OcCre Rocket, trams, and other kits

[velotrain]

I hadn't heard of this Spanish kit maker before, but I gather they're well regarded.

 

This is far from the main focus of the forum, but it looks like a source for some very well designed and satisfying kits.

 

Here's a British shop/site that carries their line:

 

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/occre-specialist.html#aOC55013

 

A build of Stephanson's Rocket (in Dutch, but with lots of photos)

 

http://members.upc.nl/carla.en.john/Modelbouw/Rocket.htm

 

And a photo of what comes in the Rocket kit - it looks extremely well organized.  The small parts look like they come in their own compartmented plastic box - which I've never seen before.  The assembly process also appears to be very well thought out and described.

 

 

 

 

They offer a good selection of 1:24 tram kits, as well as a motorizing chassis if so inclined.

[Welshbloke]

Hmm, I think one of the trams might have to be bought if I ever get the G scale out again as a permanent layout!

 

I think last time I looked they only offered the Spanish trams, which didn't really appeal. They're now offering LCC 106, which I had a go at modelling in OO scale years ago.

[velotrain]

They also do ship models, and I saw one reference that they're a breakaway group of former Artesania Latina employees. 

 

The ship kits seem to get mixed reviews on forums, but from what I read it sounded like many of the issues were specifically related to the nature of building ship models.

 

I've never been much interested in ship models, but rather like the funkiness of the Callela light fishing boat.

 

 

 

 

Another option for a large tram is the MiniArt plastic kit for a European tram in 1:35 - intended to be used with military dioramas.  No shortage of parts here.  As the Britmodeller review says, "The kit comes in quite a deep top opening cardboard box, which, on opening is jammed to the gunwales with styrene." 

 

http://miniart-models.com/index.htm?/38001.htm

 

There are a number of reviews online, and this is perhaps one of the better ones:

 

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/miniart/ma38001.html

 

A Dutch fellow has motorized it:

 

https://erikmosterd.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/making-miniart-38003-run/

 

Here is a good source in the US:

 

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/german-tramcar-641/MIA00038003/product.php?kw=miniart,tram

 

They also have a good price on the Meng N-scale Teiping passenger ship.  For my tastes they have perhaps the best designed site anywhere, with a great "customizable" search (if only they had larger photos), and provide excellent and fast service - although, I am in the next state over ;-)

 

 

[Welshbloke]

1:35 is a weird scale for railway purposes, but would probably look ok if you used 45mm gauge wheels and ran it with Gauge 1 stock (1:32).

 

I've seen quite a few military items which I wish they'd make in a conventional model railway scale, like the "Karl-Gerat" mortars and their rail transporters. While I'd have no trouble converting a static 1:87 model into a runner there's not a lot I can do when they're using 1:72. The question is, I suppose, why military modellers picked wildly different scales to the railway world when standardising would have helped everyone.

Edited November 26, 2015 by Welshbloke

[marknewton]

I believe the reason many military models are made in 1/72nd scale is so they'd be compatible with 1/72nd scale aircraft models. And if I remember correctly the aircraft were made to that scale because in 1/72nd, one inch equals six feet.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[velotrain]

1:35 is a weird scale for railway purposes, but would probably look ok if you used 45mm gauge wheels and ran it with Gauge 1 stock (1:32).

 

I'd be careful with that.  Since 1:35 is a smaller scale, you might find that you would need to space the axle journals/sideframes so far apart that it looks strange, or they are even protruding beyond the car sides.  I'd go with the Dutch fellow who motorized it with O-scale axles, making it 1:35 narrow gauge.

 

 

> I've seen quite a few military items which I wish they'd make in a conventional model railway scale, like the "Karl-Gerat" mortars and their rail transporters. While I'd have no trouble converting a static 1:87 model into a runner there's not a lot I can do when they're using 1:72.

 

1:72 should be OK if you're running OO vs. HO.

 

> The question is, I suppose, why military modellers picked wildly different scales to the railway world when standardising would have helped everyone.

 

I don't know what the actual history is, but the military modellers may well wonder why railway modelers would use such odd scales as 1:43 or 1:87.

 

There have been a lot of railway-oriented products produced in 1:35 over the past few years (Trumpeter makes a beautiful kit for the WR 360 C12), including plastic track components.  I found myself wondering why someone didn't create motorizing kits for the engines and real track, but then realized that the military modellers wouldn't have any interest in that, as they wanted them to be static models.

 

 

[Mr Frosty]

I keep getting tempted by the Occre Soller Tram kit. At 1/24th scale, it is a decent sized kit.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/OC53003.html

 

Good review here.

http://www.marklin-users.net/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=22422