N Gauge Forum

Did anyone tried to this?

There are a few makers of paper/card kits around. Are you looking at one brand in particular or just asking for general opinions?

Generally, they look pretty, but are not really robust enough for regular use on a layout without additional structural support.

Quote from: PLD on March 07, 2025, 01:04:36 PMThere are a few makers of paper/card kits around. Are you looking at one brand in particular or just asking for general opinions?

Generally, they look pretty, but are not really robust enough for regular use on a layout without additional structural support.

Is it cheaper than peco?

@Le Night ferry

Here are a couple of card wagons I have built.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=58974.msg791898#msg791898

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=62182.msg813805#msg813805 Post #12

The van is on a modified PECO 15' wheelbase chassis.
The brake van is on a scratch built brass 6 wheel chassis.

Both vans have a polystyrene shell for support and rigidity before gluing the card sides in place.

I made these only because there was no other alternative available. A lot of time and effort for a wagon.

Mark

Quote from: Le Night ferry on March 09, 2025, 04:37:28 AMIs it cheaper than peco?

We can't really answer that if you don't tell us exactly what models you are considering...

If you want a usable wagon the simplest option is to mount on a ready-to-run commercial wagon chassis, so there is the cost of that. Then as said already, they will need some form of structural support. In the simplest case that could be a simple plasticard box (cost a few pence) but at the other end of the range you can use the card as an overlay on the R-T-R wagon body, so the total cost is the Peco Wagon PLUS the cast of the card kit...

I am not sure exactly what a papercraft wagon is but the pioneer of card modelling for rolling stock in British N gauge was Peter Middleton of Highfield Models.  He produced a series of card kits in the late 1960s early 1970s. 

Highfield Models produced card kits with lithographed sides for open wagons, vans, container wagons, and coaches.  They were generally designed to fit on Peco or Lima underframes available at the time. 

The kits included the design of the vehicle body printed on card (which had to be cut out with an X-Acto type knife), and two sets of coloured lithograph sides to be glued on to the completed body.  Shown below are examples of a GWR Fruit Van kit and a completed South Leicester PO wagon on a Lima mineral wagon underframe (note the 'pizza cutter' wheels). 



Because the card kits had to be "force fit" to match the available underframe dimensions, the kits were not always to scale. 

The glossy finish of the lithograph printed sides, made completed models look reminiscent of tinplate stock made by Hornby Dublo and other model railway manufacturers over the years. 

These models were quite sturdy and completed models that must be close to being 50 years old still crop up on eBay. 

Ian

@Le Night ferry
I see you are in Japan. Maybe you could use some Tomix wagons and adapt them with printed sides. Perhaps sand the detail off Tomix wagons and modify. Might be cheaper than a PECO alternative.
You could perhaps use a graphics program to make your own sides and ends, using photographs and drawings as a reference?

Mark

@Le Night ferry
Perhaps you could use something like these cheap Tomix vans as a base. Prices in JPY.

Only JPY776
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/150/6709-120325021714.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=150005)

Only JPY834
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/150/6709-120325021745.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=150006)

Only JPY780
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/150/6709-120325021820.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=150007)

More expensive at JPY1707
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/150/6709-120325021857.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=150008)

Mark

Quote from: Platy767 on March 12, 2025, 02:00:26 AM@Le Night ferry
I see you are in Japan. Maybe you could use some Tomix wagons and adapt them with printed sides. Perhaps sand the detail off Tomix wagons and modify. Might be cheaper than a PECO alternative.
You could perhaps use a graphics program to make your own sides and ends, using photographs and drawings as a reference?

Mark

Nice Idea.
Maybe I should go to hobby land poch to find cheaf stuff...