How to use Resources outside Model Railroading
The model train hobby is pretty complete these days. You can obtain trains, track, digital gear, scenery, and almost anything else from model railroading sources. That is, if you are working one of the popular scales: O / O27, HO, N, #1 / G...and I have reservations about G. The wide support is focused on but a few scales whole others are left half-supported. All is not lost. Other hobbies have many of the things that the model railroad makers have left out.
The problem for most train buffs, even scratchbuilders, is that they do not look far outside their own hobby for supplies. Sure, a fellow will rig up a hoist from plastic parts found at home, but he won't look at a military model, ship kit or craft project. I've been plundering them all for years. My "resume" includes O, HO, N and G / #1 gauge railroading, 1/76, 1/32 and 1/35 military models and dioramas, wargaming in 20mm, 25mm, 30mm and 40mm wargame scales, plus enough crafts work to fill a barn. Thus, I am about to show you the inroads and byways, and the ways to have great resources and save a bundle. Yes, you can save MONEY!
Though the NMRA lists about a dozen different scales, those that get the most support are O/O27, HO and N. G / #1 is just starting to get all the pieces, mainly through the prolific nature of American makers. S had been orphaned back in 1966, and is just starting to rebuild its support structure. British OO, which runs on HO track, has a steady supply of 1/76 gear behind it. American OO is a hobby of specialists. And then there's Z, the pricey, diminutive scale which is fighting so hard to go mainstream.
Every hobby has its own nuances, flavor, lexicon and structure. Because each seems to have developed independently of the others, you might find them incompatible. Actually, most miniature hobbies are very compatible, but the hobbyists don't know that! After all, there has not been any major attempt to reconcile them into a singular, cohesive system. Once you understand the basic dynamics, you will have no problem using other hobbies to support your trains.
Military hobbies are not a cohesive thing, as they divert in two directions. The most popular is scale models, wherein hobbyists make realistic miniatures and dioramas of military themes and equipment. The scale models have improved greatly since the 1960s (although they were pretty good back then!). Detail and adherence to scale is excellent. Like all scale models, the military ones use fractions to describe scales. The popular scales are 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/76. You can find some 1/24, 1/18 and 1/16, and an occasional 1/87, 1/90, 1/100 and 1/144 kit.
The other branch of the military tree is wargaming. Though many wargamers are scale modelers, absolute scale is not a must insofar as games. Wargame figures are generally not as fine as scale models. To add to the situation, wargame figures are counted in their own specific 'millimeter scale' rather than fractions. Thus, the popular scales are 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 40mm and 54mm.
The kits which have most relevance to Model Railroading are 1/32 - #1 scale, 1/48 - O scale, 1/76 - OO Scale, 1/87 - HO scale. ROCO is the main source of pure HO military models. Adjacent scales are either a tad smaller (Roskopf, for instance, at 1/90) or Airfix, which makes 1/76 OO kits.
One nuance - many of the old 1/76 kits are now sold as 1/72. They are still 1/76, and include Airfix, Matchbox, Fujimi and Arii. Hasegawa is pure 1/72, and is larger by a bit.
Airfix made several military sets which included structures, most notably its 1/76 castle, Roman Fort and Waterloo farmhouse. The farmhouse could be kitbashed for HO, and the castle is proportioned enough to work on an HO layout. The Roman fort is rather large - about 25mm scale, and would best be used for kitbashing.
Military modeling has expanded to include many auxiliary things, from camp supplies to partial structures. These can all be pillaged for model railroading use. Be aware that spare parts / detail parts for military models are very specific. They use the military definition, which might not be the civilian one. See before you buy.
Military paints are usually flats. They can be used in many applications.
Wargaming figures are mainly cast in metal. They tend to be stocky., and at close range look disproportionate (thick bodies, fat heads, etc - each maker has his own trademark.). Details are not as fine, and all have a thickness about them. You can use them for model railroading. The 25mm and 30mm figures can be adapted to S, and some of the smaller 25mm will go with OO. Plastic wargaming figures are far better. The 40mm Elastolins do well with O. Airfix, Matchbox, Esci, Imex and other 1/72 (actually 1/76) figures can be fudged for H)O, but work best with OO. Each set varies a millimeter or two. The original Airfix figures from the 1960s worked superbly with HO, but upgraded pieces after 1976 tend to be oversized. Matchbox and Esci vary from box to box.
