Hello, I am a resin caster. For quite some time I have made tank kits. A friend of mine who is a railroader want his style of vehcile to put in his layout. I designed it in 3D and casted the vehicle. He told me I should think about branching out and cast some HO or N vehicles. Maybe add them to my model lineup.
That got me thinking. Since I am not a model railroader currently I would like to know your thoughts... So what kind of vehicles or items do you wish were produced?
I normally look at the Walthers website for vehicles and from my experience the selection of modern car models (in HO scale) is generally of European cars. I would like to see some more of the everyday American and Japanese cars and vans that are ubiquitous on North American roads.
Daily driver type cars and light trucks that would be common in North America from the 1960s-1980s are lacking from the market. Exotics, sports cars, muscle cars, etc. aren't needed. We could use family sedans, station wagons, and pickup trucks.
Rob Spangler
1930's American cars.
Mike
Be careful with copyright laws, Ford and others protect their brand carefully. But yeah, cars from the 1920s-1940s.
Outside of GM and the one Ford on the market the city transit fleet is pretty sparce for anyone modeling the 50's or 60's. I would like to see a Mack transit bus and an ACF bus (which could be kitbashed into a trackless trolley).
As BMMECNYC stated above, licensing can be a big issue - I believe this is why Walthers has re-released the Boley International truck models, but not the GMC (TopKick) ones. This is also the reason, IIRC, why very few Japanese vehicle HO models have been released, otherwise the various die-casters would have released lots more Japanese vehicle HO models (besides that 1982 Honda Civic) around the turn of the century (of course, this is all vehicle modeler speculation).What would be nice is more modern-era (post 1990) Transit buses of North American origin. I have a resin New Flyer model, and apparently 3D printed ones are being offered on Shapeways, but there are other transit buses not available as of now.Speaking of which, have you made an inventory search of what's already available and being offered for sale on Shapeways, or even in resin, by small scale manufacturers? Lets NOT have another 1957 Chevy situation (i.e. like 5 or 6 manufacturers offering the same thing)
wp8thsubDaily driver type cars and light trucks that would be common in North America from the 1960s-1980s are lacking from the market. Exotics, sports cars, muscle cars, etc. aren't needed. We could use family sedans, station wagons, and pickup trucks.
BIG DITTO! (only I stop at 1975)
I can't remember where I first heard it, but I am a firm subscriber to the philosophy of "if you want a believable layout model the ordinary, not the exceptional". You can only have so many Corvettes and Trans-Am's on a coal country layout.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Judging by the responses so far, it looks like everybody believes his own era is underrepresented. I've previously heard that lament more from modern-day modelers than from others. I'm sure the modern-era guys would appreciate just about anything you can cobble up to represent the 1995-2015 world. For myself, I model 1952-3 in HO, which means I can use anything from any time period before that, as long as it's not too ancient. I'm not aware of an available HO yellow school bus from the late 1940's, and that would be nice to have.
Most important of all, stick to the commonplace stuff. Avoid the unusual weird stuff. A modern modeler might buy several Ford Escorts or Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas, but no more than one Bentley or Ferarri or Lamborghini (if that many). Broadening your market means increasing your sales.
Good luck.
Tom
ACY Judging by the responses so far, it looks like everybody believes his own era is underrepresented. I've previously heard that lament more from modern-day modelers than from others. I'm sure the modern-era guys would appreciate just about anything you can cobble up to represent the 1995-2015 world. Most important of all, stick to the commonplace stuff. Avoid the unusual weird stuff. A modern modeler might buy several Ford Escorts or Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas, but no more than one Bentley or Ferarri or Lamborghini (if that many). Broadening your market means increasing your sales. Good luck. Tom
Judging by the responses so far, it looks like everybody believes his own era is underrepresented. I've previously heard that lament more from modern-day modelers than from others. I'm sure the modern-era guys would appreciate just about anything you can cobble up to represent the 1995-2015 world.
Some era's seem better represented than others. Regarding "modern" lament - the post 1990 people have gotten some lovin from Atlas:
1993 Ford Explorers1997 Ford 150 Pick up trucks1996 Ford Taurus sedans
I echo Rob Spanglers comments. I could use some 1970's common vehicles, especially for some auto racks - without breaking the bank to outfit one or two even!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761I echo Rob Spanglers comments.
What can I say? We must be kindred spirits, Jim!
I will side with Mel. Grew up in the 50's and always liked 50's vintage Chevies, especially the 56 Bel Air two door hardtop. I have a 55 Bel Air from SS Ltd Alloy Products waiting on painting and assemble along with a 53 Bel Air similiar to one I drove for several years.
Jim
I represent modern era and that era is almost non-existent on the HO market except for European brands. Domestic automakers Buick Cadillac Oldsmobile, Pontiac and all Japanese models are pretty much extinct. Would be nice to see vehicles from the mid 90s to current..
