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 Posted - July 30 2006 : 12:51:32 PM
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Hey,
Well, it is certainly still very much a work-in-progress but the Life-Like site is now available online...
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/life_like_logo.jpg
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/lifelikemodeltrainscollectorsresource/index.html
as always...there's more to come...
[:)]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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 Posted - July 31 2006 : 11:16:32 AM
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Tony:
Thank you and hat's off to a great start on the Life Like site. I particularly enjoyed all the pix of early LL in the orange box offerings. They brought many pleasant memories of days when HO needs were more simply fulfilled.
FYI: LL's "first" full catalog--I believe it to be so unless an earlier example turns up--proclaims they "now complete the scene with precision built models of real trains scaled to exact... size. Every product has been field-tested under all types of operating conditions and only the finest quality product is being produced for your enjoyment. All sets are complete, ready to run, including the power pack. Below this pronouncement is a big red Green Bay Route RS-11 with an inset pic of the master-boxed #1P5 "Big Hook Crane and Circus Set."
LL offered six sets:
3P3 Diesel Freight Set ($25): F-7, gon, reefer and crummy in PC or CNW
9P5 High Iron ($40): LL's weird Euro 4-6-0, reefer, tank, box, covered hopper and caboose in PRR or DRG
3P32 Two in One Combination ($35): F-7, two streamlined coaches, hopper, reefer and cab., in SF and B&O.
1P5 Big Hook Crane and Circus Set ($35): RS-11, containered gon., circus wagon flat, crane and caboose, plus loading ramp, truck, 40-pce. accessory set, in GBW, PC or ESPEE (also uncatalogued in D&H, but probably from year 2--I've seen two).
4P3 Dockside Switcher Freight Set ($22): docksider steam tank, stock, covered hopper and cab., in B&O and SF (later in PRR)
3P7B Cannonball Diesel Freight: F-7 A, F-7 B, reefer, tank, box, stock, gon., hopper and cab., in CNW, SF or B&O.
That was it: a mere six sets.
These all appear to be comprised of carry-overs from the old Varney line, with the exception of the so-called action cars: containerized gondola (while the gon is obviously Varney-derived, I have no knowledge of Varney ever offering the two six-bay container loads);
crane car (initially in NYC all-black only, later in ubiquitous black and orange NYC and yellow B&O); and Circus Car (again, a Varney-derived flat in NYC with the two new animal wagons and new wheel stops on the car bed).
The engine offerings are pure Varney-derivations:
#700 SW-7 Switcher ($14) in B&O, NH, SF, SP
#500 GG-1 Electric ($35) in PC, Penn Fr., Penn Passenger
#600 RS-11 Alco Diesel ($11) in PC, GBW and Espee
#900 4-6-0 Steam Loco ($28) PRR, DRG
#770 F-7 Diesel ($11) in CNW, SF, B&O, PC, UP
#400 0-4-0 Dockside ($8) B&o, SF
#300 Teakettle ($10) B&O
Most of these early Varney/Life Like sets are in boxes with foam inserts so obtaining individual stock numbers of early LL is a bit of a chore. The real early boxes have what appear to be hand-inked stock numbers, if any, followed by hand-stamped numbers on the box ends.
For what its worth, for example:
crane car: 08582 in pen or hand-stamped.
By the time the track cleaner and searchlight emerge (year two (?)) stock numbers are box-printed: "searchlight car, item no. t581)
I hope this isn't all redundant and will be of some use.
Magnolia Academy
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Posted - August 01 2006 : 10:50:33 AM
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Hey,
I'd wondered if Life-Like sold the old Varney SW-7 Switcher, great information. I don't have that catalog. Think my earliest LL cat is 1972.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - August 01 2006 : 12:28:14 PM
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re: early Life Like
While I don't have (what I assume) is LL's second Train Set catalog I do have a few sets I suspect are from same.
The Super Diesel Freight Set With accessories is virtually the same as the initial basic F-7, two cars and caboose set--with the addition of what would become a standard throw-in: the 40 pc. accessory set (all in a much bigger box). The Big Hook and Circus Set appears unchanged save for the addition of D&H RS-11 and caboose as an option. LL showcased their "new" action cars--the track cleaner and spotlight--in the "Work Train" set (no. 28272), which has a picture box showing the "new" RS-11 in D&H, track cleaner, spotlight, hopper, tank and caboose. The "Work Train" also featured a manual-operating switch, a couple extra pieces of track and a bumper (but no 40 pc. accessory set), again, in a larger box than first year offerings. My particular Work Train set is in Green Bay and Western. I have a CNW twin diesel freight set that may be from this year (I'm uncertain as there is no master box, though the owner who received it new claims it is original) and it has two box cars rather than the one offered in the first catalog.
All these sets are slightly tweaked or "improved": rather consistent with Tyco's policy of offering the same sets year-to-year but adding a car, auto uncoupler or other small improvements.
Note: there is a CNW B-unit from the start. I also have what may be an SP B-unit (though it may be old Varney; it is unboxed and the last offerings of Varney and first of Life Like appear indistinguishable.)
Ditto with the center cab diesels. I see virtually no difference between my boxed ATT model and the later Life Like model.
es wird immer besser!
MagnoliaAcademy
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Posted - March 02 2009 : 9:48:34 PM
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ooo would "kill" for that 7up car & the other billboard cars  http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/lifelikefreightcars/id17.html I noticed your missing 1 car there in that link I got one your missing promise to get better pic of car /tyco/forum/uploaded/microbusss/Valvoline car.jpg
Edited by - microbusss on March 02 2009 10:12:32 PM
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