It seems ridiculous to me that we have to make just about every part for a modern diesel. I’ve bought some extra parts from Ro and Aristo, they don’t have stuff for other models than what they offer. I bought a catalog from PSC and everything is for older steam era.
I’m actually shocked that there isn’t a place to get simple parts from. I guess HO scale is a larger nitch.
HO is a MUCH larger market. People make what they can sell. If there was a big enough market we would have the parts. Fact is, the majority of folks running diesel in this already small market, don’t bash or scratch build.
Jon, wouldn’t part of the problem of people bashing or scratchbuilding be partly compounded by the lack of supply of detail and other parts available??? It’s a whole different world when one has to scratch build all the parts…
Not everyone has the skills of a ““Rooster””, or a Bruce, and there’s a whole bunch I haven’t listed…
Joe,
Welcome to my world… I’d love to see a company like Details West, Detail Associates and Cannon & Co start producing parts in 1:29. It would open up a world of possibilities to kitbashing a little less expensive. I don’t mind cutting up one locomotive to make another one, but I hate that idea of having to buy 3 or 4 locomotives (complete shells) to make a single one.
The problem I see if two fold; one the market isn’t large enough (or established, remember 1:29 is only 20-30 years old compared to HO), and the parts that are available have a high cost. USAT, and Aristo aren’t in the part business. They are in the complete locomotive, car, etc business. USAT is much better than Aristo when it comes to selling surplus parts, but it’s not near enough.
The solution I’ve found is to buy the HO (or O scale if I can find it) detail part and then build my own from that. It’s hard to find drawings and other technical info to build these detail parts from scratch. I’m sure the big 3 in HO have gotten access from EMD, and GE for drawings as I know of no other way that they could accurately reproduce those detail parts.
I guess you could start your own detail parts company?
Also consider that a set of HO detail parts, in brass, would only use 1/10 (or less) the amount of material, its also easier for small producers to cast parts in plastic, or metal in HO, even O is a significantly smaller parts size.
1/29 is left in the lurch, but I am kinda surprised that no one is offering detail parts in resin or vinyl, both are relatively easy for small batch sellers.
Have you tried “Trackside Details” or “Ozark Miniatures”, I seam to recall Ozark offering a small line in 1/29 at one time.
Andy Clarke said:
Jon, wouldn’t part of the problem of people bashing or scratchbuilding be partly compounded by the lack of supply of detail and other parts available??? It’s a whole different world when one has to scratch build all the parts…
Not everyone has the skills of a ““Rooster””, or a Bruce, and there’s a whole bunch I haven’t listed…
Probably true. A “Catch 22” situation. You would have to ask people like Ozark why they have never tested the waters. Could be that there is such a variety of unique parts that it’s hard to decide what might sell. Take horns for example; I’m no expert but I know of at least three makers and each maker has multiple chimes and styles. That’s a lot to make only to find out one or two are big sellers.
Ozarks has some 1:29 scale detailed parts. Might e a good starting place.
I never new a box had detailed parts hehe just joking…
Shawn Viggiano said:
I never new a box had detailed parts hehe just joking…
Shawn, of course they do… just look at all the steam engine era modelers who also model,
wait for it:
““BOXcabs””
hehehe
Jon,
Ozark does sell some 1/29 detail parts, but the parts they sell I would consider more as highlight detail parts, instead of parts that you could completely scratch build from. For instance I’ve seen a few HO models that were built from Cannon & Co. parts. That’s the detail parts that I believe Joe is looking for. At least that’s what I would be interested in.
Here’s the Ozark link.
http://www.ozarkminiatures.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idcategory=1244&curPage=1&sortField=sku
Here’s Cannon & Co. website.
http://www.cannonandco.net/Home_Page.html
Now this is a scratch build 
(http://www.cannonandco.net/images/img_5105.jpg)
If this kind of detail can be done in HO scale, it sure can be done in 1/29…
What detail you talking about there Craig?
Yeah, I’ve looked around for a few years for the right details like a Canon or details west would offer, for modern DIESELS!!!
All I see is steam era. I bet there’s not many guys right now building modern G scale diesels. I bet it would grow if there were parts already available to help the cause. That is a big catch 22 I guess. I would start a detail parts company if I were even able to make them. It’s the toughest part of scratch building for me. The big body parts are easy to make.
I guess I’ll cut up an Aristo Dash or another MTH to make an ES44AC next. I’d rather build it from scratch as it really is easier sometimes than modifying the heck out of a couple of diesels. I just get stuck on the small details and it seems like such a waste of time and effort. repeatedly.
Something like this:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Trainworx-N-901-SD70ACe-Detail-SD70M-2-Conversion-p/twx-901.htm
Craig Townsend said:
Jon,
Ozark does sell some 1/29 detail parts, but the parts they sell I would consider more as highlight detail parts, instead of parts that you could completely scratch build from. For instance I’ve seen a few HO models that were built from Cannon & Co. parts. That’s the detail parts that I believe Joe is looking for. At least that’s what I would be interested in.
Here’s the Ozark link.
http://www.ozarkminiatures.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idcategory=1244&curPage=1&sortField=sku
Here’s Cannon & Co. website.
http://www.cannonandco.net/Home_Page.html
Now this is a scratch build
If this kind of detail can be done in HO scale, it sure can be done in 1/29…
Wow, I’d love to get some details like doors and/or hinges, fans, side frames, etc. like that.
Chuck Inlow said:
What detail you talking about there Craig?
It’s not one specific detail, its the concept of using commercial castings to produce a kitbashed/scratchbuilt locomotive (or rolling stock). But there is some detail in that photo… Notice the traction motor wires?
Joe
Its a lot of work for a minimal amount of money I assume… besides …ahh never mind
I know Craig, I was pulling your leg. Actually the detail in your picture looks great.
Hey Joe, I totally understand your pain about detail parts. I started kit bashing an RS-11 sometime last year. I started with a USA Trains GP9 body and frame and started modifing from there. I put a set of RS-3 trucks under it and started doing other modifications. I scratch built a fuel tank but had a hard time finding detail parts. I scratch built some parts but got frustrated and just put the hole thing on hold.
Hopefully as I finish my new CNC Router with both a spindle and a 3D Printer head I can start making some of the parts I need. I already have the design software and the knowledge on how to design and fabricate things. We’ll just have to see what happens.
Chuck
It’s not my model… That picture is of an HO model on the Cannon & Co. webpage…
If I wanted some 1/29 detail parts, I’d try to contact someone who does 3D printing.
I met Gilbert Lacroix at Fred’s in Canada, and he had some very nice stuff that he had done.
He creates master parts using the 3D printer and then casts them in resin.
Here’s an example of a engine house window he had there, as well as an unpainted smaller window:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/parts/IMG_0967.JPG)
And, check out these counters cast in large scale - 1:22.5 in this case…
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/thejoat/parts/IMG_0968.JPG)
His website: http://glxscalemodels.com/
I talked with him quite a bit, and he seemed interested in producing quality parts.
Just a thought…
Oh, I didnt need to know about him. The stove is great, and for $8? Great price.
Thats a good source Bruce, I do like the windows.
Nick
Oooow ! those shop display shelves, I like !!!
Thanks Bruce