Oh that's ok, I don't have anything like this on my layout, I just posted the picture, because it was really an amazing piece of work. Personally, I would not put that much effort into a truck like this. As you stated though, it is only so big, and in or around a street, road, and parking lot at a 3 to 4 foot distance, you would not be able to see all the fine details this truck has. But is is a nice piece of work though
I for one do have to where my glasses when I'm working with something small, as far as the prospective of building and detailing a model like this? Well thats a whole other story. Everyone has a opinion on what is cheap, what is best. I for one would like to build something like this truck. Big question is, can I or am I able to build a truck with this much detail? Maybe! But also maybe not?
Folks:
That's a beautiful truck. The 1/87 vehicle hobby is interesting - I especially like the models of the earlier stuff that you don't see often.
Still, I think I can play devil's advocate for a bit. I feel that our requirements are different. Generally, we're using our autos to give an impression. It's like movie set building. To really do this great truck justice, it would have to be surrounded by comparably fine detail. The pavement stains would have to be dead-on, and weeds would have to be modeled with individual etched leaves. There'd be coke cans.
It would be awesome to see that done, of course, but then there would be another problem. It's impossible to truly appreciate the quality of this truck model, except in a photo. I have decent eyesight, and I did a little check with a small toy auto. It's impossible to focus as closely as needed to see the truck as it looks in the photo. In fact, even with some squinting, the best I would expect would be comparable to "A", below:
(My monitor is 1024 x 768)
At normal viewing distances, on an eye level layout, it would appear as in "B", and quickly become even smaller as it receded into the background.
Please understand that I am not disparaging this model. It's wonderful. In fact, given the magnifying effect of the camera, it would be a great idea to have a handful of fine-quality vehicles on hand to use in close-up photography...but a working model railroad that is more often operated or observed in person really can't take advantage of such detail. This is one of those camera vs. eye situations - which do we intend to model for? If it's the eye, we might as well save some money.
I guess I harp on economy a lot, but I still remember being a whippersnapper with big dreams, and thinking I would never be a Real Modeler if I didn't have all the be$t $tuff. I always felt a little guilty for using Hot Wheels cars. Then I saw a local model railroad that had a lot of them in use, and I realized that, while not perfect, they worked well in building an overall impression. This brought a sort of liberation, as it were, and I'm hoping I might help out today's newbies a bit in that way.
ICRR1964 WOW! this was from that site that Diline posted.
WOW! this was from that site that Diline posted.
The website is worth a look. There are sequence photos of the construction of this truck.
The model was based on a kit from this outfit:
http://www.donmillsmodels.com/vehicles/1-87/index.htm
Their website is worth a look, too. They sell both kits and parts.
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Walthers puts one or two different Jordan kits on sale every month. I'm patient, and Scottish, so I just thumb through the monthly flier and e-mail my LHS when I see one I want. (Many shops participate in the Walthers sales, so I get the sale price and pay no shipping charges.)
I agree with the idea that vehicles are important. Most visitors to your layout don't know an SD-40 from a Cuisinart, but they will recognize a 67 T-Bird or a VW Microbus. Much more than the trains, autos (and old advertising posters and billboards) set the timeframe of your layout.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have always liked the Classic Metal Works, they have come along ways since their beginning. The ere I work in is the early 1950's through the mid 1960's
I do have some really old kits, can't remember what make they were, but I just built them and never detailed them until the past few years. I have a couple of the Model Power units, but I took them and reworked them a bit to make them look more the part.
There are quite a few manufactures of the HO vehicles out there. Which is the best? Everyone does have their opinion, to each his own. Some MR's pockets are deeper than others, so the matter of "best" or "cheap" falls in two different directions.
As Loather stated, Athearn has some really nice looking items they are coming out with, have not bought any yet, but plan on it.
Yes I'm 46 years old, own my own home, have a full time job, my wife likes trains, and have names for all my engines. Thought everyone had names for their engines.
loatharBEHOLD! The grail of 1/87 vehicals...http://www.1-87vehicles.org/And a wealth of tips and tricks.http://www.87thscale.info/Tips%20&%20Tricks.htm The new athearn offerings look fantastic. The semi trailers have fantastic detail.
BEHOLD! The grail of 1/87 vehicals...http://www.1-87vehicles.org/And a wealth of tips and tricks.http://www.87thscale.info/Tips%20&%20Tricks.htm
The new athearn offerings look fantastic. The semi trailers have fantastic detail.
