American Mainline - Views Requested

Stourbridge Lion Jul 7, 2008

  1. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    As many of you know, I collect D&H Models of nearly every scale and manufacture as budget allows. American Mainline is now offering a 4 Car Set of D&H Boxcars and since I have not yet added G Scale into my collection I was wondering what folks thought of this manufacture.

    Caboose Hobbies: http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=65334

    PS-1 BOXCAR D&H 4 CAR SET #20016,#20025,#20047.#20076
    Youngs Town Door D/C Tks Mtl Whls 1:29 Scale
    SKU: 101040114
    Category: Freight Cars >> G Scale/No 1 Guage
    Scale: G Scale
    Roadname: Delaware & Hudson
    Manufacturer: American Mainline
    Stock Status: Pre-Order
     
  2. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Anybody

    Do you think they Good / Bad / Indifferent? Would you go with this "1:29 Scale"?

    :tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err:​
     
  3. Route 66

    Route 66 TrainBoard Member

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    I have know first hand knowledge about American Mainline but I looked at thier web sight and the car info they look like a good product, I also found a photo of the car from their site,They look to be a very nice product. I wish I could help ya more.
    update: Found out American Mainline is a division of Accucraft I think you will be happy with their product
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 11, 2009
  4. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you were starting a Garden Layout would you go with 1:29 Scale?

    :tb-confused: :tb-confused: :tb-confused: :tb-confused:
     
  5. Route 66

    Route 66 TrainBoard Member

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    Yes I would go with 1:29 scale and I am , at this moment The two leading manufacturers Aristocraft and USA trains are banking on that scale and are producing a large share of product in that very scale, Accucraft and their American Mainline series seem to also see that and are now entering that scale market share with their boxcars.
     
  6. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    THANKS!!!!!!!

    Given this would be my first "G" purchase and it would have a heck of a $$$ attached this was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for but didn't get that well stated in my initial post.

    THANKS!!!!!!!! :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
     
  7. Trains

    Trains TrainBoard Member

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    I have seen one of the AML models, they are very nice! I would buy them if they had cars I wanted. I would go with 1:29 as there are more trains in this scale.
     
  8. Dave Winter

    Dave Winter TrainBoard Member

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    That car looks very much like the Canada G Scale offerings at....

    canadagscaletrains.htm

    ...but I could be wrong. Can't tell unless they're side by side.

    Anyway, I have two of the CGS 40 footers and they're beauties.

    Dave at wwww.wvrr.ca
     
  9. Shawn Fields

    Shawn Fields TrainBoard Member

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    Darren,

    I have have four of the AML Cars In N&W and Virginian, They are great runners and the detail is fantastic, the ease of installing Kadee's is a snap and comes equipped with metal wheels which is another plus.
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Do you see a trend which points to G becoming a standardized scale such as 1:29? I am wondering if such an effort would eventually also spur interest and growth?

    Boxcab E50
     
  11. DragonFyreGT

    DragonFyreGT TrainBoard Member

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    American Mainline is well built. I highly recommend them. And as for "Standardization"...
    I don't think our scale's height issue will "Standardize". It's the different sizes that makes the scale itself unique. I will say this, let's say we do "standardize" It would look something like this:

    1:29th Standard "Gauge" Railroading
    1:20.3 Narrow "Gauge" Railroading
    GN15 Industrial/Mining Equipment on HO/OO Track

    Now why the quotation's on Gauge? Because G runs on 45mm. I believe that as long as you run on 45mm that it's "G" Scale. I won't start the F/G war. But I'll state my opinion.
     
  12. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was just thinking aloud about the varied equipment scales using that track gauge.

    Boxcab E50
     
  13. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    American Main Line is a division of Accucraft. Accucraft wanted to jump into the 1:29 scale ratio market and this is the division they came up with to introduce 1:29 scale ratio models to the G scale market. The box cars are made from plastic with metal wheels and I think metal truck frames, they are well detailed and yes for the price they are going for, I would buy them for my laout if they made any Rio Grande road name box cars.
     
  14. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    It depends on the era you want to model in, if you like narrow gauge then I suggest 1:20.3 scale ratio, if you like early to modern diesel era than yes 1:29 scale ratio is real popular for that era.
     
  15. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    Shawn Fields welcome aboard to Train Board and the G scale section, hope you enjoy your stay
     
  16. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    Route 66, how are you I haven't seen you post in a while. For those who don't know, Route 66 made a neat over head G scale train system. It came out real nice.
     
  17. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    I don't think we will ever see any scale ratio standard in G scale. In my opinion why the 1:29 scale ratio became so popular is due to the fact it offers alot of diffent types of freight, passenger cars and locomotives in standard gauge railroading as a model for a reasonable price. The 1:29 scale ratio has become very popular that other manufcaturers are starting to jump into that scale ratio such as Accucraft as someone has mentioned here. Also custom build manufcaturers who make brass trains are making trains in 1:29 scale ratio as a option.

    1:32 scale ratio also known to rivet counters as "Fine" scale was the most correct scale ratio to model a standard gauge train in G scale. Due to this fact manufacturers such as Accucraft was making them from metal, steel, brass, and stainless making them to over priced to afford for most G scale people.

    1:20.3 scale ratio was always the standard for narrow gauge railways for rivet counters and has become very popular also. But in the same token 1:22.5 and 1:24 scale ratios were also used as narrow gauge.

    USA Trains started out as Ro Trains and modeled only in 1:24 scale ratio. When they eventually became USA Trains The made a 1:29 scale ratio and then came out with names for each scale ratio. The American series is 1:24 scale ratio and the Ultimate Series is 1:29 scale ratio. I did notice a steep decline of new introductions for the American series USA Trains, they are only coming out with new road names for the woodside reefer which still seems to be pretty popular. The American series woodside reefer seems to be the only 1:24 scale ratio product that USA Trains still makes new road names for G scale.

    So yes, all in all 1:29 scale ratio is popular because it's affordable, it's easy to customize or kitbash because it's a mainly plastic contruction and the fact there is a wide variety of choices of early to modern standard gauge trains in that scale ratio.

    How or why they picked 1:29 scale ratio for these particular trains I don't know. But I dare to say that 1:29 scale ratio has captured alot of the G scale market in the USA just like LGB did in the early days in which they are 1:22.5 scale ratio

    Please Note: Most of this is just my own opinion. The only facts I stated was about the USA Trains info on the subject of 1:24 to 1:29 scale ratio.
     
  18. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    45mm track is actually Gauge #1 track and I believe what the scale ratio train you run dictates what gauge you are running, not the track. For instance in your own examplle you said Gn15 runs on HO track but it's not HO scale just because it runs on HO scale track. I'm not trying to pick on you, just making my own opinion also. Another example 1:32 scale ratio is considered gauge #1, Fn3 which is 1:20.3 scale runs on gauge #1 track. I have also seen models in Garden Scale Railways magazine as big as 1/8 scale ratio run on Gauge #1 track. In your defense however, yes for the most part most of the commercial made trains that run on Gauge#1 45mm track are G scale.
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Excellent. These are the type of thoughts I hoped would come forth. :thumbs_up:

    Boxcab E50




     
  20. EMD trainman

    EMD trainman TrainBoard Member

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    BoxcabE50, you have always been supportive of me and my suggestions, so giving my thoughts on the subject is at the least I could due
     

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