As I was riding home from work today and noticing so many American flags flying all over, it occurred to me that my layout ought to have 0ld Glory somewhere or other. I hadn’t thought of modeling a flag near any of the structures before. The layout will have a depot and a fire station in town and those are both suitable places.
As a bonus, if you are modeling a particular era of railroad history, your flag can help identify the era if you do a little research, to get the number and pattern of stars on the flag correct for the year.
Now that I have thought of this, does anybody know of vendors selling scale flag poles and scale versions of Old Glory?
Stan
Amen, Just remember to fly it a half mast untill a week from Monday. Mike
Hey Stan, I see from all the response you got to this post this site is flat overrun with patriots! Mike
Hi Mike. Yeah I’m surprised at the lack of response. It could be that I should have come up with a better title for the topic. I at least expected somebody to come back with “yeah, such-and-such a company makes US flags in N-HO-O scales…”, or “here’s how to make a suitable flagpole…”
Making a scale flag yourself could be an interesting project. I realized it’s not as simple as it first appeared. One idea I had suitable for a draping flag (no wind) was to print the flag on an regular paper on an inkjet printer, then sand the paper thin enough to curl as a flag does. The curl would hide the fact that the ‘back’ of the flag is blank.
Simulating a flag waving in a breeze would be a bit harder.
Stan
I’ve been looking for an american flag for my layout for several months now, with no luck, even tried several net sites, figuring I could copy one that would suffice.
One other problem I have, mine has to have 48 stars, in HO scale
So if anyone has a source for these flags, I hope they will respond
Don
My layout is N-Scale, but I am just now getting started on the scenery. Will have a post office in the main town and would like to find a cloth flag for it. Till I do I may try your idea. Oh well, those that do can raise it back to full mast Mon.
Keep er’ on the rails, Mike
Don, if you find a source please share it with us. Mike
I needed a flag for my post office when I built it back in the 70’s (had no luck finding them then) but I got pretty close using a US postage stamp. There was one back then that had a left and right version of a flag draped. I cut them out and glued them back to back. The pole was made of styrene and I mounted it off the 2nd story so the drape was hanging down toward the sidewalk. and don’t forget the eagle with wings spread (painted gold of course) on the end of the pole
God Bless America
Kevin
Very clever. I think I know the stamp you are talking about (used to collect stamps too).
It just occurred to me that an easier way to add Old Glory to a layout might be to show it draped on the side of a building. At least then it’s basically flat and any scale image of a flag might suffice.
Stan
I also just checked the magazine and book database in the Model Railroader section and searched on “flag”. Bob Hayden, in his book on detailing tips, has listed 48 and 50 star flags.
This may be of some help if no commercial supply is available.
Kevin
I seem to recall seeing an article in MR with flags printed in it many years ago. These were cut out and folded so it was double sided. I think they were also printed so the flag appeared to be fluttering. I’m not sure how many stars were on it but.
Darren
according to the walthers catalog, flags and flagpoles are made by the following manufactures:
stewart products 50 star and various railroads
campbell scale models 48 star
international hobby corp. US, and all 50 states
microscale decals has 48 and 50 star
there are probibly others, but this is all i can find in the book. seems like all of them are paper, or double sided stickers that you fold together
these are all HO scale. there may be others in N scale. just go to walthers.com and type in flags in the search window
The walters catalog duhhh who would have thunk? And it sits within arms reach of my puter. boy is my face red.
Thanx Alex
For those who have set their layout in an earlier period, here is the rundown on when stars were added to the flag:
1777 June 14 – Continental Congress adopts the following: Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.(stars represent Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island)
1795 Flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes (Vermont, Kentucky)
1818 Flag with 20 stars and 13 stripes (it remains at 13 hereafter) (Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi)
1819 Flag with 21 stars (Illinois)
1820 Flag with 23 stars (Alabama, Maine)
1822 Flag with 24 stars (Missouri)
1836 Flag with 25 stars (Arkansas)
1837 Flag with 26 stars (Michigan)
1845 Flag with 27 stars (Florida)
1846 Flag with 28 stars (Texas)
1847 Flag with 29 stars (Iowa)
1848 Flag with 30 stars (Wisconsin)
1851 Flag with 31 stars (California)
1858 Flag with 32 stars (Minnesota)
1859 Flag with 33 stars (Oregon)
1861 Flag with 34 stars; (Kansas)
first Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) adopted in Montgomery, Alabama
1863 Flag with 35 stars (West Virginia)
1865 Flag with 36 stars (Nevada)
1867 Flag with 37 stars (Nebraska)
1877 Flag with 38 stars (Colorado)
1890 Flag with 43 stars (North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho)
1891 Flag with 44 stars (Wyoming)
1896 Flag with 45 stars (Utah)
1908 Flag with 46 stars (Oklahoma)
1912 Flag with 48 stars (New Mexico, Arizona)
1959 Flag with 49 stars (Alaska)
1960 Flag with 50 stars (Hawaii)
To see the way in which the stars were arranged, go here:
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagpics.html
Stan,
Sorry about my last attempt. You can go to Tony’s Train Exchange on the internet and download a file for all scale American Flags. I think you print out a 8 X 10 sheet.
Jerry
I have used the Campbell 48 star flag for years. It is the proper version for my 50’s era modeling. They can be made to appear to flutter by rippling them before the set up hard.
Another source, if you can find them, are the flags included with a HO modular building kit marketed in the late 50’s called “Skyline”. I was given one as a child and built many modern, for that era, skyscrapers from the set. I wish someone would remarket it today. These flags were flutering.
Doubt if I will fly the flag but here is a suggestion for the modern era modelers out there. I recently bought the Model Power “Blue Angel” Kenworth Wrecker - It is painted in red, whit and blue stars and stripes. In addition it has NYC on the door and lists a New York Area code in the phone number.
This is how I choose to “fly the flag” on my layout.
I just recieved the new issue of MR and one of the advertisers was nice enough to use his ad space to print varoius sizes of the flag (left and right versions.)
kevin