Recently I was scrolling through the archive and looking at MRR issues from about 1955 to 1962. What I noticed was the amount of engines, cars and accessories that was advertised. It got me to thinking about how hard it would be to build a good sized HO scale layout using products and tchniques from the late1950s and early 60s how easy/hard is it to find these products? Can it be done?
Go to train shows, train stores (if any still around in your area), eBay, auction houses/estate sales, antique store/malls that carry things beyond just furniture, Trainz. They have lots of vintage HO equipment from those two decades. Varney, Marx, Mantua, Athearn, and Tyco (red box) come to mind for companies from that era.
scott7891Go to train shows, train stores (if any still around in your area), eBay,
My LHS guy has a bin full of old Tyco power packs and MDC transformers for 3 to 5 bucks, plus more advanced power supplies for a bit more, and his crew repairs and puts Kadee couplers on old Athearn and other rolling stock and shrink-wraps them into old Roundhouse boxes, 7 or 8 bucks a pop. Plus he has lots of new-old-stock cars for about the same.
With patience and some horse-sense, I've had great luck with targeted searches on eBay, and out of probably a hundred purchases I've had only a couple of lemons there. However, I'm not so interested in '50s and '60s era products. Still, they're still around and they can be had for good prices.
As for '50s and '60s-era "techniques", I don't know enough about modeling to know how those might have differed from today's techniques, although I easily wired my new DC layout to have 10 isolated power blocks so I could run trains in the yard, on the main, and on a branch separately. Scenery techniques? In the '60s we used screen-door screen, plaster of paris and newspaper strips to create topography; there are a lot easier ways to roll your own hills these days, but you can still find the supplies. One thing I would NEVER do now is sand my track with 200 grit sandpaper ha! (Yes we did.)
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Recently I found this book entitled HO Primer model railroading for all by the great Linn Westcott from 1962. Lots of great pictures and techniques in this book.
Currently most of my roster is Tyco brown box mainly because it's so cheap and I like rebuilding them power tourques. How does the earlier Red Box models compare as far as quality? And are there any other brands as far as structures? (Plasticville comes to mind)
Mrchickenstrips It got me to thinking about how hard it would be to build a good sized HO scale layout using products and tchniques from the late1950s and early 60s how easy/hard is it to find these products?
Hi Mrchickenstrips. Welcome to the forums
That's an interesting moniker!
I have a few old Bowser and Tyco steam locomotives built from kits. They can easily be detailed if you want to. You will want to learn about how to improve their drivetrains.
I also have a few old pieces of rolling stock which I am very fond of. I bought all of them on eBay. My favourites are four stock cars built from Star Line kits from the 1940s. Whoever built them did a superb job. There was absolutely no excess glue and all the boards on the sides and the ends were lined up perfectly. There was a little damage but it was easily repaired. I did upgrade the wheels, trucks and couplers. Unfortunately the trucks were suffering zinc rot to the point where they simply crumbled in my hands. Once painted, they looked fantastic.
I also keep my eyes open on eBay for really old Athearn tin bodied freight cars. The detailing is almost non-existant when compared to a modern car, but I love them simply for the nostalgia. Again, they will be upgraded with new trucks, wheels and couplers but I'm going to leave the rest as is.
You could also try building old craftsman kits yourself. There will be a bit of a learning curve
Prices can be all over the place, but the ones I bought were quite cheap.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
A Marnold control panel would look '50s/'60s vintage.
PC101 A Marnold control panel would look '50s/'60s vintage. Oh wow, that is cool!
Oh wow, that is cool!
