1. VEHICLE MODELING TO ENHANCE YOUR LAYOUT Alan Olson
Mays Landing Jamboree Jug Band by Mike Napoleon 1 1 1

2. The DRAMA of RAILROADING is like a PLAY FIGURES and VEHICLES are Props
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 2

3. Consistency
X2f couplers, unpainted figures, and plastic cars 3 3 3

4. Consistency X2f couplers, unpainted figures, and plastic cars
Or detailed models matching your scenes 4 4 4

5. CONSISTENCY Mike Canfalone's gravel pit
March 2009 Model Railroader cover 5 5 5

6. Vehicle Modeling is Variety6 6 6

7. MODIFICATIONS, DETAILS and FINISHING IDEAS GALLERY of EXAMPLES
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 7

8. MAJOR PRINCIPALS
1. SCALE
2. ACCURACY
3. ERA
4. PLACEMENT 8 8 8

9. SCALE Is it TOO BIG? Too small? Or Just Right?9 9 9

10. SCALE Matchbox Commer and Williams 1950 Chevrolet
1982 Tomy Ford LN and
1998 Atlas version 10 10 10

11. ACCURACY Is it an accurate model or a caricature?
Malibu 1955 Corvette
Vs 1950's Blob
Authenticast 1948 Chysler
Alloy Forms 1949 DeSoto 11 11 11

12. ACCURACY Tyco Kenworth and 24 ft van Athearn White/Freightliner with scratchbuilt Allied Van12 12 12

13. ACCURACY Real Prototype or Imaginary
ACCURACY Real Prototype or Imaginary? CMW 1958 Chevrolet Impala 2 door hardtop Hot Wheels Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept 13 13 13

14. ERA Choose your Chevrolet 1958-1959-1961-1970-1977-1995 1947-1950-1951-1953-1955-195714 14 14

15. ERA 1960's or 's 15 15 15

16. ERA 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup Williams Bros Busch16 16 16

17. PLACEMENT January 2009 Model Railroader17 17 17

18. PLACEMENT The BEER LINE January 2009 Model Railroader cover18 18 18

19. 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 19 19 19

20. PLACEMENT 1954 Mercedes 300 SL - Malibu
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door - CMW
1954 enginehouse scene 20 20 20

21. DETAILS AND FINISHING George Dutka White River Division March 2009 Model Railroader21 21 21

22. DETAILS and FINISHING 22 22 22

23. MODEL HISTORY AND PROGRESS23 23 23

24. 1940's and mid-1950's Odo's cast plaster Authenticast cast metal
Tootsietoy stamped metal
Ulrich and Penn Line
Varney
Lesney Matchbox 24 24 24

25. early 1960's Dyna Models Wiking Jordan Revell 1958 Ford C
1961 Chrysler products 25 25 25

26. mid-1960's AHM Minitanks and Minicars Matchbox US vehicles
Lionel (by Athearn)
Tootsietoy
More Wiking 26 26 26

27. Late-1960's 1970's Lindberg Mini-Lindy's and Gibbs/Mercury/Little Toy
Athearn White/Freightliners
and 40 foot Trailers 27 27 27

28. 1980's Herpa (Con Cor) Magnuson resin
Con Cor Alloy Forms Walker Praline' Eko
ROCO (Military) Life Like Monogram Jordan 28 28 28

29. 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 29 29 29

30. 21stst Century 30 30 30

31. 2000's
Sylvan resin
Athearn Fords
Atlas Masterpiece 31 31 31

32. 2000's
Low cost die cast
Model Power – Malibu – Fresh Cherries – Reel Rides
Winner's Circle NASCAR 32 32 32

33. MODEL MEDIA Die Cast Toys Matchbox Ford N Hot Wheels Oshkosh Plow 33

34. MODEL MEDIA Die Cast Scale Models
Fresh Cherries – Malibu – Classic Metal Works
Ready to plop in place – but can be improved! 34 34 34

35. MODEL MEDIA Older metal models - Ulrich and Penn Line examples
Simple metal kits:
Dyna Models 1947 Ford
Alloy Forms 1949 Buick 35 35 35

36. MODEL MEDIA Craftsman White Metal Kits
Lee Town (now Alloy Forms) Mack B-61kit – B-71 built up 36 36 36

37. MODEL MEDIA Plastic RTR Highly detailed Athearn Ford's and Macks
Upgraded Kenworth and White/Freightliner trucks
Trailers and Containers
1970's vs upgraded WFL 37 37 37

38. MODEL MEDIA Plastic RTR Busch GMC TDH5301 Eko 1956 Lincoln Continental
Busch 1987 Dodge Caravan
Wiking 1970's Beetle
Varney 1950's Ford F-3 detailed and painted 38 38 38

39. MODEL MEDIA Plastic Kits Athearn Kenworth tractor Williams Bros
1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup 39 39 39

40. MODEL MEDIA Resin Kits Magnuson – Walthers solid cast
Greg's Garage clear cast
Sylvan hollow cast 40 40 40

41. MODEL SOURCES Local Hobby Shops Walthers
Truck Stop Models
Ebay
Swap meets
Wal Mart 41 41 41

42. PROTOTYPE REFERENCES Automobile and Truck books
Classic Trains magazine – esp. 'Car Stop' feature
Your Favorite Railroad Color Pictorial book
Personal Research and Photographs
Internet
Google and Google Images – ex: search “1953 Chevrolet”
Wikipedia – ex: search “Ford C series” 42 42 42

