HO model cars, and street scenes

[torikoos]

Hi all,

I'm not sure if you have similar 'problems' but I find it's very hard to come by models of cars that were plenty full in the 70's, 80's and 90's.
It seems the 50's, and the present day are pretty well catered for but try to find an 'average' car from the above time frame is difficult.
I know that most manufacurers seem to follow the prototype, as soon as let's say BMW launches a new model, then the likes of Wiking, Herpa and others are there in a flash releasing it too, but the previous incarnation is then out of production. This makes it hard to set a layout in a transition era like just pre-merger of the SP for example. I guess it's e-bay you've got to search for stuff like that, but the trouble is that you then compete with collectors that are willing to pay more for a model car than I need or want to pay.
There are a few models around, but a lot of them are exotics, or a top of the range version of a certain model. I like to populate my streets with the car that 'joe average' drove, which will enhance the realism. A street scene full of '60's corvettes, hemi's, ferarri's etc just doesn't look right unless you model certain areas of Bell Air or whatever, but I think you know what I mean.

Has anyone found good sources that sell a good selection of HO model cars?

[nachoman]

i've read that there was a manufacturer selling cheap 1/87 cars at wal mart a few years back. I am not sure if they are still around. Still, it seemed like most of what was produced were sports cars or the more memorable cars of the era, such as Gremlins and Pacers. I don't think I have ever seen to many of the "ordinary" cars from any era. I don't see many K-cars, minivans, station wagons, or ford LTDs.

[FCIN]

You might give this web site a try: http://www.3000toys.com/. They seem to carry a wide variety of vehicles in many scales. Most seem to be diecast, and the detail (and price) will vary, but take a look. I've never ordered anything from them (they're located in Joplin, MO), but have been looking at some various 1/87th models they offer. Just items I may need later on.

[shortliner]

i've read that there was a manufacturer selling cheap 1/87 cars at wal mart a few years back. I am not sure if they are still around. Still, it seemed like most of what was produced were sports cars or the more memorable cars of the era, such as Gremlins and Pacers. I don't think I have ever seen to many of the "ordinary" cars from any era. I don't see many K-cars, minivans, station wagons, or ford LTDs.

Then calle "Fresh Cherries", now available (nn Ebay) as Sweet Cherries - but not AFAIK from Walmart but take care - they come in 1:64 as well as !:87 produced under the Motormax brandan ebay search for Motormax will find them

[SP1]

-Atlas has/had a few '78 cars.

-"Trident" had made some 80's Pickups and Vans. Trident is now Roco as far as I know.

-Since you model West coast /SF area you might consider using a few Volvo's or VW Rabbit (Golf in Europe)

-Herpa had an early Jeep Cheerokee.

[P5se Camelback]

For the longest time, the only vehicles available were the most current Herpa and Wiking European high end models, plus maybe the ubiquitous VW Beetle and maybe a Morris Mini, if you were lucky. Then Jordan Highway Miniatures appeared on the scene and there were vehicles from the first and early parts of the second decades of the 20th Century. Those modeling the '40's - '50' were still out of luck.

Now there are vehicles from the '40's and '50's on the market, and the call is for '60's and '70's "everyman" vehicles (not everyone had a Corvette or a GTO "Judge" or a Barracuda!)

I have noticed that there is a vendor who is producing solid cast urethane vehicles from the '30's, '40's, '50's and '60's as well as some more current years and marques. The vendor is "The Rail Connection" their selection of vehicles can be viewed HERE.

[One of my "back-of-the-workbench" projects is “opening up” one of these solid, cast urethane models with a Dremel tool, so I can then fit it with clear windows and maybe even a driver. It is very dirty and rather tedious work ... I can only handle it occasionally (I hate having to clean the kitchen floor up afterward … tungsten cutting bits send tiny urethane bits everywhere!) But I have been documenting the process with Fo-Toes and when the time comes, I will post them.]

