Hawthorne Village 50th Anniversary Corvette Train

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CaseyJones

New Member
Oct 1, 2007
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Hi, noob here. Have railroaded off and on since the '50's. My grandson is ready to expand his horizons from the Bachmann Thomas and, as a Corvette fan, I thought about getting the Hawthorne Corvette train. Does anyone know what the "Subsequent Issues" consist of and how many there are? Since the 50th anniversary of Corvette was in 2003, I assume this has been issued previously.

Thanks for helping the new guy,
David
 
Brings back memories of my old 70 Corvette that I had for 25 years. Wish I still had it. But the new owners have really fixed it up. It looks better than ever. bob
 
One of our members posted this image to show how much he liked these kinds of things:
aaaaAAaAaAaAAAAaCCcCCCCCcCCcCCcCKkKkKKkK!!!!!!
32991d1175304609-rambo.gif

Besides, if your grandson plans on going full modeling, that train seems to have horn hooks, and most modelers like knuckle couplers better. Of course, if he's a little guy, the colors might be appealing.
 
It was only a matter of time before you got a reaction like that from somebody here. I got the same thing when I shared a picture of something similar. As I said in my thread and I'll say it again here,
TrainNut said:
We, on The Gauge, have often talked about how we need to get kids involved and how this could be a dying hobby. I think this is an excellent way to attract people and kids from other interest areas into the model railroad hobby. My mother recently bought my father, (a closet model railroader - keeps everything in the closet and takes it out on occasion), something very similar to this but with a John Deere theme. He loves it! He says that it is great because it is so simple to use and he can take it out, set it up on the dining room table, and then put it away in a very short amount of time. There is definitely a niche here but I can see how some could be appalled at the very thought. Each to his/her own. My older little boy would love something like this as he loves race cars and trains.
Click to expand...
 
Casey, I sent my grandsons your pic of the Corvette train and they both want one. They're into trains in a big way. I've seen to that. So, where can I get one. It doesn't even have to run.
Don't worry about that guy above. That's one in a thousand. You'll find most here are pretty good people and very helpful. It tells us more about him than, well, you know the rest. So, where can I get one? And welcome to the gauge.:mrgreen::thumb:
 
I had to take Amtrak to a meeting this morning in Oakland. I visited with my mom who is the Agent here in Stockton while waiting for the train as she was slinging baggage off one of the connecting busses. She asked me what I want for my birthday Sunday and I told her a triple black C5 (2004 to be exact) Corvette Convertible. :thumb:

In front of several co-workers, my Dad and her regular passengers that she's gotten to know over the years....she gave me the finger. :confused:

Maybe if I ask Santa Claus REALLY nice like??? :twisted:

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Well, I'll go ahead and start the bragging then... lol These next pictures are of my dads '70 Corvette, engine - 454 Chevy Big Block, 390 HP, WAY to much torque for the fiberglass body. Restored to original paint, Donnybrook Green, with tan interior. Only 500 of this kind built, out of 17,000 in 1970.

Ok, done bragging... Sorry about that everyone, I just need to do that every now and then... Wish I could show as beautiful pics of my layout.wall1
 

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Wildcat, the 70 was marlboro maroon with black interior. I'm trying to downsize a pic so I can get it on here. Will try again tomorrow. bob
 
Pic of 70' Corvette

Wildcat, here is the pic of my old 70' Corvette. It had the 350/350 engine and 4sp. Pardon the quality of the photo, it's 3rd generation in order to get it sized for this forum. I bought it new in 1970 for $5,300.00. I sold it in 1995 to my daughter for $8,600. She actually paid me. They sold it in 2002 for $16,900. This pic was taken just before they sold it 5 years ago. It was one wild machine. Took it over to NV one day and ran it up to 138 and it still had something left. The redline was, I believe, at 7,000 rpm. The present owners put a couple of thousand in it, mostly interior, and it still looks and runs great. Origiinal engine with 68,000 miles on it right now. Always garaged in or near Sacramento. Marlboro maroon with black interior. bob
 

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Disregarding the set's lack of prototype authenticity, my main objection to these "sets" is that they tend to be very high priced for the quality of the trains, track, and power pack included. With a normal paint job, these sets would sell for less than $100. They will certainly never be a good investment because of the low quality (despite the seller's claims), so buy them only because the paint job charms you enough to make it worthwhile.

