I am searching for H0 models of trucks to be used on my layout in the area 1930 - 1935.
Some of my current models are assembled kits from Jordan. Problem is my poor eyesight and clumsy fingers reaching their limits with that delicate kits. I do therefor look for assembled little trucks of that time frame.
Any help here (Brand / mail order shop shipping to Germany)?
Limousines like Ford A (Athearn) and Ford AA (Busch) with all variations are no problem and easy available on the market. However, even lots of Ford A pickup are not suitable to deliver grain to an elevator. I need early trucks for that purpose. Horse drawn wagons are an alternative but not my first choice if I can get trucks.
I’ve been putting together Jordan kits for a few years now. First, I found that my ability to do them has improved with time, so don’t give up. More important, though, was the purchase of a cheap magnifying lamp, one of those with a circular flourescent tube around the lens. That has made it much easier on my old eyes, and the ability to see the small parts of the Jordan models, particularly when painting them, has made my modeling much better.
Maybe Sylvan scale models could be useful to you - albiet they offer more late 1930s (e.g. their 1937 2t dump truck or their 1938 Ford COE dump body - the remainder of their line seems to be be 1940s or 1950s).
Also, if you haven’t already, check out the 1/87 scale vehicle club photo galleries (there’s nearly 400+, w/ 5 or more photos apiece, so you can be busy for awhile) - I have seen many good models of US depresssion era vehicles, and the blurbs often indicate the sources for the models *of which Sylvan is well represented).
We have had a big storm on the Maine coast last night (Feb 25/26); the web site is not responding right now and the power may be off due to storm damage.
Also, check Walthers for Alloy Forms; they have cast metal kits from the 30s to 80s
It looks like I have to stay with kits. If that’s the name of the game I’ll stay with Jordan kits. Plastic kits are easier to assemble than metal kits and they are cheaper.
Don’t forget military models of trucks, some of which have a sort of generic old fashioned look to them.
For example the Hasegawa plastic model of the WWII Isuzu TX-40 fuel truck has a very generic 1930s American look to it, and even though it is 1:72 scale, the prototype was so small that it looks normal next to accurate 1:87 American prototype models. This link has a photo of the box
To me it looks a bit like a 1934 Chevy truck but I defer to the real vehicle experts among us on things like that. The main point it that it looks early 1930s. I plan on using the frame and front of the truck combined with the Jordan kit of the Hi-Lift truck (a coal dump truck where the bed would raise on a sissors mechanism). I have vague memories of seeing such trucks in action as a kid but the trucks I remember were worn looking but not as antique as the Jordan Mack.
I may put the fuel tank from the Hasegawa kit onto the Jordan to make a total cross-kitmingle.