Affordable modern vehicles???

[HF1]

I can understand that there are a lot of HO modelrailroaders out there that are perfectly okay with using Hot Wheels Cars on their layouts - mainly because they're cheap - and because a lot of guys in this hobby do not appreciate the level of detail that goes into a scale replica of that small proportion....especially when they go to pay for it- ouch!
The vehicles that are available now, are far more in variety, detail and accuracy, than what was around when I was building my layout(s) back in the 60's and 70's.

Some guys are okay with discriminating detail about locomotives and structures, then ruin a scene with a piece of crap Di-Cast car that not only looks like a toy but is essentially a toy.

I don't relate to that at all - but then I'm not asking anyone to.

I personally, would rather pay a little more and have 5-6 scale and detailed replicas on my layout than a whole parking lot full of Hot Wheels...that's just me.

Call me crazy but I kinda like having the 'whole scene' in scale as much as possible.

There are a lot of very good 1/87th scale modern vehicles available and you may have to pay more for them but I wouldn't call that ridiculous. I'd call that staying true to your modeling.

A previous poster suggested that he could do a better job of producing scale vehicles than Walthers or Horizion does/has.
It's a nice thought but in reality, I would guess that once exposed to the reality of actually seeing a product from the drawing board, through pre-production and actually developing a marketable product, that he'd rather leave the task and headaches that go with planning a simple product like a scale HO automobile - to the experts.

I'm thankful for the vast variety that we currently enjoy - and I think one of the main reasons we don't see more modern day vehicles in scale (and more are becoming available each month), is that a majority of HO scalers still model a transition-era - not quite as many model strictly a modern era railroad - but that's changing too, with the intermodal industry sparking a lot more interest in our changing hobby.

I want to thank all the manufacturers out there who are listening and who are willing to consider new and distinctive scale vehicles for the HO market.

The phrase "way too expensive" for a scale replica vehicle, is all relative to how you perceive the finished scene.

Cheap Hot Wheels Cars are just that, and look, well...er, cheap.
Spending a little more on just one or two detailed vehicle(s), I make the difference in how an entire scene on my layout will appear - to you - and to others viewing it.
The test for me has been to make every ounce of every inch look as convicing and as realistic as possible - if I take a photo and it looks convincingly like the real thing, then I've accomplished my goal(s). If my scene looks like a miniature scene with toy stuff, then I probably will not be satisfied with my results.
That's just my take...everyone's entitled to their own enturpretations.

[montanan]

I, personally am in agreement with HF1. If I am going throught the trouble of modeling a certain era, and have my locomotives, freight car, building and so on as accurate as I can, I want all of my scenery to reflect the time I am modeling. As I mentioned, vehicles are one way to do this. I started years ago with Alloy Form vehicles because they were one of the few manufacturers that were modeling vehicles that were accurate and detailed for my time period, which is in 1957. In recent years, other manufacturers, such as Classic Metal Works and Athearn have done a great job bringing more vehicles into production. It is my preference to pay the extra and have accurate vehicles for the era I model.

[kbkchooch]

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Cruise the swaps, look for estate sales, check the discount bins ay your LHS. You'll pick them up one or two at a time. That's how I did mine. Usually for under ten bucks, though for anything nice you won't get much below ten bucks, maybe 8 or 9. Trucks and buses are worse!

Actually, look everywhere!!

The VW's were 2 bucks , on clearance at Wally world a while back, I bought all the had, found this,

at a True value hardware store on a keyring!!.
I've found 1:87 trucks at the grocery store, repainted them and used them on the layout!

Just gotta keep your eyes open, and maybe do a little customization to get what you want!

[DirtyD79]

Originally Posted by gcrebel60

I cant figure out why at least one of these manufacturers can't make any affordable modern vehicles. All I can find are cars from the 50s and it doesn't look right when I have a GE Dash 9 CSX rolling by a bunch of cars from the 50s. I need vehicles from the 1980s to present day. I would like to have all the makes like Fords, Chevys, Dodges, Toyotas, Nissans, Hondas and not have to pay $15 for one vehicle. I know one manufacturer makes modern vehicles but they only make Fords and they are way too expensive. I would like to pay less than $5 also. Hot Wheels can make a car for less than $2 so why can't anyone make a 1:87 scale car that has the same detail as Hot Wheels for the same price?:

One of the lines you might want to consider are the Fresh Cherries vehicles from Walthers. They're under 5 bucks (minus shipping and handling unless you're buying them at train shows and such), have very decent detail, and what's more they're economy cars like Honda Accords and Ford Tempos so they're a lot more typical of stuff you would see on the road or in parking lots.

[ThoroughBreed]

I remember a few years ago Wallyworld had a bunch of 1/87 vehicles in singles and 5/6 packs for like $5-6 along with petes, kw's, IH's, even modern freightliners. Those things disappeared fast. I got lucky and grabbed quite a few, even have duplicates, but got them while they had them.
I believe the company that made them realized the potential and changed to the fresh cherries brand or got bought out by them or something like that as the offerings from them are identical to these.

[montanan]

The prices are getting a little rediculous for decent vehicles, but if you stand back and look at the cost of most everything, it's all going up to some extent. The cost of some freight cars are in the $30 dollar range, or higher in some cases. Cabooses at almost $40 for some, and some passenger cars at almost $60 retail. Many locomotives are now only being offered ith DCC is also running costs up. I consider myself lucky in the fact that I probably have all of the rolling stock and locomotives I need for the near future. I bought most of my locomotives almost 20 years ago, and I was whining at having to pay $60 to $75 for them. If you can find a locomotive without DCC, I have seen switchers selling at over $150, I am talking about the better quality items. Less expensive, to some degree items can be found for less, but I learned a long time ago that you get what you pay for. The prices seem to be going up a lot faster than many peoples income. It is nice to have a lot of the new items coming on the market, but the cost - WOW !!!

[montanan]

Here are a few trucks I cobbled on. The last one is a straight Urlich kit I got about 20 years ago, but by the time I got the doors lettered, one by one, it was time for a shot of Jack Daniels.

[montanan]

Here are a few trucks I cobbled on. The last one is a straight Urlich kit I got about 20 years ago, but by the time I got the doors lettered, one by one, it was time for a shot of Jack Daniels.

[Midnught Special]

I just collect cars when ever I find them, some I find in local craft stores, other toy stores, and some at the local hobby shops...so I just pick them up when possible, granted some arn't as detailed as some of the others but oh well....

most ive spent was maybe $10 so far and I got a small collection of cars!!

[stang_crazy]

For the your regular HO scale cars and trucks I can see $5-10 and $10+ for say construction equipment, semi trucks etc..

But when a 2011 F250 is $15-20.00 Its rediculous Its not like the thing is complete diecast either. Ive been wanting to get a fleet of newer trucks to do in UP paint to put along the tracks etc for areas of repair stuff like that but with the costs ive not bought a single newer truck/car.

I know the market for Ho stuff is not as big as it is for say 1/64th up scales. But still come on a company can produce a complete diecast 1/64th scale vehicle thats pretty damn detailed for $5.00 and there lots of them that are limited to 5000, 10000 & 20000 pieces to.

How in the heck can this not be done for ho scale vehicles? Especially when they are mostly plastic?