I’m trying to build a HO layout that is of today’s era, but I’m going nuts over the fact that to make my layout more realistic I need a lot of roads and cars. I look around here in Southern California and most of the cars that I see are trucks and SUV’s. So I need trucks, but I’m kind of getting sick of trying to customize Atlas’ Ford F-150. I need more! I need American and Japanese made cars and trucks. All I mostly see is European, and that can only get you so far if you are modeling Beaverly Hills. Can anyone lead me to the promise land or do I need to just shut up and be happy with what I got?
what scale?
Also please edit your post to remove the long blank area.
HO Scale
There was a topic last week saying that Wal-Mart has lots of them for very cheap. Get 'em before they’re all gone.
I have found the Wal-mart die-cast cars from Malibu international toys but they don’t really have trucks or SUV’s (except Porsche) I’ve tried their website but it doesn’t work. Their cars are greatly detailed though.
for what it’s worth wal-mart right now has 1:87 scale cars, vans, and trucks on sale for $1.69 each…I went there and got about 20 of them…(sorry, come to think of it…no trucks but got a vw van)… the cars are all pretty much modern day cars from about the 60’s to the present…chuck
The Wal-Mart cars are also available as Model Power cars/trucks/SUVs, but at higher prices. Same models, different cardboard packaging around the clear plastic boxes. They may be available from hobby shops or through mail order.
Bob Boudreau
Anybody else have some info for me?
You may want to look at some matchbox SUVs for your layout. The cars are typically way to large for HO scale but because all matchbox cars are the same size, the SUVs may be close to HO scale. Of course, given the funky colors and designs they come in, you may have to paint them yourself.
Is anyone doing this for their modern layout? I would consider it but I’m not modeling a modern era.
Stick with Model Power, all their late model cars are very realistic looking and are cheap and of course come in lots of different colours.
Well, since the Model Power/Malibu diecasts have been well and truely covered, let me say that in regards to Japanese models you are pretty much out of luck (except from a handful of early 90s models from Rietz). This is pretty much a major topic of discussion on the 1/87 yahoo group (BTW, the 1/87 vehicle website: http://1-87vehicles.org/), but basically it boils down to market (scale Vehicle Collecting is big in Europe, and they like to collect vehicles they see, hence the large proportion of European vehicles - apparently the Model Railroad market is almost an afterthought to the big German model manufacturers), and license (tough to get licenses to produce models - there was even a scare when GM decided they didn’t want to license their vehicles anymore - this apparently was resolved, and while I have my own opinions on whether full size vehicle manufacturers should even have such rights to control model licensing, that is the way it currently is).
So be thankful for the diecasters turning out diecast American vehicles from Model Power (BTW, at least half of the MP/Malibu line is European models, and duplicative of already existing plastic models), CMW, etc; and don’t forget the resin model makers too…
Finally, SOME of the Matchbox TRUCKs are near HO scale (alas, not the common F350 model w/ utility body - there was a short-production run of one that was), but something like the GMC Topkick (usually a DPW body) provides a near scale cab, so do the obvious and bring along a scale ruler (or scale person) to compare…
Thank you, I was afraid that it was a licence thing. I too think that it is BS. I wi***hat I had the tools to make them myself.
Wiking has some North American vehicles, I have a Suburban and a few others. I think I’ve seen Chevy Impalas as police cars. Check the Walthers website or one of their catalogs. The downside is these models aren’t cheap.
Bob Boudreau
Aha! But… YOU DO!
See here:
http://www.87thscale.info/volvo_s80.htm
The only problem is they never finished this web page tutorial [xx(]- maybe we should wage an e-mail campaign to get them to…
Herpa, Trident (ER Models), Busch do also. There are some decent modern era American vehicles around, but a.) there aren’t that many different models, unlike the dozen of Mercedes, Audi, BMW etc. models available from the Germans, b) They are often convertibles, coupes, or other sporty types not necessarily suitable for the average model railroad, where most (prototype) street automobiles are 80% or more sedans. And when something useful like the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Dodge Minivan show up, you grab them. A running joke is how many '57 Chevy’s or late 60s Mustangs do we really need…
Ironically, if you are modelling the mid-1960s, your life is easy - Eko offers a number of late 1950s/early 1960s American (and British) Sedans and Station Wagons like Plymouth Suburbans Wagons, Dodge Dart Sedans, Fords, Desoto’s etc (and several British models which look like American sedans), decent enough body casting, usually no interior, almost all under $5.00 (and, of course, being Walthers, they list everything as out of stock)
Do a search for 1\87 scale die cast collectables. Most of them are way too expencive but you can find a lot in a good $ range that most people can afford. (and you can have a good laugh at $300 busses and $400 bull dozers in HO scale)
The Wal-mart and Life Like cars are the way to go if you find them in your area.
Try www.5thwheelscalemodels.com or www.truckstopmodels.com , they mainly deal with truck models but also offer different autos.