MrchickenstripsCurrently most of my roster is Tyco brown box mainly because it's so cheap and I like rebuilding them power tourques. How does the earlier Red Box models compare as far as quality? And are there any other brands as far as structures? (Plasticville comes to mind)
Red Box ones are considered the best quality Tyco's when they were more focused on quality. Brown Box era is when their quality decreased greatly so if you are in to Tyco then you want the Red Box ones.Apart from structures, Tyco made a ton of them as well both red and brown box era. Life-Like as well. There are many advanced kits depending on your level from that era but I don't know the names as there were so many that again can be found at most train shows or swap meets since they are quite common.
scott7891 Mrchickenstrips Currently most of my roster is Tyco brown box mainly because it's so cheap and I like rebuilding them power tourques. How does the earlier Red Box models compare as far as quality? And are there any other brands as far as structures? (Plasticville comes to mind) Red Box ones are considered the best quality Tyco's when they were more focused on quality. Brown Box era is when their quality decreased greatly so if you are in to Tyco then you want the Red Box ones.Apart from structures, Tyco made a ton of them as well both red and brown box era. Life-Like as well. There are many advanced kits depending on your level from that era but I don't know the names as there were so many that again can be found at most train shows or swap meets since they are quite common.
Mrchickenstrips Currently most of my roster is Tyco brown box mainly because it's so cheap and I like rebuilding them power tourques. How does the earlier Red Box models compare as far as quality? And are there any other brands as far as structures? (Plasticville comes to mind)
Cool, I know what I'll be on the hunt for!
Mrchickenstrips Recently I found this book entitled HO Primer model railroading for all by the great Linn Westcott from 1962. Lots of great pictures and techniques in this book. Currently most of my roster is Tyco brown box mainly because it's so cheap and I like rebuilding them power tourques. How does the earlier Red Box models compare as far as quality? And are there any other brands as far as structures? (Plasticville comes to mind)
Two good sources for your purposes if you want to get into traditional techniques.
Simon
Does anybody here use broken pieces of mineral fiber ceiling tile for rock facing anymore?
You also can try the HO swap site. I bet they have older things. Can't speak to the supply/demand of products.
I've been reading through my own collection of MR issues from the 1940s forward, and definitely noted a lot of the names in advertisements are brands I've seen at train shows, although in recent years some of the really old stuff is drying up and more of the 1960s-70s colorful plastic train set stuff (nostalgia zone for kids of the 60s & 70s) taking its place. But there are plenty of old Red Ball wooden kits floating around out there, and other kits of the "shake-the-box" category that people turn up their noses at because they have things like printed reefer doors, or cardstock building kits from Suydam etcetera. How far you'd take it depends on your level of obsession with the period; a thrice-around "spaghetti bowl" track plan would be more appropriate than an around-the-room modern point to point, although there are some interesting examples of early point to point plans out there. And if you wanted to do it really right, get the components for the big sheet metal modular panels, with an old-school DC throttle circuit, a big rheostat lever for speed control, analog ammeter/voltmeter, and some fancy jewel lights for panel indicators, designed for control from a static operator's panel wired for cab control instead of walkaround throttles and DCC.
Plenty of the Kalmbach books on how to build & design a layout (along with those by Atlas, Carstens, etc) are knocking around train shows for a couple of bucks (and not too hard to find at used bookstores) so you can use old-school techniques for layout design, construction, and scenery, like zip-texturing. Just skip adding the requisite handful of asbestos to your scenery plaster mix!
Especially for someone who is already an enthusiast of mid-century modern design, a period-appropriate "circa 1960" layout might be the perfect use for the rumpus room or garage of a mid-century post & beam house for someone who still has some money to burn to go with their tiki memorabilia, Eames chairs, and vacuum tube based hi-fi/turntable living room set.
My own layout, latest version just getting underway, has lots of carryovers from the 50's and 60's.
The list includes:
Revell structure kits, some stock, or stock with different paint schemes.
Ideal prebuilt structures
Athearn metal freight cars, original "yellow box" plastic kits, Globe/Athearn original streamlined passenger cars.
Varney metal freight cars, and early plastic freight cars
Suydam cardstock structure kits
Ulrich cast metal piggyback flat cars, tractor trailer trucks, etc.
Alexander Scale Models structure kits
Silver Streak wood rolling stock kits
Globe wood and metal rolling stock kits
American Beauty wood/metal passenger car kits
Early Atlas structures (many still available today)
Dyna Model wood structure kits
Campbell Scale Models wood structure kits
Roundhouse/MDC metal freight car kits and early plastic freight car kits
Eheim/AHM/Brawa operating trolleybus system
Ambroid wood freght car kits
Some of these items were handed down to me by my father, others I have acquired over the years.
