Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Need late 1920-1930's figures HO scale

3329 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Nashville, TN area
  • 713 posts
Posted by hardcoalcase on Saturday, November 30, 2019 9:16 PM

 

Shapeways.com has "Bowler and Top hats large assortment HO scale 1:87" which can be used to backdate more modern male figures to the early decades of the 1900's.  You trim the top of the figure head to attach the hat.

Jim 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
  • 2,508 posts
Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Saturday, November 30, 2019 2:08 PM

https://www.depsite.eu/Katalogues-and-brochures/Preiser-free-download-katalogue

If you down load the "exclusive range" catalog and leaf through it, you will find quite a number of little people dressed suitably for your era.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,670 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, November 30, 2019 12:41 PM

Great work Mel.  I have painted some figures when needed but prefer to buy but only the best I can find (has to match my train quality. On NOTE, for some reason I am not geting e-mails from this particular thread, weird.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, November 28, 2019 9:28 AM

Thanks Dave
 
I haven’t taken pictures for the casting process but I think the next time I get in the figure making mode I’ll take a few pictures.  While I find it pretty easy and somewhat fun making them I really have to psych myself up to make them.
 
I normally make at least 50 in a batch once I get going.  I don’t think it will be as much as a task the next time I make a batch.  I had my eyes overhauled last February so I can see what I’m doing now.
 
 
 
I think I have made in the vicinity of 500 figures but never kept count.  I did count my molds this morning and I have 57 dual and triple figure molds.  I have probably used each mold well over a dozen times over the years.
 
 
I used Preiser figures for making most of the figures and went with some Shapeways 1:87 figures in the last couple of years.  The Shapeways figures have great detail, much better than any of the other figures available.
 
 
 
The picture below is kinda My Projects for the day.
 
 
The two Athearn SD40-2 frames are being remotored and the stuff below is some of my “spare castings”.
 
 
They will be things to finish some day projects.
 
 
This is a blowup of castings.  As you can see there is a lot of cleanup after removing the castings from the molds.  The one on the left is a Mel sprue with male arms for reconfiguring male figures.  The one on the right is a Shapeways female figure.
 
Each figure does take time to cleanup and paint, some not so much and some a long time for perfection.  I normally do around 20 figures to a session.  I haven’t done any figure painting since I got my new eyes so that might speed up the painting process.
 
I would rather make my figures than buy them.  I end up painting them anyway if I buy them, store bought figures leave a lot to be desired when it comes to paint.
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, November 28, 2019 12:57 AM

RR_Mel
You could get a Resin Casting kit and make your own using the figures you have.  I make almost all of my figures.  You can make master molds then use the castings to modify the figures so that they don’t all kook alike.

Hi Mel,

I was hoping that you would add your methods to the conversation. You are as good at creating figures as anyone.Bow

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 8:58 PM

You could get a Resin Casting kit and make your own using the figures you have.  I make almost all of my figures.  You can make master molds then use the castings to modify the figures so that they don’t all kook alike.  I’ve made approximately 500 castings for my layout.
 
 
 
 
There are 85 Mel castings at Susanville Station.
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Yorkton, Sk, Cnd
  • 441 posts
Posted by wvg_ca on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 8:20 PM

you might check out the number 16326 asst of 120 unpainted trades people ...

about half fit into your era .. i think it's around 35 dollars

also 16327 for -mostly- wagons

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,670 posts
Need late 1920-1930's figures HO scale
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 6:14 PM

Just got some late 1920's fiqures from Preiser, old set #146. Want more fiqures for that era and of that quality. Tried varius searches but keep getting wrong results (Google limitations to protect and anoy me).

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!