Where is the best place to find crops for my farm field in 1950's Iowa in N scale

mc,

Although it will probably run you ~$15-$20, do yourself a favor and purchase a Walthers N-scale catalog.  It will be $$$ well spent because you'll be able to see - at a glance - what is available as far as crops and agricultural products is concerned - or nearly anything else your heart should desire.

Tom

Just order from the Walthers web site.

Busch has a nice product for corn fields. HERE

The first pic below is a Google Earth Photo and the second is Corduroy cloth from some old pants.

I know this is not quite what you asked about, but if you want to have a plowed field look, corduroy is great. If you dry brush greens and yellows on the top of the ridges it looks very good as crops in the early stages. It is especially effective in "N scale"

I learned this one at a train show seminar. The guy was a master at getting the paint right.

                                                                             Brent

ALKEM Scale Models corn

I agree that there are places that you can buy the Fields but depending on the size of the fields, the "acreage" it may not be cost effective. i looked in the database to see if there was an article on how to make them as i vaguely recall  something along those lines but nothing was in the database, if anyone can recall or has ideas on how to make your own corn and grains it would be helpfull to many modelers that are trying to cut costs. i have googled it as well with no luck.

Wheat can be modeled using field grass.  Corn is a little harder, but you can get good results by rolling field grass stalks in clump ground foliage, then painting the tassels on the tips of the ears.  Soy and sorghum can be modeled using ground foam in rows.

You can get the same effect as the corduroy shown above using corregated cardboard with one face peeled off to reveal the bumpy part beneath.

Or you can buy pre-made crops.  Several different manufacturers have them, and I agree with those who say Walther's is the best way to find them (not necessarily buy them).

I found my cut corn field in an old whisk broom. The other crops were from Walthers.

I recall an article some years ago, but don't remember which mag, about using an astro turf like doormat for a corn field.  Not the real tight carpet like on, but the one with larger "grass" using a harder plastic.  Don't recall all the details, but I think they thinned it a little then used Busch corn along the edge to blend the mat into the surrounding area.

Me?  I'm trying to figure out how to make cotton after it's been picked.

Your tractor and other equipment will need to be from the time frame your modeling. Your crops are not subject to a time frame. Its the things around the farm that will set the time.

I would search 1950 farms Iowa and see if I could find some pictures.

But to some extent crops in a region are era dependent.  For example, where I grew up in SC, areas that were cotton fields in the 30s/40s were cattle pasture by the late 60s.  But there was a lot more corn growing there.  Then don't forget soybeans which have become another major crop compared to earlier in the 20th century.  Also many of those farms turned into pulpwood farms with thousands of acres of pine.  Each section would have pine of matching size covering large areas, then right next to it more acres of pine in a totally different size -- all depending on when the pine was planted.

And I quate

mctrain

I am getting ready to add crops to my 1950's Iowa farm. It is Pella Iowa. I would like corn and wheat and apples.

mctrain

I am getting ready to add crops to my 1950's Iowa farm. It is Pella Iowa. I would like corn and wheat and apples.

Fruit trees are available here, but I think they look more lie lemons or oranges:

http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Busch-Trees-Fruit-3-Pieces/item189-6651.htm

A wild grass grain field {looks more like a harvested field than a planted one} is here:

http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Busch-Wall-Card-Sandstone-2-Pieces/item189-7372.html

Apple-specific trees here:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/noc/noc21560.htm

http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Faller/181213.aspx

WHeat field here:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bus/bus1204.htm

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/189-1204

I found all these and more in a matter of seconds by typing "Ho scale {fill in the blank} into the google search engine.

You'll need some tulips too I think!

I've had good luck with the scenic express website,  The corn I used was from Busch.  It's expensive but quite convincing.  I also used their soy beans which were quite nice.  I'm guessing the wheat fields are of equal quality.

 http://www.sceneryexpress.com/departments.asp?dept=1040

How can I help?

I'm a farmer and I'm outstanding in my field. 

I didn't realize that the website I referred to doesn't offer much in N scale for crops.  Sorry for the false lead.

hi jmbjmb

I presume re 'making cotton' you mean the so-called cotton clumps.............

*** willow - select stems with lightest/whitest buds on them; into a coffee grinder for 5 - 15 seconds [you decide the final texture] - you won't find anything more realistic. If the results are not fine enough, you can use tweezers to make the inidividual "balls" even smaller. They also take special inks very well - I use the Dye Na Flow specialty inks by Jaquard, available from a large China import outfi in CA - a myriad of colors, specially made for the silk industry...bear in mind these are inks and are permanent, always wear latex gloves when handling - oh, and if you spill them, well...............

Google Dye Na Flow and you should find the importer - their prices and shipping are very reasonable.

They have a 'wow' catalog - it's large and very thoroughly covers that type of market item.

Good luck and take care

Bob

galaxy

mctrain:

I am getting ready to add crops to my 1950's Iowa farm. It is Pella Iowa. I would like corn and wheat and apples.

 

Fruit trees are available here, but I think they look more lie lemons or oranges:

http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Busch-Trees-Fruit-3-Pieces/item189-6651.htm

A wild grass grain field {looks more like a harvested field than a planted one} is here:

http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Busch-Wall-Card-Sandstone-2-Pieces/item189-7372.html

Apple-specific trees here:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/noc/noc21560.htm

http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Faller/181213.aspx

WHeat field here:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bus/bus1204.htm

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/189-1204

I found all these and more in a matter of seconds by typing "Ho scale {fill in the blank} into the google search engine.

Oh, SO SORRY!

I missed the "N SCALE" part!

Try here for N SCALE apple trees, aobut half way down in 3,4,5 packs;

http://www.nscalesupply.com/gcg/gcg.html

or here, 2/3 way down:

http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/erh_list.asp?mn=13&sc=N&ca=24

for corn fields this may help: {but looks more like a wheat field to me {you could paint green}:

http://modutrak.cgwrr.com/MiNi/Corn.htm

FOr wheat I found nothing, BUT maybe you can trim down so HO wheat? or use the miniature brooms for stalks found in AC MOORE or Micheals crafts store cut to size?