ho scale vehicles

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I have purchased a few “1/87” scale vehicles an feel that they are not always true to scale. I would like to know from the experienced modelers, which manufacturers can I trust to produce really true to scale HO vehicles and figures and which ones should I avoid?

Thanks

wdcrvr

2

I think the Classic Metal Works line of vehicles is 1/87 – at least they look right when placed next to rolling stock and structures. The Jordan old time vehicles and wagons are 1/87 or darn close to it.

I know that some of the “HO scale” slotcars of years past were not 1/87 at all but were sized to fit the motors.

Be mindful that some vehicle sellers can be deliberately obscure as to how they claim a scale – AHM used to have a line of vehicles (and they were very nice little models) that they advertised as “Looks great on HO layouts!” Notice – no claim that they were HO, and they weren’t HO.

Dave Nelson

3

The Model Power, Fresh Cherries, Trident, Herpa, River Point Station, Athearn, Atlas, Neo and Riko cars are all pretty much right on for scale.

I’m sure there’s more …

Mark.

4

If you want to build and paint your own. I know they are to scale and there are many others, like has been already mentioned:

http://www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/cars.html

http://www.1-87vehicles.org/index.php

Frank

5

IMO I think that most companies do a good job of making stuff in the correct scale but others are not so good at it. I make it a habit to check out everything very thoroughly before I buy it. One source you may look into if you can find one in your area is an antique toy show or something like it. Keep a lookout for the old Matchbox cars, I dont know what scale they are but they are so close that the difference is not noticeable. At least not by me.

Keep it on the high shiny stuff. Neil

6

In general I matchbox Hot Wheels etc Cars are too big but the trucks are OK I suppose I compromised a bit when I built my Hess Oil Complex to display my collection of Hess Mini Tankers bu then they only have to make me happy.

7

I use Life-Like SceneMaster vehicles and they are 1/87 or very close too. Plus they are very cheap.

8

Boley, Wiking, Herpa, Model Power, Fresh Cherries, Con-Cor and Classic Metal Works all see to work out scale wise and with a decent level of detail. Only problem is the ridiculous prices on some of these vehicles (give you need more than a handful for scenic use).

9

While Hot Wheels and other similary “toy” cars are not the most detailed and prototypical they sell for $1-$4 at Wal Mart. They are not Ho scale but it seems to me there would be a large market for them if they would produce a line in 1:87 scale. Like women’s clothing we have allowed the market to push up prices on HO scale vehicles way beyond what is reasonable for the cost to produce them.

10

I like to use the Classic Metal Works Vehicals & have found that one of the best online sorce is M B Klein.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/

Athearn Ford Truck CMW Dodge car

CMR Cars Athearn Truck

CMW IH Truck

CMW Truck

11

Hot Wheels DID bring out a line of 1/87th cars a few years ago. Never heard of them ? - that’s because they fell flat on their face and never made any more of them after the initial release. Too bad, there was some nice 60’s and 70’s cars that just needed a wheel change. Among the initial release was a 64 Galaxie, 70’s Challenger, 70’s Superbird, 70’s Mustang and a 55 Chevey Panel among others. Even when they were new they were hard to find. There were some great cars for the 70’s in the “future releases” list, but they were dropped and never produced

Mark.

12

One problem I have with most HO scale cars is a lack of more modern vehicles.

13

Here’s a site listing the HO Hot Wheels that were produced (with images) - I have the 2005 Ford Mustang, but it seems a bit oddly proportioned (especially the wheel wells, which I guess were larger than scale to handle the large Hot Wheels Wheels…)

14

As someone getting back into the Hobby after many years, I’ve got to agree that I’m shocked at some of the prices of HO scale vehicles. Seems it would cost almost as much as my rolling stock to buy enough vehicles for my small layout. I’m trying to keep my eye out for someone looking to sell a bunch of them at once. I know what you’re all thinking … good luck with that!

15

I have not measured which manufacturer’s vehicles are exactly 1:87 but I have noticed that the Busch vehicles seem to be small in relation to the CMW and Athearn stuff. I first noticed this when I bought a Busch 1950’s Buick Roadmaster which I believe was a rather large car. However, it is smaller than the CMW '56 Chevies which is not correct. I also have a few of Busch’s 40’s and 50’s British sports cars and despite the fact that they were small cars to begin with, the Busch models are so small that they are distracting.

My solution will be to put the relatively smaller cars towards the back of the layout so I can use their size to advantage by creating a little forced perspective.

One mistake I have made is buying cars from Britain. They claim to be 1:87 but in fact they are much larger (relatively) than the North American stuff. I have two very nicely modelled MGB’s but they won’t find their way onto the layout because they are as big as the CMW '56 Chevies. I also bought a Morris Minor. It is bigger than the Busch Buick Roadmaster. I suspect that what the British dealers are calling HO is actually OO.

Dave

16

I have one other suggestion look on Ebay there are a number of overseas seller mainly from Taiwan (I think) that sell. HO or close to it cars. These are not highly detailed models but rather plastic shells with non rolling wheels (an advantage for our purposes). Use these cars in the background and save the highly detailed ones for up close.I suggest buying from one source so that the vehicles are the same size relative to each other. I prefer slightly smaller vehicles because they give a sense of distance and look better in parking lots.

17

Did t happen to have a piano dropped on it’s roof? Seems Top Gear has a thing for the Morris Minor.

18

The variation on vehicle size applies to people too. I have many “engineers” that would have to stretch to be able to lay across both track rails.

19

That was a Morris Marina, not a Minor - two very different animals, as Jezza, Captain Slow, and the Hampster would be the first to tell you…

20

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Mark,

So, how did they fall flat? The fact they are no longer available could indicate that fact. But, the fact that we cannot find them much for resale and that many of us are looking for cheaper alternatives would indicate there is a market. Not the millions for 3-8 year old boys to play with but certainly thousands for HO scale model railroaders. If I could purchase ten cars for the price of one today I would have a much larger fleet of vehicles on my layout.