what scale automobiles should i use for o scale layout

[thatboy37]

was wondering is 1:43 scale automobiles were the right size for any o scale layout and if so i went to "toy r us" yesterday and found that they have them plentyful in stock well at least at the one on ciecero & 76th in chi-town. i got 28 cars for $47 there and was wondering whether or not that is a great deal and if you guys know whether there are anyother stores that might sale these scale cars. because wal-mart in memphis, tn does not have any everytime i go and i try to go there once a week and everytime someone on the site says something about they found some at wal-mart. why is it my luck that everytime i go they dont have any but when you go out of town you can find almost anything you need but you didnt bring the money as you were not expecting to see or find these types of things.

[taylor49]

I go to ebay and look for seller skid21.  They have a very good selection of O scale cars, trucks and accessories.  They ship promptly and have very good quality products.

[darianj]

I usually get 1:43 scale automobiles...they seem to be the easiest to find.  I've also purchased 1:48 and 1:50 scale as well.  I believe 1:48 is what the true O-scale is.

$47 for 28 cars sounds like a pretty good deal to me.  Less than $2 per car.

[phillyreading]

Have you tried flea markets or yard sales? Even estate sales can be good places to find model trains, a friend of mine a few miles away bought a whole lot of H.O. trains at an estate sale & sold off what he didn't want on ebay & made a few dollars & even kept a few items. Sometimes you can find a certain car or truck that you won't find anywhere else. I bought a garbage truck at a county fair in south Florida.  Toys R Us is a good start but there are many places to find Lionel size cars & trucks. As for scale size 1/45 to 1/50 should work fine for O gauge trains.

Lee

[dwiemer]

Hey Reggie,

     I have mostly 1/43rd scale autos and like mentioned before, have some 1/48th and 1/50th.  The way I plan on doing it is using forced perspective by putting the larger cars closer to the edge of the layout and the smaller cars towards the center, away from the viewer.  One thing is to keep like sized together (you don't want a 1/50th  next to a 1/43rd car).  Good luck and it does sound like you got a good deal.  Please post the photos when you get the layout done and also progress getting there.

dennis

[Joe Hohmann]

I use nothing but 1:43 because that is where the selection and quality is found, IMO. I'm very fussy about the quality of the 1950's era dicast cars I use, and buy most from www.diecastdirect.com  or on eBay. You can get a FEW $4.95 good ones, but most of mine have run $10.-$30. each.

Some people feel that 1:43 cars are too large. They are fine with me, since Arttista figures fit in them "just right", IMO. All that being said, I'm sure most people are not as concerned about how the cars look as I am. Joe

[thatboy37]

thanks guys will do so as you guys mentioned. but i'm still in chi-town on vacation want be back in mem-town until wednesday evening. will do a little more looking around while i'm up here. hoping to find some more interesting things, and also take some pictures of these huge train yards they have up here. again thanks and will check up with you guys later today.

[Frank53]

I recently got the new diecast direct catalog in the mail. Saw a couple of 40's sedans that would be perfect for the time period I am working on. Until I saw the price . . .

 

$92.00 each.

 

 

[Jumijo]

Frank,

Sell me your Santa Fe F3s for $184 and you can buy those two 40's cars.

Jim

[Frank53]

Frank, Sell me your Santa Fe F3s for $184 and you can buy those two 40's cars. Jim

 

I really wanted four of those cars Jim . . . 

[Frank53]

diecast direct won't let you link to images on their site, but here's a link to the page os $92.00 1/43 rd scale vehicles

 

http://www.diecastdirect.com/asp_modules/catalogtype.asp?KeyWord=194&SearchType=Exact%20Phrase&Type=A&SubType=&Brand=

[Frank53]

funny, they will let you link to their thumbnails:

 

These are $4.95:

 

THese are $5.95:

 

they have a few other of the K-Line Heinz trucks for $5.95 as well.

 

[Joe Hohmann]

I recently got the new diecast direct catalog in the mail. Saw a couple of 40's sedans that would be perfect for the time period I am working on. Until I saw the price . . .

 

$92.00 each.

Those are Brooklin, which they recently started to carry. Not to offend any Brooklin collectors...BUT...I don't get it! Very few have chrome around the windows, and on some, the wheels are oversized. I personally don't think they are worth the big bucks. They DO make a few models I would buy if they looked better. I've gotten good ebay deals on Franklin Mint 1:43 cars...about 1/3 to 1/2 off the origional $62. selling price.

Forget the catalog. Search 1:43 cars on their site. Some nice 40's Fords, Mercs, etc. Joe

 

 

 

[tapstrains]

The majority of the cars on my layout are 1:43 and 1:48 as these tend to be very much in scale and look right on the layout.

I have been fortunate to find a lot of cars and trucks at the local train shows I frequent throughout the year. I also tend to find some really nice cars at York during the two annual shows each year.

Buying 28 cars for $47 is a great deal!

Steve Tapper

Northern Central High Railers 

[Anonymous]

That is about the only size around but put people in them. Last months magazine had great close up layout shot but cars look wierd with no drivers.

[csxt30]

That's a good point Steve !!  I have a set of the MTH motorcycles & If I'm not mistaken, they also made riders for them, which would make for a nice scene !!

Thanks, John

[FJ and G]

When I was a teenager, I saw lots of open-deck auto racks, 2 and 3 level, holding 12 or 16 cars. I've always said on this forum how nice it would be to have those cars with 1:48 autos. So far, no one has stepped up to the plate. I'm sure if I made some and were successfull, Lionel and MTH would quickly make one that's nearly identical.

[thatboy37]

well like i said toys r us has them plentiful in stock and being that you guys said that that was/is a great deal i think i'm gone go back there and buy the rest of them tomorrow. just my luck if i wait to get back to memphis they want have any and i will be mad that i didnt get them. also went to chicagoland hobby shop and they had some nice 1:43 scale cars for $20 but they were the high end ones like authentic mercedes and bmw's i want them but i looked at the price and said i can get 28 cars for the price of 2 i will go with the el cheapo's at toys r us.

[waltrapp]

Last year I bought the MTH packet of unpainted figures for $25 I think.  Most are sitting.  I painted them up and populated all of my 'moving' cars.  What a huge improvement, especially since many of these cars are convertibles.

Their arms are not extended, but unless one looks real close no one seems to notice.  I tried 'adjustable' Circus Craft (?) ones but they were too big for the 1:43 car seats.

For the standing figures I lopped of their legs and glued them in a seat - this worked well for sedans and trucks where you don't really see inside anyways.

BTW: 3 years ago I bought the same packet of figures and populated my passenger train.  Again, huge improvement.

- walt

[TexasEd]

Reggie,

Just a word of warning.  Don't buy too many up front.  You are in the early stage of building your layout and you may have them for a while before you need them.  I overbought and now I have to store them while workling on other things.

Ed

[thatboy37]

texas ed-

 i got ya i havent went and got any more as i thought about all the stuff i have now and cant use. but i got a few just in case when i do need them i have some and want regret not getting those and then trying to find them and cant. so its better to be un the safe side than not to be.