Why? The diner itself isn’t a cheap plastic repop of the body of some old Marx car. No sir! It’s a genuine K-Line extruded aluminum passenger car shell. But aluminum is a metal known for its light weight.
So then why is the accessory heavy? Its 10-inch by 17-inch base and parking lot is made from a heavy, solid cast-resin material.
The diner uses three wiring hookups on the underside of its base: one for lighting, one to control a smoke unit, and one to trigger music.
Attaching the wires is a bit awkward because the diner shell will come loose as you flip over the accessory to connect the wires, yet the shell can’t be removed because of the roof-top sign. Once connected, however, you’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
The crowning feature of this unit is its illuminated signs. The words “Starlite Diner” are a blazing red, and the “hot coffee” and “open” signs in the windows do a great job mimicking neon signs. Peeking into the little business, you’ll see a full interior and even patrons.
But wait, there’s more. The diner features a smoke unit (anyone out there making eggs-and-bacon-scented smoke fluid yet?) and a diner wouldn’t be a diner without a juke box. This one plays a digital bite of “The Twist.”
The Starlite Diner is another clever accessory by K-Line that takes an old toy train idea to a new level. The styling is enchanting and execution first rate.
I really like this accessory and it will bring plenty of light and magic to any layout.
