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Just to finish the size comparison... (once again, the harlequin is provided for scale).

Here's a comparison of the full O-scale loco to a larger logging loco (called a Climax).


And lastly, this is the biggest On30 loco I have... A 4-6-0... in my little fantasy train world this one is pulling the passenger cars.

That is quite some Climax.

I so want to get some of these trains, had a quick look into it and scared the hell out of me, but will keep looking.

Thanks Gits.

I’ll have to hit the local train shop close to my house, especially with my Wild West board heating up.

There is absolutely no need to pay the original asking price for these models, I certainly didn't.

The company that makes these is Bachmann and they can be found at numerous discount train stores on the web. Trainworld, factorydirecttrains & Micromark, just to name a few. You can find a healthy selection of locos with DCC installed (meaning computer chip) for half price or less & pick up a sound chip to plug in for another $80. Some even come with sound installed. If you want regular old analogue locos, they're even cheaper (but no sound).

You can always go HO scale rather than On30... not sure that it saves you any money but it might be worth a look. I just like the bigger scale (as I've aged, bigger things are easier to work with than small things. BrianCJ is a real model railroader... I'm sure he could give you better advice than I could.


The trick is that these model train companies don't make each model forever, they only do it for a short time so they can drum up interest (and price). So you have to keep an eye on the discount sites to wee what they're offering at any given time. That's how I missed getting the On30 Shay. Now if I want one I have to either pay top dollar or buy a used (and likely malfunctioning) one. The Heisler (small loco) is relatively new and readily available. Also, quite possibly my favorite loco and one I didn't show you is the 2-4-4-2 articulated. Mine has developed a short somehow... but it's a fantastic loco. They're still readily available too as well as a variety of 2-6-0s and 4-6-0s (like my biggest one).

 Gitsplitta wrote:
There is absolutely no need to pay the original asking price for these models, I certainly didn't.

The company that makes these is Bachmann and they can be found at numerous discount train stores on the web. Trainworld, factorydirecttrains & Micromark, just to name a few. You can find a healthy selection of locos with DCC installed (meaning computer chip) for half price or less & pick up a sound chip to plug in for another $80. Some even come with sound installed. If you want regular old analogue locos, they're even cheaper (but no sound).

You can always go HO scale rather than On30... not sure that it saves you any money but it might be worth a look. I just like the bigger scale (as I've aged, bigger things are easier to work with than small things. BrianCJ is a real model railroader... I'm sure he could give you better advice than I could.

The train shop near me sells used and reconditioned train stuff. It’s where I’ve gotten tons of broken stuff for Gaslands and train trussell parts I used years ago for Necromunda.

Ah, well, you're quite lucky then. My local shop sells some stuff on commission but doesn't make a habit out of reconditioning things.

Gits.

You have trains. Therefore, you're a real model railroader.

However, I will accept that I am 'more into the hobby' or variations thereof!

--Brian

The local shop owner has one huge 5’x8’ table display which has 7 or 8 tracks on it with multiple levels. It’s not pretty, but it is functional and he dresses it for the different holidays. He has smoking trains, whistling trains and multiple scales with tons of old stuff on it. I’m sure he sells new items, but I did through his cardboard boxes of stuff for the true treasures.

Finished weathering my latest piece of LOS blocking terrain...

Dude I love that weathering on the carriage! it's brilliant, subtle and realistic looks perfect.

Thanks Damo. It surprises me how long it takes to do one of these, but then there's a decent amount of tricky work, drying time and multiple techniques required. I guess it makes sense. Still, the end result is very satisfying. They're also very big compared to the size of what I normally work with (Not quite rhino sized, but close.

Needs more Dakka. That flat car could probably use some sandbagged machine guns at the very least.

Always fun to see how our hobby intersects others. Lots in common.

Needs tags, looking amazing bud.

I've seen guys scratchbuild boxcars from wooden kits that didn't look as realistic as what you've done with these plastic cars. Magnificent!

Thanks guys. They are very good quality models to begin with... which helps a lot when it comes to making them look good. I hope to have a new one done tomorrow. Been looking up some prototype photos (old, grey boxcars) and think I have a clear idea of what I want to do next.

Seeing the Death Jester there puts me in mind of Simon Stalenhag's pictures. The dichotomy of the very contemporary and the very sci-fi is one I always enjoy.



I am also thinking about the curved edges of the train track and wondering if it would be a good way of fitting a gaming board into a smaller space. Like my house!

