I’m in need of one, maybe 2, aircraft (private not military) for a small rural airport on the layout. I’m not having much luck finding anything that works. I’d appreciate any leads
Mike Thomasson
https://www.walthers.com/products/layout/vehicles/aircraft
Two second search.
I saw no small private planes on that list.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I have posted this suggestion before, and some people did not think it was a good one. It might work for you.
I was surprised at how big accurately scaled 1:87 aircraft models are. Since we view airplanes from a distance (most of the time) our brains interpret them as being smaller than they actually are.
I have found that 1:100 aircraft actually look better to me than 1:87 aircraft.
There is a lot of variety available in 1:100 scale kits.
-Kevin
ATHEARN 1355 40 FT FLAT CAR KIT WITH PLANE NICKEL PLATE ROAD NKP 2659 797534013551 | eBay
as a bonus you also get a flat car.
here is another
Some years ago, there was an attraction in New York City called Gulliver’s Gate. It was a large HO scale model of scenes representing the continents. The trains were knd of incidental, but they did help tie the whole thing together and they provided animation.
The built a model of LaGuardia Airport in New York. They had planes landing, taking off and taxiing.
They were not happy with available 1:87 models of jetliners, so they 3D printed their own models and painted them.
Sadly, Gulliver’s Gate went bankrupt and disappeared.
I got this John Deere Stearman bi-plane at Walmart for a few bucks…
…and re-painted it for
Barney Secord, a made-up character (based on a former uncle) on my layout…
He’s responsible for all of the aerial views taken of my layout, plus a number of aerobatic stunts, such as flying under bridges (above), or performing Immelmann rolls to remove the empty beer bottles from the cockpit.
He also runs a business in South Cayuga, and can get you just about anything “wholesale”. Rumours suggest that some items have accidentally “fallen off the back of a truck”, but appear to be undamaged.
I don’t understand the embellishments to the sign on the business location, but it must have some personal significance for him…
Wayne
All good suggestions. Although several are no longer available, enough are so I can likely find what I’m looking for. I was concerned about using 1/72 or 1/100, but the comments saying that 1/100 actually look better opens up even more options. Thanks.
Mike
It took me far longer than it should have. [(-D]
Perhaps the victims should picket his establishment?
Glad that you “got it” Overmod", and a very suitable comeback, too.[Y]
My brother, who does the printing for most of my on-layout signs, and all of the GERN Industries ads and billboards, included that due to our relatively late realisation, as kids, that one of our favourite uncles had some sidelines that we were not aware of. He’s been gone for decades, but we still have fond memories of him.
Wayne
Since 1/87 and 1/100 options are very limited, how obvious would 1/72 be if seen from about 3 feet away with only a couple of 1/87 vehicle and trees nearby?
Since 1/72 scale aircraft are so inexpensive and plentiful, I would suggest buying one and mocking up a quick scene to see how it hits your eye.
We all see things differently.
-Kevin
Not a bad idea. BTW, does anyone know what scale Hot Wheel cars are?
They are 1:64 scale, but similar to the way Lionel trains are 1:48 scale.
Mattel takes a lot of liberty with the scale, especially as they model larger vehicles in the Hot Wheels line. The scale tends to get smaller as the vehicle gets larger. I have been told some are as small as 1:76 scale.
Hot wheels did release a series of 1:87 scale cars a few years back.
The car in this image is one of the 1:87 Hot Wheels. They offered it in a couple of different colors. I think this one was called “Passion”, and is a chopped hot rod.
-Kevin
1:100 would probably work better than 1:72 I would think. 1:100 is smaller than HO so would add a sense of distance; 1:72 of course is larger than HO so would be harder to make look ‘right’.
BTW you can search online and find fairly inexpensive 1:100 figures. I find the seated ones work nice in HO passenger cars - they look fine but rarely need to be cut up to fit in the seats.
Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars are all basically made to fit a predetermined size box or package, so indeed the scales can vary. I have one or two Matchbox trucks that are (as best I can figure) very close to HO scale.
BTW Lionel 1:48 scale trains are listed under “O Scale” in their catalogue; the undersized ‘toy train’ sized pieces are under “O Traditional”.
Lionel has make some very high quality 1:48 ‘scale’ engines in recent years:
Those look very nice. I am impressed.
-Kevin
There’s one on Ebay now for $15 with the flat car.
Search for: HO Athearn flat car with Airplane load.
I wasn’t sure if I could post a link (or if I even know how [:S]), but if you search for that you’ll find it.
When you guys find the right prop driven airplane for your layouts, and if you want the plane in “run-up” or in the air or skimming the water, here is a neat visual of ''motion".
Take the prop and measure the full length then drill a small pinsize hole in the center of a piece of thin clear plastic, cut a disc the diameter of the prop’s full length measurement. Now stick a pin through a fine piece of sandpaper 1/4’’ x longer then 1/2 of the prop’s length then through the pinhole in the clear disc and fasten it all down to a wood block and spin the clear disc with a finger while holding the sandpaper with other fingers, now do the other side of the disc. Now you have a ‘‘frosted’’ disc that should looks like a spinning prop. Resize the pinhole to fit the prop cone’s pin and fasten it to the ''running" engine aircraft.
I do like to see a fine circular grain in the clear plastic made from the sandpaper.