Show us your UFOs, aliens and Area 51 stuff

I think we should rename this thread...."What did you do today on your Area 51 layout!"

 

Got my Alpha Centauri model kit and added it to my layout over the weekend.  Fun little model......modeling skills negligiabe.....just need some paint and some LED lights.

 

 

 

 

Hope you like them,

-Pete

 

Thanks Keith, i just might have to break down and buy the Area 51 train set in the near future!

 

-Pete

Keith, we think alike,  i too, am not completely thrilled by the Area 51 set.  I am inclined to buy just the Diesel engine and a few add-ons such as the ooze-dome tank car, radar tracking car and the searchlight car.  The rest of the cars,especially the caboose look cheaply made. Even the diesel is a bit too shiny for my taste. I look forward to seeing some of your mods on this project. 

 

-Pete

Pete and Keith...I bought my Area 51 Lion Chief RS-3 separately on eBay and added various cars when they were reasonably priced. I also purchased the Alien Recovery Set on eBay to add some variation to my Club's modules. This set had a conventional 0-6-0 switcher from Groom Lake Mining.  I picked up a new Lion Chief 0-6-0 Pennsylvania Flyer engine on eBay and swapped the bodies to make the Groom Lake 0-6-0 operate remotely. Now, the kids who see our traveling display can run both Alien trains around the layout without incident.

How difficult to build the Forbidden Planet saucer? Have one and want to start it.

Hi,Lima.   This is a pretty big model....so give yourself alot of room to work on it.  You will need alot of clamps to keep the saucer parts tight from warping as you attach them together.  Partwise there are not many parts but it depends what you want to depict......the saucer flying or landing on its landing legs.  Alot of sanding is required if you desire to make the saucer seamless.  There are also some aftermarket parts if you wish to detail the interior and replace the incorrect saucer dome on top.   Mine is the aftermarket dome.  My best advice is to do what I did and view the you tube videos on the model construction.....they were extremely helpful.  Good Luck and take your time.

-Pete

  These guys can't find anything in the rule book about what to do with the shrunken boxcar. They are waiting for the "Super Conductor" to show up with the answer. ...DaveB

Keith, nice find on the Hazmat guys!  Also nice job with the flat car...... I have been busy too.   I got my Area51 RS3 the other day without the cars and started my mods.  I put a flat coat of spray on the RS 3 to take off the shine.  I also blacked out the "Railroad" signage on the engine itself so it just says Area 51.  I also added ack ack guns to the rear.  My first car I made, as pictured is a saucer recovery flatcar which utilized the Alpha Centauri Saucers without the bubble tops.  Still waiting on the ooze tank car, radar car and the Security Car.  Will post my project too as I progress. 

 

 

 

-Pete

I spotted this and had to post it somewhere. This thread has been quiet awhile, I lost track of the other space themed one, and the Phantom thread is active so why not...

 

I want one in 3R O!

Nice Adriatic. Someone did some nice work. I like the power down.

I don't know if you saw it but once that played, I spotted a better video of the earlier "blue engine" pulling cars by itself. That first video was the two double headed if you hadn't figured it out.

  

just a quick video of a few changes I have done to my Area 51 layout. Hope you enjoy it!

 

-Pete

 

 

Here are the videos.

 

 

 

 

Seeing it move, it is even more impressive!

 

Very nice video!  

 

-Pete

Thanks, Keith.....the lights were the fast flashing leds from Evans.   When you have time, I am anxious to see what you have been up to with your layout.

 

-Pete

I am sure it will be well worth the wait!

 

-Pete

I had a camera half working off and on, and choked these shots of it.

My cartoon aliens robots in development.

Still far from finished and evolving this is the most recent. Void of personality, He has been given a grumpy side kick now. Who has been given two "faces" since this photo(only one here)

I'm hanging here, Keith.......I am sure it will look great.   Picked up a few more cars for my Area 51 consist......but the one I think might be the most interesting is the Alien smoking box car.  I had been searching for it for awhile and today I found one online and ordered it.   Hope it is as cool as I think it might be!

 

-Pete

Keith.....that is an outstanding idea using the Coors Silver bullet as the Recovery Train!  I am jealous.  That alien smoking box car was very hard to find.....I will let you know if it is worth it.

 

-Pete

That silver bullet train has always been a must have for me.....just haven't found one reasonably priced.  I like your idea of transforming it into a recovery train but I would be torn deciding to alter it.   In fact, just writing this started me to try a search to find one. I think I will try my luck and  post in WTB

 

-Pete

My son created these little monsters some years ago.  First scene was from a kit, second was from scratch.

 

 

Very cool, Farmer Bill!!

 

-Pete

Keith,

You beat me to it

I built the "x-10 rocket train" because I knew the collector in me would need to own at least two, before I could mess with one 

Its not the beer, but the chrome lover in me may have also stopped that fun too. 

 I applaud your strength, and conviction in having fun.

(I still want one)

---

 

 

The tripod inspiration was originally War of the worlds, and a one wheeled job from old cartoons (WB or tom&jerry?)  It weighed too much for standing on one leg. (Its the motor housing for a ceiling fan). The arms a folding, laptop raising, brace from the  "dollar store", and "mr potato head" hands had the cartoon "white glove" look I wanted. (The eyes just a bonus. I will "loose" the noses, eyes only)  

 

I've just been collecting "shapes" waiting for the "right one" to inspire me to continue.