43. PROTOTYPE RESEARCH
1980 photo model 43 43 43

44. 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
N Scale Vehicle Association Yahoo groups 44 44 44

45. 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 45

46. MINIMUM DETAIL – GLASS Micro-GLAZE .005/.010 Styrene Acetate46 46 46

47. MINIMUM DETAILS – GLASS Solid Cast Resin
Gloss Black – dry brush white/gray – transparent blue gloss
Compare
Gun metal/gloss – transparent blue – clear styrene 47 47 47

48. 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 48 48 48

49. MINIMUM DETAILS - LIGHTS
Headlights: silver with clear coat
Markers: silver then Tamiya Clear Orange
Spot lights: Micro-GLAZE with clear coat
Beacons: Roco accessories 49 49 49

50. MINIMUM DETAILS - LIGHTS
Turn Signal + Tail Lights
Evergreen #222 1/16 rod
Detail Assoc # 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 50 50 50

51. MINIMUM DETAILS LICENSE PLATES
Microscale Decals MC-4168 (and other vehicle shts)
Howard's Hobby
Model Railroader, January (handout)
Make your own! 51 51 51

52. MINIMUM DETAILS LICENSE PLATES
Model Railroader
paper licenses
Color with markers
Attach with Accent Glue 52 52 52

53. 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 53 53 53

54. DETAIL UPGRADES ATLAS FORD LNT Stock - in process – detailed
Turn signals, wipers, mirrors
Blackened grille
Wing window: pre-painted
DA # wire
Painted wheels
Chalk dusting 54 54 54

55. 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 ”
Paint Grimy Black (white) 55 55 55

56. DETAIL UPGRADES Trailer Hook-up Cables DA #2503 .010 (1/2”) wire
Coiled around # wire
Paint red and blue
Install with cab hook
or pogo stick
Warning flags are tape on wire 56 56 56

57. DETAIL UPGRADES Wheel and Tire Replacements Matchbox 1964 Dodge
on Roco 6x6 Chassis
Yatming toy with Athearn wheels/tires
Compare to current Athearn 57 57 57

58. DETAIL UPGRADES Add Drivers – and Passengers58 58 58

59. 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 59 59 59

60. FINISH UPGRADES Unpainted AHM MiniCar 1959 Edsel
Alloy Forms DeSoto – Floquil Gunmetal
Con Cor 1931 Ford AA - finished with Rustall and Floquil Driftwood 60 60 60

61. FINISH UPGRADES Glossy vs Dull Unfinished Lionel vs
White walls and wheel covers
vs painted wheels + hub caps
Unfinished Lionel vs
chrome trim and wheel covers 61 61 61

62. 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 62 62 62

63. 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 63 63 63

64. 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 64 64 64

65. 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 Ford (Alloy Forms) 65 65 65

66. 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 66 66 66

67. SWAP CABS Chassis painted Cab detailed and painted Interior finished
Completed truck 67 67 67

68. OLD vs NEW Idaho Oil 1950's Ulrich Kenworth Slam-dump metal kit
Rebuilt with scratchbuilt tanks for Idaho Oil Transport
Now fleet upgrade with new Boley/Athearn Kenworth 68 68 68

69. NEW TRUCK BODIES Scratchbuilt bodies
Wood grain box on Stoney Mountain resin 1948 Ford
Styrene beverage body on Matchbox 1965 GMC
hand painted/lettered 69 69 69

70. REBUILT TRAILERS 32 ft CMW van trailer 32 ft Walthers van
Sides cut out
New styrene sides
32 ft Walthers van
Sides filed smooth
Styrene ribs added
Airbrushed
Champ decals 70 70 70

71. BODY MODIFICATIONS 1950'S Varney Fords Painted
Top removed with scratchbuilt convertible interior
Top reused to create a station wagon 71 71 71

72. BODY MODIFICATIONS Checker Cab fleet
Airporter built from two Walthers resin Checkers
Dirt track 1940 Ford 72 72 72

73. Roco Mini-tanks Jeep Conversions
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 73 73 73

74. FIRE TRUCK MODELING 1970 Mack CF 1250 gpm pumper IHC Mack CF
Modified/stretched to match prototype 74 74 74

75. FIRE TRUCK MODELING 1974 Chevrolet/Boyertown
Scratchbuilding in clear styrene to simplify windows 75 75 75

76. 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 76 76 76

77. GALLERY Richard Olson – Jeep CJ-7 with working suspension77 77 77

78. GALLERY Mack MC / Schwing Concrete Pumper Kibri kit, new Mack MC cab, fully-working boom and piping positionable outriggers 78 78 78

79. GALLERY Alloy Forms 1955 Chevrolet 2 Ton Scratchbuilt body & details – Scale Scenics mixer Hand lettering matches prototype 79 79 79

80. 1957State Hi-Way Dept dumps “Big Mike” and 3-way, with V-plows
GALLERY
Remember Tonka Toys?
1957State Hi-Way Dept dumps
“Big Mike” and 3-way, with V-plows 80 80 80

81. 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 81 81 81

82. GALLERY 82 82 82

83. GALLERY Chester Fesmire – 1950 Chevrolet Stake (Busch)83 83 83

84. GALLERY Joe Enriquez – 1945 Mack FCSW including the Cummins engine84 84 84

85. GALLERY Chester Fesmire – Maine Garage85 85 85