i am looking for parts to build MOW vehicles. wanting to build some highrailers,with boom lifts and cranes,and other heavy equipment that is used on the rail. i am trying to build a MOW truck fleet. i am needing find the stuff to do so,all help is welcomed,thanks
I don’t have the product numbers handy, but Walthers sells a wheelset kit that is basically just the high-railer itself, you provide the vehicles. It shouldn’t be so hard from there to find a few quality cherry-pickers and such.
Actually lots of guys like to build hy-railers (hi-railers), and frequently their effort are features on various sites such as the 1/87 Vehicle Club (which, if you have checked the photogalleries (400+ and counting), you should).
The most common Hi-Rail Wheels in HO scale:
Details West Hy-Rail Wheels set - 235-917
Custom Finishing Hy-Rail Wheels (Light Duty trucks) - 247-7009
Custom Finishing Hy-Rail Wheels (Heavy Duty trucks) - 247-7276
Some guys make their own, using N-scale wheels, or some other modification.
Also, just converting the most common prototype US hi-rails, which are SUVs or Pick-ups, is not particularly impressive as the above kits allow you to just paint and cement the wheels onto a light truck model (Trident/Atlas/Model Power etc) - heck, even I did that, big deal.
The fun is in making a heavy duty rig, Welding Truck, Maintainence body, and crane/hoist for modern era stuff - Herpa and Kibri crane kits are routinely scavanaged for their telescoping booms. Lots of guys also do cool 1950s stuff w/ CMW, Atherarn and IMEX cabs, among other model manufacturers.
Recommend you go in with a prototype concept first, then check out the various manufacturers to see what comes close (then again, everyone recommends that) - freelance Heavy Duty maintainence trucks can look a bit silly, unless you’re really good enough to pull it off.
Are you looking to make a static model of a hi-rail vehicle, or a powered vehicle?
yes i do want to ill be kit bashing alot of things to make a welding rig,tie truck stuff like that. As one that i can run on the track i have ideas and slot cars to use
Kato made a small, N scale, electric locomotive with four wheels that was aimed at the toy market. (They were called Kato’s “Pocket Line.”) Some years ago, an enterprising modeler published an article about making one into a high railer. If you can find one of these Pocket Line critters, and regauge the wheels, it would make a pretty good HO model.
!(http://www.nscaledivision.com/images/Kato Images/KATO Pocket Electric-1.jpg)
Also, Facory Direct Trains is clearencign their Hi-Railer trucks. (23 & some change for DC, the DCCs are sold out but an easy solder-in) You might try to nab one. Their a good running model for such a short wheelbase, but be sure to keep the wheels CLEAN.