I need to build an underground tram system.

[Scifi fan]

Hello everyone,

I'm hesitant about coming here for help, but here goes. I'm trying to build an underground train system, like that seen in New York, complete with trams. I need, at minimum, trams that are about 44'' long each, to run on tracks that are all underground. Needless to say, I will also need to build the underground enclosures.

This is for an indie film project, and I'm trying to get a team together to help me. If anyone on this forum can point me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Tyson Rayles]

I'm guessing you are refering to a subway system. Do you need cars that are an actual 44 inches? If so I don't know of any company making those types of cars that size. There are companies that make regular trains for 7.5 inch gauge and could custom make subway cars for you but it would be very expensive.

[Scifi fan]

I don't mean 44 inches as in the guage; I mean 44 inches as in the length of the tram.

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Can you be a little more specific? How will you be using the subway cars? what necessitates the 44" length requirement? I have plans for some rapid transit vehicles (you might need it).

I will tell you that this will be difficult. Subway cars (trams) and other rapid transit vehicles are seldom produced, not enough people buy them. In fact, except for a few mass produced models, most are ridiculously expensive resin kits.

I've seen some very large subway models, but they do not approach that size (44") as an individual car. The largest mass produced subway models are going to be those made by Lionel in O scale (1:48)

For example, check out this Lionel set-

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-31797&expandBranch=0&Keywords=subway&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=">http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/P ... CatalogId=</a><!-- m -->

It is nearly $800, and with all cars combined, it reaches 60" in length. Individually, each car is only about 15"s long.

If you need something bigger, you will have to make it yourself, or you will need to pay someone to make it for you. Subways are just no popular enough to get any sort of modeling support.

[Ralph]

Hi,

I've been doing some looking around and found this (unfortunately now over) eBay listing for plans for a subway car. Scroll down to see the description.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/O-HO-GAUGE-NEW-YORK-SUBWAY-CAR-INST-F-S-PLANS-/260859895242">http://www.ebay.com/itm/O-HO-GAUGE-NEW- ... 0859895242</a><!-- m -->
The little book incouded HO and O scale drawings. If you could obtain plans like this and have them enlarged to your 44" length size you'd have a good start for the body. I assume you plan to make them operational so they move? You mentioned the subway cars are intended for a film...can you consider smaller cars thart are commercially available? As part of my looking around today I saw a few Youtube videos of subway themed layouts that looked pretty cool.

best wishes!
Ralph

[Scifi fan]

I'll be honest.

I'm trying to make an indie film for the web, and I would like a train to ferry people and goods. A model that's 44 inches would be realistic. If a tram is too small, perhaps a train would do. Following up on your links, I got the link below, which looks interesting, but it would have to be big enough to be believable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTH-RAIL-KING-NE...1678wt_936

I will need a series of carriages for goods, and a series of passenger carriages for people. I would also have to build a larger central station, complete with boxes and other clutter piled high.

Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.

[steinjr]

Sorry - it is not at all clear to me what you really are looking for. Are you looking for a miniature scale model of a subway train (say 1:87 scale - where a set of 4 subway cars would be about 36" long total), or are you looking to build a small train that can carry real people - representing a tiny train transporting workers through a tunnel to their work site , or something else entirely?

Just repeating that you want a "tram" doesn't really make it clearer. A tram runs on tracks embedded in city streets, along with other traffic, typically getting power from overhead wires. What you try to describe does not sound anything like a tram.

Stein

[Green_Elite_Cab]

I'm with Stein on this one.

If you need to film the interior, you can either buy the Lionel or make your own.

Any thing smaller than O will probably be to small to film the interior. If you just need a train passing by to look realistic, HO (1:87) might be better.

Again, the choices are limited when it comes to subways.

Does it have to be a New York City Subway? The Long Island Railroad goes into New York (and manhattan), but they have longer "EMU" cars. These aren't technically subways, but only train buffs like us would know the difference (in fact, some of the train buffs can't tell the difference either).

Island Model works makes large, scale Double decker LIRR MU cars (called MP-70). These are only 20"s long, but they are big. There are no interiors, but they would not be hard to fabricate, especially if you only need a few shots. Interior plans are available on the web (will dig up the link it interest).

These are "heavy rail", not quite subway cars but they might make more sense for what you want.




The decals and things required to paint them are on the page.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://islandmodelworks.com/OLI.html">http://islandmodelworks.com/OLI.html</a><!-- m -->

[jwb]

Why not CGI?

[Sumpter250]

Why not CGI?

Good question, great idea, But, if this is an "indie" film, there might not be the "budget" for CGI.

It would really help if you could post a photo of what you want, to do a large scale model of, so we all know exactly what to look for.

[jwb]

Another option would be to go find a real-life subway system and either (1) ask for permission to film, or (2) take your chances with whipping out the camera and just doing it a la Blair Witch Project or whatever.

[teejay]

I'm afraid I'm a little fuzzy on what is being asked here , too . Maybe a glass of wine will help me .

Terry

[teejay]

.....ah , that's better .....OK , what's an "indie film " ....all I can think of is 1)Indiana Jones
2) Indianapolis 500 ....probably none of the above .

T

[ngauger]

.....ah , that's better .....OK , what's an "indie film " ....all I can think of is 1)Indiana Jones
2) Indianapolis 500 ....probably none of the above .

T

Independent Film - Like The Blair Witch Project... Basically any non-commercial enterprise. Very low budget. In the thousands or 10 Thousands, instead of "Millions" like blockbusters

[teejay]

Well , okay , a low budget film tells me that money is in short supply everywhere in the project ....best get someone who shares the same enthusiasm for the project and is willing to sponsor/supply $$$ because it will take some bucks and/or time to build the model you are looking for .

For Instance ! The company I work for gets approached on a weekly basis to build someones favourite model or pet project ....we need plans or pictures or blueprints to go by . Then , using Corel Draw , we can whip up a model on the laser machine . This will cost about $1000+ just for starters ....laser machines are expensive and the project has to be built in a cost effective manner . When we broach the cost factor to the would-be client there is usually an audible gasp ....they were expecting maybe a hundred bucks .....no problemo , you can build it yourself ! Of course , they don't want to go that route so the conversation is quite short .

Bottom line , one off projects can be relatively expensive if you can't build it yourself .

T