Someone mentioned something about wanting more diorama items in 1/48 and I was just probing around to see what might interest you folks. I myself do not like the predone bases. Then everyone's diorama looks pretty much the same, I guess it might be a different vehicle but still it's the same old railroad crossing or same palm tree or same blown up building corner. So, what do you guys want, and better yet what would you buy?

No seriously. A dromedary, and or a Bactrian camel. They would cover any century you wanted to depict. Also period carts and wagons. Great for late 30's German and civilian diorama's.

some of the things you find inside of buildings ( sinks, bathtubs,toilets,light fixtures,furniture, ect.)These type of things would be nice for those of us who like to put a lot of detail on the inside of our buildings.

Look here for lots of goodies! http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/o_scale/o_29.html and here http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/o_scale/o_8-9.html You should find something usefull in this bunch!

I didn't know about that site.

Lots and lots of reasonably priced figure sets would really be welcomed for dioramas - I'm totally ignoring Tamiya's half-hearted attempts. There's a few good sets in resin or white metal, but too limited in scope. I wish Tom Meier and Fox Figures would get their excellent US paratroopers and Wehrmacht Grenadiers on the market - I got plans for lots of these!

Various styles of building/house walls, sidewalk sections, gates/fences would be my vote for Steve

Steve, This is where I can really help. I've been into railroading in 1/48th for a long time....I've written here about the crossover values our scale offers. If you look, you can find everything from a mauseleum to premade cornstalks in O scale. But there ARE some areas that are lacking....and we can use 1/35th as an example....
Now that we have Flak guns available.......Flak barges in our scale...or small boats of any kind. They were pressed into service by ALL nations. AND, you might sell some to railroaders!!
Bridges....small wooden ones...bigger stone/concrete ones. Either modular(buy what you need) or a simple mirror image-2 parter. Maybe two versions...damaged or undamaged. Again, something NOT available to railroaders. I could use a small, two piece, country bridge to cross a 4-5" wide small river/stream right now on my layout.
Wharf sections....or walls along a city river/canal.
Sewer grates, rain drain storm grates, and hydrants......all simple- but necessary for street scenes. The street sections are available from several sources. Maybe a "street scene detail set".....
The two links listed above are very useful. The dollouse stores are a source that VERY few think of. Not a lot in 1/4" dollhouse, but enough to help us out. The furniture sets shown have even been available at HobbyLobby!!!! The other link is to just one manufacturer of building/diorama supplies. There are a bunch!! Want laser cut real,wooden staircases?? Got 'em!! Want predone piles of junk, 55 gal. drums, rusted abandoned cars?? Got'em. If you can, visit your local dollhouse or railroad hobbyshops....I find things everytime I visit one!!!
One of the great parts of this website are the friends who can help you out.....Anyone need any questions answered...I'll sure try to help. Just ask.....
Your strongest asset?? Our weak dollar. ALL American companies are now getting a lot of overseas business. I even have business friends overseas whining about thei local business being less...'cuz their clientele are buying from the US. How great is THAT!!!!!
Go get 'em, Steve!!!!

Steve, if you want to talk...eme offline with your number- I'll call you and we can go thru some stuff!! HTH, Dave

Not to throw a wrench in from that pesky monkey, but I do believe there is a difference between most European and North American items. Things such as telephone poles, sewer grates, hydrants, etc., are some of the most obvious. Of course if Steve wants the most bang for his buck, most items will have a European slant to them (after all, most of us model WW2 AFV's!), so some research would have to be done. I was going to do a rail yard scene, but imagine my surprise when I started researching old photos...a lot of those railroads used electrical overhead lines. Most of the items I wanted to model would have to be scratchbuilt as I cannot buy them commercially. Plenty of North American items, but not a lot of "O Gauge" European specific items. If you have any links to European O-Gauge, Dave, I would like to check them out!

Ken

Cantenary railroads were in Europe...but so was a LOT of steam.....The Train?? Great footage...Bruce talked about his modifying Euro 7mm(I think) to be his rail transport for his tanks.
The things I'm suggesting to Steve ARE Euro....shrink the Plus Models type sewer grates and Hydrants....Shrink the many 1/35th bridge architecture sets out there, I know where to find US pattern stuff...thats what most of those RR sites will lead to. But there are specialist RR mags foe UK/Euro/Australian/NZ/African/S.American....you name it. AND that doesn't include Narrow Gauge- which is what I model. A baggage cart is PRETTY similar...but the ones in Europe are Euro pattern railway...better for use in a Berlin or Russian or African setting. The buildings are the first things people do......the camel idea???...GREAT...how about the well, tree, provisions, broken down old fort....and all that stuff that might go with him. Or just the harness to pile on his load of supplies....one standing...one lying down....
My suggestions are for things that will integrate into ANY era or area. A broken stone arch bridge can fit in ANY place on the planet.....almost....not sure the Polar Bears had any.....

