Hi,
Do any of you have any suggestions for HO scale trucks, mining equipment (loaders, dozers) and cars that can be used on a layout set "sometime" in the 50's, so anyuthing up to 1960. perhaps 62 is OK. I have found a lot of autmobiles but I'm lost when it comes to mining equipment and other industry type vehicles. I would also like some suggestions on wich brands are good. I rather pay 5$ extra to have a good looking car then a "toy-like" car. At this moment I have zero cars on the layout and this needs to be remedied. But I was thinking of taking it slow and buy a few at a time and build up a quality fleet of reasonable priced vehicles.
Thanks for any help,
Magnus
Hi Magnus,
Well for starters.....You can browse through Walthers catalog for vehicles. Has 8071 of all kinds.
Here is a page with some construction equipment on it and you should be able to navigate the site for more from this page. Good Hunting!
Click on link:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=vehicles&start=1110
Here are more:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?words=restrict&category=vehicles&keywords=ERA%20CONSTRUCTION%20EQUIPMENT
Take Care!
Frank
Sheepscott Scale Products specializes in truck kits from the 50s. You order just like the real truck do, a cab & chassis, then a body to go with it. George Barrett is a friend of mine, and he will discuss what your needs are.http://www.sheepscotscale.com/site/
You mentioned a quarry; he has a very nice quarry dump body that usually goes with an Autocar or Mack truck.http://www.sheepscotscale.com/site/2012/09/20/mack-rock-dump
He also has trucks with winches, lowboy trailers, cranes, and about any type of truck body you can think of that was around in the 40s and 50s
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I have several Classic Metalworks model cars from 50's including a couple of pickups. They are completely finished and to scale. Look very real.
Also have a couple of Alloy Forms cars from S.S. Ltd. They come unpainted and unassembled but are true to scale and fill in models not available to other manufacturers.
Both suppliers ship within a couple days of order.
Lillenand build up a quality fleet of reasonable priced vehicles
The above posters have given you several good places to search. Just be aware that "a quality fleet" and "reasonably priced" are two terms that don't necessarily exist together.
Thanks everyone for the help. Any specific cars that where common in the U.S in the 50's?
maxman Lillen and build up a quality fleet of reasonable priced vehicles The above posters have given you several good places to search. Just be aware that "a quality fleet" and "reasonably priced" are two terms that don't necessarily exist together.
Lillen and build up a quality fleet of reasonable priced vehicles
I get what your point. But what I mean by resaonable is an reasonable price for a reasonable product, not cheap.
Thanks four your help.
The Classic Metalworks and Alloy Forms cars I mentioned are in the $15 to $20 range. Cheaper than most rail car kits and assembled rail cars currently available for sales.
Recently purchased a Sylvan Scale Models late 1940s grain truck. It requires painting and some assembly and was under $20 at the National Train Show. Sylvan has an extensive line of 50's vintage cars and trucks. www.sylvanscalemodels.com
Hi Magnus:
There is a relatively new supplier of HO scale cars in the UK. Oxford Model Automobiles has started to sell true HO scale diecast cars. Their previous offerings were in OO scale (1/76) and were too big to look good on an HO scale layout. Their new HO scale offerings are done quite well, although the selection for your purposes is a bit limited. I just got a 1958 Edsel and I am very happy with it. One thing I really like is that the chassis is screwed on to the body instead of being riveted. That makes installing a driver and passengers much easier.
http://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/navigationOX/87/87IndexALL.html
One thing to keep in mind is that not all cars on the road are brand new. That means for example that having a '39 Dodge sedan in 1958 is quite acceptable, although it should be weathered enough to show its age.
Trucks are a bit different in that not many businesses kept their trucks for more than a few years. The occasional clunker is ok but might be best placed in the back of the company lot with some grass growing around it.
While I'm at it, I will suggest adding an additional dimension to your vehicles just like you do with your locomotives. That is lighting. Here are a couple of examples. These are done using SMD 0603 LEDs:
This little guy has flashing turn signals:
Since this Chevy won't actually be moving, I made it look like the brake lights are on. If you don't want that just use a higher value resistor.
