south_tyne Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Hi all, just after some expert advice. I've finally (after months of deliberation!) decided to start a small American N gauge layout. Maybe I'm just being daft but I'm struggling to find many model shops which actually stock N gauge. So who are the best suppliers of American outline stock in the UK? Mainly looking for Kato, Micro Trains, Atlas etc. Or is it best to keep checking Ebay? Thanks in Anticipation! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine coast Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 You could try Model Junction excellent service from them ... Regards Trevor .. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009matt Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Gaugemaster have atlas and kato Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted October 28, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2010 If you want Bachmann N scale locos have a look at Kernow model centre. Some good discounts here based on RRP (I must admit to not knowing prices from other shops). Always had good service from the shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcoRS1 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Stay clear from Bachmann in N, it is all garbage, also out of scale. Bachmann USA is not the same quality as Bachmann in the UK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-CRS Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Hi I stock some scenics from the US and Canada all in N Scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted October 28, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 28, 2010 Stay clear from Bachmann in N, it is all garbage, also out of scale. Bachmann USA is not the same quality as Bachmann in the UK. Sorry, but the Bachmann Spectrum stuff in N is as good as anyone else's. In fact it would be difficult to model US steam without it... The recent Spectrum 44 tonner is absolutely superb, runs like a Swiss watch, and comes decoder-fitted as standard. I can also recommend Model Junction - superb service, and a good range. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted October 28, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2010 You could try Model Junction excellent service from them ... Another vote for Model Junction from me. Osbornes, Plus Daughters and MG Sharp also stock American N. Happy modelling, Steven B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 The penguin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 Thanks to everyone who has repsonded and for some great links. I will spend a few hours searching and then my wallet will take a hit....!! Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Have used this guy in the past, not huge amount of stock but he will order in what you need, he is also a fan of US railroads and models too http://www.americantrains.co.uk/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordonwis Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 . LSWR Modelshttp://www.lswrmodels.co.uk/n-scale . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Bumping this thread after five years who manufactures and where can I buy some US outline autos (cars...) trucks and trailers etc. these days please? I used to have quite a collection in the late 80s but I've lost the storage box which they were in and my resurrected layout is going to look a tad empty with no highway traffic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 5, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 5, 2015 Bumping this thread after five years who manufactures and where can I buy some US outline autos (cars...) trucks and trailers etc. these days please? I used to have quite a collection in the late 80s but I've lost the storage box which they were in and my resurrected layout is going to look a tad empty with no highway traffic. I get most of my N scale stuff - including road vehicles - from N Scale American Trains: http://www.nscaleamericantrains.co.uk/en/ Very good service and generally lots of useful items. It's run by the man who used to do the N scale stuff for Model Junction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Bumping this thread after five years who manufactures and where can I buy some US outline autos (cars...) trucks and trailers etc. these days please? I used to have quite a collection in the late 80s but I've lost the storage box which they were in and my resurrected layout is going to look a tad empty with no highway traffic. Ready to place vehicles from Atlas: Ford Fairmont ('78) sedan and wagon, Ford Explorer ('93), Ford F150 ('97). Classic Metal Works (Mini Metals): various vehicles, mostly transition era ('40s/'50s) but a few have been more modern Busch and Fleischmann (and others) do various vehicles that are applicable to North America. Kato does a set of Toyota Crowns in 1:150 that make acceptable generic late '70s North American sedans For Kits, GHQ Miniatures and Showcase Miniatures do some nice metal ones, and the ubiquitous Road Apples resin kits are still relatively common. Kato does a nice modern Volvo semi-tractor and an Ottawa yard tractor, both with a variable length container chassis, while Athearn does some older semi-tractors and other heavy vehicles. For trailers, look at Deluxe (53' trailer or RoadRailer trailer, 40' container frame), Atlas (45' and 48' trailers), Microtrains (40' and 48' trailers), Trainworx (various styles of 40' trailers), Athearn (40' and 28' trailers), Herpa/ConCor ('70s tractors and trailers, including moving vans), Classic Metal Works (transition-era trailers). Here is something I posted earlier: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/82963-n-scale-vehicles/ There are some pictures of tractors/trailers here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60859-n-scale-intermodal/ Also see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67085-showcaseminiatures-new-vehicles-in-n/ Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Some excellent stuff there, thanks for the links. My layout's set in the 70s-80s time period and there seems to be a gap in the various ranges around then, more's the pity, but some of the late 50s stuff should fit well enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Some excellent stuff there, thanks for the links. My layout's set in the 70s-80s time period and there seems to be a gap in the various ranges around then, more's the pity, but some of the late 50s stuff should fit well enough. Yes, '70s-'80s is a bit of a dead zone, but there are a few: Atlas 1978 Ford Fairmont (sedan and wagon) http://www.atlasrr.com/Trackmisc/fordfairmont2.htm http://www.atlasrr.com/Cars/honfairmontwagon1.htm Atlas 1984 Ford LNT 9000 tractor http://www.atlasrr.com/NFreight/ntractorcabs1.htm CMW 1978 Chevrolet Impala (sedan, in various forms including taxi and police car) - not current, but old stock should be around GHQ Chevrolet Crew Cab pickup kit (3rd gen, so 1973-87) http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/51008.html GHQ Dodge Caravan kit (1st gen, so 1984-90) http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/51006.html GHQ Ford Taurus kit (1st gen I think, so 1986-91) http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/51003.html GHQ Chevrolet Panel van (3rd gen, so 1971-96) http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/51009.html Some of the other GHQ kits are of the right vintage. The Athearn Mack R and Ford C based trucks are good for the earlier part of the timeframe. The Herpa/Con-Cor tractor-trailer sets are also of the corrct vintage. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 You're a mine of information Adrian, thanks so much. I'll get searching. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 After looking at my collection, here are a few more possibilities: Fleischmann 1982-93 Mercedes 190 Fleischmann 1979-91 Mercedes 500 Fleischmann 1977-86 BMW 745i (rare in NA) Fleischmann 1976-82 Audi 100 (Audi 5000 in NA) Fleischmann 1974-84 VW Golf (VW Rabbit in NA) Wiking 1974-78 Ford Capri MkII Wiking VW Beetle Wiking VW Combi Van CMW 1967 Ford Custom 500 One of the cars in the Wiking cars/caravans set is a 1964-67 Chevrolet Malibu https://www.reynaulds.com/products/Wiking/92207.aspx Note that the European vehicles were not that common (except the Rabbit and the Audi 5000), but I saw examples of all of them (my high school/car-aware years were the late '70s and early '80s). Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I worked for a US company from 1978 to 2008, and I was out there, in the Twin Cities area of MN, 2-3 times a year all that time, so I have a fair idea of what was about in the period. Certainly in MN there were/are an amazing number of 1950s/60s period cars and trucks, goodness knows why as they use road salt by the mega-ton in the winter! Surprisingly there was a high proportion of European cars around in early 80s, Mercs, Audis, Jag and even Rover 800 fastbacks, called the Rover Sterling over there, but I don't hold out much hope of finding the latter two in model form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I worked for a US company from 1978 to 2008, and I was out there, in the Twin Cities area of MN, 2-3 times a year all that time, so I have a fair idea of what was about in the period. Certainly in MN there were/are an amazing number of 1950s/60s period cars and trucks, goodness knows why as they use road salt by the mega-ton in the winter! Surprisingly there was a high proportion of European cars around in early 80s, Mercs, Audis, Jag and even Rover 800 fastbacks, called the Rover Sterling over there, but I don't hold out much hope of finding the latter two in model form. MN is cold enough in the winter that a lot of areas probably used sand (for traction) rather than road salt (for melting), so you wouldn't get quite the same rusting as further south in the mid-west or in the north-east. What you do see a lot more of in MN are 'deer dents' (from hitting the stupid creatures). The only 'high-end' European car on my street (Kingston, Ontario) in that period was a BMW 528i. We, on the other hand, replaced a 1975 Plymouth Valiant with a 1983 Honda Accord. However, as you imply, where you were in North America would affect the mix, vintage, and condition of the cars you would see. Areas that didn't see road salt would see a larger proportion of older cars simply because they didn't rust. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 To resurect this again, this manufacturer on Shapeways has been suggested (Trainboard denizens who have ordered them like them). Lots of North American vehicles from the '50s to the present day in N (and a few in other scales) http://www.shapeways.com/shops/madaboutcars?sort=newest I haven't tried them myself yet. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Excellent Adrian! As you say, LOADS of stuff there, and I may be getting some, once I've arranged the World Bank Loan to pay for them, that is......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Tilt Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I went to the International N Gauge Show at the Midlands Exhibition Centre today in the fond hope of getting some vehicles for Smalltown - USA. While I was successful in getting some cars, there wasn't a SINGLE tractor unit for the trailers anywhere! Loads of trailers, but why doesn't anyone sell the tractor units over here? I got a couple of Herpa units that'll do for cabovers but not a sign of a conventional truck anywhere. I'll have to go the mail order route in the next five weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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