N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: cudders on April 17, 2012, 07:42:54 PM

Title: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: cudders on April 17, 2012, 07:42:54 PM
Hi all,

Been looking but can't seem to find anything suitable in N. Anyone know where to get general passengers, staff etc from the 30s/40s?

Cudders
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: cudders on April 19, 2012, 12:13:28 PM
I guess the lack of response answers this question.

Once again other gauges are sorted but not N Gauge..

Cudders
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Newportnobby on April 19, 2012, 12:42:14 PM
I have been scratching my head, Cudders (now trying to remove the splinters ::)), but I can't for the life of me think of anywhere these can be obtained.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: EtchedPixels on April 19, 2012, 04:21:51 PM
Whats wrong with the wide range of Presier figures of blokes in caps, other than the price ?

Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Chinahand on April 19, 2012, 05:16:12 PM
I use the unpainted Preiser figures but paint them in the more subdued colours that were prevalent in the 40s. Figures in obviously more modern clothes such as jeans are cut down and used as seated passengers in carriages.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: brbluewill on April 19, 2012, 06:32:08 PM
is this any use??????

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Model-Power-Model-railway-Accessories-Hand-Painted-Steam-Era-1343-N-Scale-/320864620473?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4ab5058fb9 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Model-Power-Model-railway-Accessories-Hand-Painted-Steam-Era-1343-N-Scale-/320864620473?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4ab5058fb9)
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Newportnobby on April 19, 2012, 09:34:20 PM
Very nice, but how expensive is that :o
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: BernardTPM on April 19, 2012, 09:42:08 PM
The ladies look more pre-Group than Big 4! The Peco/Merit figures could pass if painted appropriately.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Newportnobby on April 19, 2012, 10:04:13 PM
Quote from: BernardTPM on April 19, 2012, 09:42:08 PM
The ladies look more pre-Group than Big 4! The Peco/Merit figures could pass if painted appropriately.

At first glance I thought the lady in the brown attire with pale brown collar was a monk :o
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: cudders on April 20, 2012, 11:03:35 AM
Thanks for the link and replies chaps.. yes the prices are a tad high as usual but as said I could make those work.

I paint Wargame figures to fund this hobby so painting is no problems for me. I guess I'm just being a bit lazy as I could convert but there must be a decent market for these..

Cudders
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: moogle on April 28, 2012, 03:52:20 PM
Quote from: BernardTPM on April 19, 2012, 09:42:08 PM
The ladies look more pre-Group than Big 4! The Peco/Merit figures could pass if painted appropriately.

They are! I've used them for the Edwardian period by adding big hats to them. (Used a hole punch and round file)

Period figures are a HUGE gap in the N gauge market.
Why none are made on an easy to get basis from the likes of Merten, Preiser, Scenecraft etc... is anyones guess.
Consider that the most modelled steam era in the UK is BR 1950's yet there's no 1950's figures available!
Go figure...


...if you'll pardon the pun.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: MinZaPint on April 28, 2012, 04:13:44 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on April 19, 2012, 10:04:13 PM
Quote from: BernardTPM on April 19, 2012, 09:42:08 PM
The ladies look more pre-Group than Big 4! The Peco/Merit figures could pass if painted appropriately.

At first glance I thought the lady in the brown attire with pale brown collar was a monk :o

You really must get out more!  :smiley-laughing:  :wave:
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Newportnobby on April 28, 2012, 09:03:01 PM
Quote from: moogle on April 28, 2012, 03:52:20 PM


I've used them for the Edwardian period by adding big hats to them. (Used a hole punch and round file)


Seems a bit of an extreme method, Moogle :o Couldn't you have just glued them on ;D
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: H on July 05, 2012, 06:50:52 AM
Quote from: moogle on April 28, 2012, 03:52:20 PM

Consider that the most modelled steam era in the UK is BR 1950's yet there's no 1950's figures available!


Not so. Scenecraft offer groups of figures from various eras including;

379-313 - 1960/70s Coal Miners   
379-315 - 1960/70s Standing Station Passengers 
379-317 - 1940/50s Station Staff 
379-318 - 1960/70s Station Staff   
379-319 - Suburban Street Scene 
379-320 - 1950s Train Crew 

Also you could try repainting the basic generic figures to represent the dull and dreary colours of the steamy era.

H.

Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: BernardTPM on July 05, 2012, 09:02:57 AM
So far from that list only the coal miners and the 1950s train crew have come out and the coal miners are more 70s/80s anyway as they have his-vis clothing. I'm sure they'll be good when they do finally turn up. Have review samples been seen of sets 379-315 to 319 yet?
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: H on July 05, 2012, 09:45:38 AM
There's pictures of the people sets in the Graham Farish 2011/12 brochure including (not so far mentioned and available);

379-307 Steam Locomotive staff (must be 50/60s)
379-303 Station staff (in dark dull looking uniforms so suitable for many eras)
379-301 Police and Security staff (only two in hi-vis so the rest very suitable)
and
379-300 Business people (all except one in dark business suits/jackets so probably okay as well)

H.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: EtchedPixels on July 05, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I've found that it's the little army of blokes in flat caps that is hard to find. Some of the Presier sets are usable for this but in general there is a shortage of people in hats, a real shortage of suitable figures of women, a serious lack of working class people and a complete lack of street urchins and the like.

I guess also needed is a large supply of pinstripes and umbrellas for the South East modellers too 8)

Alan

Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: H on July 05, 2012, 02:14:14 PM
There's lots of figures, from various manufacturers, in 'ard 'ats (safetly helmets) that can be filed and re-painted to represent other head wear. Or a small blob of putty on top can be made to look like a berry.

