HO scale western figures

[Medina1128]

I have modeled a western themed down for my layout. I'm at a loss to find HO scale western figures for it. I've checked Walthers, Woodland Scenics (cowboys; one roping a calf. Which I don't see happening in the middle of town), Preiser (all I've found are unpainted ones), eBay. Any suggestions.

[7j43k]

Weston did them, here in the US.  I see quite a few on Ebay.

I see Sierra Scale Models also has a whole lot of "people".

 

Europeans are more fascinated by our old west than we are. I would continue to look there.

 

That you can't find prepainted figures is an indication that you need to learn how to paint figures.

 

This would lead me to post a topic about how to paint little bitty people.  Should you feel the need.

 

 

 

Ed

[Anonymous]

There are a number of sources for town people:

https://www.acstadden.co.uk/shop-2
http://www.preiserfiguren.de/download.php?file=035%20-%2012045-12198.pdf
http://www.scalefigures.com/HO/HOscale.htm

Stadden produces Edwardian people (1901 to 1910)
The linked Preiser people are around 1900
Scalefigures you have to look what fits.

Or you could look for 20 mm figures (5'-8'' height) or 22 mm (6'-3'' height). 18 mm figures might be too small (5'-2'' height).
Regards, Volker

[zstripe]

Marlon,

Here are some by Bachmann:

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3029

Take Care! 

Frank

 

[DSchmitt]

This site has statistics on the average hight of people from 1810-1980 which may help chose figures, 

https://ourworldindata.org/human-height/

For men in the US and Canada

approx 5'-7" 1850,1900, 5'8" 1910,1920  Of course many people were taller and others shorter.  

[RR_Mel]

It isn’t hard to paint your own figures.  I use Crafters Acrylic paints.  Most are flat and come in hundreds of colors.  Another good thing about the Crafters paints is the cost, about $1.35 per 2 oz bottle.  It is water cleanup and thinning.  I will set up and paint around 50 figures at a time.  To make it super easy I tack the figures to a straight pin with a small drop of CA or Super Glue.  I stick the pin in a pencil erasure for easy holding and it makes it easy to rotate them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A desk eraser or strip of balsa works good for storage and drying.

 

 

 

I’ve painted about 400 figures for my layout.  A number 11 blade easily cuts the figure off the pin head.

 

  

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[hornblower]

I was going to suggest learning to paint the Preiser figures but Mel beat me to it!  I'll have to try Mel's pin mounting technique for my next painting batch as it looks to be incredibly handy!

[RR_Mel]

hornblower

I was going to suggest learning to paint the Preiser figures but Mel beat me to it!  I'll have to try Mel's pin mounting technique for my next painting batch as it looks to be incredibly handy!

 

If you use the pencil eraser as a holder and do a bunch of figures the eraser deteriorates rapidly unless you hit the same hole every time.

  

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[superbe]

Mel,

Your technique is only exceeded by your painting. Great work, your figures are exceptional !!

You remind me of tennis players and golfers. They make it look so easy.

Bob

[trainnut1250]

Marlon,

Short list:

 

Wild West/Musket miniatures: Cool western figures in cast metal – a bit crude but nothing a file can’t fix

 

Weston/Campbell – great figures-good detail: some are now hard to find but well worth the effort.

 

SS Limited: lots of figures from these guys over the years in white metal – a little rough but certainly useable

 

Lytler and Lytler – very nice western figures – no flash –great detail – EBay prices for these products, (esp) the figures, have gone into the stratosphere as people have somehow started thinking of them as collectors’ items...

 

Prieser: yes they have been mentioned but I wanted to point out that they made an excellent cowboy set that can be found on Ebay from time to time. They appear to have made many sets over the years of cowboys/horses/old west stuff...

 

Jordan Miniatures: they made buckboard wagons and various other horse drawn vehicles that often included figure and horses – great detail – OOP.. so getting pricey.

 

Railroad avenue models: His O scale stuff is great as are some OOP kits by him that I have – he is introducing a line of HO scale figures –when I saw him last, he had some HO size figures, but not in numbers large enough to sell – e-mail him to see where he is at with the project – worth the effort as his stuff is top notch.

 

Dyna Models:  OOP cool metal sets with cows, burros and figures – hard to find but very nice

 

Mel - nice work on the painting. I recently tried the technique where the first coat on the figure is black and then regular painting proceeds over that. It gives a great effect as any gaps just create cool shadows and folds.

 

I have more photos of these figures - PM me if you are interested - too much to post here....

 

 

Here are some Musket miniatures figures:

 

 

 

 

Here is the Dyna Models prospectors set:

 

 

 

 

Enough from me,

 

Guy