N Circus thread welcome here or no interest?

[Ian MacMillan]

The Circus is one of those things that is a very specific area for me as I'm really not into the circus. However, it does provide some interesting train movements and a visually interesting train. I am looking at modern stuff like the red and blue train to go along with my MT stuff.

[delamaize]

I'm interested, as long as its period correct for my era!

[Nato]

             I have always liked model cirscus trains. Always wished I had American Flyer S Gauge instead of Lionel and Marx growing up so I could have owned their Circus train,which came with cardboard accessories including a Big Top Tent. I would buy N scale models of Circus Wagons in addation to those from MT and would buy alot of Circus Spefic Warren Flat Cars if offered. If you look way back in the archives here at THRW when Hal Carstens editor of RMC passed away fairly reciently,I posted here several photos of my Col.Carstens Circus train I modeled in N usuing decals RMC provided that matched their custom run HO Carsten Circus cars. I also have most of the MT Ding- a Ling Brothers modern Circus Train,but have not operated it on my layout or at any shows due to some of the extra work needed to get the cars to run good.Lastly look at the neat Circus Scene you can buy at STONEBRIDGE Models.Yes "Bring it on!" N Scale Circus is welcome here. Nate Goodman (Nato).Salt Lake,Utah. How come no "Cheesy" smile face anymore?

[Frisco Larry]

I model the RBBB 1930's 4 unit train.  Need prototypical wagons, flats, passenger cars, animals and decals.

[up1950s]

To be able to have this would be very desirable by me .

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bxaMhOpT8tE/THeT2ROkzyI/AAAAAAAAEbk/aFCeCJhb_GQ/s1600/24.jpg

From here with great ideas to mull over .
http://circustents.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

[Alaska Railroader]

I really like those plain, weathered work wagons. Those would probably best be lasered and I know a decent laser lady.

[peteski]

I am closing in on the debut of my N scale Circus line. I sense that the vast majority of you are not into this type of modeling although circus isn't really fantasy. The product line covers circus from the steam era to the present.
...
Thanks guys,
Karin

Karin,
I also don't sense much more than a passing interest in things like circus or carnival here.   Most TRW members seem to be hard-core and true-grit model railroaders.  While they can appreciate good circus modeling, the are much more into "serious" model railroading.

However, I do realize that circuses and carnivals extensively used the railroad network to move around the country, but they didn't have that grimy "industrial" look many modelers like. Those trains were very colorful. Besides, modeling a circus or carnival (either during the show or in-transit) is another hobby in itself.

I was also not very interested in this type of modeling until about 17 years ago when a friend of mine, Roland Kelley, changed that.  He has been a long-time carnival and circus modeler who just happened to model in N scale.  We were both members on Norhteast N-Trak and one day he asked me if I would help him in illuminating a merry-go-round he just built.  Up to that point I enjoyed seeing his mostly scratch-built circus and carnival models on his N-Trak modules. Later I found out that majority of those models were carefully researched to depict the real-life prototypes.   Anyways, since I really enjoy installing lights in models, I agreed to put the lights in his merry-go-round.

That started a decade-long friendship, and probably over hundred hours, I spent working on the lights and animation of Roland's N-Trak modules.  While Roland owns and displays the modules, I'm the "man behind the curtain".     When I'm attending the N-Trak shows with Roland, I get lots of satisfaction by seeing constant crowds in front of Roland's carnival/circus modules, telling us how the scene brings back childhood memories and asking us lots of questions about the construction details.  Roland answers the circus/carnival questions while I explain the electronics.

Besides the carnival/circus modules, Roland also modeled the complete trains used to transport all the equipment. As I said, he is really serious about his modeling! While the models aren't up to the master-modeler standards of many members of this forum, they are still pretty decent scratch-built representations of the circus/carnival of the period.  Several people who were in the carnival trade told Roland that his was the most realistic depiction of a carnival midway they have ever seen (in any scale).

If you are interested, here is a link to a thread about the carnival I posted on the A-board a while back.  While it mostly covers the electronic aspect of the model, there are some photos of the carnival's midway (including a video).
http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=58447&SearchTerms=fun,with,LEDs

The carnival scene is removable and it can be replaced with a circus scene (which is somewhat simpler than the carnival).  I don't have any photos of the circus handy.  We try to alternate, so during one show we have the carnival set up and the next show we display the circus.

[Alaska Railroader]

Karin,
I also don't sense much more than a passing interest in things like circus or carnival here.   Most TRW members seem to be hard-core and true-grit model railroaders.  While they can appreciate good circus modeling, the are much more into "serious" model railroading...

And I do realize this fact, thus my thread title. Before I became disabled I was a goldsmith with my own jewelry store in Anchorage Alaska. I bought a Z scale starter set while visiting the Smithsonian and then ran it inside the most prominent showcase in my store. Huge attention getter. But it got packed up and left untouched after I left the business. I am a right brained creative type when it comes to model railroading. I find too much enjoyment in designing kits and accessories for myself or others to build so I never spent the time it takes to learn all the hard core railroad aspects you guys thrive on. Therefore I know my contribution here will be pretty much limited to my association with David and the projects we work together on. No complaint with that for sure!

I would like to show you some Picasa photos of an animated Z scale amusement park I made before I ever knew what a laser was. Every ride on there I scratchbuilt with help on animating just 2 of them. I realize it could destroy any respect I may have here by sharing the album because you will not like the artistic license I used liberally. But to my credit my fantasy layout was bought by a retired Hollywood actress who is a widow of a famous actor. I was paid well so any shame was salved in currency 
https://picasaweb.google.com/112872467246725114560/ZScaleDizzyland?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Dizzyland now resides on the wide window sill in a penthouse condo in Century City, Hollywood CA. I will assure you that the new circus line is much more serious and, hopefully, acceptable. Thank you for the airtime, its been a lot of fun.

