Info Requested: Looking for a specific type of HO figure

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Crew. - My modeling period is from the 1960s to the early 1970s; with a focus on American east and southeastern roads.

I'd like to install Engineers and Firemen in several locomotives. The kicker? Even with the quality HO Presier and Woodland Scenic figures the engineers all wear the traditional "blue overalls and cap.

As a teen back in the late 70s I saw MANY trains, took plenty of photos, and even got a few cab rides . I always noticed that locomotive crews were dressed casually. The clothing ranged from blue jeans & flannel shirts to slacks, golf shirts and even button up business type shirts. Of course they still wore hard toe boots or safety shoes.

What I'm hoping to find are male figures dressed casually in sitting positions. I no longer have my old  Walthers Catalog as I gave it to the son of a friend,a teen, who told me of his enthusiasm for this hobby.

If any of you see or know of any Presier or Woodland scenic type figures that could fit this category, please post the info here with the Part Number or a description.

With much appreciation, Thank you!

[MisterBeasley]

This one is from Preiser, called "Seated Passengers" 590-14145

Also, Preiser, called "Sitting Industrial Passengers" 590-10351

www.discounttrainsonline.com has pictures of each of these. The second set has kind of an Eastern Euorpean look to me, but judge for yourself.

[GAPPLEG]

The second set has kind of an Eastern Euorpean look to me, but judge for yourself.


I think that's a problem with most of the figures we see, they are european. Antonio look at scenic express ther are some interesting figures there http://www.sceneryexpress.com/default.asp

[hminky]

In O scale I have the other problem, lack of any suitable crew members to fit in locomotives. I cut and carve Preisers to fit in the cabs.



I have a "what I did" at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/of_crew/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

[AntonioFP45]

MisterBeasley,

Thanks for that link! I actually looked through a lot of the sets offered and found several with seated figures that would work very well.

I still remember an SCL engineer I befriended named Randall. Friendly gentleman, he usually ran the Amtrak Champion, and later the Silver Meteor after the "Champ" was eliminated. Almost always he wore a white short sleeve "office shirt" and dark colored slacks.

I'm just surprised that more of the "modern" (1960 thru today) modelers that like to have figures in their locomotive cabs hadn't considered this detail.

[MisterBeasley]

I think it's just the "romance" or nostalgia for the good old days. I model the 1960's, but I like my engineers to wear more "traditional" outfits, so that everyone can see that they are engineers, not store clerks or stockbrokers. I've got lots of "generic" people on my layout, but when I look to buy figures, I want ones that are unique and eye-catching. I've got painters and "rebels" from Woodland Scenics, and also "full-figured folk" from one manufacturer or another.

When I look at the highly-detailed layout pictures on the forum, one thing that I always notice is how well the figures fit in with the scenery. Layouts set in the less-recent past seem to do better, maybe because people's clothing tended to reflect their occupation and social status more back then.

[AntonioFP45]

Good point Mr. Beasley and understandable.

For me, I had the good fortune to be a railfan as a teen and enjoyed meeting and talking with with friendly train crews back.  So, I basically want to recreate what I saw in those bygone days of my youth.

[chutton01]

Heh, I asked a similar question about this a while ago - since then I gotten somewhat better at carving engineer caps into baseball caps, and scraping the top part of coverall details to more or less represent a flannel shirt and blue jeans (it takes a while).
Presier seems a bit stuck in the 70s-80s (at least their unpainted sets), but with the various new woodland scenics and lifelike sets there may be somebody wearing slacks and a button down long sleeve shirt (no tie) so I can represent SEPTA Regional Rail conductors (actually sounds a bit like that SCL engineer Randel that Antonio mentioned).
I think one thing that set me off was a just released Woodland scenics figure set (Auto Mechanics) where one figure wore a modern coveralls(jumpsuit), and the other figures wore old-school overalls - while Jesse James of Monster Garage may wear overalls on his show, every mechanic I see in real life seems to chose coveralls...

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chutton01

Heh, I asked a similar question about this a while ago - since then I gotten somewhat better at carving engineer caps into baseball caps, and scraping the top part of coverall details to more or less represent a flannel shirt and blue jeans (it takes a while).