I"ve been there. That site is awesome. There are guys there that scratchbuild their vehicles that take 2 months to build. One guy wants to start an HO trainlayout, but he knows he's too much of a rivet counter and would never get it off the ground, so he won't even start it. He only builds HO scale vehicles, because he knows he can complete them in his lifetime
Heres the guys link. His name is Joe Enriquez
http://public.fotki.com/eex-joe/1945-mack-fcsw/
shayfan84325Driline Autobus Prime Folks: "Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars." A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot. At some point, since I'm now trying to stick with a mid-30s era, I may want to get into the Jordan cars and horse vehicles, or find some cheaper way to get them. In the past, I've made bathroom-caulking molds and cast cars in water putty from carved masters, which I might try. I've also used some of Oddo's old plaster cars, obtained secondhand. These are quite nice...I should stop there next time I'm in Pgh. and see if they still make those. Other cheap but usable cars I've found: -Big Lots and other stores sell HO scale plastic military vehicles, sometimes on bubble cards, sometimes in playsets, that can be converted for civilian use. -Dollar General sells "Transporter" sets for $1, including a nice though generic HO highway tractor, a fairly ugly trailer, and two HO scale plastic autos. Some sets have animals. This thread isn't about CHEAP vehicles, its about the BEST vehicles used. You should start a CHEAP vehicle thread if you want to talk about that. Small and decorative? Vehicles are a very important part of the illusion and should be treated as such. If you want a toy like layout then more power to ya, but if you want to create a true representation of the outside world, then most of us tend to use products that will realize that goal. I could buy a "lifelike" $35 train set set at wal-mart, and then shop General Dollar or Big Lots for cheap plastic vehicles, and then use popsicle sticks to build my buildings and crayons to weather my engines and save lots a dough but....I mean....yuck Unless your an extremely talented "Da Vinci" good luck. I urge you to keep in mind that the term best is a matter of opinion. Also remember that cost is often a factor in determining what we select for our hobbies. I've seen pictures of some of Jeffery's vehicles and the AMC Gremlin and Pacer not only looked very credible, they made me smile. Your dressing down of Jeffery was uncalled for.
Driline Autobus Prime Folks: "Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars." A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot. At some point, since I'm now trying to stick with a mid-30s era, I may want to get into the Jordan cars and horse vehicles, or find some cheaper way to get them. In the past, I've made bathroom-caulking molds and cast cars in water putty from carved masters, which I might try. I've also used some of Oddo's old plaster cars, obtained secondhand. These are quite nice...I should stop there next time I'm in Pgh. and see if they still make those. Other cheap but usable cars I've found: -Big Lots and other stores sell HO scale plastic military vehicles, sometimes on bubble cards, sometimes in playsets, that can be converted for civilian use. -Dollar General sells "Transporter" sets for $1, including a nice though generic HO highway tractor, a fairly ugly trailer, and two HO scale plastic autos. Some sets have animals. This thread isn't about CHEAP vehicles, its about the BEST vehicles used. You should start a CHEAP vehicle thread if you want to talk about that. Small and decorative? Vehicles are a very important part of the illusion and should be treated as such. If you want a toy like layout then more power to ya, but if you want to create a true representation of the outside world, then most of us tend to use products that will realize that goal. I could buy a "lifelike" $35 train set set at wal-mart, and then shop General Dollar or Big Lots for cheap plastic vehicles, and then use popsicle sticks to build my buildings and crayons to weather my engines and save lots a dough but....I mean....yuck Unless your an extremely talented "Da Vinci" good luck.
Autobus Prime Folks: "Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars." A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot. At some point, since I'm now trying to stick with a mid-30s era, I may want to get into the Jordan cars and horse vehicles, or find some cheaper way to get them. In the past, I've made bathroom-caulking molds and cast cars in water putty from carved masters, which I might try. I've also used some of Oddo's old plaster cars, obtained secondhand. These are quite nice...I should stop there next time I'm in Pgh. and see if they still make those. Other cheap but usable cars I've found: -Big Lots and other stores sell HO scale plastic military vehicles, sometimes on bubble cards, sometimes in playsets, that can be converted for civilian use. -Dollar General sells "Transporter" sets for $1, including a nice though generic HO highway tractor, a fairly ugly trailer, and two HO scale plastic autos. Some sets have animals.
"Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars." A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot.
At some point, since I'm now trying to stick with a mid-30s era, I may want to get into the Jordan cars and horse vehicles, or find some cheaper way to get them. In the past, I've made bathroom-caulking molds and cast cars in water putty from carved masters, which I might try.
I've also used some of Oddo's old plaster cars, obtained secondhand. These are quite nice...I should stop there next time I'm in Pgh. and see if they still make those.
Other cheap but usable cars I've found:
-Big Lots and other stores sell HO scale plastic military vehicles, sometimes on bubble cards, sometimes in playsets, that can be converted for civilian use.
-Dollar General sells "Transporter" sets for $1, including a nice though generic HO highway tractor, a fairly ugly trailer, and two HO scale plastic autos. Some sets have animals.
This thread isn't about CHEAP vehicles, its about the BEST vehicles used. You should start a CHEAP vehicle thread if you want to talk about that.
Small and decorative? Vehicles are a very important part of the illusion and should be treated as such. If you want a toy like layout then more power to ya, but if you want to create a true representation of the outside world, then most of us tend to use products that will realize that goal.
I could buy a "lifelike" $35 train set set at wal-mart, and then shop General Dollar or Big Lots for cheap plastic vehicles, and then use popsicle sticks to build my buildings and crayons to weather my engines and save lots a dough but....I mean....yuck
Unless your an extremely talented "Da Vinci" good luck.
I urge you to keep in mind that the term best is a matter of opinion. Also remember that cost is often a factor in determining what we select for our hobbies. I've seen pictures of some of Jeffery's vehicles and the AMC Gremlin and Pacer not only looked very credible, they made me smile. Your dressing down of Jeffery was uncalled for.
And I'll thank-you to to keep your own erroneous conclusions to yourself thank you very much. No one was dressed down. As a matter of fact I have the pacer too. Start your flamewar somewhere else..
shayfan84325 I urge you to keep in mind that the term best is a matter of opinion. Also remember that cost is often a factor in determining what we select for our hobbies. I've seen pictures of some of Jeffery's vehicles and the AMC Gremlin and Pacer not only looked very credible, they made me smile. Your dressing down of Jeffery was uncalled for.
I'll have to side with Driline on this one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I ain't beholdin' too much with Wallyworld stuff for anything but poorly lit background vehicles.
Hi!
I've got a number of Classic Metal Works HO vehicles of prototypes before 1960. For the money, they are pretty nice. You could dull cote them and add extra details to some of the trucks, but they are pretty good just out of the box.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Autobus PrimeFolks: "Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars." A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot. At some point, since I'm now trying to stick with a mid-30s era, I may want to get into the Jordan cars and horse vehicles, or find some cheaper way to get them. In the past, I've made bathroom-caulking molds and cast cars in water putty from carved masters, which I might try. I've also used some of Oddo's old plaster cars, obtained secondhand. These are quite nice...I should stop there next time I'm in Pgh. and see if they still make those. Other cheap but usable cars I've found: -Big Lots and other stores sell HO scale plastic military vehicles, sometimes on bubble cards, sometimes in playsets, that can be converted for civilian use. -Dollar General sells "Transporter" sets for $1, including a nice though generic HO highway tractor, a fairly ugly trailer, and two HO scale plastic autos. Some sets have animals.
jeffrey-wimberlyjeffrey-wimberly I've gotten a lot of my best ones from Model Power and Boley. Note that I said 'my best ones', not 'the best ones'.
jeffrey-wimberly I've gotten a lot of my best ones from Model Power and Boley.
I've gotten a lot of my best ones from Model Power and Boley.
Don't even try to get out of this one...You blew it B.....
Depending upon the era will limit your use of vehicles. I am modeling the post WWII era, so a great many of my vehicles I acquire from Busch,Woodland Scenics, Classic Metal Works and Athearn. Last batch acquired was a half dozen Greyhound buses that were recently released by Classic Metal Works, coupled with the Walthers bus station they look great.
Very nice job!!! I work for the county and this is what our dozer looks like between baths. But another kit manufacture I like is SHEEPSCOT they have some big cranes, construction equipment and trucks.
I've got all kinds of vehicles, maybe as many as I have rolling stock! Prefer the fancier ones that need to be assembled, see toy-like Matchbox ones on layouts just doesn't look right.
