urbancohort Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I have been railway modelling some years, and would DEARLY like to make a railroad based on late 19th Century American themes - a cattle town rail head; a wild and woolly frontier town or mining camp - inspired by a couple of trips to the US West and an addiction to the Hollywood fable. It seems that there are a few N scale locomotives that are suitable, (although I don't know - beyond the terrible Bachmann 4-4-0s!- how historically accurate any of them are.) However, it seems that the same manufacturers who produce these engines don't produce anything to run with them. My researches show me that the 'Old Time' 36' freight cars are mainly suitable for the 1920s and 1930s, (they are the colourful 'billboard style'). Most types of wagons are now unobtainable. The 'Overton' cars sometimes produced look good but seem to conform to no prototype, and are again of limited availability. Then we go into the sourcing of suitable buildings and figures! Some of the N scale DPM are suitable, but if one is looking for a wood false-front look, there is nothing in affordable, easy kits, although there are a few expensive laser cut wood and whitemetal ones if they are still produced. There WAS a book I obtained from the US called "Wild West Buildings You Can Make' which was excellent and contained plans for suitable buildings that one had to scratch build, but that now seems out of print, and they relied on the purchase of parts from US suppliers, (which I did!) I can't believe that every so often a loco is produced advertised as being suitable for the 1880s but there is NOTHING to go with it. So, this is what I know has been produced: Locomotives: Bachmann 4-4-0 Jupiter and 119 suitable for the 1869 'Transcontinental' Central and Union Pacific. My honest opinion was that the ones I bought were dreadful. The line was later extended to cover other roads but don't know if they ever produced any rolling stock suitable for these new roads. Atlas 4-4-0 for a number of lines last year Atlas Moguls suitable for a couple of lines, not necessarily the same ones as the 4-4-0. (Production now ceased) Probably not prototypically accurate - for instance, one was even for a line that was only ever narrow gauge! (Black Hills, Deadwood and Fort St Pierre Railroad) MDC Roundhouse 4-6-0s - various roads, and of unknown historical accuracy, and all now out of production. Rolling Stock MDC 'Overton' cars in various roads of unknown historical accuracy, and all now out of production so far as I know MDC 'Overland' cars in various roads of unknown historical accuracy, and all now out of production so far as I know MDC Freight - Reefers, Box cars, and stock cars of unknown historical accuracy, and all now out of production so far as I know. Most not suitable for the late 19th Century Bachmann UP and CP rolling stock of OK quality. Buildings Brick Buildings - DPM, but give established town impression is too many used James Publications plans using Grandt Line parts - book now seems unavailable Figures Musketeer Miniatures, (US wargames figure manufacturer mainly, I think) some limited whitemetal figures and kits. Not bad but have to be imported Some US plastic 'steam era people' by model power(?) Some dual use British outline kits or Preiser European steam era pieces. But no Injuns, no Chinese labourers, no Mexicans. I am sure taht some will think I am moaning unnecessarily and thinking 'scratchbuild you lazy ****' but for my lifestyle and ability that isn't an option! I want to play trains and life is too short. So... Does anyone share my frustration at all? Am I the only one thinking this? Does anyone know of any other available things suitable for a 'Wild West' layout? Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully politely replying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Welcome to the darkside, you have definitely been bitten by the bug....! The way I see it, you can either model something with what is readily available, or be so hooked with a certain prototype that you just have to model it, regardless of the fact that it is 5000 miles away or you end up spending $9 on postage for a $1 magazine that only has a couple of relevant photos in, or you have to leave the dinner table on Christmas day to outbid other collectors because the tarnished bits of a brass wreck can be restored and make a better and more cost effective model than other methods. You may become so notorious that people ask you for advice or offer to sell models to you, and you'll make some good friends but will wonder if you'll see them again or be able to go to their funerals. In this day and age, there are other methods for producing stock (especially in N gauge), such as laser cutting, resin moulding, or 3d printing. So dont let what might seem impossible put you off.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor quinn Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I can only offer a few practical suggestions (my modelling is HO and a century later). The Atlas 2-6-0 looks good. For freight cars the Bachmann CP & UP stock is possibly your best bet, take a look at Micro trains replacement trucks (bogies). One of our club members changed over quite a few Bachmann cars in the 80's, I believe they were a fairly straightforward swap. Hope this helps Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethashenden Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 The MDC range was taken over by Athearn. Both the 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 are very good. Everything else has been produced relatively recently and I expect they will continue to produce it as it seems to sell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Some information on the MDC passenger cars here: www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/protopass1.htm. This whole site is full of interesting stuff for anyone looking to model US passenger trains in N scale. Also, look for books by John H White: not cheap (not even fairly cheap) but very well-regarded, I believe: http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Railroad-Freight-Car/dp/0801844045/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1 http://www.amazon.com/American-Railroad-Passenger-Hopkins-Technology/dp/0801827434/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_2 and I just found this - the passenger car