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Affordable 1/64 model train for diecast; Playart / Model Power steam engines
Topic Started: Mar 6 2015, 11:26 PM (556 Views)
78Gremlin_GT
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The Gremlin Guy
While checking out some of my engines today , I noticed a couple I had had oversized steam cabs. I was looking for my On30 engines, which are narrow gauge O gauge which run on HO track. Anyway, I have some other HO engines, but the cabs are oversized and not to scale, so I got out my ruler, and then hit the Internet. What I found is that these particular engines would work fine for 1/64 vehicles, if you are willing to accept a narrow gauge railroad. It uses HO track, so it's cheap enough. :P The particular scale would be another obscure one, Sn3.5 or Sn4.2, which both use the HO 1/87 track, but it's for 1/64 scale people. I measured the cab doors, they're slightly over an inch, same as a 1/64 guy who's 6 foot tall. Narrow gauge trains tend to have tight clearances, anyway.

So, if you're looking for a small, cheap but detailed train to go with your automobiles and trucks, here's what you could look for. These are made by Playart, now defunct, and taken over by Model Power, just recently defunct but bought up recently. Not every playart engine has this oversize cab, just this one particular unit, an 0-4-0 Donkey. It was resold by Model Power as well, which I didn't know until I went searching for images tonight. While not exactly plentiful, they do pop up on Ebay, there's a black #2350 Playart on Ebay now. They are not great runners, they tend to split the nylon drive gear and then hop down the track. Ugh. But, if you just want a viable static display, or can tinker with it when it breaks, then this may be a cheap way to get some model trains the correct scale into your 1/64 dio's.

Another type is called a Hustler, or small 2-axle diesel switcher, AHM made one with an oversized cab which is also out of scale for HO, too. I haven't measured it, but I'd bet you can make it work with the 1/64 cars as well, which I will be doing, but in narrow gauge scale. So you get the best of both worlds, using plentiful HO track, and using supposedly HO engines but with over-scale cabs, so they work for the 1/64 realm. Below are pictures of the steam engines, Playart on the left, and a typical HO steam engine on the right, with proper scaled cab. You can see the difference plainly. Since the Maisto train thread popped up, I thought I'd post this since these will provide a more scale appearance with the diecast cars than any other.

Jerry

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Attachments: Playart_3_steam.jpg (100.95 KB)
Attachments: Playart_model_power_6626.jpg (108.27 KB)
Attachments: Playart_rear.jpg (85.59 KB)
Attachments: Playart_side.jpg (102.76 KB)
Attachments: Playart_3_model_power.jpg (109.35 KB)
Edited by 78Gremlin_GT, Mar 6 2015, 11:29 PM.
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GothicCarsUrban
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SUV
Nice. The Lesney shunter & flatcars are also pretty good to depict a narrow gauge industrial setup or one like what used to run under the Oregon State Hospital, Oregon state capitol, the Salem courthouse and the state penitentiary
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carcollector
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Thank's for the pics, could believe that those train models would be made for use with diecast cars, look forward to see pics of them in a little diorama ;)
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Hosspower98
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Forever Blue Oval
Jerry, Isn't American Flyer "S" gauge or 1:64?
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78Gremlin_GT
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The Gremlin Guy
Hosspower98
Mar 8 2015, 08:11 AM
Jerry, Isn't American Flyer "S" gauge or 1:64?
Why, yes, Hosspower98, it is indeed! Although most guys would probably NOT want to spend that kind of money for a vintage ( or new, they are making new stuff for S gauge these days ) scale engine just for a diecast diorama, one reason I mention these smaller narrow gauge alternatives : they're way cheaper, use HO track (cheaper), and would fit in nicely. The Matchbox Shunter could be used as well, although even I think that is a bit small for a "real" 1/64 human, I do have plans to try to actually power one eventually for HO use. :rolleyes: Would you rather pay 5-10 bucks for one of these smaller engines as a narrow gauge option, or fork out $50 or more for a real S gauge American Flyer engine? And the original S gauge track is 2-rail, but only has a few ties, not fully loaded, OR realistic. There is realistic track out there for them ( more money ). The AF engines are impressive, I'll have to post the steam engine I have with some cars now, I guess. :P Found it in it's box last night, so I know where it's at ( for the moment ). But I think for budgetary reasons, if you're not into both AF trains AND diecast, using these smaller HO engines will be more cost-effective. Like I said, HO is much easier to get, work on, and find parts for than the American Flyer stuff, so using them I think is better alternative from a monetary standpoint. Everyone has their own ideas, of course. ;)

Jerry
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Hosspower98
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Forever Blue Oval
Makes sense to me, I no nothing about model railroading. Your idea is a great alternative.
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