i love trains, and have all of my life. once i toyed with building a couple models. but that was many years ago. i am sure with all of the new things out there, i will probably get lost. i need direction. ho scale, not interested in doing layouts, just highly detailed as possible ( many, many parts to put together). engines and carscan someone point me in the right direction please? thanks
Are you saying you would like to build models and display them? or buy nice models and display them?
^ yeah, I’m a bit confused too.
I take from his post that he is not desirous of a layout. He wants to erect kits of locomotives and rolling stock. He talks about all the parts, lots of details…that is what interests him.
Maybe he’ll clarify.
Crandell
Check out Revell. There are a couple of HO scale steam locos on their model list that are highly detailed but do not operate. If you want models that are highly detailed look into the top end of the spectrum like Athearn Genisis, Atlas Gold Line, BLI, Overland Models, and Rapido Trains for pre built or almost built locos and cars. Also you could try buying the low to mid level trains and adding your own detail parts to give a “plain” engine a much needed facelift.
Massey
For locomotives you could go to eBay and try to find either an old “Bowser” or “Hobby Town of Boston” locomotive kit. They have lots of parts. The Bowsers also had matching "super detailing part kits. For less of a challenge you could look for some old MDC Roundhouse steam locomotive kits. Once again they don’t make them any more so you need to look at the used channels such as eBay, Yahoo HO Yard Sale, Craigs List, and the like.
For freight car kits there are still craftsman kits made. They are in wood, plastic, or resin. Some brands are Central Valley (stock car kit), American Model Builders (wood caboose), Tichy (makes a way cool crane), Durango Press, Red Caboose, Sunshine, Branchline (less craftsmany but on sale at factory direct ). There are also older Life Like Proto-2000 kits that have bunches of parts in them. The tank cars and stock cars are especially challenging.
For passenger cars try some Branchline kits. The GoMotorBids.com people had a bunch of them for cheap a while back. Don’t know if they still do or not.
What area of the country do you live? I know some layout owners that are always looking for help in building cars and structures. Do you do any painting also?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m looking to do structures, dioramas and the like as well. I don’t have the resources for a layout, but dioramas of various kinds have always appealed to me.
You can always take commercial models and add details and weather them to match photos and descriptions from time periods that interest you. I’m doing that with a Spectrum N&W J I’ve had for many years.
Detailed kits such as Branchline, Proto-2000 and more are fun and can prepare you for more advanced models such as those made in resin, by Westerfield and others.
Tips:
Take your time! this is a hobby after all and though the thrill of finishing is wonderful, you’ll do better work when you take your time, use the right tools, and do it right.
Invest in a good set of tools, I’ve always really liked jewelers screw-drivers, small file, X-acto knife, pin-vise, emery boards, drill bit and tap sets, and sprue nippers. Those are my favorites for assembling injection molded, pre-painted kits, but they’ll do you much good for assembling other models later on.
Alvie
Welcome to the forums.
As Massey said, you could get some decent running, not to expensive locos (IHC from EBay) and upgrade their looks. I used to buy a few items from a fellow that upgraded models to at least 90% accurate for the road he decaled the loco for. Involved research into what was done to each loco and when. You can do the same with car kits. Unfortunately inexpensive kits are getting harder to find. I have seen mention of shaving off the molded on features (grab irons) and then drilling and adding wire ones. The more basic model you get the more detailing you can do to get it to look just as it did on the prototype.
Have fun,
Richard
buikd nice ho scale models and display them. maybe one day i will do a layout, but for now i just want to model them.
thanks for the info everyone, that is the direction i needed, some names of kits, and so on.
Your going to want to look at Proto 2000 and Intermountain for some really nice, highly detailed kits. As for ready to run stuff (RTR) look at Intermountain, Atlas, Athearn Genesis as well as their RTR line, Proto 2000, Exact Rail and Rapido. I really like highly detailed models and this is what I usually buy.