 With junk builds you never know if its done, till its done. E.g. The glowing eye of the tripod changing to a camera lens, was a complete rebuild.  

 

 

 The "sidekick" has two faces now. A robotic Janus.

  And a third, and maybe a fourth, smaller robot bodies, have shown themselves. I see twisted cartoon versions of the "whimpering" Star Wars Death Star droid in them. But if they are too similar, I'll only do one.

 

Attaching some pics of my Alien Recovery consist as I progress.

I still did not like the looks of my RS3, even after I dullcoated the bright lime green finish.  It also was weak, having only one motor to drive it.  So I added an extra motor to the rear which I ordered from Lionel parts dept.......awhat a difference.  My consist flies around the main line and has no problem with grades.  To get rid of the lime green look of the RS3, I repainted it Camo Green and black.  I also added Ack Ack guns to the rear and a few decals to give it a military look.  I did the same to the Alien radar tracking car. 

Now the RS3, Radar Tracking Car and the Army Security car have a more serious military look.   Here are the pics of my work in progress so far.

 

 

 

Thanks for looking,

-Pete

Very cool.

Great imagination and spiffy looking space sc fi goodies.

I'd show you my UFO stuff...but then I'd have to kill you. Ha.

 

Originally Posted by Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines:

 

The Hasslefree figs tend to be pretty close to 28mm (measured from sole to eyeline) which is about 1/56, but the figures from "recreational Conflict" are usually a bit taller and closer to o-scale.

http://www.recreationalconflict.com

Scroll down for hazmat figs.

 

Also, Mantic games is doing "Mars Attacks"  The aliens look to be spot-on 28mm, but who's to say aliens aren't a bit shorter than o-scale people! They even have the bubble helmets which give them a bit more perceived height.

http://www.manticgames.com/man...ttacks/martians.html

Aliens, saucers, robots,etc and not badly priced.

Anyone interested in the lionchief Alien diesel, for sale.

 

These do look pretty good. Thanks for the link.....I purchased some!

 

 

I have been considering an alien layout for Halloween time.

I am still getting the bugs worked out of my 3D Printer but did try printing a saucer.

All I will say about that is, More work needed...

 

I have the Phantom and the 4 passenger car set with green lighting.

I have been meaning to get some aliens to go with it and the Mars Attacks set looks great.

Farmer Bill, The Giant Mantis looks great !, the other setup is also good.

 

I do have the Coors Light Silver Bullet Set with tail car but I will NOT be changing it. I bought it new from the catalog a while back and I like it as is. I'm from Colorado after all.

Don't forget to post some pics, when you're done,Russell

 

-Pete

 

Great!,

     I'd love to see these in a layout.

 

Originally Posted by Michigan & Ohio Valley Lines:

 

Happy to help.  Just to be clear, the Recreational Conflict figures are't alot bigger, maybe 30mm, but every little bit helps.  According to most reckoning, 34mm is spot on in height for 1/48, though metal figs tend to be a chunky in proportion so as to survive the rigors of wargaming. True-scale 28-34mm ankles and wrists are really skinny and fragile on metal figures.

 

Also, check out Reaper Miniatures. They only have a couple alien figs, but their "Chronoscope" line (everything except fantasy) is chock full of interesting contemporary figures and -though listed as 28mm- they tend to be 30-34mm sole to eye.  Some are even available in the companies bargain "Bones" PVC material for about 1/3 the cost! 

 

As for sizes heres an example of the difference a few mm can make. Here's two "not-Mad-Max" figures. The one on the left is a relatively recent Reaper Chronoscope fig and he is 34mm from the sole of his boot to his eye.  The one on the right is a more traditional figure from EM4 (formerly Grenadier Miniatures) "Future Warriors" line and he is 28mm.  

They are standing on 3mm bases in front of a Kinsmart 1/43 Crown Vic which sits a bit high because of the silly pull-back motor.  One last bit of info, the seemingly odd measurement of "to-the-eye" came about so that wargamers can easily compare the size of miniatures without having to worry about the various helmets and headgear that they might be wearing.

 

Thank you for the link. I also have ordered the "Mars Attacks Martian Army" w/space crafts. I LOVE that movie! Definitely one of my favorites. 

 

Paul Goodness

Keith, you have certainly been busy.....that is going to look awesome!  Hope my smoking alien box car looks half that good! i am at a standstill today.....had a bad switch to fix and one thing led to another where I ended up moving a ton of stuff around to widen access for one of my wider trains that had trouble fitting through some of the area on my layout....

 

-Pete

Keith, looks awesome. Can't wait to see the train put together. I have some saucers and aliens, to tie in somehow to a 175 rocket launcher and base I started a year ago. I wasn't going to do an alien or space train, but now with all these wonderful ideas I might have to start thinking................

Outstanding, Keith!  Using those Coors cars is really a good idea!  I still,think the title of this thread should be....."What did you do on your UFO layout today!"

 

-Pete