I do like a bit of filth . What's your feeling on using scale gaming stuff mixed and matched in with "real" MRR rolling stock? (tagged you on the old book of face on 4ground's page, with reference to that)

Actually, I'm pretty serious about trying that. Not all battles would be taking place on equally developed worlds. Maybe I can convince Thing 2 to do a small skirmish with me using the train as mobile terrain. You could certainly use it as static terrain. Be no different than your average wall. Just much cooler looking.

Git's could you give me a few dimensions, track width, height of engine, length of engine etc. just rough stuff. Got some ideas mucking about. Fancy doing something with this myself. I still have a toy thing that must be close to scale to "40k".

Great railroad stuff Gits! Everyone loves a bit of model railway surely?

And I suspect that most gamers have thought about mixing the two at some point. I'm certainly fond of daydreaming 40k locomotives.

FYI, "O Scale" is 1:48, which is the closest model scale for standard 25-30mm tabletop gaming. On30 is 'narrow gauge' railroading, which refers to the width of the track. The rolling stock (cars, locomotives) are still in O Scale (albeit somewhat smaller).

@Cam: Well, Brian's given you the accurate scale. In practical terms it's kind of tricky as locomotives and cars range in size over time, design and use so it's hard to give you a specific size. I have a full-sized 0 scale boxcar that is 9"x2.25"x2.25" (not including the wheel assembly underneath). My narrow-gauge freight cars are 6"x1.75"x2" (for a box car). The box cars I've been showing you won't fit these dimensions as they're very specific "shorty's" from fairly early in the steam era (only 16" long IRL). I think normal cars were about 32' long. In general, cars get longer the more recent they're made. My "era" tends to be the early 1900's. Definitely pre-WWII. If you wanted to do more modern or even futuristic locos & cars... they'd probably be considerably longer.

I think your best bet for track is just to get actual track. It's pretty cheap and you can get it anywhere. On30 (narrow gauge) uses HO track (3/4" between the rails), that's 30" IRL. I don't actually own any full-sized O scale track so I'm not sure of the size. I think standard rails are 48" apart IRL.

Here's the second of the shorty boxcars. This weathering pattern is right off of some photographs of an old SantaFe boxcar. Color is more accurate on the 3/4 view.

To follow up:

Early boxcars were anywhere in and around 30 feet or so, and everyone eventually standardized on 36 feet in length. This was up through the 1920's/1930's or so. Then 40 feet in the 30's, and 50 feet post-war. In the 70's, we started seeing larger ones, with the maximum being 86' due to restrictions within tunnels, load bearing issues, spacing between tracks, etc. I believe the EXACT American length limit is 86'6", but I'd have to go look it up.

Early boxcars were wooden with trusses, tie-rods, or fishbelly trusses. Then they were reinforced with iron or steel posts. Only in the late 30's did they start making everything out of steel, eventually banning wooden cars from interchange service (being able to travel between railroads) and then a 100% ban on all wooden cars.

--B.

Always have a soft spot for trains, I know next to nothing about them but I've liked them since I was a kid. Great weathering on that boxcar!

Good job on the weathering. Looks nice.

That boxcar is lovely, very nice weathering

First attempt at tank car-shaped terrain. Not entirely in focus but I just love the 3/4 view. Took this baby completely apart to paint it. Have two more smaller ones with black tanks and grey decks. Should make for a nice change of pace.

That's absolutely lovely, great weathering.

But you said tank car and I thought, like, Ford with an Abrams turret or something. :dakka: too much Gaslands I guess

LOL! That sounds like a great conversion idea graven... but I'll leave that in your capable hands!

The train is *slowly* starting to come together. In essence I have 4 cars (2 shorty tank cars and 2 shorty boxcars) and the "disco caboose" (so named because the walls are thin and the electrical connection is bad so the light flickers and shows through the red walls... not just through the windows) to go. Then I have to decide if I have the stones to do the locomotives... which I do, I just have to build up the nerve for it. I think I have some garbage HO scale steam locos lying around. I should probably practice on those first.

The little caboose should be a fun project and might happen before the rest of the cars are painted. It'll need to be completely disassembled (like the tank cars) prior to painting with the added wrinkle that the interior will need to be painted and "glass" (plastic sheet) added to the windows.

Awesome!

Great painting & weathering, the metallic tank and wooden decking look ace.

Can't wait to see that treatment on a steam engine!