I want to try it.
I scratchbuild AND kitbash all the time, and if you include superdetailing and weathering in the kitbash category, EVERYTHING on my layouts are bash/scratched.
I’ve scratched a few pieces of rollling stock, mostly in N, and have scratched dozens of structures in both HO and N (and one depot in O). Scratching buildings is fun, quick, cheap & easy. Freight cars are a bit trickier, but still fun. I’m working my way up to scratching wood sided heavyweight passenger cars.
I kitbash a lot. When modeling a road like the GN with its unique
appearance in locos and rolling stock, it is almost a necessity.
I have also scratchbuilt a GN 25 foot wooden caboose and a
30 footer as well (once each). I haven’t got the time anymore to
do that so much but with AMB’s beautiful GN caboose kit, I don’t
really need to-that car at least. I, of course, will continue to kitbash
equipment I need to suit my prototype.
No. I’ve never kitbashed any rolling stock, but have customized things like buildings and so forth. The most I’ve ever done was put graffiti decals on a few covered hoppers, but that’s about it. I envy those that have the skill to do things I’ll probably never be able to do.
Tracklayer
Tracklayer, don’t sell yourself short. Like many things, modeling skills are
built with practice.Start with simple things like adding detail and move along
from there. Also start trying some of the better kits like Branchline orInter-
mountain. These will help build skill. Like the Lowe’s ads say:
You Can Do It.
And it’s fun and rewarding.
My first scratchbuilt car was a PRR X23 boxcar (wood single sheathed with stamped metal truss work on the outside) that had been converted into a caboose. I chose that because MR had plans of it and there was one in excellent shape in a town 20 miles from my house. It cost me less than $5. You can now buy a resin kit of the exact same car for about $30.
I have kitbashed lots of cars. Athearn coaches into RDG coaches (redo the windows) Athearn RPO’s into RDG RPO’s (redo the windows and roof), made a RDG XMv boxcar from an Athearn boxcar (lower the sides 6’, remove one rib off the ends, put on a new roof and running boards) and making a 1900 era steel gon out of an Athearn 50’ gon shell (shorten it to 36’, cut the sides down to 1 ft high, remove the fishbelly and make new sills and ends). I have also scratchbuilt several 1900 cars from styrene and have played with casting cars from resin. As soon as I finish my new workbench area, I’ll start that effort again.
I say go for it. Get some plans or really good pictures of what you want, find a good model to start with and kitbash away. Scratchbuilding is easiest the earlier or later you go. That’s because the cars were wooden earlier and welded steel later, the eras from 1910 to 1960’s are the hardest to scratchbuild because the fastener of choice was rivets. They are more of a challenge. Start out with a welded car or a wooden car. To scratchbuild consider getting a dial caliper and a calculator to figure out scales and dimensions. With a small square, a scale rule, a pin vise, a #11 blade hobby knife, a calculator and my dial calipers, I can make just about anything from styrene.
Dave H.
Yes, I have scratch/parts built freight cars and structures. I enjoy it, but it does take time which is why I don’t do it all the time.
Enjoy
Paul
Like any other Nexus 6 I just want to know how much time I’ve got.
OOPS! Gave away my presence here on earth…can’t someone fix the rain?
Yes, I scratchbuild rolling stock all the time. Since I model narrow gauge, most rolling stock was made of wood. Modeling wooden rolling stock with stripwood in O scale is enjoyable and nothing looks more like wood than wood. There are a lot of detail parts available for scratchbuilders and kitbashers in both O and HO scale. A lot of parts can be used in both scales. I plan to build some of the resin kits by Foothill Models in the future.
Here’s a wedge snowplow I scratch built in On30, used plans and photos found in the Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette:
(click to enlarge photo)
The prototype was the Sandy River & Rangley Lakes Railroad in Maine.
Bob Boudreau
Dave H. wrote:
“1900 era steel gon out of an Athearn 50’ gon shell (shorten it to 36’, cut the sides down to 1 ft high, remove the fishbelly and make new sills and ends).”
Do you have a picture of this car? Can you post it to this forum? I’d love to see it.
Eric
I kitbash almost all my stuctures, change my rolling stock and engines to fit the road I model, kitbash a lot of vehicles from old matchbox stuff, it’s the fun part of the hobby
I have done more kitbashing than scratchbuilding. If you take your time either can be very fulfilling, and you can really add your “touch” to the subject. It’s also a good way to build models that are not readily available.
If you have never scratchbuilt or kitbashed a model, I would suggest that you try kitbashing first.
I have done several projects over the years. I am looking at doing a lot more now that my most recent addiction is Marklin Gauge 1 prewar. Not a whole lot available and what can be had is pretty expensive. Looking forward to making my own tin designs! [:D]
underworld
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