looking for a tug, barges, and other boats
want something that looks good but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
You’ve probably already done an Internet search, but if not, you might try that. There are more offerings in N scale than one might expect. A client has built up some Sylvan Scale Models kits that looked fine.
I purchased an N scale waterline tug model produced by WIAD (a German Company) at a model train show recently. Its a simple kit, 7" long, 2 1/4" beam. I plan to make it into a HO river tug by scratchbuilding a new superstructure for it.
Jim
There are several n-scale railroad carfloat kits available. I have one in HO scale. It could be assembled without the rails as a barge.
If you can’t find a good n scale vessel you like, and if your a kitbasher, I’ve heard you don’t nessesarily need to use a hull from your scale to make an accuarate boat. I saw an artical in some book a bit back where a fellow use a hull from a kit in a completely different scale to make his HO scale boat. All that’s important is the shape of the hull.
So if you want to take this route you could select a prototype and then head to the model boats section of the hobby shop and look for something about the correct size and shape. Then kitbash it with various n scale detail parts, and be sure to replace the obviously over/under scale stuff with n scale stuff.
Good Luck!
I model in N scale and I recently purchased 2 boats from Model Tech Studios. The hulls of the boats came in one piece, which was nice. It took some time to paint and these kits have crazy amounts of details, but they are very nice. They have quite a bunch of different kits available (Tugboat, clipper, lobster boat, schooner…). I only had room on my layout for 2 boats, but after building them (and I am still not done with the work barge) I wish I had more water to place more boats. See below for my pictures. They are a little pricy, but if you have the time and patience, they have the potential to turn out very nice. I hope this proves helpful. Cheers!
-John Collins
20190407_021659 by John Collins, on Flickr
20190406_001401 by John Collins, on Flickr
Here is a list of some suitable ships for N scale.
I model in N scale and have a big port on my system, the erea is the 30’s -45’s.
Course some of the model mentionned are suitable for this period especialy.
N scale is the poor man for many things, ships are on the list even if a few models are available.
Often kitbashing or scratchbuild is the way to go; hull from existing models in other scale are suitable for a N scale use, don’t forget a 363 feet or 120m steamer is nearly standard for most of them, but in N scale this is a lenght of 28".
Most of these model comes in plastic, so styrene, Evergreen and some parts of the kit ship are easy to scratch and kitbash.
You can do a hull from a piece of wood course, but to be realistic with all the curves the job is long, not easy and ask a long time of sanding, anyway superstructures, deck, details need to be scratch.
I mention Heller, in my list, because in my period the hull had a stern like sailing ship, and modify the bow is easy with piece of styrene.
But, more modern Hull are available in different scale; just avoid military hull because they are very specific and are far from a commercial hull.
I cut my hull to waterline; to do it I glue the model hull together, trace the waterline, cut the hull with a dremel disk at very slow speed and sand and ajust the cut with files and sand paper; the cut hull is glued on a piece of styrene again filled to mach the hull when dry.
The marine modeling has numerous details which are suitable for a kitbash, like anchor, winch, windsock, boat of rescue, chains, mooring bollard.
Here are some the ships I have used or in the way to be used for my layout,
Lindberg made years ago, in the 90’s, a box with four small ships, three tugs and a fish boat, they are nearly 1/160 scale, probably a little bit smaller, but work well for N scale; these models appears time to time on
A lot of talk about ships . . . I need a ship. Actually, I need several. Ocean-going ships to be berthed at a deep-water port. Loading and unloading. Cargo: containers, automobiles, bulk ores. N scale. Between four and six feet long. About 8" abeam. Waterline models with decks that sit about 6" above the water and bridges about 6" above the decks. Similar to, but not necessarily exactly like:
I am prepared to scratch build each as necessary, but it will be a year or two (or more) before I can get to
am prepared to scratch build each as necessary, but it will be a year or two (or more) before I can get to it; and then no telling how long to actually do it. I think I can get a hull based on 1:144 or 1:96 WWII-era battleships or destroyers for about $200, plus shipping. For a start . . .
Any ideas? Any takers?
Sorry, but because I have used many ships and kitbash for my layout is for sure not a good idea to use warship hull to make a merchant ship.
The design of the hull is completely different in a warship an
Logan Holtgrewe (Severna Park MR Club) built this icebreaker last year, using a large piece of balsa for the hull. He bought a couple big chunks of balsa 40 years ago to build a replica of a cruiser he served on in the Navy. After 40 years, balsa gets hard.
[quote user=“Marc_Magnus”]
Sorry, but because I have used many ships for my layout is for sure not a good idea to use warship hull to make amerchant ship.
The design of the hull is completely different in a warship and a merchant ship.
Warship hull are narrow and designed for high speed even a battle ship has a design for high speed and very narrow bow.
High quality paper models
Boatarific Mattell battery operated toyboats of the 1960’s are very close to N scale and well detailed plastic models considering.
I had the harbor tug version as a child and acquired a new/old stock from ebay for my N layout harbor. I finished the Meng Model Steamer for the tug to attend.
Cheers…
I have a wide selection of N scale ships at nscaleships.com
Hey Pete-
Thanks for the link. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.
I will contact you via the message board on your website.
Here’s a list of what I need right now (N Scale):
210’ USCG Cutter Reliance
610’ Great Lakes Bulk Ore Carrier
960’ Container Ship
700’ Automobile Carrier
750’ LNG Carrier
(2) Hewlett Unloaders (plus various other dock structures)
I am looking for waterline models, but full hulls would be okay and I could modify them as necessary. I have extensive experience with computer design and drafting (AutoCAD), and I have a CNC milling machine and a Full Spectrum Muse Laser Cutter/Engraver plus the usual array of other shop and hand tools.
Thanks. I’m excited about this.
Robert
Thanks, Robert. The first two have exact models, the others models that can be easily scaled up or down as needed. I don’t have an auto carrier and always thought a shoebox might serve well[:D] Seriously, I just haven’t looked at them yet. Lots of volume might require some new design methods. All of the larger ships are waterline and built up from styrene sheet cut by a digital cutter. Many molded, photo etched brass, and 3D parts are used, and the entire parts list may come online in the next six months or so.