1:53 Diecast on Layout

Spence, I for one love the 1:53 size trucks.  Yours look great.  Where did you get them?  I'm looking for 50's/60's style trucks.

Terrific looking models. There's a growing amount of highly-detailed trucks available in that scale now. As you say, the key is keeping similar scales together.

 

They look good to me. I would not worry about the scale.

Wild Mary: I got most of them on Ebay. Just lookup 1:53 diecast trucks. (90% of them are Tonkin)http://www.ebay.com/sch/Toys-Hobbies-/220/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=tonkin+1%3A53&_sop=1

 

Bob Kazian: I had to let FedEx go in front because they were late with the loads while UPS were running early.

I definitely prefer the 1:53 scale trucks and trailers on my layout. Just seems to "fit" better for me. 

 

Nice trucks by the way!

Nice. 

The 1:53 trucks look great. Have you compared them to Lionel's "scaled down" trailers and containers that were made for the Mi-Jack? I was just wondering if they are similarly sized... 

THEY LOOK GREAT AND A VERY NICE LAYOUT ALSO,GOOD JOB 

Where in the world did 1/53 scale come from.....I understand 1/43,  1/48, 1/32 etc....but 1/53??? They look nice BTW. Another scale a lot of trucks are made in is 1/34.....don't get it either....

I'm really divided in my enthusiasm for 1:53 models - even 1:50.

 

On the one hand, as you mentioned Spence, these models are detailed and good looking - some are works of art. On the other hand, the nearly 20% difference in scale size is way too much to look good.  You have to keep 1:43 and 1:43 separate:   1:48 mixes with it okay sometimes.  That can create a challenge but I can live with that and sometimes I can't work it out.  I have a pair of gorgeous 1950s UP tractor trailers that I can't find a place for on my layout where they "fit" - so they sit on a shelf.

 

In addition, since I convert so many of my trucks to 'Streets, 1:53 presents a bit of a challenge: that near-20% reduction in scale makes it more difficult to fit a large motor, gearbox, and (someday I hope) sound board in a truck.  I've converted some 1:53ish scale buses, but all the trucks and tractor trailers I have done are 1:43 or 1:48.

for a minute there I thought I was working again. that looks like my regular view out of the windshield... 

Tonkin Replicas makes this scale, along with 1:64 and 1:87: http://www.tonkinreplicas.com/

The GN Man; no I have not compared them.

The trucks look great.

1:53 or 1:55 more closely matches up with traditional Lionel.  Smaller than quarter inch scale 1:48, and larger than 'S', 1:64.  Certainly smaller than the more prevelent 1:43.

So it's marketed and manufactured for traditional size O scale market?? Seems like they'd gone with 1/50 like other O scale models are. Still an odd choice for scale.

I don't think 1:53 and 1:55 scales were developed strictly for traditional O gauge trains or anything else: frankly when I look at vehicles and accessories for traditional O quage I don't see any scale - people figures that are often too big, other stuff too small.  It was still fun the play with.  Not really attempts to model stuff to scale. 

 

I recall being told/read somewhere that since 1:53 is arithmetically, half way between 1:43 and 1:64, it was selected as a single scale that crossed (hopefully) into both markets.  Whether true or not, well, who's to say?

 

I've always maintained that 1:43 works best for cars on my 1:48 scale layout/trains.  Most cars look a bit better to the eye (at least my eye) when about 10% oversize.  Large trucks (1:43 Peterbilts) look too big.  I prefer 1:48  for any large vehicles, but must admit most of my custom 18-wheelers are 1:43 just because of the added volume (110% cubed) I have to work with to fit motors, etc. 

I think scale is subjective in the case of diecast cars and trucks. When Athearn produced their line of Ford trucks, the vans, pick ups and model t's were 1:50; the larger C chassis vehicles and F series fire trucks were more 1:43.

They're certainly not giving them away!   Pricy little things...

 

Yeah, on the other hand the detail an dfall justify it.  This weekend at a swap met I picked up a wonderful 1:53 tractor trailer at a good discount but still pricey for used with the box.  The doors open and the interior detail is good, and hood opens and, as was the case in the 50s, hinges and folds, too, and the engine has good detail, etc.  I'm not sure those details are that important on some layouts, but you can see why they can charge a lot for them.

I guess it really depends on what you're going to do with them.  I agree that some uses the detail would really be desired.

Spence, your trucks and layout look fantastic!  But I love those Boraxo covered hoppers!  Whose are they, or better yet, do you have an item number?

 

Thanks,

Stack

Larger scales towards the front with smaller scales going back.

...lovely vehicles, great looking scene, and it makes the Beeps look big...win-win-win

 

r0d

I use that in some places, but my layout is such that there is very little territory, only about 15%, that is "farther back"  almost everyplace on the layout is within three to three and a half feet of a viewer standing in an aisle, etc. 

Makes as much sense as anything when it comes to odd scales being offered today!!!! THX

Smoke Stack Lightnin: The Boraxo hoppers are Lionel.

6-17065 Single hopper

6-11880 3 pack hoppers

Thanks man.  Those are really cool .

 

Stack

I have a small collection of Winross trucks I was curious as to the scale Winross used. Does anyone know? Some seem larger than others. Al

I've used 1/50th scale trucks on my layout for many years, mostly because I haven't found many in other scales.  But my cars are virtually all 1/48 scale and you'd think that that combination would look kinda funny.  Truth is that they all look compatible and look very nice together.

 

I wouldn't sweat the small stuff.  Close enough for the casual observer.

 

Paul Fischer

I have an older Winross PRR T & T.  To me it appears smaller than a Matchbox or Corgi advertised as 1:55.

I have Winross and Hartoy. They are 1:64 and a bit small. They fit in with the trucks Lionel put out.

Thanks for the information.  I had never heard of Tonkin.  Not thrilled that they are

in yet another scale, having just discovered DeHanes was all over the map in scales,

but Tonkins are too modern for me, anyway. 

Spence, who made the Yellow Freight tractor and trailer?  By chance, did you purchase off Ebay or direct.  With the combination of Yellow and Roadway, new trailers have the YRC logo and new road tractors are white.

archdalecurve: Tonkin on Ebay. I've also seen the new YRC colors on Ebay.

Yes love them here are some shots need to do some more work on the layout before I can fit them on.

 

If you put the 1/53 behind the trains to the back then they look just fine.

A nice truck highway or truck stop model behind would work well.

Larger scales 1/43 cars to the front in a city scene.

 

I have found a lot of these a train meets $20-40 average per unit.

Some a bit more.

This place has lots have got a few things from them at various train shows, they often bring over stock to the shows and have sales.

http://www.3000toys.com/

Click on photos for a larger view;

 

Top photo is a 1/43 white

 

Others 1/50-53

 

 

I'm desperately seeking anything remotely close to O-scale in the St. Johnsbury trucking livery, as my dad retired from St. J many years ago. I see the Winross models in 1/64, but that would really be too small.