Whether you're running open autoracks or Red Caboose's closed autoracks (which have see-through panels), you'll want a bunch of cheap, lightweight RTR vehicles to carry. It would be nice, of course, to load up our autoracks with Classic Metal Works vehicles, but (1) they're too heavy, and (2) they're pricey. So let's share some tips and suggestions. Here's a starter. Please share your discoveries! If you're thinking about buying cheap plastic autos, make sure they're really N scale (1/160)! Be aware that there are quite a few inexpensive autos that are sometimes described as "n scale" but are actually 1/150 or 1/144 - these won't fit in my MT tri-level autoracks (and probably won't fit in other scale autoracks). There is a truly amazing German Web site (called Straßenfahrzeuge, "Road Vehicles") that lists dozens of N scale vehicle manufacturers and hundreds of automobiles. The site has an English version; however, it's difficult to find in an English-language Google search (probably because most of the site's titling and metadata are in German), so note the URL: http://www.spur-n.com/fahrzeugeauto.html An affiliated German discussion group is Interessengemeinschaft N-Auto (INA) Following are a few discoveries I've made. Please note that I haven't seen any of these items; some of them might be too crude for use or otherwise unacceptable. Several low-end manufacturers made autoracks stocked with cars; of these, the Bachmann 46502 is still available: Arnold (409): Tri-level autorack with 8 autos Roco (2351): US Autotransport with 16 autos Bachmann Auto Carrier w/15 autos (46502) Bachmann Auto Carrier w/12 autos (5811) I suspect that some of these appear on eBay and go for very little dinero. Bachmann also made "carded sets" of automobiles; I don't know whether these are still available from the manufacturer, but they pop up on eBay: Bachman Car Set #1 (42510) Bachman Car Set #2 (42520) Model Power also made (makes?) a carded "car station set" (1330): Kato makes two sets of vehicles: Kato Toyota Crown (23500) This is a 60s design that is generic enough, perhaps, to look like an American car Kato 90's Toyota Set (23505) There are several European manufacturers that make N scale versions of European cars, most of which have been imported to the US (and presumably carried on autoracks). The Busch models seem really nice, but they're expensive. Noch makes may of the same cars and is cheaper, I think. The same goes for Wiking's mini-models line, I believe. If you're dead set on a prototypical load for your autorack, the way to go, it seems, is Lineside Models (formerly Road Apples). These are unpainted resin kits, which will mean spending a lot of time assembling and painting them, of course. N Scale Supply carries their line, but most of the items are marked "sold out." RPhobbies seems to have quite a few in stock. Anyway, I found a couple of the Bachmann items on eBay and I think I'll bid on them. When I get them I'll post detailed pix. Best wishes Bryan Pfaffenberger Charlottesville VA
There is a seller on ebay that I have bought a couple sets of resin cars from. He/She sells what they call "junk" cars, which I am assuming they are resin rejects (may have a bubble, or not a perfect casting). They sell them in lots of 25 or so for $9.00. I have a couple sets that I have painted many of them, and they look "passable" to use to populate parking lots and things like that. If you run auto racks and just need to fill them up, these cast rejects may be a very cheap alternative for ya...
GOOD POST! I think maybe there should be a "sticky's" at the head of the forum with stuff like this. I might add that you should also check your RR for evidence on how they stocked the cars on the autoracks. I know with VW's (Beetles/1600's etc) were so small and light they had two rows on the autorack in some instances as opposed to single row with say a larger heavier car. T
Weight is not a factor. Standard autoracks are either bi- or tri-level. They can carry at least 70 tons, approx the weight of 35 average autos, but can only fit 6 per deck or 18 max. There no cars narrow enough to fit 2 side by side. The old bugs could have fit at most 3 more per car. Heavier SUVs, vans and light trucks ride bi-levels because of height limitations. There might be only 8 per car. An interesting variation was the Vertapak of the late 60s which had sides that hinged down, Chevy Vegas were driven up the side ramps on each side, chained down, and the sides were lifted with the result the cars were standing vertically. IIRC, they carried two rows of 15 cars. The new articulated Auto-Max are a bit roomier. As far as populating enclosed MT or RC racks, the cheap Bman or equivalent should do fine. Here's another approach: use foamcore strips with silhouette cut outs. For open racks, perhaps using vacuformed strips of cars might be acceptable, especially on the bottom decks. Bob in IDaho, who _might_ load ONE open rack with the Atlas Ford Fairmonts (I'm modeling 1980) (Fairmonts were just announced)
There was a good thread about upgrading cheap cars for autoracks, I think it was N_S_L that did some. He might have used those Model Power carded ones. Anyone remember the Vacu-Form toy from the 1960s? You could make a 3-D copy of anything. I've thought that might be a cool way to make modern lightweight cars (maybe for bottom decks, as RS27 points out). Not sure how good the quality would be, probably poor, even IF you could find one. They are probably on eBay if one has the patience. Just an idea.
