Although this flat car casting bears the No. 3419-30, as do all of the other helicopter and satellite cars, this was a stripped down version of these helicopter cars. Lacking the remote control features of the No. 3419, the helicopter is released manually by triggering a lever on the side of the car. The winder is the smaller black plastic 1-3/8" diameter and it is lacking the plate on the bottom that would be used for the remote launching of the helicopter.
It came with Arch-Bar Trucks equipped with solid non-operating couplers. This unpainted BLUE flat car is heat-stamped on the sides with the number "3409" to the left of the "LIONEL" inscription.
The load was a Type B helicopter. There is no box that was issued with this car, however, a reproduction display box is available along with the helicopter itself. Note: An original undamaged helicopter is required to achieve an Excellent or Like New condition. This car is much harder to find than the No. 3419. There are no variations.
In March of 1961 Lionel issued an instruction sheet for this car No. 3409-10. We’ve pictured the front, and the inside two pages of this fold out sheet below.
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