malletman
Alcohaulic
Back in the years just before WWII, there were two smaller scale competing for the smaller than O scale market. One was HO, the other was OO, which is a tad larger at 1:76th scale. But you might say "wait a min, the UK still uses OO", and they do, but its running on the wrong gauge track. They kept the larger OO scale but used the more commonly available HO track, which is a compromise to fit decent motors in the smaller UK loco's before we had really nice small motors. Back to the American side, the track gauge is 3/4 of an inch over the 5/8ths of HO. While most locomotives were sand cast brass or crude diecast, relying on the modeler to turn them into a masterpiece(and many did), Lionel jumped into the fray with a jewel like NYC J1e Hudson. They shrunk the lines premier 700e O scale Hudson down to OO. Available in 3 and 2 rail version as well as full scale detail and partial or semi scale as they called it. Tenders, also diecast could be had with the 2 tone air whistle in both 2 and 3 rail. The freight cars, slighltly modified clones of Scale Craft cars were also all diecast metal. A box car, tank car, 2 bay hopper and PRR style caboose were made. The 1938 set is unique, both in the design of the track, paint schemes on the cars and some designs in the locomotive. This is the set I have, along with a 003 two rail Hudson that I converted to 3 rail power pickup. It took till the late 70's before a J1e was this detailed in brass, even the Rivarossi one isnt as detaled as Lionel pulled off in 1938. Pretty stunning for pre WWII technology. Here are a couple pics and a video link of my set running on the small portable layout I am building for it. The track and train are the complete set from the first year of production.