I started in this hobby in 1967, and started working in a local hobby shop in 1970, so many of these products were still on the market.
Here are a few photos:
In those days it was mostly about building stuff, not what was offered RTR.
And of course the trains are DC controlled, even if it is with 1990's era radio throttles - but the signal system and advanced cab control work on relays.
The layout is also rich with products from the 70's and 80's. Walthers "white box" freight car kits, Athearn Blue box, Roundhouse, Train Minature, etc.
Sheldon
Hi Sheldon,
Thanks for sharing your roster with us! I'm envious.
hon30critter Hi Sheldon, Thanks for sharing your roster with us! I'm envious. Cheers!! Dave
You are most welcome Dave.
What I don't have is old locomotives. All that stuff ran poorly by today's standards.
I have two Mantua Generals, one is 90's production, part of a museum scene planned for the layout.
But my oldest seriously operational locomotives are a Athearn ABA set of late 70's blue box F7's that have been completely upgraded, serious added detail, can motors, GSB cab interiors, etc, and a kit bashed Athearn blue box FP7 and B unit with the same features.
All my other motive power is less than 30 years old.
Yeah, the minibus is pretty cool.
Wow, a lot of people have chimed in, seems like I'm not the only one who has thought about something like this. It is an interesting thought experiment for me, and for others it seems to be a reality. My main problem is my array of interests! I'd love to make a mid-century layout, but I can't help buying some of the newest and best locomotives! (I pre-ordered my First Rapido locomotives last night-ATSF repowered PA-1) thanks for the awesome responses everyone
Mrchickenstrips Wow, a lot of people have chimed in, seems like I'm not the only one who has thought about something like this. It is an interesting thought experiment for me, and for others it seems to be a reality. My main problem is my array of interests! I'd love to make a mid-century layout, but I can't help buying some of the newest and best locomotives! (I pre-ordered my First Rapido locomotives last night-ATSF recovered PA-1) thanks for the awesome responses everyone
Wow, a lot of people have chimed in, seems like I'm not the only one who has thought about something like this. It is an interesting thought experiment for me, and for others it seems to be a reality. My main problem is my array of interests! I'd love to make a mid-century layout, but I can't help buying some of the newest and best locomotives! (I pre-ordered my First Rapido locomotives last night-ATSF recovered PA-1) thanks for the awesome responses everyone
Rich
Alton Junction
It depends how literal you want to be about getting actual old stuff. As a couple folks have mentioned, some building kits that were first made 60-70 years ago are still in production. However some of them have gone through several different companies / brand names over time.
For steam engines, Mantua began putting Sagami can motors in their Pacifics and Mikadoes at the end of the 1980s, so getting one of those engines made after that would give you an engine that still uses the old 1950s body but has a much nicer running engine. At one time they did offer retrofit kits for the can motor, they turn up once in a while at flea markets or online.
snjroy Yeah, the minibus is pretty cool. Simon
Thank you. I model the era when the trolley bus looked like it would be the future of urban surface mass transit.
Nearly one third of the "trolley routes" in Baltimore in the early 50's were rubber tire trolley buses. They were pretty common in a lot of US cities at the time.
They are just a little oversized, but mine will be about 4' from the viewer.
MrchickenstripsMy main problem is my array of interests! I'd love to make a mid-century layout, but I can't help buying some of the newest and best locomotives!
The layout I'm building now is planned to rotate time frames on a schedule, maybe move ahead say 15 years every three months, covering roughly 1930s to 1990s.
The printing of the cars/locos was not as good during the Red Box era (pre-1971, when the Tylers still owned TYCO). The action accessories (unloading box car, crossing gate, piggyback ramp) came out late in the red box era. The assembled/lighted structures (originally 50s era Aurora and Revell kits), and the structure kits (made by Pola in Germany) came out in the 70s.
Sounds awesome