I bought the cities service Lionel 3 tier open auto rack. Where could I find autos to fit this? This is a traditional size car.
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That is a problem. Threads here in the past have bemoaned the deearth of 1/48 or 1/50 scale autos. There are some suggestions under a recent thread titled something like "What unusual autos should be made...?"
Folks have used Matchbox-size cars, but they're kind of small to most eyes.
Plasticville Autos, Lionel Autos from the Auto Loader or any other type 1/43, 1/48 or 1/5oth scale autos will work fine.
Some die-cast cars listed in 1:43 catalogs, etc., aren't that big. There is a line of 1950s and 1960s and 1970s car often called 'New Ray" that includes a trio of mid '50s Olds, Pontiac, and Buick 2-door convertibles (top down) - this is the tell-tale, if you see these offered, regardless of what the brand on the box says, its probably this line of low cost chinese diecast cars. They offer a wide range of Chrysler, FM and Ford cars from the 50s through to the 70s, including nice Olds 4-42s, 60's Caddies, etc., and a many other variety of cars . I've noticed that bigger cars are reduced more (i.e., their '57 T-bird is close to 1:43 but a '66 Caddy sedan they offer is about 1:54): its like they have molds of only a certain length and adapt the size of the model to the mold, not the other way around.
Many of these are a good scale to fit 1:48 layout needs: a few ('66 Caddy, a '58 Olds or Chevy) even look just a tad too small. I shop Amazon and places like that for them and often get them at only $4 or so per car in groups of three or more and have bought dozens of them.
Just about any 1:43 cars should fit, 2 per level.
The tri-level MPC autoracks were sized to fit 12 HO-ish sized cars like Matchbox/Hot Wheels. Larger ones might fit, but clearance is pretty tight . Fully loaded with die-cast cars, you cannot go running at 'ballast scorcher' speeds around tight curves.
---PCJ
Thaks for all the suggestions
Years ago K-Line made a set box of plastic cars that fit really well. There was a good variety in the boxes which included some VW's which I didn't use due to my preference for made in America cars. (This was way before the Chinese invasion). They were low detail vehicles and plastic shell construction. But they fit. The faster the train goes the less detail matters.
I use Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars in my auto rack. I think anything close to scale would either not fit or look odd in the car. I do like the idea of the Plasticville cars though; next time I run that car, I am going to put a few on it to see how it looks.
J White
I could never get true O-scale cars to fit on those open car carriers, I use Matchbox cars and they work for me. I've also tried my grandson's Hot Wheels cars, they seem to work as well.