If you understand what you are paying for going in - a very nice paint job that you like - then the purchase can make sense.

my thoughts, yours may vary
 
rhtastro said:
Casey, I sent my grandsons your pic of the Corvette train and they both want one. They're into trains in a big way. I've seen to that. So, where can I get one. It doesn't even have to run.
Don't worry about that guy above. That's one in a thousand. You'll find most here are pretty good people and very helpful. It tells us more about him than, well, you know the rest. So, where can I get one? And welcome to the gauge.:mrgreen::thumb:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the greeting and the encouragement on the type of folks on this board. Being machine gunned by a rivet counter, hijacked at the Corvette Corral and informed of a mother's digital communication, all on my first post, made me wonder what kind of house this is.

A few points to all:
  1. I have been a model railroader since my Dad and I built a Lionel layout in the '40's.
  2. I did N-scale in the '60's and '70's.
  3. Since the late '70's, I have built 3 different HO layouts.
  4. I realize the Corvette train is tacky, of questionable value and even a scale botch (no one pointed out that the train is 1:87 scale and the Corvettes are approximately 1:64 scale).
  5. However, I am a fully trained grandfather and will spoil my grandkids with nearly anything they want. That is exactly why I worked hard and retired comfortably. For too many years I bought too many things for my "collections" and "hobbies", but found out that all you end up with is a lot of storage problems and eBay fodder. A few minutes spent with a delighted grandchild on a durable layout is, to me, worth infinitely more than closets full of super-scale, delicately detailed, zero play value "stuff".
  6. BTW, my retirement present to myself was a new 2001 Corvette that my wife and I have enjoyed for 56,000 miles coast-to-coast and border-to-border. I have a great time talking about it on corvetteforum.com.
If you are serious about the Corvette train, check HERE.

Thanks again,
David
 
rhtastro said:
Wildcat, here is the pic of my old 70' Corvette. It had the 350/350 engine and 4sp. Pardon the quality of the photo, it's 3rd generation in order to get it sized for this forum. I bought it new in 1970 for $5,300.00. I sold it in 1995 to my daughter for $8,600. She actually paid me. They sold it in 2002 for $16,900. This pic was taken just before they sold it 5 years ago. It was one wild machine. Took it over to NV one day and ran it up to 138 and it still had something left. The redline was, I believe, at 7,000 rpm. The present owners put a couple of thousand in it, mostly interior, and it still looks and runs great. Origiinal engine with 68,000 miles on it right now. Always garaged in or near Sacramento. Marlboro maroon with black interior. bob
Click to expand...

Ah, my uncle has a '69 in the exact color (well the '69 version of it, they just called it "Burgundy"). He put some side pipes on it and WOW!!! That things LOUD:eek:... Side pipes personally aren't my style, but if you want to turn heads, thats a way to do it. Ahh, stingrays, the best Corvettes offered, imho.:thumb:
 
CaseyJones said:
Thanks for the greeting and the encouragement on the type of folks on this board. Being machine gunned by a rivet counter, hijacked at the Corvette Corral and informed of a mother's digital communication, all on my first post, made me wonder what kind of house this is.

A few points to all:
  1. I have been a model railroader since my Dad and I built a Lionel layout in the '40's.
  2. I did N-scale in the '60's and '70's.
  3. Since the late '70's, I have built 3 different HO layouts.
  4. I realize the Corvette train is tacky, of questionable value and even a scale botch (no one pointed out that the train is 1:87 scale and the Corvettes are approximately 1:64 scale).
  5. However, I am a fully trained grandfather and will spoil my grandkids with nearly anything they want. That is exactly why I worked hard and retired comfortably. For too many years I bought too many things for my "collections" and "hobbies", but found out that all you end up with is a lot of storage problems and eBay fodder. A few minutes spent with a delighted grandchild on a durable layout is, to me, worth infinitely more than closets full of super-scale, delicately detailed, zero play value "stuff".
  6. BTW, my retirement present to myself was a new 2001 Corvette that my wife and I have enjoyed for 56,000 miles coast-to-coast and border-to-border. I have a great time talking about it on corvetteforum.com.
If you are serious about the Corvette train, check HERE.

Thanks again,
David
Click to expand...

