"28mm vehicles" Topic

Anyone know a good, preferably cheap source for a train scaled to 28mm minis? I'm looking for a couple to use for gaming. Also, a good source for a Conestoga wagon as well.

We're looking to kitbash both with an eye towards VSF/Steampunk look, as my group needs them for both Deadlands and Deadlands: The Great Rail Wars, so on the cheaper end of the spectrum would be better.

thanks for any help you can give.

van Helsing

Fast Lane, Western Express, and Patriot Express are all good search terms for variations of the toy train here:

auction

Here's a picture from one of our games in which the train was used to give an idea of scale.

picture

Dixons make a nice wild west train but at £75.00 GBP for just the locomotive it ain't cheap.

Redoubt make one as well – also not cheap. Try looking at cheap toy stores – a much better option if you don't mind doing a re-paint job.

Check dollar stores, especially as we draw closer to Christmas. They often have stuff that works in 25/28mm. You can find 15mm as well.

Take a look at "On30" scale trains.

From LAF… link

I have no seen these in person, but they look good next to 28mm figs in the pics.

You can find them on eBay.

"Check dollar stores, especially as we draw closer to Christmas. They often have stuff that works in 25/28mm. You can find 15mm as well."

Also, weirdly your local chain grocery and drugstores. I often see very cheap ($10-12 at regular price) train sets in those places that work with 28mm minis. They're very basic, and you'll undoubtedly want to modify them, but they're so cheap that you won't mind.

28 mm in my mind is S gauge – America leads the way here.

I think the Goldlok or Fast Lane "Express" sets are the best bang for the buck (if you get the sets at a good price that is).

I own the (GL) Western Express Spirit of Steam set, the (GL) Passenger Express set, and now the (FL) Patriot Express.

For all intents and purposes the two companies are one. The track is identical, and I'll bet the engines and all the cars are made in the same factory in china.

Picked up each one for around $25 USD apiece which included the postage.

There are subtle differences regarding the engine (usually the arrangement of the stuff on the very top, including the size and shape of the stack), and a few cars change up based on the set.

For example, the Western Express has a closed-top boxcar. The Passenger Express replaces the closed-top boxcar and gives you a second passenger car.

The Patriot Express is probably the weakest of the three, replacing the open-topped boxcar and the tanker with two flatbed cars (one with a sherman tank, the other an artillery piece). But I wanted some flatbeds to make my own sandbag & gatling gun cars to protect gold shipments!

It's all plastic, and the stickers can be pealed off before you repaint the cars to something more realistic. Being plastic, much easier to kitbash that "Deadlands" look.

These sets are all battery-powered, come with 14' of track (they form up into a largish oval), and heck, the engine makes choo-choo sounds and the light comes on!

All of these sets give you an engine and five cars.

BEWARE of sets that do not match those specs. I'm told there are some 4 car and 5 car sets that are in a different scale. I've also been told to stay clear of the Polar Express set. All the melted snow effects make everything hard to model for a typical western town.

These are not quite made for 28mm, but they are close enough, and cheap enough, they do the trick for a lot less than buying properly scaled vehicles (or going all out for an electric train). Oh, as an added bonus the track is very nice, with the wooden ties actually having a woodgrain that is easily brought out with some quick drybrushing!

Here's the exact Western Express train set I have:
auction

It's about $12 USD more than I paid for mine, but you may find the price a steal (plus your train could be on the way TODAY)!

Here's the exact Patriot Express set I own:
auction

But that is way too much to pay IMHO.

Hope that helps.

I picked up the Western Express on ebay for $22 USD with shipping, just about the perfect size for set dressing. Can't wait to get it painted.

I've been hearing things about the Imex Conestoga wagon being true 28mm, does anyone here have one so they can back up the rumours? Here it is on amazon

link

IMEX = No.

Here's the thing. Conestoga wagons were huge.

Old Glory make a pack in the War Paint range of two wagons with ox teams to draw them. The wagons are more like 1/72 then a proper sized Conestoga might be.

The Imex model might be that size but the oxen are 1/72 which makes them look small next to 28mm figures.

Blue Moon also have a Conestoga. I have not seen that one but judging by the fact you get one for the price of OG's two I'm hoping its larger.

Edit: The Imex wagon comes with horses, not oxen.