1/64 Scale Cars

[Anonymous]

I have some very nice Johnny Lightning, Revell, Matchbox cars that look great on my layout. Should I use them even if they are slightly bigger than 1/87 scale? Do you use 1/64 scale cars? thanks[:)]

[Anonymous]

The 1/64 Cars are S scale, with the wide varity of HO I would gowiththe 1/87,

[railman]

like the standard answer in economics..."It depends." If you think they look fine, leave them. HO scale cars are gregariously expensive in compairison. While they might not be right, if the master of the trains feels that they are ok, then ok. My HO layout is populated with matchbox and the like because I'm going to spend my money on trains, track, and scenery, not 5 and 10 dollar drops for static cars.

[willy6]

I have some matchbox trucks on layout and stamped on the bottom of them says 1:97. I measured them with my HO scale ruler(i'm not a rivet counter) and also compared them to my Herpa collection and they are just a tad over 1:87 scale. i've yet to figure out what the 1:97 is stamped on the bottom unless it's the chinese version of HO.

[chutton01]

Since Matchbox and Hot Wheels vehicles tend all to be around a given length (hence the name "Matchbox"), I found that the larger trucks (like the boxy 80s style GM Topkick, usually sold as a snowplow) tend to be closer to HO scale and can be the basis of good background models (if you strip off the paint, use model paints and some detail parts). They were saying on the 1/87 yahoo scale car forum that the Johnny Lightning tour buses were actually too small in scale (1:100 or something), that some of the military vehicles (e.g. from the Pearl Harbor set) were spot-on HO scale, and that most of the vehicles are simply too large for anything but 'round the christmas tree' layouts. Also, some people have found that the vehicles are any particular scale, such as the very tempting (since it's ubitiquos in the real world) but too large Ford F350 pickup cab, which apparently ranges from 1:72 to 1:84 in various dimensions... [:(!]

[Anonymous]

I use Matchbox, JL, Hotwheels, and many "off-brand" similar vehicles for my layout. I like them and my kids never raise a fuss. We are the main visitors to the layout. As was said earlier and I couldn't agree more, if you like it, use it. Its the best rule you can go by.

[Anonymous]

hi evry one i am new to this. boley is same size as matchbox,hotwheels,johnny lightning. i personal dont like herpa and the tend small trucks i do like the herpa truck the ones that are closer to 1\64 scale i think the tend vec are closer to micro machion then 1\87 but what do i know. i am not doing well with building a train layout i am going to try to build a rc nascar some thing like datona track maybe that will be eater

[cheese3]

I use matchbox and other toy cars oon my layout and it looks fine. If you like the way they look...go for it![^]

[bcawthon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railman

.... My HO layout is populated with matchbox and the like because I'm going to spend my money on trains, track, and scenery, not 5 and 10 dollar drops for static cars.

Sounds to me like you're wasting the money you spend buying everything else in scale. You're just going to spoil the effect with the Invasion of the Giant Cars.

The Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars of today aren't even very good reproductions of the prototype, unless you want to pay extra for some of the premium editions. Furthermore, they aren't even in scale with each other. Do you run S, TT and N scale cars behind your HO locomotive? Or mix scales in your structures on Main Street?

Today you have CMW retailing at about $8.00 or less apiece and Model Power is coming along with some very good $4.00 diecast models that are very close to exactly 1:87 scale (we're talking a couple of scale inches off, at most). Plus, there are a few Matchbox vehicles that are HO scale +/- 10% and pretty good-looking. As these are all diecast, they aren't as fragile, so your kids can enjoy them. Plus, they look right with your HO structures, scenery and figures, not to mention your motive power and rolling stock (true-scale vehicles parked at the station make your locomotives look as big as they are in real life). Athearn, Promotex and Busch are offering some very good plastic models, though these are more expensive because of the huge tooling investments from $50,000 to $100,000 per model, that have to be recovered.

American model railroaders have been asking "where are the American cars" for years and, judging by the number of Americans modeling in HO, there should be a lot more accurate scale Chevy, Ford and other models. Only problem is too many model railroaders think it's some kind of "badge of honor" to do their hobby shopping at KMart, so such market for American 1:87 scale vehicle models as exists is dominated by collectors who are willing to pay $10.00, $20.00, or more, for a top-notch model and aren't particularly interested in the types of vehicles model railroaders need.

Last I heard, it was estimated about a quarter-million Americans participate in model railroading and the majority of those have HO as their only or primary scale. Now that should be one heck of a potential market. Yet I recently spent three days at the American International Toy Fair in New York where I talked to a number of manufacturers of vehicle models. With a few exceptions, the most common response was "there's no demand for 1:87 scale."

Fortunately, there are people like Matthew Tager and Bill Giacci who are willing to invest their money in hopes there are enough people who do want their layouts to be scale representations of the real world to make the investment profitable. And there are other companies, like Norscot, who are finding the collectors will buy enough construction equipment models that they are expanding their 1:87 product line, meaning your layouts can have some pretty good-looking heavy equipment for those mines and gravel pits.

Look, guys, the "bag 'o cars" for ten bucks is a myth that won't happen. But four bucks for a nice car is not only possible, it's happening. There are a number of people who are now lobbying for HO-scale plastic vehicles at about the same price so that filling a string of auto racks doesn't involve a second mortgage.

If you want to see more of the models you want at reasonable prices, leave the Hot Wheels to the S-gaugers. Head down to your LHS and start picking up on the CMW's, Model Power Minis and other real HO scale models.

[underworld]

I like the Boley ones myself....usually quite inexpensive.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[bcawthon]

If you like the Viper, etc., you're going to be very happy with the 1969 Camaro convertible and 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door sedan. Four bucks apiece, available in three colors each and closer to exact HO than some models from the German modelmakers. And there's more coming this year and even more next year. We're talking some models we've wanted for years.