VEHICLE MODELINGTO ENHANCE YOUR LAYOUT

Alan Olson

Mays Landing Jamboree Jug Band by Mike Napoleon

Frank Ellison

The DRAMA of RAILROADING is like a PLAY The TRACK is the Stage The TRAINS are the Actors BUILDINGS and SCENERY are the Setting

The TIMETABLE/OPERATING SCHEDULE is the Plot

And we can add

FIGURES and VEHICLES are Props

Consistency

X2f couplers, unpainted figures, and plastic cars

Consistency

X2f couplers, unpainted figures, and plastic cars

Or detailed models matching your scenes

CONSISTENCY

Mike Canfalone's gravel pit

March 2009 Model Railroader cover

Vehicle Modeling is Variety

4 MAJOR PRINCIPALS

GENERAL BACKGROUND• Model Vehicle History and Progress

• Model Media

• Model Sources

• References

• Tips for Tools and Paint

MODIFICATIONS, DETAILS and

FINISHING IDEAS

GALLERY of EXAMPLES

MAJOR PRINCIPALS

1. SCALE

2. ACCURACY

3. ERA

4. PLACEMENT

SCALEIs it TOO BIG? Too small? Or Just Right?

SCALE

Matchbox Commer and

Williams 1950 Chevrolet

1982 Tomy Ford LN and

1998 Atlas version

ACCURACYIs it an accurate model or a caricature?

Malibu 1955 Corvette

Vs 1950's Blob

Authenticast 1948 Chysler

Alloy Forms 1949 DeSoto

ACCURACYTyco Kenworth and 24 ft van

Athearn White/Freightliner with scratchbuilt Allied Van

ACCURACYReal Prototype or Imaginary?

CMW 1958 Chevrolet Impala 2 door hardtopHot Wheels Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept

ERAChoose your Chevrolet

1958-1959-1961-1970-1977-19951947-1950-1951-1953-1955-1957

ERA

1960's or 1980's

ERA1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup

Williams Bros Busch

PLACEMENTJanuary 2009 Model Railroader

PLACEMENTThe BEER LINE

January 2009 Model Railroader cover

PLACEMENT

Good Example !

Note wheels turned as if

he backed in here

Plus Correct Era and

Consistent level of detail

Earl Smallshaw

March 2009 Scale Rails

PLACEMENT

1954 Mercedes 300 SL - Malibu

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door - CMW

1954 enginehouse scene

DETAILS AND FINISHINGGeorge Dutka White River Division

March 2009 Model Railroader

DETAILS and FINISHING

MODEL HISTORYAND PROGRESS

1940's and mid-1950's

Odo's cast plaster

Authenticast cast metal

Tootsietoy stamped metal

Ulrich and Penn Line

Varney

Lesney Matchbox

early 1960's

Dyna Models

Wiking

Jordan

Revell 1958 Ford C

1961 Chrysler products

mid-1960's

AHM Minitanks and Minicars

Matchbox US vehicles

Lionel (by Athearn)

Tootsietoy

More Wiking

Late-1960's 1970's

Lindberg Mini-Lindy's

and Gibbs/Mercury/Little Toy

Athearn White/Freightliners

and 40 foot Trailers

1980's

Herpa (Con Cor) Magnuson resin

Con Cor Alloy Forms Walker Praline' Eko

ROCO (Military) Life Like Monogram Jordan

1990's

Classic Metal Works (CMW)

Gregs Garage resin

Busch

Life Like International tractors

GHQ farm equipment

CinC 1974 Chevrolet

IHC and Con Cor U-Hauls

Atlas Ford LNT

Boley Internationals

Stoney Mountain cars/trucks

21stst Century

2000's

Sylvan resin

Athearn Fords

Atlas Masterpiece

2000's

Low cost die cast

Model Power – Malibu – Fresh Cherries – Reel Rides

Winner's Circle NASCAR

MODEL MEDIA

Die Cast Toys

Matchbox Ford N

Hot Wheels Oshkosh Plow

MODEL MEDIA

Die Cast Scale Models Fresh Cherries – Malibu – Classic Metal Works

Ready to plop in place – but can be improved!