book on Google Books: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VmZmOS5rm5MC&pg=PA193&lpg=PA193&dq=19th+century+railroad+passenger+cars&source=bl&ots=KxmAnKdKoG&sig=1-9OO3UV8grxxCa_4n2WEYAkFRw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JTPTUvj1Is6UhQeL_IGACQ&ved=0CGsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=19th%20century%20railroad%20passenger%20cars&f=false Jim (edit to add links) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Athearn has done the Overton and Overland coaches in recent memory. Microtrains has done some Civil War vintage stock http://www.micro-trains.com/nr-1401_georgia.php http://www.micro-trains.com/Smith_CivilWarUnionSet.php http://www.micro-trains.com/Smith_CivilWarConfedSet.php They have also done some Civil War era building kits http://www.micro-trains.com/pl-NKits.php Model Power do some kits that are relatively easy to find http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/490-1512 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/490-1510 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/490-1524 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/490-1582 They also do them in Built-up form. The first two, plus a fire station, have been available as a street set. There is the Micro Engineering Poor Boy Mine http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/255-60002 Grandt Line has a set of three houses http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-8023 And a few randon others http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/520-30004 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/293-2600 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/353-6359 If you are prepared to pay a bit more for laser-cut kits, there are some other options. Also, some bridges and trestles: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3217 http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/171-304 Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I don't know what scale these are, but http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/store/oldwestHR/ these are 1:60 but would photocopy/scan down to a suitable size http://www.erichotz.com/whitewash.html http://www.aetherworks.com.au/2012/03/18/simple-ways-to-customise-wild-west-buildings/ http://public.fotki.com/cmsciulli/miniaturesandgaming/american-wild-west/reference-images/shadowulf-building-plans/ and for some ideas http://www.tinyworlds.co.uk/scenery-terrain/battleflag-mdf-buildings If you were doing HO, I have a complete unmade set of the Kibri wild west buildings - but they will be bigger than you require Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I don't know what scale these are, but http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/store/oldwestHR/ From the dimensions, I'd say HO. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Unfortunately, in the US the early rail era (pre WW1) is not well represented in any scale. Most US manufacturers think railroads were invented in the 1930's. Pretty much you will have to do a lot of scratchbuilding and kitbashing in any scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Locos (with reviews): MDC/Athearn 2-6-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/mdc260.html Atlas 2-6-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlas260.html Minitrix 0-6-0 http://www.spookshow.net/trix060.html MDC/Athearn 2-8-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/mdc280.html Model Power/Microtrains 4-4-0 http://www.spookshow.net/mp440.html Atlas 4-4-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlas440.html Bachmann 4-4-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bach440a.html Bachmann 2-6-0 http://www.spookshow.net/loco/spec460.html For RTR rolling stock you are really limited to the MDC/Athearn 36' boxcar and stock car, the Microtrains 26' Civil War cars, and the Bachmann, Arnold, or MDC/Athearn coaches. Adrian Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Found a bit more inspiration for you http://www.mts.net/~gisby/owbuild.htm http://guthriegenealogymainpage.blogspot.co.uk/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 GHQ Miniatures do N-scale Civil War military figures, plus some accessories http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/military-models-rebellion-miniatures.html Irregular Miniatures do 10mm Civil War and Plains Indians figures http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/ Pendraken Miniatures do 10mm figures, including ACW and Plains Wars. http://www.pendraken.co.uk/ etc. 10mm, 12mm, N-scale miniatures are all more-or-less the same size. Preiser and Woodland Scenics do various animal sets that may be appropriate. Some other Woodland Scenics sets: Jug Band http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A2180/page/1 Hobos http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A2138/page/1 Rail workers http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A2177/page/1 Track Workers http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A2148/page/1 Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbancohort Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Wow! Thanks for all this guys. I am more hopeful of actually getting it done after seeing all this..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Do a search on google for Whitewash City - I know they are the wrong size, but as .pdf they can be reprinted at a scale to suit also google wild west paper models for more buildings - If you were planning HO, I have the complete set of wild west buildings from Kibri, together with some others Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVSNE Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Between the Civil War and 1900 is a tough era to find RTR or even kits for in all scales. Small companies like Alkem, Amesville Shops, and Silver Crash Car Works do a nice job covering those years for HO scale. Bill Wade (BTS) makes some kits suitable for that era in HO, S,and O scales. Bill also licenses his products in N Scale to Republic Locomotive Works - https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/index.php Not only do they have kits, they offer a large number of detail parts and decals you may find useful. You might find some items that will work. Good luck, Marty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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