Source for Automobiles in Z?

alleydude Apr 4, 2007

  1. alleydude

    alleydude TrainBoard Member

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    I've been looking hard, and can't seem to find much for Z-Scale in automobiles. I've tried to order some Marklin autos, but it seems they are always on backorder. I have a few vehicles by Randy Brown, and a couple flat bed trucks by Nansen Street Models, but other than that the only "cars" I have found are from http://www.makemymodel.com. They make some nice looking stuff, but I have been timid to try them for fear they might be too fragile, and their selection of basic cars is limited, and a bit out dated for my layout.

    Does anyone have a source for inexpensive, later model autos for their layout (short of scratchbuilding)?

    You'd think someone would make a couple molds and mass produce these little items, they'd sell like crazy!
     
  2. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 18, 2007
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Yes, the Z Scale automobile market can be summed up as somewhere between Dismal and Grim.[​IMG]

    I keep trying to motivate those that are capable, to produce vehicles for us, but it just has not happened yet. [​IMG]

    Someday.
     
  4. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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  5. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  6. alleydude

    alleydude TrainBoard Member

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    Those are both interesting, and the price is certainly right. I wonder how 1:200 or 1:240 scale will look against Z-Scale scenery and people...?
     
  7. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another option is Plastruct, the following are offered as N-Scale, described as 1:200 scale, but the ones I show below work very well for Z. They aren't the prettiest things out there, but, they aren't bad...

    www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=AMC-200I

    www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=AMC-200J

    www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=AMC-200K

    The pick-up from the series is a bit too big, I don't know about the Shadow.

    www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=AMC-200E

    www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=AMC-200D

    Dan S.
     
  8. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 18, 2007
  9. alleydude

    alleydude TrainBoard Member

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    THANKS! I snagged that one up.
     
  10. kimvellore

    kimvellore TrainBoard Member

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    I downloaded some drawings from 3Dcadbrowser.com and sent it to the RP person so I could cast the PR parts in Brass, but I am stuck here, the Drawings are not RP ready, there are many parts that are not attached to the body of the car and some walls are too thin etc... I need some one who can edit a .stl file or .3ds file or use these drawing and redraw the cars. I got a couple of 3D drawing packages and tried it myself but it is a long and painful journey to make for some one to start off new and come up with a good 3D model. so if some one volunteers to take these drawings and make it PR ready I can give it a try and cast it in brass. Another option would be to outsource the drawings so it could be done at a reasonable cost, anyone have sources for low cost 3D cad services. Kim
     
  11. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Good thread. Looks like most of the manufacturers were covered already.

    The only other one I can think of is a small European company, Dutch maybe, that John Bartlotto covered in one of his ZTrack columns about a year or so ago. I can't remember the name off hand. Mostly 1960's era European cars, but some of them like a Mini Cooper might work for North America.

    Randy
     
  12. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    The Howard models pieces, by the way, are all 1990's Dodges.

    The Mark4Design cars are a Chevy Chevette and, I think, an AMC Matador.

    Randy
     
  13. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    1/220 vs. 1/200 and 1/240

    Some work, some don't. I typically grab eveything I can find and put it where it will look OK. Don't mix 1/200 and 1/240 right next to each other. Use forced perspective with background or foreground scenes, group like sizes together, etc.

    Randy
     
  14. Alvaro

    Alvaro TrainBoard Member

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  15. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Alvaro,

    Did you ever get your question about clear resin answered?

    Welcome to TrainBoard, by the way.

    Randy
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 6, 2007
  16. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    I was just reading some email from the Japanese Z list and remembered that, I think, Pro Z one of the new companies entering the Japanese Z market announced they would be doing a pack of automobiles, I think with a Fall 2007 release date. Not sure what they will be yet, but likely modern Japanese autos.

    randy
     
  17. alleydude

    alleydude TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for all the great answers and help. You guys ROCK!
     
  18. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    We're all in the boat when it comes to automobiles. As others have said, they are a big hole in Z right now.

    Randy
     
  19. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Hi Alvaro, welcome to Trainboard! :D
     
  20. Mark 4 Design

    Mark 4 Design TrainBoard Member

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    The number of volunteers with the necessary skills, software, hardware and time that are not using them to make a living (and hence charging accordingly) are few and far between. As you have discovered, making internet-sourced mesh models RP-ready is skill and time intensive. In additional a lot of the 3D models out there are of very low quality; the rendering software glosses over the coarseness of the underlying mesh.
     

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