.5 inches is 65 feet in Z-scale, With a quick look on the internet I could not fine how long the original cars were in real life or on the Lionel model to be certain where this offering is scaling out to be. Just might come in as close to Z. Will watch with interest and add it to my collection. cheerz Garth
The 3 1/2" sounds good for a Z-scale articulated car. I saw the pictures, the cars are broken apart with half of the articulating truck at each end. They probably look OK after some window job and installation of real trucks. One more note, the train was named after the city of Salina, Kansas.
