Nick Stern  | 13 Oct 2015 10:23 a.m. PST |
I am thinking about putting together a late 19th Century armoured train that I can use for the Sudan and the Boer War. I have two sets of the Timpo Prairie Rocket that I can use as rolling stock. Being lazy, I am also looking for toys I can kit bash. I seem to remember a plastic green army train which, though more modern than my period, could be a useful base. |
 Sgt Slag | 13 Oct 2015 2:28 p.m. PST |
The train scale which is equal to 54mm Army Men seems to be the O-gauge. They're expensive, unless you go with really cheap models -- which will work well for gaming purposes. Shop the usual suspects: Amazon.com, e-Bay, and Google, for more sources. Cheers! |
 The Virtual Armchair General  | 13 Oct 2015 2:52 p.m. PST |
Actually, 54mm/1:32 is the rather expensive--but excellent--"G" (Garden) Scale. O Gauge is only 1:48, and close only counts with horse shoes and hand grenades, as Shakespeare said. There are a number of self-print-self-assemble card stock 1:32 trains which, if labor intensive, can be made with foam/matte board/styrene backing to make them permanent, and which cost a whale of a lot less than the ready made G-Scale pieces. There are even a number of "period" locomotives and rolling stock in 1:32 that should make a Boer War and "Little Wars" Era train that not only looks good, but would be a great project for "kit bashing." I compiled a list of sources for all these which appears in "Little Campaigns" by Padre Paul Wright, but interested parties can write me at TVAG@att.net and I'll share the list with them. TVAG |
| cloudcaptain | 13 Oct 2015 5:35 p.m. PST |
Start checking Big Lots and chain drug stores around
Christmas. You can often find a G-scale-ish 18somethings train set relatively cheaply. Sometimes Toys R Us has them too. |
| 45thdiv | 13 Oct 2015 6:09 p.m. PST |
Yes, the christmas train sets are just about right. |
| 79thPA | 13 Oct 2015 7:21 p.m. PST |
As noted, plastic Christmas trains will be hitting the shelves soon, so hold off a little bit longer and see what is one the shelves. |
| nevinsrip | 14 Oct 2015 1:52 a.m. PST |
In fact, wait until after Christmas and pick one up for very cheap.
I've got one that is the spittin' image of the General, for ACW. Was 9.99 at one of those closeout stores. Home Despot carries a few in their decoration section. |
| TheBeast | 03 Nov 2015 8:56 a.m. PST |
I've actually seen a few in Goodwills recently; though a train choo-choo'ing around the table SOUNDS neat, I assume they are non-functional, which is what I'd want for converting, if cheap enough. Doug |
| Nick Stern | 18 Jul 2016 11:47 a.m. PST |
Almost a year later I stumbled upon this awesome photo of exactly what I've been looking for
link
I am going to scratch build it over a non working Christmas train loco and a Playmobil freight car. |
| Nick Stern | 18 Jul 2016 11:49 a.m. PST |
By the way, anyone heard of Gainsborough Miniatures who made the train model? I can't find a link anywhere online. |
| 4thsublegion | 22 Jul 2016 10:02 a.m. PST |
The Marklin Maxi is a good engine to use for a 54mm/1/32 scale game. It's not currently in production, but can still found on Ebay or other secondary markets. The flat cars work well also.
auction |
