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There has been some discussion about making more scale Army flat cars with a wide variety of

scale loads and I'm all for it. It does not have to be a rivet counters dream for me, but I would

like it to be reasonably close. (Example) I don't mind if the machine guns are mounted to the

tanks. But I would like to see some scale Navy cars. They have several semi scale Navy cars that are

just toys. Nothing wrong with that, but that's not what I want. I could enjoy a boxcar with Navy

on the side if it was scale and looked nice. I can think of several cars that could be done for the

Blue Angles, SeaBees, seals, UDT, and on and on. If they can sell the toys, why can't they sell the 

scale stuff even if it may not be prototypical. Don't hate me because I can enjoy some fantasy

from time to time and if you want to see other branches of the military, chime in, I like them all,

but I served in the Navy. Does anyone else think that scale military cars would sell?

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First let me say Charles;  "Thank you for serving"  Yes I definitely would like to see some scale Navy cars.  My dad served as a sailor on the U.S.S Providence and my son is currently serving as an MA-2 in the middle east. I have some traditional size NAVY cars which are fine but they mostly on display.  Prototypical or not I would like to have some scale NAVY rolling stock behind some of my engines.

Originally Posted by T4TT:

I agree.  I have seen pictures of huge barrels from WWII era battleship cannons loaded on flatcars.  That would make a very interesting naval flatcar(s)!

 

The Milwaukee Road built special short flatcars to carry battleship gun barrels to the Bremerton Navy Yard, which was the only facility on the West Coast that did heavy service on battleships. After the war they were mainly used as idlers, as shown in this picture. Info and photo from the Morning Sun book on Milwaukee Road equipment. I do not know if the Navy had such cars or not, but it would make sense to have one to shuttle the barrels to and from the ship.
 
It would be pretty easy to kitbash a flatcar like this, but I doubt any manufacturer would spend the money on a new mold for such a specialized item. It would, however, be perfect as a general purpose flatcar to go with a Beep. Maybe Walter will make one - as far as I know the only RMT flatcar is a well car made on an old Marx/K-Line mold.
 
  

Gun Barrel Flatcar

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  • Gun Barrel Flatcar

i love the landing craft on a flat car Dewey. I looked at the one that model crafters

offered but I didn't want to spend $350 dollars. Wish I had, but at that price

I would have a very short train. Making a C B car would be fairly easy Lee, a flat car,

some earth moving equipment, and some talent. I could get everything but the talent.

The gun barrels, torpedoes, depthcharges, 16inch shells, bombs, planes,helos, and

the list goes on. The point in this post is that I was hoping that enough people

would like to have scale military cars and one of the train manufactures might 

take the hint.

Originally Posted by T4TT:

I agree.  I have seen pictures of huge barrels from WWII era battleship cannons loaded on flatcars.  That would make a very interesting naval flatcar(s)!

I understand most, if not all , Armed Services cannon and tube were made in the Waterviliet Arsenal in Albany County, NY. I should think they would have shipped them everywhere which would allow some good modeling. There is extensive extensive track work in the 200 acre siteAlong with some abandoned rs 3s and a sw2. They might be a good modeling project in themselves.

Fred

Originally Posted by Fredstrains:

GELLER TRAINS has a Flat Car with a Landing Craft on it for a little over $100.00!!!

 

FREDSTRAINS

The only drawback is I think that the Geller LCM is 1:64 scale.

 

For $100 you can make your own scale LCM on a flatcar.  Hobby Boss's 1:48 kit sells for $40-$50 and will mount on a 52' flatcar.  In my model below, I didn't even paint the LCM as the plastic is already grey.  Also, pretty easy to assemble the kit.

 

 

 

Jim

Originally Posted by jd-train:
Originally Posted by Fredstrains:

GELLER TRAINS has a Flat Car with a Landing Craft on it for a little over $100.00!!!

 

FREDSTRAINS

The only drawback is I think that the Geller LCM is 1:64 scale.