MODEL MEDIA

Older metal models - Ulrich and Penn Line examples

Simple metal kits:

Dyna Models 1947 Ford

Alloy Forms 1949 Buick

MODEL MEDIA

Craftsman White Metal Kits

Lee Town (now Alloy Forms) Mack B-61kit – B-71 built up

MODEL MEDIA

Plastic RTRHighly detailed Athearn Ford's and Macks

Upgraded Kenworth and White/Freightliner trucks

Trailers and Containers

1970's vs upgraded WFL

MODEL MEDIA

Plastic RTRBusch GMC TDH5301

Eko 1956 Lincoln Continental

Busch 1987 Dodge Caravan

Wiking 1970's Beetle

Varney 1950's Ford F-3 detailed and painted

MODEL MEDIA

Plastic KitsAthearn Kenworth tractor

Williams Bros

1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup

MODEL MEDIA

Resin KitsMagnuson – Walthers solid cast

Greg's Garage clear cast

Sylvan hollow cast

MODEL SOURCES

Local Hobby Shops

Walthers

Truck Stop Models www.truckstopmodels.com

Ebay

Swap meets

Wal Mart

PROTOTYPE REFERENCES

Automobile and Truck books

Classic Trains magazine – esp. 'Car Stop' feature

Your Favorite Railroad Color Pictorial book

Personal Research and Photographs

Internet

www.hankstruckpictures.com

Google and Google Images – ex: search “1953 Chevrolet”

Wikipedia – ex: search “Ford C series”

PROTOTYPE RESEARCH

1980 photo 1985 model

MODELING REFERENCES

1/87 Vehicle Club www.1-87vehicles.org

355 Photo Galleries of HO vehicle models

New model announcements

Manufacturer directory with web links

1/87 Scale Info Group www.87thscale.info

N Scale Vehicle Association Yahoo groups

MODIFICATIONS, DETAILS and FINISHING IDEAS

MINIMUM LAYOUT QUALITY DETAILS Window Glass

Headlights / Tail lights

License Plates

SIMPLE DETAIL UPGRADES Mirrors Mud Flaps Windshield Wipers

Paint + Trim Wheel/Tire Upgrades

Drivers/Passengers

SUPERDETAILS and SCRATCHBUILDING

MINIMUM DETAIL – GLASSMicro-GLAZE .005/.010 Styrene Acetate

MINIMUM DETAILS – GLASSSolid Cast Resin

Gloss Black – dry brush white/gray – transparent blue gloss

Compare

Gun metal/gloss – transparent blue – clear styrene

MINIMUM DETAILS - GLASS

Varney clear cast 1953 Studebaker

Masked and painted – or carefully hand painted

Note chrome trim and posed front wheels

Alloy Forms white metal 1947 Buick

Micro-GLAZE with chrome trim/details

MINIMUM DETAILS - LIGHTS

Headlights: silver with clear coat

Markers: silver then Tamiya Clear Orange

Spot lights: Micro-GLAZE with clear coat

Beacons: Roco accessories

MINIMUM DETAILS - LIGHTS

Turn Signal + Tail Lights

Evergreen #222 1/16 rod

Detail Assoc #2504 .012 wire

Drill #78 hole near end

Cut 4-6” wide /or 2” thin

Paint 1) black 2) silver

3) Tamiya clear orange

or clear red

Install with ACC

MINIMUM DETAILSLICENSE PLATES

Microscale Decals MC-4168 (and other vehicle shts)

Howard's Hobby www.howardshobby.com

Model Railroader, January 1989 (handout)

Make your own! www.acme.com/licensemaker/

MINIMUM DETAILSLICENSE PLATES

Model Railroader

paper licenses

Color with markers

Attach with Accent Glue

DETAIL UPGRADES

Mirrors – west coast style DA #2504 .012 (¾”) wire

EV #8108 styrene 1x8x9”18”

Wipers – DA #2504 painted or #3504 stainless steel wire

Trim Paint – including black window gasket

door handles, etc – Testor's Model Master 'Chrome'

License Plates – Blackened grille - Weathering

DETAIL UPGRADES

ATLAS FORD LNT

Stock - in process – detailed

Turn signals, wipers, mirrors

Blackened grille

Wing window: pre-painted

DA #2504 .012 wire

Painted wheels

Chalk dusting

DETAIL UPGRADES

Mud flaps

DA #2507 .022-1-1/2” wire

Cut masking tape as wide as the rear duals 21 to 24”

Wrap tape around wire

Drill frame rails/install

Cut to length - 24-30”

Paint Grimy Black (white)

