Hello

I've started researching post 2000 cars for a UK layout and have found a few 1:160

Busch make a Smart Car, Audi A4, Mercedes A (original tall one), C and M classes.

Wiking make a VW Passat and a New Beetle.

Herpa make a Mercedes A class and a BMW 3 series.

Willmodels (US company on eBay) make a PT Cuiser, Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Toyota Prius.

Tomytec do some Japanese cars in 1:150 - Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Mazda and Nissan Micra plus some larger saloon cars which currently escape me as to what they are!

Have I missed anything else?

I found a thread about 70s care which is interesting
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=8584.msg92499#msg92499

Has anyone scratch built cars? A Ford Ka could be challenging!

Getting them symetrical sounds tricky!

Is 3D printing good enough yet? or will they look like carved sugar lumps?

Thanks
Michael

There are quite a few N Gauge/Scale cars available on Shapeways, ranging from 1:160 to 1:144

I am currently working on a Landrover Defender and a number of lorry trailers.

Detail, using the FUD (Frosted Ultra Detail) is quite good, but fairly expensive and very delicate.

You have to wade through a lot of mislabled stuff, but look here

https://www.shapeways.com/miniatures/vehicles?li=nav&sort=newest#more-products

Tomytec produce a Prius and a Toyota Crown cars (I believe 13th version), which looks very similar to a Lexus. The Nissan Ad estate is everywhere in Japan, but virtually non-existant in Europe. They also produce a number of people carriers, most notibly the Nissan Shuttle and Toyota Previa. Kato produce some rather poor 1990s cars, a Yaris being one of them.

Kato also produce a Toyota Hiace (as a minibus) in a number of guises. Not a bad model of a widely used prototype.

DM toys produce a Skoda, but it is 1/160 and not a great moulding.

http://www.gaugemaster.com/search_results.asp?searchstring=brand~~668~~brand%20skodas&style=&andor=&method=kws&strType=#1

I understand Herpa also produce a Fiat Panda (you still see the odd one knocking about).

Thanks for the Shapeways link Bob, I need to spend more time trawling through it. They seem expensive for the quality you get...

That Skoda does look a bit grim Claude!

There appears to be few good modern cars in any flavour of N Gauge (1:148, 1:152 and 1:160)

I wonder what would be a good material to scratch build in? Brass? Plastic?

Getting the symetry correct would be a challenge! Making one side might not be too bad with a piercing saw and files, but two?

Best regards
Michael

Michael,
Did you forget Oxford Diecast? http://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/shop/index.asp

They do have modern vehicles. Admittedly not many cars as such but there are commercial vehicles available in increasingly varied choices. I've recently bought a network rail transit van and an Eddie stobart lorry. There are some you can use that are older like the mini and land rover. Then there are some nice coaches.
Hopefully at some point soon they will make their OO range available in N!

Hope this helps
Kirky

No I hadn't forgotten Oxford Diecast Kirky, I have the Shillibeer liveried Routemaster

Their cars are too old to have too many on the new layout.

On the scratch built front maybe a Range Rover might not be too tricky with its slab sides.

Best regards
Michael

Thanks guys.  I think I may treat myself to some of these soon

Just found this useful resource for road vehicles

http://nscalevehicles.org/resources/models_era.php

Best regards
Michael

There are some 1/150 Volvo V70s here.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/250/0/1

I got hold of one of these a couple of years ago. A little low, but still an impressive casting...