One of my future projects is to populate some vehicles with people. You see vehicles at RR X-ings with no people in them. I read a how-to once. It involved cutting off the legs below the knees. Then, figuring out how to disassemble and reassemble the vehicle.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Figures are expensive because of the level of detail on the painting. I have no problem paying big bucks for nicely painted figures. The most expensive ones I've bought where German WWII soldiers from Preiser with a really high level of detail for use with my Guns of Normandy Coastal Defense model.
Sir Madog hornblower So are plastic figures so expensive because the manufacturers have to pay licensing fees? I don't think I've ever seen an HO scale figure that actually looked like anyone I'd recognize! Well, how wrong you are! You can buy HO scale figures of President Obama, the Pope, some other politicians, past and present. I am sorry if my English is not good enough to have made my point clear. Car makers (especially the ones in your country) charge hefty license fees. There are no license fees on people, not even President Obama!
hornblower So are plastic figures so expensive because the manufacturers have to pay licensing fees? I don't think I've ever seen an HO scale figure that actually looked like anyone I'd recognize!
So are plastic figures so expensive because the manufacturers have to pay licensing fees? I don't think I've ever seen an HO scale figure that actually looked like anyone I'd recognize!
Well, how wrong you are!
You can buy HO scale figures of President Obama, the Pope, some other politicians, past and present.
I am sorry if my English is not good enough to have made my point clear. Car makers (especially the ones in your country) charge hefty license fees. There are no license fees on people, not even President Obama!
Actually if you have a talent agent there are licensing fees. All products which feature the band KISS are licensed by Gene Simons so he receives royalties for their likeness. Same with Britney Spears, the girls from Twilight and the Hunger Games, etc. Professional athletes also. If you want a John Elway figure you pay extra for his name. However nobody makes any of these people in HO scale. There are HO scale KISS Racing Rigs (slot car trucks) and I do have a Billy Ray Cyrus tour bus which I filled with self painted Preiser firgures to represent Miley Cyrus and her family and friend.
To me figures and vehicle are just as important to building a nice layout as weathered freight cars or super detailed locomotives. It's just part of the overall miniture world so why not have nice people, cars and trucks?
On my ISL I use Truck N stuff 18 wheelers that I buy at $9.99-17.99 but,I want the best trucks for eye candy and for the few cars I use I bought a 25 car lot off of e-bay for around $16.00.
These cars are less detailed but,I notice the majority of my few visitors never see these cars since the buildings,freight cars and the 18 wheelers is center stage while the "extra cast" sets in the background unnoticed..
Here's why..
That's a very nice looking Werner truck or that's a very nice looking Knight truck there. They can relate to those truck lines as easily as a NS or CSX boxcar because its what they see every day..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Frank - I see Brother Elias has been visiting you
BATMANFrank, as alway's I am in awe of your vehicle modeling ability. However you may want take another crack at your truckers backdrop. It's just a little too flowery for a truck guy.
Brent,
Thanks for Your kinds words....LOL Yeah that was My old make-shift, paint drying and detail shelf. The newer one is larger, inside a kit bashed warehouse/garage that the roof and one side is removable, can be closed up to keep any dust/dirt out. I even hired some furry Mechanic's.....but I have yet to find out how to keep them from clowning around. I think they may have come from some North Dakota Abby.....Good worker's though. LOL.
Take Care!
Frank
zstripe
Frank, as alway's I am in awe of your vehicle modeling ability. However you may want take another crack at your truckers backdrop. It's just a little too flowery for a truck guy.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
JimL zstripe Hi, If You model the 30's era, to the 80's and You are into kit building/bashing there are all kinds of vehicles out there, trucks, ..... OK .... I'll buy two, or more, of those tandem axle trucks. Great job!
zstripe Hi, If You model the 30's era, to the 80's and You are into kit building/bashing there are all kinds of vehicles out there, trucks, .....
Hi,
If You model the 30's era, to the 80's and You are into kit building/bashing there are all kinds of vehicles out there, trucks, .....
OK .... I'll buy two, or more, of those tandem axle trucks.
Great job!
If You are interested in building You're own ....here's a link where I got them. The one's I build though, the suspension's are modified to accept Brass tube axles housings, brass rod for axle's, different wheels and tires, from A-Line and brass tube exhaust. In some cases, suspension is lengthtened with Brass C-channel. All the one's I build roll....the kits are static models:
http://www.amerproto.com/sylvan.htm
The kit that the trucks started out as:
http://www.amerproto.com/images/sylvan/185.jpg
Trailers are bashed Herpa models with lowered and modified suspensions. Tractor is a CMW, all on sale, more than half off. I guess no one wanted what road name they were painted for....So I bought a whole bunch and stripped the paint and added details, the way I wanted them.
