A genuine Candy question

I know you guys can't answer this question but I'm frustrated and I want to get it off my chest..( no jokes).

Is it not true that the most modeled era is the 1950?....and if so, then there should be lots of 1950s stuff out there, correct?.....Therefore I should have no trouble finding 1950s HO scale figures, correct?......Okay so where are all the bouffant ladies and girls? Crinoline style was very popular in the 50s so why can't I find some scale figures in bouffant skirts?......Okay I can hear you all laughing.....there she goes again. I'm doing the fifties and I like to put lots of people in my scenes. So far all I can find are girls in pencil skirts.

There... I did my carping for today

Candy

 

Well Candy, you raise some good points. The 50's are considered the "transition" era because steam was on the way out, and diesels were on the way in. Modelers like it because they can run steam and diesels on the same layout. By the 60's steam for almost all practical purposes was out. That said, and you are correct, figure suppliers have really dropped the ball on this. I have not found these figures to be plentiful or handy for the modeler in any scale. Go figure. I'm not in HO but if your statement is true, and I don't doubt it, it then may be we are wrong in assuming the "transition" era is the most popular modeling era. It seems to me that the lack of 'poodle skirts' probably has more do do with figure producers and economics than anything else. So the solution to woman's fashion is to make your own skirts and put them on your figures. This of course, enters you into another part of the hobby, but I see no other alternative. Others will read this and post a link you may overlooked. Don't give up or in yet. m2cw Cheers, Jim CCRR/Socalz44

 

Jim I might have to do that. I was thinking of modeling a skirt using clay. I'm good with clay but how can I bake it? The figure would melt at 250 degrees. I guess I could let it be without baking but I'd rather not. Well let me try it and I'll show you how it turned out...unbaked. I need some girls for my Petticoat Cafe.

 

Candy,
Your post jiggled a memory loose, I remember seeing some stuff on a craft show it's called Sculpy, it's a polymer clay like stuff which can be baked in the oven. It's commomly used to make jewelry.

Here's a link to their site: Sculpy

Hope you can use this. BTW I totally agree with the comments about the lack of era specific figures.

2slim

 

That's about it - in the 1950's you could still see a lot of steam power on the freights and a few passenger runs, but diesels were on the way up. By 1960, just about all steam locos were retired except for railfan and tourist runs. There was also quite a variety of diesel power around, from many more manufacturers (EMD, Alco, Baldwin, F-M, Lima, etc.), and each had their style. One could also find both cab and hood units. So one could have a very diverse roster in such a setting.

For modeling and sculpting, another alternative could be wood filler, or "plastic wood". I used that numerous times in some other modeling activities I've done over the years. It's cheap, sandable, can be roughly sculpted while it's still soft and refined once it's hard. I don't know how effective it would be at such a small scale. I guess at that point, it's how much coffee is in your system...:mtongue:

 

2slim, thanks so much for the link. I have some sculpy and I love it. I would still have the bake problem but if I bake it at 150 degrees it might be okay. I will try that with some plastic figure I don't like and see what happens.

Mike! I'm staying away from the office coffee pot this afternoon....I have a skirt to make. ( I'll bet you never heard that from another modeler before.)

 

what do you think?

I like it! I used Sculpey to make my skirt. She had a straight white dress and I turned it into a white top and circle skirt with a peek of crinoline showing. I couldn't bake it. I ruined a figure so I decided to leave it alone. As long as I don't touch her she'll stay bouffant. What do you think?

 

Do you have her phone number?

 

Your figure is absolutely teriffic! What type/brand of paint did you use on the skirt? I have used various brands of "craft paints" e.g., Apple Barrel on both figures and for weathering on rolling stock and am satisfied with the results.

Walter J

 

Walter, thank you! I used Tamiya sky gray. It's an absolutely wonderful paint

Darren, That's Diane and she's engaged

 

Candy, that's awesome work!

 

Thanks Tony!!!!! XOXOXO

 

Very nice! :thumbs_up:

Rats...

 

Thank you, Mike !

 

These are a start.....

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A1950/page/6

I just used them in this scene....along with some extras from a Prieser wedding party set.



I think the manufactures try to tread the middle ground and not make the figures too era specific and thus limiting sales.

 

One of the best 1940s-1950s color photo collections online is the Charles Cushman collection at Indiana University's website:

Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection Home

 

Candy,

I love the skirt. They really look great. You know this is something I had over looked my self. I remember seeing a modeling clay in Wal-Mart, that did not have to be baked. You just let it air dry. Then paint it, if you wish. It was in the hobby or craft section.

 

Maybe it's because most figures are from Europe, and they didn't dress that way?

 

You could also use 2-part epoxy modelling putty (Milliput in the UK but I think they export around the world). Works like putty, including using a little water to lubricate it, and sets hard in an hour or two IIRC.