I’m pretty sure there are a few others who produce vehicles for the '60's -'70's, but not being my era, I don't remember off the top of my forgetful head who they are! I will cruise back though my “IE Favorites” listing and see if I can come up with any more sources of these vehicles (that will be a "late night" job ... daylight is required for some of my other on-going projects.)

[torikoos]

-Atlas has/had a few '78 cars.

-"Trident" had made some 80's Pickups and Vans. Trident is now Roco as far as I know.

-Since you model West coast /SF area you might consider using a few Volvo's or VW Rabbit (Golf in Europe)

-Herpa had an early Jeep Cheerokee.

Yeah I intend to mix a few European and japanese cars in the mix, but to get a US feel , the overwhelming majority still has to be US brand cars. I guess apart from the few leads I've got here so far (thanks guys!), I'll have to keep browsing the net and auction sites to see if perhaps a few cars show up that are worth using. An old type chevy caprice, a Volvo 240 DL, a Saturn, perhaps an Oldsmobile or Pontiac would be great to add to get that 'average street' impression.

[steinjr]

Has anyone found good sources that sell a good selection of HO model cars?

1-87 vehicles is a good place to look for people who produce 1:87 scale vehicles: http://www.1-87vehicles.org/

1970s - I know that Classic Metal Works has 3-4 different 1978 Chevy Impalas.

Athearn has a nicce Kenworth Trailer and Truck: http://www.1-87vehicles.org/Archives/ath...llowup.php

Athearn Ford C800 tank truck: http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo391/for..._mobil.php

Atlas Ford LNT-9000 truck: http://www.1-87vehicles.org/New%20Produc...nt9000.php

Here is a Fresh Cherries 1970 Ford Maverick on walthers.com : http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/467-8013

74 AMC Gremlin: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/467-8002

75 Honda Civic: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/467-8012

77 Ford Granada: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/467-8014

77 Ford Pinto: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/467-8001

78 Ford Fairmont Sedan: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/150-30000005

There probably are more around - I just did a quick google round and some searches on <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com">www.walthers.com</a><!-- w -->

Smile,
Stein

[SP1]

One of my "back-of-the-workbench" projects is “opening up” one of these solid, cast urethane models with a Dremel tool, so I can then fit it with clear windows and maybe even a driver. It is very dirty and rather tedious work ...

and in another thread

However, my brain is still extremely overactive and I do have more than a little knowledge in the area of pattern making and mold making.

I am aware that this thread may go offtopic now but I cant hold it...

Since these resin cars have been cast it is possible to use them as a master for a new mold, right? Take one of those cars an make a new silicon mold. Now take that car and remove material from the outside (much easier!) - except the window glass. Lets say about 1.5mm or 2mm. Leave the windows untouched. Once done you can use the (now smaller) car as a core in your mold and you will get a hollow car with now windows (well some flash will be there, but now much) when you pour this mold.

[P5se Camelback]

Yes, that is entirely possible ... and could be done with a bit of work.

However, it would only be a worthwhile exercise if you wanted multiples of that individual vehicle for PERSONAL USE !

Back in the early seventies, there was an enterprising young man who did exactly that. He made molds of someone else's cast parts, made his own castings from those molds, and marketed kits under the name "Paige Enterprises." His kits were considerably cheaper than most "Craftsman-style" kit of the time. Great for him, right? Not really.

The pieces he chose to pull his own molds from were the soft metal cast detail parts produced by Scale Structures Limited, at more than a little expense, no doubt. Now admittedly, their parts were of a higher quality, as theirs were cast in "production" molds, made from patterns that, I'm fairly sure, were not cheap. They took humbrage at having their parts so brazenly "knocked off," and filed criminal charges. I tried my best to follow the case in the hobby industry press, being a hobby shop manager at the time.

To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Paige paid for his "Enterprise" with both money and time. 8-)

[tomustang]

There's definitely a lack of the common cars in every decade, where's the most common ones like accord/camry, civic/corrolla, malabu/cavalier?

