Sunday, March 7, 2021

Model Train Accessories

Model train products are a great resource for 1/72 modelers. You can often find things in HO, OO, and even S scale that make great pieces of stowage and equipment for 1/72 scale models.

The following are some of the items that I have in the bits box.

The first sprue is from the Faller Tools and Barrels set (180906).


The only items that need to be assembled are the two wheelbarrows.


The handcart dollies are a bit rudimentary, but look fine from a distance.


I think the tools are all usable for 1/72 scale, though maybe some of the handles need to be lengthened to be scale accurate. A bit of work also needs to be done to remove ejector pin marks on some of the tools.

The next sprues come from the Preiser Beer barrels, Beer crates with bottles set (17105), and the Busch Ladegut set (1132).




The next pair of sprues come from the the Busch Ladegut set and the Preiser Farmers Market & Accessories set (10304). The tiny hand scale and weights are amazing.


The final sprue from the Busch Ladegut set are a bunch of long pallets.


The next sprues come from the Preiser Sacks set (17102), and the Preiser Cargo set (17100).




Next are some comparison pictures of similar items from the different manufacturers.

Various sacks from different companies. Merit is HO/OO scale, while the others are HO scale.


I think the second Faller sack may actually be a resin recast that was modified to have some burlap texture on the surface.

I just love the vintage Merit box.


Garbage bags from Busch, and potato sacks from Preiser.



Wooden crates of various size.


The Faller crate is not that great, having wood panel texture only on the top. It's also the only crate that has a hollow bottom.


Different types of cardboard boxes.


The boxes include ones sealed with packing straps, tied with string, and closed with staples.


Wooden barrels of various size and shape. The first barrel is made of actual wood, and it came in a random lot of train accessories that I bought. The Faller barrels are pretty much devoid of detail, and kind of poorly shaped.


Milk cans, metal cans, and beer kegs.


I'm actually not sure what the 4th part with the curved top is supposed to be, but I'm guessing it's some kind of metal can.

Last are a couple of cable spools (At least, I think that's what the Faller part is).



2 comments:

Hugh Walter said...

The question-mark barrel is a ship-building accessory, could be anyone, Hobby's Annual stock them as generics in a variety of sizes.

We are quite spoiled these days, I used to make bottles from stretched runner (sprue), using the clear runners that came with cockpits etc . . . I'd take the bit where the stretch started and 3/4 of length of un-stretched section, then give them a coat of green or brown marker-pen, depending on whether I thought they had beer or wine! You've got the makings of a - slightly wonkey - blue bottle at the sprue-end of the Bush rubbish-sack runner!

H

EY said...

Thanks for the comment Hugh! I guess wooden ship building and model railroading share some similarities with generic parts made by cottage industries and hobbyists trying to make some money on the side. The tip for bottle making is also quite useful.