DETAIL UPGRADES

Trailer Hook-up Cables

DA #2503 .010 (1/2”) wire

Coiled around #2510 .040 wire

Paint red and blue

Install with cab hook

or pogo stick

Warning flags are tape on wire

DETAIL UPGRADES

Wheel and Tire Replacements Matchbox 1964 Dodge

on Roco 6x6 Chassis

Yatming toy with Athearn wheels/tires

Compare to current Athearn

DETAIL UPGRADESAdd Drivers – and Passengers

FINISH UPGRADES

Prototypical paint

Flat – Floquil/Polly S Gunmetal with Glosscoat

Eggshell-Semigloss Dupli-Color

CMW Proto-color

Trim – Testor's Silver or Model Master Chrome

FINISH UPGRADES

Unpainted AHM MiniCar 1959 Edsel

Alloy Forms 1949 DeSoto – Floquil Gunmetal

Con Cor 1931 Ford AA - finished with Rustall and

Floquil Driftwood

FINISH UPGRADES

Glossy vs Dull

White walls and wheel covers

vs painted wheels + hub caps

Unfinished Lionel vs

chrome trim and wheel covers

FINISH UPGRADES

International Farmall Model M

Life Like

painted with Rust-Oleum

Farm implement color

plus Oddball decals

Life Like stock plastic

Life Like refinished

GHQ metal kit - finished

PAINT

Railroad Colors: Floquil/Polly S flat - Scalecoat gloss

Plastic model paints Testors / Model Master spray cans

Automotive paints – Dupli-Color / IH Red / JD Green / Cat Yellow

White primer – Floquil Crystal Cote - Dullcoat

Walthers Magic Masker – Tamiya Clear Red / Orange over silver

Model Master Chrome / Metalizer Magnesium

Apply with 10/0 to large brushes - round toothpicks

Scribe lines and clean flubs with a sharp #11 blade

SWAP TRUCK BODIES

Simple body swap

Original Mini-Lindy's Become

1968 Ford F-600 Ryder Chevrolet 13 ft box van

1967 Chev C-60 dump Ford tandem dump

SWAP COWLS

Mini-Lindy 1964 Ford bus

changes to a 1953 Dodge

with a new cowl from a

Walther's resin REA truck

Paint is School Bus Yellow

Meanwhile, the Walthers REA truck gets a CMW 1950 Ford cowl

And a second one becomes a 1956 Ford (Alloy Forms)

SWAP CABS

Boley International 4300 Tank Truck / Trailer

Remove cab and interior – extend chassis to fit

Athearn Kenworth cab (tractor kit)

Sratchbuilt interior with driver

SWAP CABS

Chassis painted

Cab detailed and painted

Interior finished

Completed truck

OLD vs NEW

Idaho Oil1950's Ulrich Kenworth Slam-dump metal kit

Rebuilt with scratchbuilt tanks for Idaho Oil Transport

Now fleet upgrade with new Boley/Athearn Kenworth

NEW TRUCK BODIES

Scratchbuilt bodies

Wood grain box on Stoney Mountain resin 1948 Ford

Styrene beverage body on Matchbox 1965 GMC

hand painted/lettered

REBUILT TRAILERS

32 ft CMW van trailer

Sides cut out

New styrene sides

32 ft Walthers van

Sides filed smooth

Styrene ribs added

Airbrushed

Champ decals

BODY MODIFICATIONS

1950'S Varney Fords

Painted

Top removed with scratchbuilt convertible interior

Top reused to create a station wagon

BODY MODIFICATIONS

Checker Cab fleet

Airporter built from two Walthers resin Checkers

Dirt track 1940 Ford

JEEP MODIFICATIONS

Roco Mini-tanks Jeep Conversions

Silver CJ-7 with roll cage and working suspension

Post Office Jeep: scratchbuilt body / sliding door

Winch/windshield details on CJ-7 vs original Roco

FIRE TRUCK MODELING

1970 Mack CF

1250 gpm pumper

IHC Mack CF

Modified/stretched to match prototype

FIRE TRUCK MODELING

1974 Chevrolet/Boyertown

Scratchbuilding in clear styrene to simplify windows

TOOLS & SUPPLIES

Blue Shop Towels – toothpicks

CMW cards for glue

and plastic for windshields

Pin vise - Pin holder / burnisher

Accent glue for license plates

Resin Prep - Micro-GLAZE

GALLERYRichard Olson – Jeep CJ-7 with working suspension

GALLERY

Mack MC / SchwingConcrete Pumper

Kibri kit, new Mack MC cab, fully-working boom

and pipingpositionable outriggers

GALLERY

Alloy Forms 1955 Chevrolet 2 TonScratchbuilt body & details – Scale Scenics mixer

Hand lettering matches prototype

GALLERY

Remember Tonka Toys?

1957State Hi-Way Dept dumps

“Big Mike” and 3-way, with V-plows

GALLERY

Can't find / Can't afford a real Tonka?

No Problem. Make your own HO scale version!

Magnuson resin Ford F-600 tractor with scratchbuilt bodies

GALLERY

GALLERYChester Fesmire – 1950 Chevrolet Stake (Busch)

GALLERYJoe Enriquez – 1945 Mack FCSW

including the Cummins engine

GALLERYChester Fesmire – Maine Garage