I have a #714 link coupler 'modern' log car with the black diecast base and gray tipping platform and the original logs that I received as a boy around 1950. The logs are 7/8" dia. x 5-1/2" long hardwood dowels. My #714 car throws the logs off with vigor when activated. The #751 'tinplate monstrosity' log loader from the 1940s and early 1950s handles these logs just fine.
I never had a log loader as a boy, and when I got a #751 as an adult I found that the five vertical stops along the backside of the 714 car were not high enough to keep the third log from bouncing off the back of the car when loading it. Thus I reluctantly got and used the yellow #717 log cars on my home and our club layout as Chuck noted. I don't think they look as good as the #714 -- but they work. Incidentally the #751 Log Loader is a real crowd pleaser at train shows. The solenoid that drives the lifter really flings the log up with a satisfyingly loud clunk that makes nearby people jump if they are not watching and sometimes if they are. You usually get a lot of startled smiles when you load that first log. When making reproduction logs for the cars, I found that it took repeated alternating staining with a brown (like dark walnut) and I think a black (tie) stain to get the color of the original Gilbert logs. Just the side of the original logs was stained. The ends were natural -- logs were probably cut to length after the dowels were stained. Incidentally, Winross made a 1/64 scale log truck back in the 1960s which will carry three 3/4" dia. logs. Unfortunately these trucks are rather pricey today, but someone bought the castings to assemble the log trucks at the Winross auction a few years ago. They have offered the log trucks since then at a more reasonable price. In addition Joal makes a 1/50 scale tractor with 'log grabber' on the front that is a perfect fit for the Gilbert 3/4" or 7/8" logs. These make excellent accessories for the "O" gauge #751 'tinplate monstrosity.' Roger Delthony [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] S-Trains list sponsor: http://www.americanflyertrains.com All the Flyer you desire...books and accessories too! To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list send a note to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
