What happened to N scale?

[BillC]

I just received samples of Athearn's new Ford C rescue pumper in 1/160 scale. They are very nice with many of the details found on the larger versions.

About 4-5 years ago, all the German modelmakers were producing models in N scale. There were some incredible new products. Then everything dried up.

What happened? Wiking is still making new models, but they are almost entirely farm equipment. The most recent new car was the Busch Smart City Coupe and it is two years old.

[cfesmire]

Perhaps N-scale vehicle production has not kept up with our scale (better than the other way around!) but the train catalogs I recieve show a great deal of new N-scale stuff coming out on a regular basis. Folks in that scale may have more of an interest in just the rail stuff.
My only N-scale piece is an old CinC GMC box van. Very cute.

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

One of the things I heard is similar to the 1/87 scale cars: too small for some adults.
My first 1/160 cars are made of metal,have no interiors and the wheels are casted with the body. Next,I found some from EKO and Wiking and this is much it.
CMW was not mentioned here.They are currently adding vehicles to this scale.

[skunk]

What keeps me from N-scale is that it seems nearly impossible to do much work in such a tiny scale. While it is possible to improve upon a H0 car, I do not see a huge possibility for improving upon nor showcasing something that is half the size.

[cfesmire]

Skunk,
There are a lot of larger scale modellers that share your sentiments only with regard to 1-87! That is until they get a look at what some of us are doing and then the tune changes quickly.
BTW, good luck at your new home.

[keroliver]

I own exactly 4 N-scale car models. Just to know what it's like.
But i have a bunch of houses (Japanese style, houses for aquarium , Amsterdam style, some farms and DIY made by my wife, and some Kato models) to be used for the background of my display scenes. They are so cute...

[skunk]

cfesmire said:

Skunk,
There are a lot of larger scale modellers that share your sentiments only with regard to 1-87! That is until they get a look at what some of us are doing and then the tune changes quickly.
BTW, good luck at your new home.

True, true.

Are there any good sites dedicated to N-scale dioramas or vehicles? I myself only own one N-scale car and one (accidentally purhased, didnt read the label...) building.

[stanhas87]

Dear Skunk:

Try Walhers. They have a catalog for this scale; may have items at their site.

Nick K

[Eric]

BillC said:

There were some incredible new products. Then everything dried up. What happened?

I am not an expert on N-scale models but as far as I know the German companies are still releasing new models. Rietze released quite a few in the past years and Herpa has announced two new 40ft trailers for this year.

[Lee]

I have seen two different vehicle modelers who work in N scale. Their work is very good. One has his work on display at Burbank House of Hobbies. GHQ makes some very interesting and detailed kits in this scale.

[BillC]

Eric said:

I am not an expert on N-scale models but as far as I know the German companies are still releasing new models. Rietze released quite a few in the past years and Herpa has announced two new 40ft trailers for this year.

Herpa's new releases are simply reprints of the same Actros that was the company's first 1:160 vehicle model back in 1998. There are a couple of different trailer styles (container, van, curtainside).

Several years ago, Busch's managing director told me they intended to be very active in N scale, as it was less expensive to make the tooling for both scales at the same time. They did produce smaller versions of the Opel Rekord sedan, M-B C-Klasse sedan and Audi A4 Variant, but things stopped there and only the Smart City Coupe has been made since.

In the U.S., N scale is second only to HO as the most popular model railroading scale. There is even a separate national convention for N scale in the U.S. and a couple of magazines devoted to the scale.

Both Athearn and Atlas have offered both HO and N scale versions of their new vehicles, including the upcoming small 28-foot pup trailers. CMW also releases N versions of almost all its HO products.

As a model railroader working in N scale, I have been painting, detailing and modifying 1:160 scale vehicles for some years. I have about 200 N scale models on hand.

While I would very much like to see more American vehicles, I would be happy to see the new Touareg, E-Klasse, or 5er in 1:160. I know lots of other fans who would like to see them, too.

[Lee]

SMCC looked into reproducing their products in N scale using a laser method of making a master copy. It was too expensive for us to do. The cost was a couple of thousand per model.

[cfesmire]

There is an outfit called Showcase Models (?) that has Kenworth, GMC and IH trucks in N-scale. And Marks makes a pretty extensive line of N-scale trucks, mostly European.

[BillC]

There are also the white metal kits, formerly produced by C-in-C, that are back in production.

I guess perhaps my original question should have been what happened to the leading German makers of ready-to-run models?

Rietze produced a nice collection of models (A4, A6 Avant, Caddy and Transit and some very nice buses) over a short period of time. Since then, they have added the Mercedes L/O-series van and the VW T2 transporter.

Roco had a small line of trucks, including a Scania, M-B SK, Volvo FL and Unimog 1400, along with a few Minitanks. The civilian models went away back in 2001, when Roco dropped their Miniaturmodelle line. The Minitank models remain, but there has been no expansion of the line.

Herpa produced one truck, three trailers and six cars in rapid succession. In the last 3-4 years, there has been no expansion.

Busch released several models initially, followed by a new model each year, until 2001. Since then, the only new model has been the Smart.

Wiking continues to make new 1:160 models, but has not released a new car or truck model in about four years. I am delighted with the little excavator and the nice agricultural equipment, but how about some new cars and trucks, even if they are all Volkswagens?

In short, there was a lot of initial enthusiasm, but this seems to have disappeared. I know that N-scale model railroading is still doing well in the U.S., but am wondering if it is declining elsewhere?

[stanhas87]

Dear Bill:

I think that N gauge is doing well in Japan because land it is at premium and very expensive there. I do not remember the Manufacturer,but there is a japanes manufacturer which offers cars,trucks and buses in 1/160 scale.

Nick K