--- who gets frustrated at the lack of availability of some very basic items in N scale. At the moment I need some 48' containers to fill in a couple of Alan's 5 unit husky stacks. I can't find any either locally, at any online retailer that I have tried, and there aren't even any on ebay. I asked George Johnsen, and he tells me that DI will bre running some 48 footers, but not for a few more months. Why is there such a shortage of basic items in N scale? It seems there is never any regularly available Semi Rigs, trailers, (other than the Atlas ones), intermodal equipment, (other than the Walthers Mi-Jack, why did GHQ stop making their's anyway?) etc. Sorry for venting , but this really has me bummed at the moment.
I know, it's tough sometimes. But a lot of things you can make for yourself. I was in need of a lot of 50's style auto's, and was prepared to buy tons of them, but I only was able to buy maybe 20. Then I got the idea of casting some to see if that would work. I have a How To Cast here that might help. I now make molds of everything I can so I can make lots of parts. The funny thing is, whenever I make something I need, a year later I can buy just what I want in abundance at my local hobby shop! Where was Classic Metal Works when I needed them? I'll post my list of online hobby shops. Maybe your containers are at one of these: 4Nscale 1stplacehobbies Brinson's Branchline Discount Trains Online BLW Caboose Hobbies Challenger Hobbies Credit Valley Railway Company First Hobby Hobby Circle Internet Trains Neal's N-Gauging Trains N Scale Supply Norm's Train World The N Scale Division Online Trains Pacific-Western Rail Systems TexNrails Wisconsin N Scale Walthers
Maybe Athearn will help with the container shortage. They have produced some nice ones for that other scale so lets hope they can do the same in this one.
Bill, Your not the only one. Lots of us feel that way but not everyone will admit it. I recently bought a dozen undec containers from Wathers and decaled them myself. Did these to fill one of my Wathers well cars. Probably ended up costing about $4 per container. Would have been nice to just buy them all pre decorated but then I would have missed all the fun of decaling them myself. Anyway, looks like I will be doing more when I get around to ordering some of Alan's new well cars.
Thanks Paul, but none of those containers will be available until January. I may have found a few at TexNrails. I am awaiting confirmation of my order. I hope they actually have what their site says they do.
I have some 48' containers that are beyond what I will need. What kinds are you looking for? Perhaps I can help you out....
Hi Rett, I am not very particular about road / trucking name. Email me off list with what you have and prices. chesapeakenscaler@cox.net Thanks
Ebay. There a guy that list Walthers containers, dutch. If i'm not mistaken, it's KBJ Models out of Minnesota. I have dealt with him few times, nice to deal with. Not affiliated..... HTH!
When it comes to structures in the modern era, I have come to the conclusion I am going to have to learn scratch building (oh joy ). There just isn't a great deal out there, and what is there I'm not a great fan of.
But, Rick, that's one of the joys of scratchbuilding - having what is (prototypically)out there! And it's not hard, really - just a bit of forward planning and having the material at hand. Things like styrene sheet and strip and a handful of Grandt Line window and door castings. I created a page for scratching a simple structure that I put together as part of the never-ending Feedmill. If you can measure, draw, and cut out then you are home.
Well, don't buy any cast resin containers unless you want them for stacks in the container yard. They are much too heavy to put in your cars. Especially double-stacked. Have you given any thought to making a mold and casting some containers using Mountains-in Minutes? Those would be light enough to use, and they can be painted any color you want. [ 30. October 2002, 19:49: Message edited by: Johnnie C. Scott ]
The other thing that bothers me is trying to find items for the era I model. 1976-1980. There are not too many decent vehicles for this time period.