 

For $100 you can make your own scale LCM on a flatcar.  Hobby Boss's 1:48 kit sells for $40-$50 and will mount on a 52' flatcar.  In my model below, I didn't even paint the LCM as the plastic is already grey.  Also, pretty easy to assemble the kit.

 

Hey Jim, how much to make me one identical to the Picture??

 

Let me know:  fstanda@cox.net

 

 

 

Jim

 

Originally Posted by Southwest Hiawatha:
The Geller Trains military loads are neat, but they are mounted on traditional size (027) flatcars. That leaves them out of the discussion of "I want scale Navy cars."
 
Originally Posted by Fredstrains:

GELLER TRAINS has a Flat Car with a Landing Craft on it for a little over $100.00!!!

 

FREDSTRAINS

 

If this is a scale discussion, as I gather it is, why isn't it on the "SCALE" forum and not here on the traditional size forum.  Not being one to limit O gaugers enjoyment of the hobby, I would like to see more Navy and military stuff in both traditional and scale sizes. 

 

I like and purchase Geller Trains with military loads.  At least they provide an option above Lionel and MTH.  Their offerings are a great value for the money.

 

I have no problem with scale O gauge forum members but please post these threads on your forum and not troll here.  We are very happy with our size trains.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

 

Originally Posted by Chris Lonero:
Do not troll over here? Totally an uncalled for statement. This is everyone's forum and if people want to talk about scale what's the problem?

Come now Chris.  There is a 3 rail scale forum right?  I don't understand why topics relating to that forum are not delt with there.  When I see comments on this forum stating car is too small, car is not this or that because it is traditional sized, yes I do take offense with these comments on this forum.  These comments are uncalled for. 

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Steve. I agree some look down there nose at non scale equipment but this post was just stating it would be nice to see some NAVY scale cars. I don't think anyone had the intention to put down who run traditional trains. I run a mix of scale,traditional,tinplate O and standard gauge and a small loop of S gauge. At the end of the day they are all "TOYS" We all enjoy are hobby in different way's and price ranges but in my opinion there is no right or wrong when it comes to model trains.

The "3 Rail Scale" forum refers to a specialized part of 3-rail, using scale flanges, fixed pilots on diesels, and other scale features to make equipment more to scale than ordinary "scale" 3-rail equipment. The main forum encompasses 3-rail equipment that is made to scale, or not. To point out that a particular piece of equipment is or is not built to scale is a normal part of a discussion and there is no reason to take offense. The member who started this topic was looking for scale size, 3-rail equipment. 

Dear TEX

I do not remember saying anything derogatory about non scale cars and since

I don't mind some fantasy in my RailRoad, I don't think the 3rail scale forum

would be the place to post. I think everyone should enjoy the freedom to express

their desire for a particular type of a car that they would like to see made. I

would hope that no one on the forum would try to stop someone from having an

opinion. I have a preference for scale size cars.

Thanks to all that had a suggestion or a desire to see more scale size military

cars.

The main ship I served on was the William H Stanley. CG32  STG3

Originally Posted by Charles Neundorfer:

Dear TEX

I do not remember saying anything derogatory about non scale cars and since

I don't mind some fantasy in my RailRoad, I don't think the 3rail scale forum

would be the place to post. I think everyone should enjoy the freedom to express

their desire for a particular type of a car that they would like to see made. I

would hope that no one on the forum would try to stop someone from having an

opinion. I have a preference for scale size cars.

Thanks to all that had a suggestion or a desire to see more scale size military

cars.

The main ship I served on was the William H Stanley. CG32  STG3

I did not state that you said anything against traditional size items.  What I am confused about is why this topic relating to scale Navy cars in not appropriate on the 3 rail scale forum.  Isn't that what that forum is for.  I say again, being an ex Navy veteran, I would like to see any Navy item in any scale produced, but if I were to author a thread about scale Navy I would do it on the 3 rail scale forum. 

