Does anyone know where I can find or has anone had any experience with a line of good quality, well-detailed, 20’s - 40’s AMERICAN vintage HO scale cars and trucks, in either kit or RTR? There’s a plethora of 50’s to modern out there.
I just completed the Jordan 1940 Ford coupe kit. I was a bit disappointed: it was a lot of work filing and fitting and the quality just okay. Has anyone gotten anything from Wheel Works? Thanks for your help. [:)]
Tom
Mini Metal Works makes HO and N scale vehicles in the time period you want. Just type Mini Metal Vehicles into Google to find information about them.
I could be wrong but I’m thinking their oldest vehicles are the 1953 trucks.
I’d just look around at the Walthers site.
Maybe join and ask at the Yahoo! Group, “1/87 Scale Cars” at:
Paul,
I checked the Classic Metal Works site after cacole’s response. The earliest CMW had were two or three '48’s and one '41. (The '41 Plymouth coupe was just a little too jazzy . I’m looking more for “standard” or ordinary vehicles.)
Micro Engineering Wheel Works does have some early vehicles. They seem to be primarily in the '32 - '34 range.
Thanks for the suggestion and the link, Paul! I’ll look into it. [:D]
Tom
Hi Tom,
I stand corrected.
Personally, I look for vehicles primarily in the 1960’s as I’m modeling 1969 on my layout.
I’m glad I was able to help some.
You mentioned Jordan’s '40 coupe. I don’t think it is typical of Jordan’s whole line of vehicles. I have built a few of their '20s vehicles, and am quite impressed with the fine quality. They are very delicate, in fact. If you dont knock them around they’ll be fine.
Woodland Scenics has a number of vintage trucks and farm tractor kits in white metal. The detail in them isn’t as sharp or fine as in the Jordan styrene models, but they go together faster. They are reasonably priced, compared to some white metal Kits, like Wheel Works.
I built one Wheel Works '32 ford pickup over 20 years ago, I found the metal too soft for it’s own good (and admittedly my heavy handed skill level at the time) The level of detail in the castings was quite impressive for metal though.
Busch and Wiking have a few plastic European cars from the '30s.
Alloy forms has some white metal Mack truck kits from the '30s, originally the Lee Town line. They are nice models but expensive.
A quick browse through the Walthers catalog vehicle section would show what’s available. Wanna see a great 1/87 model vehicle website? Check out
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/ Dan
Truskstopmodels.com Thay have most makers, also a link to the 1/87th club, Might help
Williams Brothers has a couple of nice vehicles in your era. I agree with Sparkingbolt’s assesment of Jordan Vehicle, there are no better, and yes they take some time and skill to build.
Tom,
I don’t know where on the quality spectrum you might place them, but have you checked out the '30s cars and trucks offered by Sylvan Scale Models of Canada ? Here’s a link:
http://www.isp.on.ca/sylvan/ho-scaleproducts.htm
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Model Power is coming out with a few new metal cars.
BC
Try http://www.thetrainexchange.net/gregs.htm Greg’s garage has lots of neat older cars, cast resin type kits from 5 bucks.