2006 Hallmark Keepsake ornaments - good news and bad news Well Folks, Hallmark released the 2006 Keepsake Ornaments this past weekend. I didn't get out for the opening event but did stop by the store today. I like to end my messages on a positive note so I will start with the bad news, the VERY bad news. The Miniature firetruck and airplane series were discontinued this year with no prior notice or explanation from Hallmark. This really sucks since many of these items were usable for Z scale. I think we should all write to Hallmark and let them know our mind. The good news is that the PRR B6 0-6-0 was done in the miniature train series this year. I think it is probably just undersized for Z scale but could be used as a nice background model or for parts. If anyone can point me to a source for dimensions for the prototype, I will try to scale it out exactly. Since it is a switch engine, it might just be small enough to begin with. Now for the really good news. The regular (larger size) train series release this year is a UP Veranda Turbine and it's bunker C tank-type tender (released as two separate pieces). This appears to scale out to almost exactly Z scale! The gauge is just a hair wide, but could probably be adjusted. The detail on the turbine is a little on the clunky side, particularly with the thick enamel paint that is used, but it does give us some possibilities. The detail on the tender is finer with fine wire for the handrails (as opposed to diecast moldings on the turbine walkways) and even has a nice handbrake wheel. The trucks may be the best part though. Both the turbine and the tender trucks seem to be injection molded styrene and on the turbine you get 4 Alco style AAR B trucks (this was a B-B-B-B arrangement) and on the tender you get two 3 axle heavy duty tender trucks! I can see many of these you being bought for the parts alone. The Turbine (aka "Big Blow") is $18.50 and the tender is $12.50. Hallmark also released a UP boxcar this year, but it appears to scale out closer to last years larger sized boxcars. Hallmark releases are "box scale", ie sized to fit in the standard sized Hallmark ornament box, rather than a uniform scale. Since last year's large train release was a switcher, the boxcars that went with it were larger. This year's release is a huge engine so the scale is smaller (and vice versa with the minature series being a larger scale since it is a smaller prototype). Here are links to the Hallmark Dreambook pages: http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article|10001|10051|/HallmarkSite/OurProducts/KeepsakeOrnaments/2006DreamBook/2006_DREAM_ONLINE_24 http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|652366|-2;104468;108551||P0R214SO|products http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|652368|-2;104468;108551||P19R2SO|products http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|652370|-2;104468;108551||P0R207SO|products http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|652360|-2;104468;108551||P0R143SO|products Good shopping everyone. Randy Smidt
I have the 2 fire trucks. Too bad there are no more. Those are the only Hallmark products I ever have purchased or may ever will.
Is it me or does anyone else find it ironic that Lionel is being modelled nearly at Z Scale? ;-) I think I might get the PRR (and I don't even celebrate Xmas!) as background!
The ease of putting text with photos all in one message is one of the reasons I have become such a big TrainBoard.com fan over any other forum. John
Scaling from the AAR trucks (the only thing I could find dimensions for on the Veranda turbine) the Veranda Turbine scales out to approximately 1/209th scale. That's close enough for me (about 8.5% too big). It will actually sit on Peco Z track without regauging, although there is absolutely zero play between the flanges and the rail. I'm going back to the store and buy a whole bunch of these. I'm nut's for weird stuff like the UP Big Blows and SP Krauss Maffei diesel hydraulics. I scaled the B6 steam switcer out to about 1/260th scale. Oh well, may still be useful for parts or a background model. Randy
Randy, if you weather the B6 Steam Switcher, you could put it on a dilapidated track near a yard or roundhouse-since it will be small; you might want to take some rails and hand lay a little siding/shunting track that the engine could sit on. Just a thought. Probably would add a nice touch!
I'm also thinking of using the B6 for parts for a possible static Zn3 (or Zm) narrow gauge display. Right now I'm just in the parts gathering stage as this is not a high priority project for me. The Veranda Turbines though will likely be used as veranda turbines, bashed into other UP turbines and as parts sources for other projects (like Alco trucks for my Southern GP35 conversion down the road). The two inner sets of trucks on the turbine almost match up with a GP35 chassis so I might even try to power one at some point, but I will have to hollow out much of the casting becaue it is really heavy. This has my creative juices flowing. I'll probably buy about 6 of them and then buy up whatever is left over when they go on sale for half price after Christmas. And Bryan, no comments about me actually finishing building something. I'm going down to the basement to clean right now. I know the work bench is somewhere there. ;-) Randy
I was thinkin' the same thing about the AAR trucks!!:teeth: Anybody make an Alco or GE shell that will fit the GP35 or F7?!? Oh, and the trucks off of the tender would work for a GN Vanderbuilt tender too!!
How to order??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I get really confused by that site.
Henrik, Or you could contact Graham Jones at graham@ford.demon.co.uk and purchase a ready made exactly to Z scale slop back tender kits and not worry about having to size it to Z. John Bartolotto
Got mail from Graham today. The price is £11.95 plus £1.25 P & P. All you need to do is to mail him. here is the picture i got:
Henrik, Isn't communication and networking a great thing! Graham is a great guy and has some great products. John