I've been sculpting 48th Camels one seated and one standing for sometime now If someone wants to cast them I'll finish them off and post pics for approval!

how about sending a photo of what you have?

Hi Steve -

Something I have always wanted was the equipment for a field workshop/repair station. Drill press, grinder, air compressor, oxyacetylene rig, benches, etc.

Cheers -

Malcolm

Malcolm, one of the Oakridge Hobbies sites above contain many workshop tools and equipment such as you are looking for.

Leo, There are several companies that make the things he needs. Most are in White Metal. If you can get the instructions for the 1/35th workshop kits, the cabinetry should be easy in styrene....There are also airplane things that are useable....Sinifer makes an air compressor in resin...a couple other companies, too. These are wheeled, but easily towed by a small vehicle.
Converting a truck(like Iron Divisions) into a workshop truck is a very do-able project, too
HTH, Dave

Thanks, Leo and Dave -

I will take a look at them.

Cheers -

Malcolm

Hi Steve and the Guys.

Nobody seems to make a range of Resin US Tank Ammo boxes ie 75mm / 3" / 76mm / .50 Cal MG Boxes box early 50 and late 100 round boxes / .30 ammo boxes.

I would sugguest a pack of one type of ammo with all boxes closed.

Include stenciling ( by Archer) if possible.

I know Verlinden has release a general set but this is a set of mixed items. Once you have used up one type your left with stuff you don't need.

Hauler has some German open boxes and etched US ammo.

hope this helps
Andrew

Me all I really want is some decent Flimseys all sizes but good quality its hard to build an Oasis dio with a fuel dump with no flimseys and no camels, but I am working on the camels

I know a great joke about a Camel, an ammunition box and a Foreign Legionnaire....

but I'm not telling it on this forum!!

Tim

www.fighting48th.com

I have been looking for a good 1/48 camel for years. Glad to know others are in the same situation. Also, it would be good to have loose articles of clothing. I know someone makes a flat German tunic for lying around, but I would like to see other separate uniform parts, especially boots and other items of interest to scavengers.

Jim

Also, the fountain in Stalingrad with the dancing children (seen in wartime footage as well as in the beginning of "Enemy at the Gates") would be nice, too.

Great call...singles with P/e flat strap handles...then the vehicle mount that held three, with the rod or flat strip that ran thru the handles and down to the wooden tray they sat in!! Great idea!!

I thought Hauler had a set of flimsies in Photo-etched. I swear I have one of these.

http://www.hauler.cz/

number HLX48046 IS this what you guys are looking for?

The thing I desire the most is a much better selection of European style buildings - I know there are some out there, but enough choice to put two buildings next to each other (say Berlin style)for a street fight scene. I am aware of the Plus Models and other stuff, but would like to see something like MiniArt produces in 1/35 - garages, different types of more elaborate city buildings. I know there won't be much demand for these which means I will be constructing from scratch (I really did not want to be an architect and would much rather be working on AFVs and Figures). What would be really useful is some sets of different facades, Dormers, Pilasters, Cornices etc. (I don't know what any of these things mean) that you could use to dress up foam board or balsa foam, or plaster to make something look really believable.

Oakridge Hobbies is a good source. I live about 20 minutes from there, but the store does not have everything in hand that is in their catalogue or on there website, and they might have to order. Still its good stuff.

They are nice cans but over engineered and not much use if you want a couple of hundred of the larger size it would drive me nuts assembling all them cans!!

are the same. Some things, like cans, can be BEST suited to casting in one piece....then have the HANDLE done in P/e, which that is best suited to do. This way multiples in a rack can be cast in one piece...then just add the handles and retaining strps from P/e.
I can undestand the desire to do the basic shapes for creating buildings, but I don't think that idea ever went over well in 1/35th, with VLS doing that. A better way might be some generic side and back wall unit pieces....available to be switched around.....with several different fronts available. Dutton did a series of row houses in 1/35th using this idea....and each version came in damaged or undamaged. With three or four kits you could really do a great job of everything from an undamaged row of shops...to just one being damaged...to all of them being destroyed. That type of flexibility would be nice. But would it sell??
How about the kiosks in the town centers?? There enough posters, etc. to put on them....
I still think bridges would be a good start...from over a small creek to over a city canal/river area....
There is no doubt in my mind that any buildings done.....need to be European or African inspired. There ARE hundreds of railroad buildings available...but they are almost all USA prototype.
I have found some 28mm to 45mm wargaming buildings to use.....stone houses.....old barns...etc. These are worthwhile checking out and sometimes look very nice with our scale of vehicles....

That would be great to do bits that closely resemble the MiniArt collection. I believe they've been pretty popular in 1/35. Also, I really like the "do-it-yourself" pre-done walls idea too that Iron Division has in other scales. Thanks again Steve for taking a look at this neglected area. Greg