If you look hard enough you might be able to find some of the monogram 80's collection

They had:

1989 Thunderbird SC.................Blue
1989 Grand Prix..................Red
1989 RX-7.................Black
987 GNX (grand national)......... Black
1980's Camaro............Yellow

Other run of the mill late model cars were

Busch: early 90's Ford Escort
Busch: mid 90's Ford Probe
Busch: mid 90's Caprice Classic
Busch: Chevy S10 Pickup
Busch: 90' Dodge Caravan
Model power: 90's Ford Crown Victorian, also Crown Vic cop cars
Atlas: late 90's Ford Taurus
Atlas: early 90's Ford Explorer


Trident also had a lot of offerings with trucks

[bdw9535]

You might want to look at the Truck Stop Models website at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.truckstopmodels.com">http://www.truckstopmodels.com</a><!-- m --> ,they have a large selection of vehicles from various manufacturers and from different eras.

Bruce

[torikoos]

Thanks guys, that's a few links for me to explore! I do sense that my suspicions are correct and we collectively suffer from the lack of 'ordinary' cars , whatever era we model. We find the same cars on 'everyone's' layout, which reminds me of the earlier days of a 'famous' Preiser figure, the running fat man in a blue jacket holding on to a hat trying to catch his train, a figure that was present on almost any layout I visited about 20 years ago...
Surely mr Bush, Herpa, Wiking, ModelPower, Atlas etc should realise there is a big need for these, time to start lobbying the manufacturers!
I know it's cheaper for them to release a commercial vehicle, and then offer thousands of paintschemes with all sorts of company logo's etc printed, but I don't want my streets full of these, a few will do, the vast majority need to be 'ordinary' vehicles, without the hemi engines, V8's etc, but your average Honda Accord, VW Passat, BMW 3, Ford Escort, etc etc

[Russ Bellinis]

Don't worry too much about needing an "American" look. California had a large contingent of foreign cars cars years before other states had dealers for them. Also, the only cars that rust in California are those that are parked near the beach and are constantly sprayed with saltwater (not a very common occurrence). I would not fill the parking lot with high dollar jaguars, Mercedes, etc., but they would not be out of place if there is a reserved spot for the boss near the door. Older cars are very common in California. My newest vehicle right now is a 2004 Dodge Dakota. My wife's car is a 2000 Saturn wagon, and my weekend "toy" is a 1987 Firebird Trans Am. Two or three 1964 Mustangs in different colors would not be out of place. In the 1970's, the 1963 T'bird would be common out here. Those 1968 El Camino's would be very common out here. Forget Saturn if you are modeling the 1970's, the first Saturn was built in 1991. The old air cooled VW bugs were as common in California as Chevys and Fords. Even one or two 1955 Chevys would not be out of place on the street in the 1970s. I still see "shoebox" Chevys out here on the street from time to time. They were a lot more common in the 1970s and 1980s before the prices went crazy at places like Barratt-Jackson. The Hemi-Cuda was never common, but it looks identical to the Cuda with the 440 magnum, and they were quite common. In fact in ho scale, the differences between any v8 Cuda and a Hemi version is impossible to see without a magnifier. The "shaker hood scoop" was a popular add on to even base model 318 cars. A GTO is not a lot different looking than the Le Mans two door, very common. If you can find models without the "crazy graphics" packages that were popular on the muscle cars like the GTO Judge, then muscle cars will blend right in. Don't populate the layout with Cobras. Shelby didn't make that many, and they were so minimalist that they were not that popular except for racing. E-type Jags were very popular out here, and by the 1970's older ones were commonly used as daily drivers by young guys who could finally afford a used one.

[steinjr]

Btw - easy searches on walthers for cars:

Advanced search, select vehicles, select scale (e.g. H0)

For the search text, write 195 to find 1950s cars, 196 to find 1960s cars, 197 to find 1970s cars.

Smile,
Stein