Why such a lack of plastic locomotive kits?

A British company known as Rosebud produced an extensive line of plastic kits of locomotives and rolling stock in OO (1/76 scale) back in the early 1960s. They were primarily British prototypes, but the line also included an American 4-4-0 (the "General" of Great Locomotive Chase fame) and, IIRC, a NY Central Hudson. The entire Rosebud line was acquired by Airfix, but only the British locomotives were reissued. These frequently come up for sale on eBay at reasonable prices. Most of the ex-Rosebud/Airfix line are now sold by Dapol. Another American company released an HO Berkshire steam locomotive plastic kit which is quite nice. More recently, Highliners released HO plastic kits of GM F-units, both A and B, which can be built as just about every variation of those locomotives.

I love trains and would love to set up a model railroad, but I can't afford another hobby because of both space and time. I still have the Airfix locos from the sixties unbuilt. maybe one day.........

Have any of you looked at MiniArt's 1/35 European Tramcar? It's a great kit with tons of detail and everything you need for a street scene diorama. It's not a traditional locomotive but if you really want to build a train this may work.

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/european-tramcar-641-w-crew-passengers-and-street/MIA00038009/product.php?s=0&t=4&u=0

I wonder if the marketing people for major kit mfgs peruse forums like this once in awhile.  I would also like to see more railroad stuff (not operating, just static scale models.  I build every genre of scale model and love to do the occasional construction equipment, odd trucks, even farm tractors.  I applaud kit mfgs who do such stuff.  I think too many mfgs only cater to the very popular genre and subgenre.  I have built enough ME-109s for a lifetime.  I want more odd stuff and stuff that does not fall into strict genre of machine.

I used to say I would model anything that moved.  Then, in a catalog for readers, I found a kit for a Gutenburg printing press.  That was a fun build and a nice display model.  Those of us older folk who have been modeling for a long time crave the oddball stuff, rather than the been-there-done-that stuff.

In previous decades there were operable kits for train cars and locomotives that you would build out of wood, paint etc. and would work just like a completed item would. My grandfather made many of them in ho scale, but they are lost now. I don't think the demad is there for static train models when you could build a functioning one. The Tamiya tank kits originated from RC tanks that they built initially, but apparently that was not as popular an idea with train people.

castelnuovo

I found lots of locomotive kits here

https://www.hobbylinc.com/cgi-bin/s8.cgi?cat_s=UB&p=2

But lots of them don't mention the scale. Are these kits or already assembled? What would be a locomotive scale equvivalent to, say, tanks at 1/35 or airplanes 1/48?

 

Those are all operating locomotives, motors and sound cards installed, ready to pull a line of cars, just add electricity.  Judging by the prices, they are most likely HO Scale, or roughly 1/87th...

I got ahold of one of Revell's old NY Central-Hudson Locos!  I am building this in an Autumn scene for a friend.  I am posting a WIP in the Figures and Misc. section if anyone wants to follow along...

Hi Peter;

      Actually there isn't. You can buy just about anything on Model Rail Sales sites. I have Model Locos from the days of Steam all the way to the Newest AMTRAK engine. They are called Dummies in the hobby and, Yes, they are available.You might have to special order them Cause most model rail stores do Not keep them in stock.

 Also You have to know what you want, Because, even Dummies aren't cheap sometimes. I recently purchased an " O " scale F-7 and It was 22.00 bucks. That one by the way at 1/48 scale was paper!

Hi Don;

 I guess that's why I am now into odd paper structures, ships and other stuff like Civil War Semi-Submersibles!

Here is another update on the Hudson:

I marked her up with decals putting her in the stable of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Obviously fictitious.  But it looks goot, none the less!

The next step is to create the autumn scene for this loco to meander through, on a sunday outing with a multitude of passengers out to see the autumn colors...Stay tuned!

Beautiful!  The weathering is perfect.

I do wish those kits would be repopped.

Aha!

    Not Fictitious! We have a photo in the Dining car under glass (On a Tabletop) Of a Pennsy Hudson. You got all the weathering spot on!

Tanker-Builder

Aha!

    Not Fictitious! We have a photo in the Dining car under glass (On a Tabletop) Of a Pennsy Hudson. You got all the weathering spot on!

 

Thanks Tanker!

That's awesome, where's your museum located?

!

Don Stauffer

Beautiful!  The weathering is perfect.

I do wish those kits would be repopped.

 

 

Thanks, Don!  I had fun doing this kit...I may add the Revell 'Big Boy' to my stash and build another....

Nothing quite like hot oily steel!

AMEN ! !