- Understandable and to me a bit annoying having to go through that. I had decided that I would take that route if I couldn't find figures close to what I was searching for. I just found it strange that Preiser and Woodland scenics combined make hundreds of figures. After the link provided above I thought to myself that "There just had to be at least one figure that came close!" Fortunately I found several.

QUOTE: Presier seems a bit stuck in the 70s-80s (at least their unpainted sets),

Hmmm. I hadn't noticed that. I'll take a look. I must admit to being spoiled as I prefer to have "prepainted" figures that only need minor modifying. Even when I'm on vacation, I'd rather work on cars and locomotives than to have to completely paint figures. I guess I'm not as patient as I was years back.

QUOTE: but with the various new woodland scenics and lifelike sets there may be somebody wearing slacks and a button down long sleeve shirt (no tie) so I can represent SEPTA Regional Rail conductors (actually sounds a bit like that SCL engineer Randel that Antonio mentioned).

- Now in a case like this I'd be willing to take a figure that's wearing a tie, try to hand paint and blend the tie to his shirt. This is something, IMHO, we can get away with as HO figures are small enough and are mostly viewed from a distance.

QUOTE: I think one thing that set me off was a just released Woodland scenics figure set (Auto Mechanics) where one figure wore a modern coveralls(jumpsuit), and the other figures wore old-school overalls - while Jesse James of Monster Garage may wear overalls on his show, every mechanic I see in real life seems to chose coveralls...

- Just my observation but here in the Florida and Georgia region most mechanics and body shop pros wear the typical mechanic's "uniform" that one usually sees at Goodyear Tire stores or automobile dealerships. Shirt with the company name patch and technician's name patch and a matching pair of pants. A few do wear the one piece jump suit / coveralls ( I did sometimes back when I repaired buses) however from June through September they get "awfully hot" down here!

[Anonymous]

Antonio, can't you just cut up some people and use upper torso in cabs, that gives you some latitude in people more sufficiently attired? I agree figure makers seem to think railroaders all wear bibs and engineers hats, back in sixties on all my cab rides I never saw one.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BXCARMIKE

Antonio, can't you just cut up some people and use upper torso in cabs, that gives you some latitude in people more sufficiently attired? I agree figure makers seem to think railroaders all wear bibs and engineers hats, back in sixties on all my cab rides I never saw one.

Hello Mike,

Yes point taken, however the situation I've observed has been that a lot of the male adult figures from Presier/Woodland are almost always wearing suits, coveralls, t-shirt, or something that would not look like what I saw engine crews wearing.

Repainting or cutting up is an option I considered but as mentioned, thanks to the above link I found several figures in various sets that would work.

QUOTE: I agree figure makers seem to think railroaders all wear bibs and engineer's hats

- Yes, LOL! Makes me scratch my head sometimes. Even as a kid the only places I saw the "Bibs and Striped hats" were at theme park train rides, such as Busch Gardens and Disney World. But of course we have to remember that Presier and Woodland Scenics have to consider the market for their "bottom line". I'm only guessing but it seems that many modelers, even a few modern era ones, want the traditonal looking locomotive crews; and of course the manufacturers will keep that in mind..

In cases like mine all that was needed was figures dressed casually that could fit right into sitting at a golf course or at a fast food resteraunt with his family.

Here's a poser for some of you modern "AC6000 and SD75M" modelers:

How about putting a "Woman"or two in your cabs? There's quite a number of them working on Amtrak and railroad hotshot intermodals today! Interesting facet here is that there are plenty of female figures from Preiser in casual dress and work clothes that would fit in.

High Greens!

[wjstix]

The seated Preiser truck drivers aren't bad to use as modern engine crews/railroaders, you can get them decorated or in an undecorated set.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-10038

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-16335

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: I think one thing that set me off was a just released Woodland scenics figure set (Auto Mechanics) where one figure wore a modern coveralls(jumpsuit), and the other figures wore old-school overalls - while Jesse James of Monster Garage may wear overalls on his show, every mechanic I see in real life seems to chose coveralls...