mattel vac-u-forms had somewhat limited capability, but if you could find a good thin plastic to use, it sounds do-able. modern casting plastics make it easy to kick out copies of pricey CMW or atlas vehicles or even use shrink-resin to cast from larger vehicle/tooling like the 1.5" racing champions micros or even the mattel/speedees/funrise micros. you can get great-looking replicas on the cheap, and i think its fun to paint/finish/weather them. are we not modelers??
i'm wondering if the european equipment with its wider gauge might actually have had the capability to ship VW beetles side-by-side....
There was an article several month back in I believe NSR that was written by Maj Tony Hammes. He made the loads out of a casting that was mounted to a platform to keep all the cars in line and also easily removable. He wanted loads that were lightweight, cheap, and removable. Now I dont model autoracks so I did not really pay that close attention to it but it was an interesting article.
No, almost all european counties run the same track gauge as the US, 1435 mm (after all it was invented in the UK). Only parts of Iberia, Ireland and Russia uses a wider gauge. But none wide enough to transport autos side-by-side. Cheers Dirk
Many of the Tomytec 1:150 scale autos could be used as "fillers" for autoracks, but most will need to be lowered in order to fit into the lower decks of the Micro-Trains tri-level racks. Here is a link to my Rail Images gallery where you can find comparison photos of the Tomytec models with 1:160 models. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/ppuser/6278/username/cfritschle The cars in which the prototypes were not imported into North America would probably work the best since many of those do look somewhat similar to North American prototypes. Carter
looking for some information in the #2 set of Bachmann autos. I have been able to identify 3 of the 4 cars of the set. 64 Impala police car, VW Bus, 68 Plymouth Roadrunner. I just cant seem to identify the last one, it looks like it could be an AMC Javelin, or possibly a 68 Camaro. if it is a camaro, its a horribly disfigured one. L2R Impala, Bus, Roadrunner, ?????
Even many of the American prototype true N scale 1/160 automobiles are a tight fit in an N Scale open auto rack. So what I did for my one open auto rack was to use import models. I filled my auto rack with 1974 Datsun 240Z’s from TomyTec. Even though these Japanese N Scale cars are 1/150 scale, because of the small size of the prototype, they fit easily. And they are really nice models. It could get expensive to fill an entire train this way, but I use just this one open auto rack with all the others in the train being enclosed. Brad Myers Peninsula Ntrak / AsiaNrail My Blogs: http://www.n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/ http://www.palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/ http://tokyo-in-nscale.blogspot.com/
The cars in Bachmann's Auto Set No. 2 were as follows: 1963 Mercury Marauder, 1965-67 Volkswagen T1 Samba, 1969 Plymouth GTX, and an attempt to recreate a 1967-68 Camaro. Carter
Back to the Vac-U-Form idea...I have one, and will give it a try. Here is what I have done http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/05/vac-u-form-used-for-making-ho-scale.html?m=1. I am an HOer, but play in N and O with my toys, the Vac-U-Form and a 3d printer, just to see what they can do. I will see if I can design and 3d print a mold, then give it a try. Kent in KC nvrr49@yahoo.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
You'r right, that is a Marauder. You sure about the GTX? the rear end looks more like a roadrunner's. Ew on the Camaro.