It takes a little practise but the results are really neat.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Magnus,
You've received some very good replies. However, don't forget to have a bus or two stopping at or cruising through your town! Even in the 1950s, Greyhound and Trailways had a decent sized network across the U.S:
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mZIr6rPHOvWdwREYYHBmxNg.jpg
http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mecu_PaoXK0EF4jlFULxnEg.jpg
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
AntonioFP45:
Great suggestion!
Lillen,
The reason behind my posting of the Walthers catalog was quite simply because Walthers distributes most of the other products that were suggested. Not saying you have to buy from them...but it will give you a quick idea of what is out there and what it looks like. For instance, starting at page 66 in that link, you will find all CMW (Classic Metal Works) cars, trucks, buses and trailers all from the 50's era and also 40's. Like I said 8,071 of them.
Just to give you some idea of some of the products that have been mentioned.
Sylvan Scale hollow resin kits with interiiors and driver figures
1947 Chevrolet Aero Sedan
1951 Dodge Windsor 4 Door Sedan
1951 Studebaker Convertible, the figures are Preiser
1951 Studebaker Business Coupe
Mack COE truck with CMW trailer
White Superpower tank turck
Alloy Forms cast metal vehicles, only one picture, I could not find photos of the cars
1935 Mack truck with Classic Metal Works Trailer, old truck still running in the 1950s
Jordan makes highly detailed plastic kits, listed in Walthers
1926 Essex, the grey car is a Walthers kit long out of production, blue pickup and yellow taxi are Lifelike Scenemaster, black Caddy is Busch, green truck is CMW
1934 Ford School Bus with added figures, I modeled as a school bus but could be any kind of bus
Athearn has made a number of vehicles from 1930s to 60s
1950s Ford Panel Truck with home made decals and added driver figure
Fixable bus
CG Laser makes a number of wood kit bodies for CMW vehicles, and foundations for the removed body to sit on as a storage unit; listed in Walthers
MiniMetals/CMW Cab and Chassis with GC Laser stake body
Mini metals Ford Pickup with CG laser Utility Body Kit
Someone had mentioned the CMW busses, early 50s Greyhound with Preiser figures. They have recently released a mid to late 50s Scenicruser Greyhound
One manufacturer that has not been mentioned is Stoney Mountan Classic castings. They are solid resin kits. I have not bought from thm lately, but what I have are good. Only 1 picture, howeverhttp://www.shop.stoneymountaincc.com/600-Series-1-87-SCALE-CLASSIC-VEHICLES_c2.htm
1950 Ford COE
This is probably information overload, but hopefully gives some of an overview.
I get e-mails from Trainworld announcing sales on Classic Metal Works models along with other items. I like the CMW vehicles, too.
And, try a train show. Some years back there were a lot of very nice, very inexpensive 50s era cars being sold at places like Wal-Mart for a few dollars each. These are still being sold at train shows for around $5, still new-in-the-box. They are nice metal models with glazed windows.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thanks for all of your help, especially G Paine for all those wonderful pictures.
Great suggestion Mister Beasley, but I live in Sweden so that will be a problem. ;) That is also a part of why I need help with this, I have no clue what so ever about US automobiles, now or then. :)
Sylvan Scale lists a number of hobby shops in Europe that carry their products: Gunters Car Company in Germany accepts mail orders, and there are a number of others in different contrieshttp://www.sylvanscalemodels.com/dealer.htm
Sheepscott does not mention overseas shipping, but if something interests you send him an email and see what he says.
One company I forgot to mention is Motormax; their Fresh Cherries line of diecast vehicles is mostly 1970s, but they have 2 Ford pickups, 1940 and 1956 that are very nicehttp://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Vehicles&scale=H&manu=&item=&keywords=fresh+cherries&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
They also list a number of distributors in Europehttp://www.motormaxtoy.com/p4_new.asp
G Paine, there is not a problem with ordering from the U.S. It's often cheaper to do it that way rather then let a middleman run up the costs. But thanks for the suggestions. :)
Athearn's Ford Model C (the COE) would fit yourtime slot as they were built starting in 1957.