Another thread on vehicles for N scale.

I'm really pleased with most of the vehicles that CMW has released over the past few years. The more modern stuff is not being produced by CMW... but... perhaps in the not to distant future it may come to pass.

I continue to 'lobby' for the mid-1950's thru 1960s vehicles because it's my preferred era of interest. I recently saw some advertisement for old Ford Econoline vans. Would there be any interest in having these made in N scale??? 1960's thru 1970's????? No manufacturer has made these types of vehicles (pre-1980's) other than perhaps GHQ's modern versions.
Here's a picture of the 1961 Ford Ad:

 

Now that brings back memories. My first part time job in High School, delivery of groceries in a red ford panel truck. A real workhorse.

 

Good Pick

I think that's another good Choice there Joe. It's a popular commercial body style that was quickly adopted for family use. Like Ford's C cab to design ran for several years with few minor design changes. This is also one of the vehicles that spawned a rebirth in car customizing in the 70s with the Vannin' craze, the precursor to today's van conversions. The bashing potential is interesting. Being a one piece body means a complete casting for each body style. I know nothing about licensing laws but I have to wonder if all three would be included as one body style.
Vans are something we could use multiple copies of in commercial and private applications. While I would prefer a later model, the older style would still be useable in my era. ​

 

These were N scale kits many years ago(20 years atleast) I would venture to say a 65 GMC and I can't remember who manufactured these kits made of pewter but here is one I built for the Flower children

 

That delvery van looks like the one made by Qualtiy Craft/Gloor Craft. The same group also made a Ford pickup and Ford stakebed from the early 1950's.

Me, I'd like to see more Mack AC and AP chain drive trucks! Also, Duesies, Cords, Auburns, Packards, etc. No licensing problems with those old marques. :shade:

 

Yep, Thirdrail your correct on the manufacturer it was Gloorcraft,I found it listed in a 1997 Walthers cat.I have hanging around. Yep bring on the 37 cords & Auburns

 

Yep I've got one of those unbuilt panel vans too. I think that the need for a greater variety of N scale vehicles is a big wide open area which few manufacturers have ventured into. I'm happy to see CMW and Athearn meeting some of the needs, but, unfortunately... I may be dead and become dust before the critical mass of vehicles from the 1930's to present day is readily available in N scale.

The built-up vehicles from Atlas, Kato, Wiking and Busch are pretty good and the prices aren't bad... there just isn't very much variety at this time just like the Athearn vehicles. Just how many Ford C Vans, F150s and Taurus' can we have? European cars are nice, but, not when there are more Mercedes, Roll Royce, Fiats and Toyota's than the American varieties in a layout depicting the US the 1950's to 1970's.

Several other small manufacturers, such as, Fine N Scale (fmly Cars N scale?), Lineside Models (fmly Road Apples?), Nu Comp Miniatures Inc, Tires N Tracks & Ultimate N scale (Panzer hobbies?) have made resin castings which are good stand-ins for vehicles in the 1930's to 1970's... but... they require a good deal of patience and some actual modeling skill to build. The prices are reasonable for those... if you don't include the psychiatic treatment costs to build & paint them.

If you like pewter models then you have GHQ, Showcase Miniatures, Period Minatures/Alloy Forms (JAKs Ind?) and a few other smaller companys. The purchase prices are higher... but even worse may be the assembly & painting which may require a weeks repose in mental ward per vehicle assembled.

I keep sending emails to the manufacturers hoping that they can somehow speed up the process. I realize that they are not able to do much more than they do right now because the tooling costs versus the expected sales are not quite allowing for it. Sadly, one of the biggest issues is that there still isn't enough modelers in N scale to generate the profit margins to ramp-up production. If the N Scale models were popular to a wider range of potential customers... it would really help boost the process.

 

We have come along Baby!! "N scale" with a lot of improvements in every part of N scale and your right that we will be dust before we see some things made..But since those days of Bachman plastic autos that tried to be a close copy of the real things we are way ahead of the game!!!!. I cringe when I see them on a layout anymore.

 

Efforts are being made to increase the interest in N scale vehicles. The November issue of Model Railroad News and the November-December issue of the N Scale Collector both have articles about N scale vehicles and the efforts being made increase the variety for both modelers and collectors.

If we can generate enough interest, the models will follow.

Carter

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NScaleVehicleAssociation

 

Thirdrail,

Republic Locomotive Works has those chain drive trucks in etched metal, if you don't mind putting together kits:

http://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ItemID=931

I have purchased the dump truck & log truck..there's 2 in each kit and the detail is crisp like the photos. I also have found similar 1920's chain drive AC trucks in resin from Lineside Models. This dealer usually has them available:

http://www.rphobbies.com/catalog/product.php?productid=17872&cat=255&page=2

The chain drive & wheel detail on the resin models isn't as good as the etched metal, but then the price isn't the same either.

 

Thanks Paul O (160Pennsy), I have one of the Lineside Models Mack kits, but was unaware of the Art and Ink kits sold by Republic. Boy, they really look nice, but I am sure require considerable time to assemble. :thumbs_up:

 

Has it been 10yrs or more since the Dick Tracy/Batman diecast cars were new? I can remember a delivery type van. Also, a set of 1950's era cars/taxis/police etc.

I'd be ready for a rerun of the VW bus.

 

Glenn,

Which VW bus? The Rietze 1949 to 1967 T1 is available from German Aircooled:

http://www.germanaircooled.com/mall/Rietze_Nscale.htm

And, the Wiking 1968 to 1979 T2 is still shown on Wiking website, although Walthers may not be importing any at this time.

http://www.wiking.de/a_artikel_einzeln.php?artikelid=0001_92&seid=c89730154795eee601eecb68cf88d647

Carter

 

I know I'd like a greater variety of pickups and cars from the 50's to late 60's.

 

Hey,
This reminds me of the van used by Cheech & Chong in "Up In Smoke".:shade: :teeth:

 

Any News on Modern day vehicles of N-scale?

What are N-scalers using for Modern day vehicles? I see Atlas has a few Ford Truck and Taurus selections and I did buy some Japanese compacts, but there just isn’t a very good selection as compared to 50's, 60’s and 70 stuff.
I Would like to learn how to make my own, but I don’t know where to begin.

 

Here is another option on N Scale vehicles. Herpa carries a few more models to add to what Atlas and the likes carry.
http://www.promotex.ca/provisioner/catalogue/index.php?ProductLine=2&CategoryID=7

I have ordered thru them as well. Sorry I don't happen to have a picture to upload. I must say that they do require a slight detailing, however the pricing is very reasonable. And you can order rite from the Herpa site.
Hope that helps

 

I like the first run of Classic Metal Works cars that had two different colors in the same pack. I was glad to see that Fifer Hobby had them in stock and ordered some recently. I wish CMW would do some for the '50's and '60's as I think they make great looking cars.

I was at M.B. woo woo woo's yesterday and they had the following CAT construction vehicle, which was listed as 1/144 scale, but it has a lot of detail and looks really good. If they can make and sell this for only $2.49, why can't they make detail and realistic n scale vehicles at a cheaper price?