So I want to build a diorama since I dont have enough room for a serious layout right at this moment.
I want to build a scene based on one of my favorite spots to railfan.
One of this spots unique features is that there’s a skating rink right by the line.A lot of times I’ll se that they have a Zamboni out for either cleaning it or deposing of shaved ice (You cans ee giant piles of it next to the tracks even in June/July).
I was wonderring, if there were any HO Scale Zamboni’s for purchase to help add to the scene.
A quick search of the Walthers catalog failed to show any Zamboni models in HO scale. I would assume then that you’d have to scratch build one. Fortunately, they’re not much more than a box on wheels (go to www.zamboni.com and check out their photo archive). I would use the wheels from a modern HO sports car to get the fancy wheels and wide tires common on many of these machines. A simple strip of styrene should suffice for a chassis while the box could either be fashioned from sheet styrene or filed to shape from a solid block of styrene or wood. Add a tractor seat, a steering wheel, a few small control levers and a driver high on the rear of the box. A few more pieces of styrene could be added to represent side skirts and the rear grooming sled under the driver. Maybe add a few small diameter wires between the box and the grooming sled to represent water lines and paint. If you look at the Zamboni web site photo archives, you can see that few units look similar, especially after all the custom paint jobs are applied. Apparently, headlights were optional. This should make for a very entertaining project that is sure to prove to be a real conversation starter. Kind of makes me wish I had an ice rink on my layout!
Instead of scratch building a Zamboni, my layout includes a portion of a small oval racing track. Thus, I have been scratch building HO scale midget racing cars for a 1950’s setting. I create a rough body/chassis by laminating strips of styrene together into the general shape desired. Once the plastic cement has cured, I file the rough body/chassis into the desired shape. I use wide rear wheels (taken from modern HO model sports cars) and narrow front wheels (taken from vintage HO model cars). I simply cut slots in the underside of the chassis to slide the axles into and cement in place. I add pieces of wire and thin strip styrene to the sides of
It is in stock at Walthers but so few of the Selley parts and kits are – with no expected restock date – that I suspect Bowser intends to phase out the time honored Selley line once and for all.
Good find Dave! That would indeed be a good starting point for a Zamboni kitbash. Remove the forklift mechanism, turn the drivers seat around, add the rear grooming sled and you’d be pretty close right there. A more accurate representation would require you to extend the box over the original drivers seat and then add the trademark driving position hanging off the back of the unit. Kitbashing your Zamboni using this forklift would be a LOT less work. Add a custom paint job plus a driver and you’re there!
The smallest Zambonis I’ve seen are the ones that come with the 1999 Monopoly NHL set; these could be HO or possibly a bit smaller. They’d need a paint job, though, as they seem to be pewter or something.
A quick check on eBay will turn these up. (Update: a quick question to the seller reveals this to be 7/8" x 1/4" x 1/4"; so, more like ‘N’ scale, I guess…)
I have a small one somewhere. It is about HO scale, I got it from the “fan shop,” it was decorated for my favourite team. I know they have them for different teams so you can get your favourite.