Here's a Kibri dozer with rip blades that I just assembled recently:
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Drilinejeffrey-wimberly I've gotten a lot of my best ones from Model Power and Boley. He said BEST not CHEAP. Those are definatley not the best. I would have to say...Preisser,Wiking, ER models, GHQ (even though you have to put them together). There are others.....
He said BEST not CHEAP. Those are definatley not the best.
I would have to say...Preisser,Wiking, ER models, GHQ (even though you have to put them together). There are others.....
Ditto on Preisser and Wiking
Budget has always been a big concern for me, so I have always been one of the heathens that used Matchbox cars. A lot of them are near HO, particularly the trucks. I use an advanced process of squinting to correct scale on those that aren't. A sawbuck is a lot of cash for something that small that is only decorative. I'd rather have an Accurail boxcar or another track switch, or ten close-enough toy cars. For a $9 savings, I can squint a lot.
shayfan84325 The kits cost about $10 and keep me entertained for 8+ hours, I consider it a good deal.
That's the spirit! Too often, people are afraid of the "extra effort" involved with kits. I too like to think of the "entertainment" value of a project instead.
I had a lot more fun painting and assembling the Jordan pickup on the right than I did buying the Athearn on the left.
chutton01tstage There's a company that just came out in the past year or two (who's name escapes me), who makes some phenomenally detailed cars for ~$15. They look a lot like the Masterpiece Automotive Replicas that Atlas released this past year. Probably Ricko
tstage There's a company that just came out in the past year or two (who's name escapes me), who makes some phenomenally detailed cars for ~$15. They look a lot like the Masterpiece Automotive Replicas that Atlas released this past year.
Probably Ricko
Bingo! Thanks, chutton! If I had been home I could have checked.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Im goin with a more modern setup. Like from 1990's to early 2000
As other posters have mentioned--a lot of it depends on the era you're modeling. I'm modeling the WWII/Korean War era, so a great many of my vehicles come from Jordan, Classic Metal Works and Athearn. I have found some of the WS automobiles that I've been able to fit in, also, especially their late '40's and early '50's convertibles.
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
As mentioned, Boley's automobiles are overscale, but their modern trucks (IH/Navistars & GMC Topkicks) are pretty good and look reasonably scale - only problem is the grill on most of the models is simply a decal, so you really can't repaint them (I think one company did make replacement decals, not sure if they still do).
And another note, GHQ makes decals for their Bobcats - I brought the decals, but haven't gotten around to applying them yet (after only a mere 10 months or so...)
7793,
It depends what era you are modeling and whether you want RTR (ready to run) or kits. For kits, I like Sylvan Scale Models (resin) and Jordan Miniatures (Styrene). Course, those will be in the pre-60 eras. (ca. 1900 - 1955)
For RTR, Classic Metal Works makes some nice cars. There's a company that just came out in the past year or two (who's name escapes me), who makes some phenomenally detailed cars for ~$15. They look a lot like the Masterpiece Automotive Replicas that Atlas released this past year. (I wouldn't be surprised if it's not the same company.) I've also been pretty happy with the Athearn HO-scale autos.
7793 Wow that looks nice. I still havent bought the loco yet. I have bought however two Rio enclosed automobile carriers, and a Rio gondola. I like the handheld DCC system, it seems pretty mobile. I also was looking to see if i could find some layout kits that are ready to build.
Wow that looks nice. I still havent bought the loco yet. I have bought however two Rio enclosed automobile carriers, and a Rio gondola. I like the handheld DCC system, it seems pretty mobile. I also was looking to see if i could find some layout kits that are ready to build.
Since you're leaning towards the NCE Power cab, I'll let you know which one I purchased. In fact I did purchase the NCE just for the reason you described. It allows you to walk around within 7' of the plug. I made myself another longer cord, so I can move around even more. Someday I'll upgrade to an SBE power transformer and another panel, but for now this works fine for me in my 11X8 train room.
My favorites are the Jordan Highway Miniatures, but I like to build things - I have no opinion about RTR vehicles. These little kits take me about 8 hours, but the results are what I'm looking for:
The kits cost about $10 and keep me entertained for 8+ hours, I consider it a good deal.
I would have to say Classic Metal Works they are HO Scale,whereas Boley are larger than HO.You get what you pay for.