I bought a bachmann set with the same F-7 in it for a friend of mines Christmas tree and it doesn't run half bad at all. The Vette set comes with a depressed center flat that again, is pretty reliable as a freight car. I have one that I repainted and decalled for WP and it is a decent model. I also suspect that the cars in keeping with Hawthorne Villages past practices and the black outline of the supposed next release for the Vette set are the Bachmann Super Domes which are very nice cars. All in all, you can't go wrong with this set quality wise, it's just not a prototypical paint scheme for a railroad, but afterall, that is the whole point of the Hawthorne offerings through Collectiblestoday.com. These aren't meant to be prototypical railroad models, they're meant to be collectibles for non-model railroaders, and if they are enjoyed for what they are by their owners as model trains, then so much the better, especially if they entice youngsters to become model railroaders. That's exactly why I bought another Bachmann train set recently, I have a good friend whose young son sees all the trains in my house and wants to play with them, so I bought him his own Bachmann set for Christmas this year and will build him a train board for it. It's not the rivet counting stuff *I* model, but I'm sure I'll get just as much out of that $75 Bachmann set playing with him than he will and even more fun than I do my layout and prototype models.

All in all, if the Corvette train sounds like fun for you and your grandkids, *I* say, "Go for it!". Let us know how your grandkids like it and better yet, post some pics of the kids playing with it. We love to see little kids sharing the hobby we all love. :thumb:
 
Casey Jones (David) thanks for the link to the Corvette trains. I'm buying one and may buy another for myself. It even lights up. Every time I run it I'll think of those guys who panned it, and you know what kind of signals I'll be making. bob
 
The original post hinted at requesting opinions of the Hawthorne set. He asked for information on the future issues and set contents. Said he was a noob. I think the poster had already made up his mind in favor of the set, and was surprised at the negatives he received.

Nevertheless, I think my comments came across the wrong way. I didn't say not to buy it. I was just pointing out that the components are of Bachmann train set quality (some deem adequate, some say inadequate), and that the price was above and beyond similar normal sets due to the special paint scheme. I also implied (and believe) that the return on investment as a collector's item is likely non-existent despite the implications of Hawthorne's ads.

I myself buy some of the Bachmann train set pieces such as the 4-4-0 steam engines, because they are about the best of their ilk (which isn't saying much). And the San Francisco cable cars because of our family memories of riding them at Christmas time.

I have been really taken with some of the paint schemes on other Hawthorne trains, but the premium price (full Hawthorne subscription price) was just too rich for me. I'm just not a Corvette fan so this set is nothing special to me, but that's OK.

As I concluded in my earlier post, "If you understand what you are paying for going in - a very nice paint job that you like (emphasis added) - then the purchase can make sense."

my thoughts, your choices
 
PG, I agree that the Bachmann stuff is sort of junky and pricey if you buy the whole set, which I wouldn't do. But the paint jobs are "cute" and made for kids. It's a good way to start the hobby when you're 7 or 10. That's why my grandkids are getting the Corvette train. Frankly, as a current Marklin user, much of the DC train material seems pretty junky to me, by comparison. I got away from DC and DCC about 3 years ago and I haven't looked back. Just my opinion, but I know that's not worth much, either. bob
 
rhtastro said:
Casey Jones (David) thanks for the link to the Corvette trains. I'm buying one and may buy another for myself. It even lights up. Every time I run it I'll think of those guys who panned it, and you know what kind of signals I'll be making. bob
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

I still haven't bought the Corvette Train, have you? I am still curious what is included in the total subscription, because I know if I start it, I will never cancel (you know, the "gotta have 'em all" syndome)!! :mrgreen:

Thanks,
David
 
Hi All,

Well, I dug around on the collectiblestoday.com web site and finally found the toll free number (877-268-6638). Melissa informed me that the 50th Anniversary Train Set consisted of the following:

Issue 1 - Engine - A Unit
Issue 2 - Engine - B Unit and Track
Issue 3 - Flat Car with a 1953 Corvette Diecast and Power Pack
Issue 4 – Flat Car with a 1957 Corvette Diecast
Issue 5 – Flat Car with a 1963 Corvette Diecast
Issue 6 – Flat Car with a 1969 Corvette Diecast
Issue 7 – Flat Car with a 1997 Corvette Diecast
Issue 8 – Caboose

She also reminded me that the $69.95 plus $8.99 price is for each Issue. That is a total of $631.52 for the whole train!

:eek:

I love my grandsons but I think I will explore alternatives.

Thanks,
David
 
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