H.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Griffo on July 05, 2012, 02:27:25 PM
Quote from: H on July 05, 2012, 02:14:14 PM

Or a small blob of putty on top can be made to look like a berry.


Whilst I've nothing against people in fruity headwear even the French would would baulk about losing the more traditional beret.

(I'll get my coat ....)
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: H on July 05, 2012, 02:42:35 PM
Quote from: griffo49 on July 05, 2012, 02:27:25 PM

Whilst I've nothing against people in fruity headwear even the French would would baulk about losing the more traditional beret.


They used to be known as 'black-berries' - long before the 'phones of the same name. They keep your head warmer than an 'apple', although that keeps the doctor away - as does a prescribed 'tablet'.  ;)

H.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: BernardTPM on July 05, 2012, 02:48:10 PM
Quote from: H on July 05, 2012, 09:45:38 AM
There's pictures of the people sets in the Graham Farish 2011/12 brochure including (not so far mentioned and available);
379-307 Steam Locomotive staff (must be 50/60s)
379-303 Station staff (in dark dull looking uniforms so suitable for many eras)
379-301 Police and Security staff (only two in hi-vis so the rest very suitable)
and
379-300 Business people (all except one in dark business suits/jackets so probably okay as well)
Those are the sets that have been available for some years now and most (excepting 379-307) are really more 'modern' period. Even those uniforms are Privatisation era even to the ping-pong bat for sending the train off rather than a flag and police in short sleeves. I'm looking forward to the new sets though, just wondering how long they're going to take!
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Shaun Harvey on July 05, 2012, 02:58:01 PM
I got a packet of 50 people cheap from Ebay - the colours are a bit bright but at the price its worth it and then they can be repained as desired.


Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: Newportnobby on July 05, 2012, 03:33:21 PM
Quote from: Shaun Harvey on July 05, 2012, 02:58:01 PM
I got a packet of 50 people cheap from Ebay - the colours are a bit bright but at the price its worth it and then they can be repained as desired.

Poor beggars have just got rid of their pain.......and then you want to repain them :evil: :smiley-laughing:
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: H on July 05, 2012, 03:50:51 PM
Quote from: BernardTPM on July 05, 2012, 02:48:10 PM
Those are the sets that have been available for some years now and most (excepting 379-307) are really more 'modern' period. Even those uniforms are Privatisation era even to the ping-pong bat for sending the train off rather than a flag and police in short sleeves. I'm looking forward to the new sets though, just wondering how long they're going to take!

Yep, many have been around for a while. However, I think they're quite generic; the 'bat' could easily be changed for a flag and the short sleeved cop is one of the two in hi-vis but the others could be of any period. The station staff don't have the modern red piping on their uniforms so could be made for almost any era. The chap with a barrow is obviously a porter who I haven't seen on a plaform for many years - no doubt he's a steam age throwback. Thinking about it you rarely see/hear staff blowing whistles on platforms these days (replaced with the closing door hustle alarms) so that one is also probably suitably dated as well.

H.
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: MinZaPint on July 05, 2012, 04:24:29 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on July 05, 2012, 03:33:21 PM
Quote from: Shaun Harvey on July 05, 2012, 02:58:01 PM
I got a packet of 50 people cheap from Ebay - the colours are a bit bright but at the price its worth it and then they can be repained as desired.

Poor beggars have just got rid of their pain.......and then you want to repain them :evil: :smiley-laughing:

Just wait till Lawrence sees that, you had a go at him about missing TTTTT's, Mind you we all know you're a big tease!  :smiley-laughing:
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: BernardTPM on July 05, 2012, 05:46:50 PM
Quote from: H on July 05, 2012, 03:50:51 PM
The station staff don't have the modern red piping on their uniforms so could be made for almost any era.
The piping would be practically invisible at 1:148 scale - an inch is about 1/6mm an the piping is probably less than 1/4 of that! But I agree that several would pass for earlier use.
Quote from: H on July 05, 2012, 03:50:51 PM
Thinking about it you rarely see/hear staff blowing whistles on platforms these days (replaced with the closing door hustle alarms) so that one is also probably suitably dated as well.
Whistles now seem more confined to 'express' trains. I admit I was quite surprised to find them still in use when I travelled on the MML on a Meridian unit about 3 years ago.
As well as the bat, the mobile phone one is holding would need to go too. Perhaps it could be refashioned into a pork pie (Cornish pasty for GWR!) ;D

For 'Big 4' only the standard dress police constable would suit - police women of that era would have had longer skirts. http://www.ehattons.com/23676/Graham_Farish_379_301_Police_and_security_staff_x_6/StockDetail.aspx (http://www.ehattons.com/23676/Graham_Farish_379_301_Police_and_security_staff_x_6/StockDetail.aspx)
Title: Re: N Gauge People..Big 4 era
Post by: BernardTPM on July 05, 2012, 05:52:44 PM
Noch's 'business travellers' http://www.ehattons.com/49119/Noch_36226Noch_Business_Travellers_/StockDetail.aspx (http://www.ehattons.com/49119/Noch_36226Noch_Business_Travellers_/StockDetail.aspx) look a little more old fashioned than Bachmann's http://www.ehattons.com/23675/Graham_Farish_379_300_Businessmen_figures_x_6/StockDetail.aspx (http://www.ehattons.com/23675/Graham_Farish_379_300_Businessmen_figures_x_6/StockDetail.aspx) I think!