Pretty much why I'm using Hotwheels cars on my layout....Pretty closer to S scale but will work in a pinch if they're not being parked near garages, gas stations or anywhere where a HO car needs to fit in.
Regg
HO & N scale modelers of the 1930s to early 1950s era have it made.Why? Sylvan Scale models (I will link to a hobby shop's price list, as the offical Sylvan website has exceeded it's bandwidth at this time ). Many different models from the mid 1930s (1934 Ford 4d Sedan, 1939 Willys Sedan, 1938 Plymouth Coupe, 1937 Hudson Terraplane and others (coupes and 2 doors as welll), so there you go Water Level Route. Sadly for RR_Mel, they have a 1947 Kaiser Sedan, but not a 1955 one (looks like the latest passenger car model they have is 1952).Yep, they are Resin kits - what was the first line of CodyJ's OP in this thread "Hello, I am a resin caster"Yep, they ain't cheap - sadly, the all too brief era of cheap die-cast HO vehicles sort of went away in 2006 or so, so hunt for those Fresh Cherries and Motorarts and Model Powers when you can.BTW, will the OP ever return to this thread?
Hi,
Late '50s Pontiacs, and a '57 Ford ragtop will get my order in a flash!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
chutton01Sylvan Scale models (I will link to a hobby shop's price list, as the offical Sylvan website has exceeded it's bandwidth at this time ). Many different models from the mid 1930s (1934 Ford 4d Sedan, 1939 Willys Sedan, 1938 Plymouth Coupe, 1937 Hudson Terraplane and others (coupes and 2 doors as welll), so there you go Water Level Route.
Great! Thanks!
I think so Rob - similar era's and likes - the D&RGW and WP pulled many of the same rolling stock. And I have a soft spot for the WP too; I had a house mate in college in Sacramento who worked for the WP for a short time around 1979. His father and grandfather both worked for the WP as well. I need to beef up the WP freight cars in my fleet too - and try to identify more appropriate 70's era items to that end. Just curious, have you ever built a list of HO products which are fairly good matches to WP prototypes? When I first got Jim Eagers Rio Grande Color Guide, I went through many of the items on the roster against the available HO rolling stock - which of course led to a culling of a number of foobies. But I am digressing a bit ...
Back on topic: There does seem to be a market for model specialty cars, but on a layout, mostly what we are trying to represent are the common place scenes so we need vehicles that suite. Naturally with the open autoracks there is a ready market of late 60's to late 70's auto's and trucks we desperately need and hopefully semi affordable. Those certainly can be used in scenes requiring them too.
riogrande5761Back on topic: There does seem to be a market for model specialty cars, but on a layout, mostly what we are trying to represent are the common place scenes so we need vehicles that suit
LION wants some R-1/R-9 subway cars.
Fishbowl beese are available, but have a biger price than the LION wants to pay.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
riogrande5761I need to beef up the WP freight cars in my fleet too - and try to identify more appropriate 70's era items to that end. Just curious, have you ever built a list of HO products which are fairly good matches to WP prototypes?
Off-topic but nope - just in my head. I use on-line roster shots and some print materials like my Jim Eager book.
Santa Fe all the way!There's really no one who makes an early 50's Ford or Chevy.
Alloy Forms has a 1950 Chevrolet 4-door, and a 1953 2-door http://scale-structures.com/automobile-craftsman-kits-details/ .
Depending on licensing required I think the biggest market would be mid 1960's to late 1970's American 2 door/4 door and station wagon models of Ford , GM and Chrysler. Shipped on open bi and tri level flats the cars are very visble. Before the bi's and tri's most cars were shipped in boxcars and not visible and after the late 70's most bi's and tri levels had either side covers or totally enclosed like today. Weight of models needs to be taken into consideration along with cost since multiples will be needed to fill out the cars. If offered as loads also make a wheel/tire assembly that does not have hub caps as they were shipped in the trunks to avoid theft. Good luck ------- Ken
I would like to see decent mid 1960's International Loadstar and Fleetstar truck cabs along with typical mid 1960's sedans.
Santa Fe all the way!All due respect to Alloy Forms, but not quite the same as, say CMW.
60's 70's, & 80's regular passenger cars, pickups, semi cabs, straight trucks, & tractors, Please.
Hey, I tried! As another post said, Alloy Forms kits can build up into nice models with some care in painting. I don't think thy look bad at all compared to CMW.
I wanted to link to Sylvan Scale Models in my last post, but their site was down. It seems to be back up now. They have a variety of late 40s - early 50s GM vehicles in their line, including several each from Chevy, Pontiac, and Olds http://www.sylvanscalemodels.com/Vehiclepage%20new.htm . I've only built a couple Sylvan kits, but I'm impressed with them.
Here's Sylvan's 1952 Chevy 4-door.