Hello:
This is part of a post we have already placed on the Classic Toy Train Forum to which we have received several constructive replies.
Our larger layout features O27 Postwar Lionel and Plasticville. We would like to replace the Plasticville Citizens/People with more traditional or vintage looking people (at reasonable prices) and are looking for suggestions.
As always, many thanks.
What is this “reasonible price” you speak of.
Wour terminology does not compute.
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“Wour terminology does not compute.”
We simply mean, in the reader’s personal opinion, what they would consider as “reasonable”. Certainly, it being a hobby, to many, price is no object. If the reader replied giving a suggestion based on their experience and left it at that, we could consider the information and would appreciate the post.
ANYWAY, we thank you for your interest.
PS…Originally from the Bronx, we really have admired your work.
Not a reasonable price in time, but a very reasonable price in $$$.
Make a copper wire ‘skeleton’ and build up to contour with jelly plastic (sprues melted in solvent.) then sculpt (with a dremel flex shaft or equivalent) and paint. This way you can get Sumo rikishi, Victorian ladies with wasp waists and bustles, proper gentlemen in stovepipe hats that DON’T look like Abe Lincoln. You can also get hard-hat miners and other working figures (like ladies in conical bamboo hats and blue pajamas with big white polka-dots.)
Note that the ‘people’ I listed are not available in a bubble pack or box for any price.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - without Victorian ladies)
Plastruct has unpainted figure sets in O scale that I think are intended for their architectural side of the business but might be usable and the price seems reasonable to me (check the Walthers website). Of course Lionel and MTH sell figures. Woodland Scenics has some very nice O scale figures.
When I was a boy I think the figures on my Lionel train set actually came from Marx. And I was none too fussy about scale or accuracy either. I used lead soldiers as well which were far bigger than O.
In addition to checking toy stores including dollar stores, you may want to explore what our counterparts in the military modeling field have to offer.
In addition of course to not knowing what “reasonably priced” means to other folks, there is the issue that true O scale figures might look odd near O-27 trains and Plasticville structures which are often closer to 1/64. That in turn makes me wonder if the farm toy lines might offer something. This is definitely the right time of year to be looking at farm toys if the local Farm & Fleet and Fleet Farm stores are any indication.
Dave Nelson
Arttista makes S scale fiqures.
Search Walthers for O scale figures:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Figures&scale=O&manu=&item=&keywords=&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search
Lots there, but the reasonable price is up to you [swg]
I have an old model rr magazine somewhere that shows how to make the wire skeleton folks that Chuck mentions. If I remember correctly they were then dipped in wax. Today I might try some sort of putty or caulking instead of wax.
Good luck,
Richard
Tomikawa TT; Dave N.; Rrebell; G Paine; Cowman…We thank you.
John Allen was the guilty party for the wax-on-wire figures. A friend of mine used the technique to fill an interurban car with passengers.
I didn’t mention wax, since I wouldn’t use it. Its survival would be iffy in the high temperatures of my layout space.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in a Southern Nevada garage)