 

Maybe you may enlighten me on why the 3 scale forum exists and what type of topics should be posted there.  Hi-rail, 027 and traditional 3 rail is just what it says.  I don't see any scale size mentioned in this forum title.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Maybe you may enlighten me on why the 3 scale forum exists and what type of topics should be posted there.  Hi-rail, 027 and traditional 3 rail is just what it says.  I don't see any scale size mentioned in this forum title.

 

Take a look at the 3RS forum and you will see. Most of the posts are about scale flanges, Kadee couplers, adding or changing details on locomotives to make them more correct, kit building and scratchbuilding, decals, paint, etc. And with regard to the title of the main forum, the term "Hi-Rail" was coined to describe 3-rail layouts that were more realistic than traditional Lionel. The term specifically includes scale size equipment for operation on 3-rail track. 3RS is a special niche for modelers who are looking for more realistic models than scale size hi-rail. 

 

Personally, I run mostly scale size equipment in 0 gauge, but I also run 0 gauge European tinplate and original and repro Standard Gauge. It's all for fun. 

I wonder if the body on the Lionel Navy SW-2 switcher was decorated accurately?  If it was, it could be mounted on a diecast frame (623, etc) to make a more realistic engine.  

IMO, scale sized military cars would definitely sell.  Navy & USAF have both been neglected and both actually operated a variety of equipment.

 

BTW, if Charles had posted this on the 3RS forum he would have been jumped on.  This is the correct forum, as stated this is for Hi-Rail as well as traditional.

Last edited by John23

A Navy vet myself, I have never seen active rail cars at the many Navy bases I've visited.  I've seen many old tracks in disrepair.  The only tracked item I've seen in action are the giant cranes on maintenance piers at Pearl Harbor (clearly visible in the background at the opening of the movie "Caine Mutiny."  Catching them in action is a rare thing in itself.  Anyone have eyewitness accounts, or even better photos, of trains in motion at Navy bases?

Here's some info on the Naval Weapons Station - Seal Beach old rail system.  All armaments now moved from the storage area to the dock by truck.  Looks like the new 44 ton locos from WBB and MTH have the potential for naval livery could be used in place of the GE 80 ton locos shown in the links.  Here's an earlier forum post about the GE 80 Ton.  Along with some Navy box cars you could create a naval ammunition area with lots of possible switching action.

 

Aerial view

 

Dockside 1

 

Dockside 2

 

 

Larry

 

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by L.J.:

Here's some info on the Naval Weapons Station - Seal Beach old rail system.  All armaments now moved from the storage area to the dock by truck.  Looks like the new 44 ton locos from WBB and MTH have the potential for naval livery could be used in place of the GE 80 ton locos shown in the links.  Here's an earlier forum post about the GE 80 Ton.  Along with some Navy box cars you could create a naval ammunition area with lots of possible switching action.

 

Aerial view

 

Dockside 1

 

Dockside 2

 

 

Larry

 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting pics, thanks for posting.  An image of a warship's profile would make for an interesting backdrop on a pierside layout.  I supposed a 500 foot ship would have to be scaled down to 8 or 9 feet in proportion with O scale trains.  Makes trains seem small in comparison.  Anyone have pics of a pierside layout to share?

Originally Posted by Garrett76:

A Navy vet myself, I have never seen active rail cars at the many Navy bases I've visited.  I've seen many old tracks in disrepair.  The only tracked item I've seen in action are the giant cranes on maintenance piers at Pearl Harbor (clearly visible in the background at the opening of the movie "Caine Mutiny."  Catching them in action is a rare thing in itself.  Anyone have eyewitness accounts, or even better photos, of trains in motion at Navy bases?

During the first Gulf War we lived along the tracks between Naval Weapons Station Earle inland facility and the coast. It was long before my interest in trains and before my NROTC daughter was born. I remember noticing them and the definite wartime increase in use. I also saw (although only semi related). A running train at the Coast Guard Academy, when the same daughter was still considering the USCG. 

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