Sir Madog This may be slightly , but I have always asked myself why some folks go through a lot of pain, trouble and expense of building a highly detailed and realistic looking layout, only to skimp on the vehicles populating it and thus making all of the work look toylike, especially on close-up photos.
This may be slightly , but I have always asked myself why some folks go through a lot of pain, trouble and expense of building a highly detailed and realistic looking layout, only to skimp on the vehicles populating it and thus making all of the work look toylike, especially on close-up photos.
Sometimes it's budgetary limits, but let's leave those aside as already thoroughly beaten to a pulp...
I think the answer lies right above your post. You need some foreground models, to be sure. But you also need lots of background models, depending on your era and prototype. It's like anything else on the layout, the mix of these two is something we have to make a choice about for ourselves.
Then there's the stand-ins...background models you wish were foreground ones until you can afford to replace them.
It's all good.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Dear Raillphotog:
Thanks for the Trainworld tip.
I bought four vehicles that worked out to about $8.00 per with shipping.
I'll still be on the lookout for even cheaper alternatives.
Thanks to all who responded to my initial post.
A lot depends on what level of detail you demand. If a car or truck is going to be a design feature the required detail will make it costly. If you just want plausible cars to fill a scene low cost options are available.
I'm in N where cheap platic cars are all over eBay. For >$7.00 you can still get 25 of them in a bag. Picked up a few and after taking them apart to clean the flash and re-set the window glass they look pretty good. Still need some paint on the headlights/tail lights, etc.
Here is the HO version. Keep looking and have fun!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-5-Ho-Scale-Model-Train-Assorted-Plastic-Cars-Autos-Automobile-Vehicles-/301804555922?hash=item4644f40e92:g:QPUAAOSwxN5WT7jz
Match Box and Hot Wheels both have some trucks that are spot on for HO.First to come to mind are the Ford utility truck and the Chevy snow plow.Both can be bashed into other types of trucks fairly easy.
Here's the Ford with just a wheel/tire change and some paint work with a small brush.Total investment of right around $5.00.
Just ordered 20 vehicles, pretty good price. Especially the foam green wagons, if you like green.
I just got an e-mail flyer from Trainworld in NYC, they're having a sale on Classic Metal Works vehicles, from $2.99 to 6.99. Might be worth a look if interested.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Hi sir madog
I have no idea it is like buying a Rolls Royce and geting the local back yard mechanic to look at it.
Bad analergy posibly but true
The one I don't get is that real nice two or three deck car transporter you go and buy only to find its a fantastic rail car but the cars in it are best used in a junk yard
And you then have to go and buy new ones to re load the car transporter with at least half decent ones I don't get that at all.
regards John
If You model the 30's era, some 80's and You are into kit building/bashing there are all kinds of vehicles out there, trucks, cars, construction equipment Etc. You just have to know where to look. From white metal castings, pewter,polyurthene resin, styrene and some clear styrene that You paint.
Just a few pic's of just a small part of My collection, which is in the hundred's.....I used to custom paint/build/scratch build for clients and made one for them and one for Myself. They are all true 1/87 scale... a lot from fallen flags Trucking Co.'s.
If You would like more info on where to look.....PM Me.
Member ATHS Northeast ILL. Chapter (American Truck Historical Society
Hi productionmanager
Well lets see I need one bus one ute one postie on motor bike one fire service viehicle one police car and one farm tractor if I can get it one 1940 maybe earlier farm tractor to turn into a rusting hulk and a farm truck and just for something different a bubble car.
Hardly a major car purchase every one else here needs equaly small numbers proportionate to size of there own layouts.
Every one has a different idea as to what viehicles they need brands to represent and period not one individual model is going to give the economy of scale a 50' box car does why do you think in many cases a 50' box car is cheaper.
They get churned out in hundreds of colours from the same mould by the thousands in each colour.
The county sheriffs car which every one needs gets knocked out maybe a couple of thousand tops and has to be done in hundreds of different paint scemes and the light bars might not even be the same.
Then if the local sheriff should have a model T the latest police inteceptor just won't do
The numbers just are not there for the economy of scale to get cost down licence fees if charged may be a factor also all the fiddly bits that break
Moulds and dies need Highly skilled and highly paid people to make them for models they are high precision items made in controled atmosphere tool rooms.
More cost you could be talking hundreds of thousands of dollars just for the little detail sprue Die and we havn't made the rest of the car yet.
All these costs and others the company has to recoup and make a profit in a small quantity
Mattel match box etc knocks out toys by the tens of thousands probably with a lot of std bits lot cheaper the economy of scale is there and some dies are used in more than one toy more cost reduction.
I think one factor is definetly the limited numbers that are involved. Think of it this way - how many freight cars do you have vs how many vehicles? I have about 200 freight cars but only 40 or so vehicles. In other words, if my numbers are in any way representative, vehicle manufacturers have only 20% of the volume that freight car makers do. Yes, the vehicles may be simpler to manufacture vs a reasonable quality freight car, but the cost has to be spread over 1/5th as many units. Add in licensing fees.....
