Anybody here model modern military stuff?
I’m looking at putting some M1 Abrams tanks on flats for a modern military train.
I used Forces of Valor Abrams tanks on my flats. Decent detail, 1:32 scale. Close enough for government work. I found mine at Toys R Us , but they are everywhere online.
Steve’s right about the Forces of Valour stuff , the detailing is quite good for the price ,
and given that most people have no idea how big a tank is , it should be OK with 1/29 .
They also do other vehicles .
If you are talking 1/24 scale , there are quite a few relatively well detailed models sold as ready to run r/c , so if you want to play loading/unloading , then your luck’s in .
If you are a scale nut , there are a few manufacturers that make tank kits , but unless you are really serious , it’s a dodgy road to go down , making several of the same model . I rather stupidly agreed to make just three Tigers for another nutter . I hated them half way through .
He was delighted . (Camouflage can cover a lot of sins .)
BTW Dragon , Trumpeter and a couple of other companies make railway kits in astounding detail in 1/35 scale , locos and wagons and even full armoured trains aimed at WW2 nutcases . Like me .
Joe I am working on doing that now. I too have the forces of valor vehicles and working on having the proper DODX flatcars modeled. I am a stickler in that regard as USA trains lack of proper detail in that irks me.
Being irked is the Devil’s playground …
Andrew Moore said:
Being irked is the Devil’s playground …
Go ahead and be irked.
Joseph Lupinski said:
Joe I am working on doing that now. I too have the forces of valor vehicles and working on having the proper DODX flatcars modeled. I am a stickler in that regard as USA trains lack of proper detail in that irks me.
Please share pics when you have the time. I’m looking at the FOV stuff online and it looks decent. I would like to have the long flats with two tanks on each. That’s a lot of weight.
The proper DODX flat cars will be cool to see.
(http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures\586\DODX40285.jpg)
This is kool, gotta use my new buckeyes on a project, this one looks good, are they 89’ flats?
I think they are 68’ flats
So 29.793 inches not bad my curves might handle that, they don’t currently like my 89 footer
Or your 89 footer doesn’t like your curves. 
Well dah…
I was going to look up facts to make the car from. I didn’t know who owned it. Dodx= dept. of defense.
Like a light bulb comes on sometimes for me. Not too much anymore though.
I’ll probably make the car closer to whatever scale the tanks are.
Joe there’s a lot of Military stuff that is M Scale 1:35 so it’s really close to that 1/32 stuff you run so it should be easy for you to make it work
http://www.dragon-models.com/d-m-list.asp?sid=2
http://www.revell.com/model-kits/military/
http://www.hobbylinc.com/1:35-scale-tank-plastic-model-military-vehicles
http://www.megahobby.com/plastic-model-kits-military-trucks-and-jeeps.aspx
You can find some 1/32 military models. I got a Cobra chopper for my military train and a die cast Huey. Revell re-released the Renwal military kits, they are all 1/32. I used the wrecker to make a Vietnam Gun truck. I also got a 1/32 M-38 jeep that I converted to a M151 Vietnam gun jeep.
Forgive my ignorance but I see Jerry’s flat says U.S. Army.
All I’m familiar with is DODX cars. I live very close to a Naval support base and I see all kinds of cars but none have any branch of the military on them.
I’m assuming these cars really used to say Army,Navy,Airforce, Marines but are there cars still in use today that actually say that? Or are they all DODX?
I know Jerry’s models are the Vietnam era …did the cars specify the military branch then?
I know I could research it but it’s easier to ask an old guy first…
Yes branches of the military do have their own reporting marks
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dk2FDLMMI[/youtube]
This is a US Army engine
Most modern era military flats that you’ll see hauling tanks and other military equipment are DODX.
Here are some links to equipment photos:
On my late 1950s layout (HO Scale) the desert Army base uses Santa Fe flat cars and an Army Alco S2 for switching:
I got my Son some AMS Boxcars marked for the US Navy in Hawaii .
It seems a pity that they do not offer more military marked rolling stock , kids like tanks and other warlike stuff and if they see mil stuff being carted around , it could get them into Model Railways .
Or if they are Americans , Railroads .
Railways is of course more correct , christened that way by the inventors of Railways , Brits .
So AMS , if you’re reading this , please consider more military markings , and save my Son the aggro of re-lettering your stuff . He is trying to make a setup based on the Hawaii Military stuff because he went on holiday (oh , alright , VACATION) and rode on some of its equipment . That’s what we got the Whitcombs for .
Mike Brit
I can’t help looking at the remote control ones now. I’m thinking double bang for the buck. It would be cool to drive them around and protect the premises. I’d probably get in trouble for arming them??