15mm wargaming figures are too large for N, but just right for TT. There are no wargaming figures made for N, except a handful of Roco tanks made as flat car loads.
Medieval and Civil War era wargame figures have separate sets of field accessories, from cars and caissons to crates and hay bales. They can be adapted to adjacent scales, but for a serious model railroader, some extra detailing would be in order. Metal wargame figures are bulky, and details follow suit.
The handmade wooden ship hobby has produced a wonderful assortment of detail parts, from naval guns to pulleys. A favorite for model railroaders are the intricately-made block and tackle sets. You can find loads of small detail parts, but keep in mind that you have to judge for yourself. Scale, as you know it, flew out the window. Rather than use ship scales, judge by your eye if a detail part can be used in your scale. You will find a wealth of cheap little parts here.
Plastic ships generally come in 1/48, 1/72. 1/144/ 1/400 and smaller scales. Rarely is a purely HO piece made. The few are mostly tugs and barges made by model railroad suppliers. If you have the skill, you can rework a model to fit your railway.
Aircraft range from flying model to plastic kits. The plastic kits come in 1.48, 1/72, 1/100 and 1/144 scales. True HO models are rare, even though the old 1/72 kits seemed a bit small and had diminutive pilots who were about HO size. Roco made some HO helicopters of the military variety. Finding HO kits can be hard. One may occasionally come across a plane in 1/32 or even 1/64, but it is unusual.
Aircraft details have little relevance to model railroading. The one thing that might be useful are support trucks and equipment for airport dioramas. Even then, they are limited to airports, since vehicles and equipment in that genre are pretty specialized.
Remember the old punch-out paper kits? Here in the US, we give them to kids. In Europe, China and Japan, card kits are a hobby unto themselves AND they can produce models which rival plastic kits. Many require additional detail parts, made from small bits of wood, wire or toothpicks. If you have not used card kits, you are missing the boat! Many modern kits are superb. Dover Publications makes a few HO card kits in book form, and they are excellent. There are makers who specialize in them.
The card model hobby is popular in Holland, Italy, France and japan. Some exquisite models come from those faraway places. They include everything from simple huts to ornate walled cities, from buildings to automobiles and aircraft. I'd say more that 60% of card models look good enough ,when built right, to satisfy a scale modeler. And a high percentage of them can be used for model trains.
On the Internet are many sites offering free card models. The free ones are as good as those sold for money. Usually, you can size them to your particular scale before printing. Assembly takes some work, especially when there are intricate details. The card kits are a far cry from the paper kits of your childhood! Expect to add details, and kitbash away! The end result can be utterly stunning!
The All Gauge Model Railroading Page offers enough free card kits to make 150+ different buildings! on our links page is a Card Model section that lists other resources for these wonderful models. You would be amazed at just how scale the card models can be
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Most model hobbyists - not just us train folks - tend toi shy away from crafts. We think of Den Mothers making kiddie projects or Martha Stewart's minions turning their homes into sissyland. We're wrong. The regular crafts are a great resource, especially for the larger scales. You need to have an eye for scale to spot craft pieces that will fit your railway, but they are there AND they are inexpensive.
A good crafts shop usually has several types of decorative chain. The smaller ones will fit well with scale trains. So do some metallic counted-cross stitch threads - excellent cables! Also, wood bits sold for wood crafts projects are full of surprises. Bags of odd wood shapes can yield raw materials for everything from street signs to cable reels. Be especially aware of clays and other things that can be worked. Rubber stamps may seem silly, but you can always find a few that would make nice billboards, or even plain logos stamped on tarpaulins, etc. A craft shop is a kitbasher's heaven, at less than half the price of comparable model RR goodies.
Check our links page for hobby, card model and craft sites.
For more information on using other models, click here to read our article on Almost Scale - using adjacent scales
For detailed information on railroad, wargaming and hobby scales, click here to view our Scale and Gauge page
Happy (and happier) railroading!