I only use metal vehicles for HO scale displays and layouts. Made in England Matchbox, especially the older ones, are my favourite. I look for ones that are in not so collectible shape, and drill the rivets out to strip paint, make changes like adding drivers and other components, then prime and repaint to my liking. This Dodge cattle truck, originally with yellow body, (Matchbox No. 37) will look very different when completed.
Real HO trucks vs Matchbox - scale close enough for me.
Matchbox scales are a crap shoot. I think they are sized “to fit in a matchbox,” hence the name and the smaller scale for trucks and larger scale for race cars. I prefer my vehicles to be as close to 1:87 as possible. I explore train shows and look for online sales. I only pick up my cars and trucks as I find them, and put them on my layout when I do. I never go out looking for a particular model.
Metal die-cast cars are really nice, but I’m seeing more and more quality autos in plastic from Athearn and CMW. I think that’s the wave of the future.
I have a dual-era layout, changing decades by replacing locos, some rolling stock and mostly vehicles for older and newer model timeframes. That’s when I start to really miss Jordan vehicles, a joy to build and a joy to display.
Don’t like plastic at all. The only plastic I’ll put up with are the locomotives, rolling stock, track and specialty polymers and adhesives. Everything else has to be wood, metal, stone, glass, or organic. That’s my old school future wave.
One dimensional thinking.
Most of my autos and trucks are die-cast, too. I just think they look better than earlier plastic models, but there are limits to availability. I think this Raiway Express truck from Classic Metal Works is a big step up from what we used to settle for in plastic vehicles.
Yes, I was surprised when I got it and discovered it was plastic, but it’s a good model with nice detail and a perfectly acceptable finish.
As for older plastic models, well, I agree, but there’s a place for them on my layout, too.
Starting to look the way I had imagined.
The original vehicle is shown in this image, a Dodge cattle truck. The back is grey plastic. It will be converted into an all metal cryogenic liquid tank truck with a white tank and associated equipment. The entire metal payload will be easily replaceable with other equipment.
Matchbox cars are typically 1:64 scale, the same as S scale model railroading - - too big for HO scale model railroading.
Guess that explains why all my matchbox trucks are slightly smaller than the HO trucks in the first two pictures I posted.
O&G Trucking Fleet includes both HO scale and matchbox. The matchbox are slightly smaller.
I think they look great.
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The work you do is always enjoyable to me. I wish I could see the world the way you are able to. All I see is junk and dirt. You see HO trucks and awesome building materials.
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I love it.
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-Kevin
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Matchbox, by Lesney, the early sixties vehicles were metal bodied, the cars are too big, but the trucks are actually smaller than HO, but very close to use. Stripping off factory paint usually reveals finer details. Many of the trucks are English prototypes, adding details and scale wheels from Athearn or Classic Metals will change them. Nice job on the dodge, I’ve done the other dodge truck(the wrecker or dump truck), turned one into a feed truck using a Walthers body, and the other an oil truck using a Classic Metals body. The old caterpillar and front end bucket loader are also close enough. I do prefer plastic though, easier to drill for mirrors and details.Nice work! mh
I’m generally satisfied with “close” for details on my roads. Matchbox construction equipment works for me. A few years back there were a lot of inexpensive, true HO scale cars and truck tractors available at department and hobby stores. Believing that it wouldn’t last, I bought a bunch of them. Ha, it didn’t last and I’m glad I invested!
I do have some cars that are too big, usually 1:64. I place them in the foreground to force perspective.
On a side note, I’ve tried to get a scale model of all the cars we’ve owned. Scale varies from HO to 1:18. On some I had to modify the body, turning a five door Saab 900 into a four door, a Volvo 264 into a 242, things like that. Most have required disassembly and repainting. Hint: actual touch up paint from the dealer holds enough to do a smaller scale car, and gives a perfect color match.
I never cared for any Matchbox vehicles…also don’t care for any RTR trucks. All usually ready made are not for the era’s I build anyway. All CMW trucks that I have have been redone to My liking.
My preferance would be a kit, that can be built/changed to My liking, whether it be Polyurethane resin, White Metal, Pewter. Suspensions are all made out of brass rod/tube, music wire, with rubber tires on plastic wheels, so they roll. I do mostly fallen flag Trucking companies from the 40’s to 70’s era only…
All photos may be clicked on for larger view.
Just a small percent of over 200 vehicles.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Actually, they would be considerably larger than HO scale, if Matchbox trucks were the same scale as their cars, but they are not. Matchbox has not made much of an attempt to keep everything the same scale, but rather the same size, so trucks are relatively smaller than they should be and cars are larger.
I have a Matchbox MG TF which is pretty close to HO but it looks so toy like that I wouldn’t put it on my layout, even in the background. I also have an MGA - same thing. I was thrilled when I was given them as a kid and I still appreciate them, but they are not up to my model railroad standards.
Dave
Beautiful work Frank!!
I agree with matchbox cars looking very toy-ish and too far out of scale. I wouldn’t use them. Fortunately, I don’t require many cars since all my interests are in gritty mining and quarry vehicles, and other industrial trucks and trailers. I am treating the matchbox as a kitbashing exercise. I don’t have Frank’s skill set to do all the tiny details, but hopefully in future I’ll improve. I have a British friend (we played soccer together in the city men’s league years ago) who collects, and sells vintage vehicles like these. Extremely knowledgeable. He’s on the lookout for me. I see him at the market every Sunday and bought several nice trucks from him yesterday.
Nice pictures, Everyone.
I did this with the Matchbox cattle truck. I don’t considder it HO scale or an accurate replica of a Dodge L-700. But I’ve had it 50 years and I like it. Probably won’t be on the layout. Athearn wheels.
I’ll argue all day that the cabs on these Matchbox GMC Tippers are very close to HO. I photographed and measured a real one. Lost the data in a painful hard drive crash. I put Athearn wheels on them and did my best to smooth the cab hinge holes. They will go on the layout.
with an Athearn Ford C for comparison
Here’s a Boley-Herpa-CMW 'bash, with some scratchbuilding too.
The mixer is Boley, frame is Herpa, cab CMW. The water tank, chain drive (simplified) funnel and it’s mount scratchbuilt. I milled the fender turn signal gum ball machines thin and flat, and filed the cab pillars thinner for a better look.
Heres an Athearn mixer on a CMW IH.
The mixed fleet of mixers, 3 are Athearn