Karin

[up1950s]

That's some fantastic custom work there Karin .

If you decide against the circus , please do those wagons you liked , we can use them at construction sites and many other places other than a circus . We can even add our own wheels if needed . That should make it much easier for you .

[altohorn25]

I've done two complete n scale circus trains, both RBBB.  One from the 1940's and one from the modern MT cars.  The 1940's train was 90% kits or scratch built (the flats are lazer-cut wood kits, the stocks are old Raintree kits, coaches/sleepers were repainted and lettered, and the wagons are all scratch built).  With the way that some of my friends do castings now, it would be pretty simple to build a few master baggage wagons of each type needed and then just cast up a bunch. 

The modern train was extensively re-worked to get it to run and look correct.  The wagons produced by MT are pretty good, they just need more of them per flat car.  The flats need their couplers body mounted or they don't track well.  The coaches (stand ins for sleepers) need the skirting cut off the bottom and the trucks replaced with 4 wheel passenger trucks.  The animal, generator, and container cars are good as-is.  I also body mounted the couplers on the coaches as well.  I run around a 35 car train which is a scaled-down version of the modern Ringling red and blue units (the real trains are around 70+ cars).  It gives a good impression of the real thing with the distribution of cars that I'm using.

I would agree with many of the posts that there would probably be a VERY small market for this type of thing (too bad).  It's not something that the average model railroad would put the time into.  It takes a lot of research to get your models correct for the prototype.

Nate

[bbussey]

Karin,
I also don't sense much more than a passing interest in things like circus or carnival here.   Most TRW members seem to be hard-core and true-grit model railroaders.  While they can appreciate good circus modeling, the are much more into "serious" model railroading...

I have to disagree with that.  Most flagship passenger equipment doesn't look "gritty" if modeling prior to the 1960s.  A circus train definitely would be an interest point, whether a moving consist or parked in sections in a yard.  The circus itself can be "off layout" and a parked and sectioned circus consist would remain appropriate.

In a related-theme matter, but one that wouldn't apply to laser-cutting, I would love to see advertisement cars.  I don't know why MTL hasn't done one of the heavyweight cars since they hold the RBB&B license and that's found money, but I'd like to see the ex-hospital cars for the later eras.

[Norway2112]

I'd like to see the ex-hospital cars for the later eras.

I have been working on a kit for the WW2 Hospital Unit Cars ACF built during 1944 and 45.  I'm still debating whether to make brass sides to adapt and exisiting car or to just make one completely scratchbuilt master and cast it.  So many of the cars from the 89300 series built in 1944 ended up on the circus train after WW2 was over.  The 89400 series were retained for use in Korea and then converted for other branches of the DoD.

Like the circus train though, I fear a limited market for the Hospital Cars, even though they could be run realistically on any railroad either as a unit train or as one or two cars attached to the back of a passenger train.

[Alaska Railroader]

If you decide against the circus , please do those wagons you liked , we can use them at construction sites and many other places other than a circus . We can even add our own wheels if needed . That should make it much easier for you .

Oh no, did I make it sound as if I was giving up the circus line?? My mistake! With 80 or more pieces to the inventory and a joy in creating them I would never stop production now unless I die! I was talking about my sharing it here and how it doesn't quite jive with the level of discussions you guys have.

When Peteski confirmed what I had already figured out with the circus theme not being a good match with this forum I knew I had to respond and assure you that was my gut feeling before I began to write the post and that it is OK. Then, after seeing his posts about his own carnival building experience with his friend I took the opportunity to share my own.

Also wanted you to know that I have a several N Scale laser cut "normal" kits that will be released when I have the time to get them finalized. The circus line is so time consuming that I have had little time for anything else. Well, I did take a break from it long enough to laser cut the sides and top structures to a 5 foot model replica of the QE2 cruise liner for a master model ship builder in Seattle.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Bob Bufkin]

Didn't the Monon build a new train using those rebuilt hospital carsl?

[160pennsy]

I've done two complete n scale circus trains, both RBBB.  One from the 1940's and one from the modern MT cars.  The 1940's train was 90% kits or scratch built (the flats are lazer-cut wood kits, the stocks are old Raintree kits, coaches/sleepers were repainted and lettered, and the wagons are all scratch built).  With the way that some of my friends do castings now, it would be pretty simple to build a few master baggage wagons of each type needed and then just cast up a bunch. 

The modern train was extensively re-worked to get it to run and look correct.  The wagons produced by MT are pretty good, they just need more of them per flat car.  The flats need their couplers body mounted or they don't track well.  The coaches (stand ins for sleepers) need the skirting cut off the bottom and the trucks replaced with 4 wheel passenger trucks.  The animal, generator, and container cars are good as-is.  I also body mounted the couplers on the coaches as well.  I run around a 35 car train which is a scaled-down version of the modern Ringling red and blue units (the real trains are around 70+ cars).  It gives a good impression of the real thing with the distribution of cars that I'm using.

I would agree with many of the posts that there would probably be a VERY small market for this type of thing (too bad).  It's not something that the average model railroad would put the time into.  It takes a lot of research to get your models correct for the prototype.

Nate

Nate,

I recently picked up a MT 18 car RBBB red train set from NscaleYardSale and would be interested in hearing more details about your modifications. My plan is to run them on the club's N-TRAK layout and having them run reliably is very important.