- Just my observation but here in the Florida and Georgia region most mechanics and body shop pros wear the typical mechanic's "uniform" that one usually sees at Goodyear Tire stores or automobile dealerships. Shirt with the company name patch and technician's name patch and a matching pair of pants. A few do wear the one piece jump suit / coveralls ( I did sometimes back when I repaired buses) however from June through September they get "awfully hot" down here!

When I worked at an auto body shop a couple years ago I always wore a dark blue t-shirt with the shops name on it and a pair of dickies workpants although a couple guys wore the light blue button down deal with thge name patch. Basically it all comes down to A) Being able to move around and B.) Being comfortable while still managing to look presentable. I never saw anyone who works on cars outside of TV wearing those farmer type overalls. Sadly like some have pointed out most figure manufacturers do seem a little stuck in the transition era or think modern means 70s-80s.

[chutton01]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45
Here's a poser for some of you modern "AC6000 and SD75M" modelers:

How about putting a "Woman"or two in your cabs?[:I][:X] There's quite a number of them working on Amtrak and railroad hotshot intermodals today! Interesting facet here is that there are plenty of female figures from Preiser in casual dress and work clothes that would fit in.

You know, I seem to recall remember that women started becoming engineers in notable numbers during the 1970s (no surprize there), so you could run your 1980s SD40-2s and C30-7s with one no problem... (fit in well with the Presier men with 1980s blow-dried hair styles...) [:)]

[MisterBeasley]

I found a great set of "Engineers and Fireman" at my LHS. The were dressed casually, shirts and pants, no overalls, no striped hats. A couple of them had heavy black gloves, and most are wearing simple caps. They're made by Broadway Limited. Eight in the pack for eight bucks. The set I got had two African-Americans. The white guys, incidentally, were pale enough to be in a zombie movie.

[river_eagle]

Check out the Labelle Industries conrmporary diesel engineer and fireman sets.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/430-7008
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/430-7009
four poses, one with bibs, one with suspenders, two with sweater/jacket.
two staning, two seated.
yard crew (4)also also in modern dress.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/430-7010

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks for those links, River Eagle. Those figures aren't bad.

As for the BLI figures.........Yipes!

For detailing and overall quality I still like Presier's figures the best with Woodland Scenics in 2nd place.

[MisterBeasley]

I'd have to agree on the quality and design of both Preiser and WS figures.

I was selecting a driver for my PCC car over the weekend. I was going to use a Preiser guy, who was actually from a "seated passengers" set, but I noticed that my BLI figures were very, very narrow when compared with the others. These "anorexic" engineers and firemen are ideal for squeezing into small spaces like loco cabs. Besides, the Preiser character will look better on a bench where we can see the whole figure.

[AntonioFP45]

Guys,

I found some more casually dressed WS figures that will do the job.  I'm going to put figures in just a few  locomotives. 

[Milwhiawatha]

I think it's just the "romance" or nostalgia for the good old days. I model the 1960's, but I like my engineers to wear more "traditional" outfits, so that everyone can see that they are engineers, not store clerks or stockbrokers. I've got lots of "generic" people on my layout, but when I look to buy figures, I want ones that are unique and eye-catching. I've got painters and "rebels" from Woodland Scenics, and also "full-figured folk" from one manufacturer or another.

When I look at the highly-detailed layout pictures on the forum, one thing that I always notice is how well the figures fit in with the scenery. Layouts set in the less-recent past seem to do better, maybe because people's clothing tended to reflect their occupation and social status more back then.

I agree I have thw Walthers Roundhouse figures and Woodland Scenics Engineers.. I model today but have older locomotive still roaming the lines (Updated for todays standards). I still believe the engineers, and the roundhouse crew still should look different than other people... Of course I am personally looking for a crew for inside the backshop and car shop in the Facility.

[Walter Clot]

I haven't tried it, but somewhere long ago I read about taking pictures of family members with rr caps on and rr shirts.  Then you cut them out and install them in your engines!  You have to experiment with the size.  It might be easier now with all the new digital cameras!

I wonder if anyone has tried that lately.