Personally, I'm glad I was able to buy most of my vehicles and rolling stock s few years ago. I can rarely justify spending the amounts that are being asked today, regardless of what the item is.
Then there is the good old Canadian dollar.....OOPS, better not get started there.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Then there is the guy that did the train show around Europe using Bradshaws 1913 guide who now for ever stands on Hamburge (spelling) station at miniture wonderland.
And for the princely sum of something around $300 maybe more you to can stand somewhere on your own model railroad bit much for just one figure.
you have to be someone of popular note before you rate a comercial made figure
I haunt the train shows looking for bargains in HO. Finding box trucks has become a quest for me lately.
I buy HO cars whenever I find them reasonably priced as well. Some time ago I modified a few Life-Like cars and trucks 1:87 scale to be 'good enough' at 3-feet or so. The link below will lead to a photo essay of the project on my updated BRVRR website.
http://www.brvrr.com/Autos.html
Probably not good enough for 'close up' inspection or photography the modified vehicles have served me well for the past several years. Its one avenue to inexpensive HO vehicles.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Matchbox, and the like, are not HO scale. And, 1/64 are way out of scale, I'm constantly looking. I use a few of my grandson's collection of Matchbox on my Christmas layout, because most peple don't notice the difference, unless you stage true HO scale people next to them. True 1/87 scale vehicles are expensive. The more detailed, the more cost. Many overseas supplyers have the 1/100 scale in vehicals, and people, but, the people may work populating passenger trains, but the vehicles look "out of place", as some Matchbox do.
It's tough to find true HO scale (1/87) vehicles, at a decent price. I'm always looking for them, to populate the streets on my layout.
When you want trucks, Trucks-N-Stuff is reasonable, but any thing special, like front end discharge redi-mix trucks, and dry bulk container trucks are non-excistant or availiable at a ridiculous price. You pretty much have to build your own.
Mike.
My You Tube
eaglescout Tractor Supply in Texas has some tractors that are close to scale.
Most likely these are Ertl models. They're usually 1/64 if they look close to HO, but are often small and generic enough they are OK in HO. Tractors come in many sizes, but they tend to have the same form-factor so makes this possible.
Look for a freestanding display in farm type big box stores. Around here, they're definitely in Fram & Fleet, but you might also find them in Rural King or Tractor Supply Co.
If you're really into vehicles, consider switching to S scale as they are a ton of vehicles made in 1/64
It pays to keep your Matchbox from 50+ years ago!
ProductionmanagerGiven that you can buy Hot wheels for around a dollar, why are the vehicles that we use so appreciably higher?
When Model Power and it's copiers, Malibu Int. Wild Cherries, and other similar HO scale cars first came out a few years ago they were $2 at Walmart. Once they sold out they were gone forever.... Now people charge $4-25 for them at shows or on eBay. I wish they would have more runs. MicroMachines also made limited edition HO scale corvettes which were $2 at Target. There are HO scale Hot Wheels. I have couple of them at my (model) car show, the black hot rod and the gray low rider. The GTO is Malibu Int., so is the Cadi. The corvette is MicroMiachine and the next car is Lifelike. Next is Woodland Scenic. People dancing are Woodland Scenic. Band is Preiser. The figures in this shot cost more than the cars.
As a lover of cars I don't mind paying a lot of money for a nice model of a car. Busch makes some really nice cars. They can make the scene. Busch CHP Cruiser and MicroMachine Corvette with Preiser Figures. Officer is Atlas.
..
The car show winner is a Busch Mustang, the runner up is Monogram Mini Exact Chevy. The Shelby Cobra is Model Power.
Nice ones are expensive! I did see something about a reasonable looking vehicle in quantity for filling autoracks. Don't know what they look like or if they would be acceptable for parking lot duty. Sorry, I don't remember the manufacturer at the moment.
I am in a similar position as you are. I do have a small layout going, but waiting to get my act together to start a larger one. One thing I wish I had started doing long ago is have put more kits together.
Since you are apparently not working on a layout now, you could spend some of your time putting kits together or washing, triming and painting those resin vehicles. I've done a few kits, but haven't tackled a resin project yet, but have seen some nice looking ones.
Vehicles take up much less storage space than buildings, so you could have quite a few done and ready for the layout by the time you have one.
Bought a truck at the Amherst show Saturday and plan to combine it with a kit to make a different vehicle. Have had the idea for awhile, but was stimulaed by another thread here to get going. (Need to find the darn camera, so that I can record the process and post it, as suggested.) This thread may get me going on doing some of the other kits I have on hand. (Thanks!)
Good luck,
Richard
Very simple. Production cost. I recently saw many HO and N scale at the Big E show in West Springfield.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.