Modern Vehicles

[cfritschle]

Here is a list (in alphabetical order by model manufacturer) of plastic injection molded N scale models of automobiles, vans, SUVs and light trucks in which a prototype with the same body style as the model sold as a new model in one or more years from 1999 to the present.

Atlas Ford Taurus (1996 – 1999; slight styling changes for 1998-99)
Atlas Ford F-150 (mid 1996 – 2003; also available as a Heritage Edition model in 2004)
Busch Mercedes ML Class (1997 – 2001; similar to 2002-2005)
Busch Smart Fortwo (1998 – 2007 for “gray market” in U.S.)
Busch Mercedes C Class (2001 – 2007; slight styling changes for 2005-07)
Busch Audi A4 sedan (2002 – 2005)
Busch Audi A4 station wagon (2002 – 2005)
Herpa BMW 3 Series E46 (mid 1998 – 2001)
Herpa Mercedes CLK (1998 – 2002)
Herpa Volkswagen Passat (mid 1998 – 2005)
Herpa Porsche 911 (1999 – 2004)
Herpa Volkswagen Golf IV (1999 – 2005)
Herpa MINI Cooper S (2002 – 2007)
Herpa Mercedes B Class (2006 – present in Canada)
Kato Lexus RX 300 (1998 – 2002)
Kato Lexus IS 300 (mid 2000 – 2005)
Rietze Audi A4 (1996 – 2001)
Rietze Audi A6 station wagon (1998 – 2004)
Wiking Mercedes SL Class (1990 – 2001)
Wiking Volkswagen Eurovan (1992 – 1999?)
Wiking Mercedes E Class (1996 – 2002)
Wiking Porsche Boxter (1997 – 2005)
Wiking Volkswagen New Beetle (mid 1998 – 2005; similar to 2006-present)
Wiking Audi A6 sedan (1998 – 2004)
Wiking Volkswagen Passat (mid 1998 – 2005)
Wiking Mercedes G Class (2002 – present; 1979-2001 for “gray market”)

Edit: Updated info for the following models.

Wiking Volkswagen Passat wagon (2006 – 2011)
Wiking Volkswagen T5 (2003 – 2009 in Mexico; can be used as a stand-in for a 1999 – 2003 T4)
Wiking Volkswagen Tiguan (Mid 2008 – 2011)

I posted this in a similar thread in the Atlas in October of 2009.

Carter

[GaryHinshaw]

Or at least fairly current. I don't expect to see 3013 model vehicles come out as soon as their prototypes do...

I hope we've moved beyond cars by then...  That said, I could use some modern vehicles too, but my layout is not going to need that many, so I shouldn't really get a vote.

added - Very helpful list Carter.

[GimpLizard]

Okay guys... back off. Sorry to play the card here, but no one gets any new modern vehicles 'til I get my '64 Rambler wagon.

Kapeesh?

[OHCR 4218]

Here is a list of what I would like to see in modern vehicles, these are common in my area, I'm shure there are many common vehicles I have missed

Passenger vehicles

Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Toyota Camery
Toyota Corrola
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Sentra
Ford Crown Vic
Ford Mustang
Mercury Cugar
Chevy Capprice/Impala
Chevy Cavolier
Chevy/GMC 1500
Chevy Suburban/Tahoe
Dodge Neon
Dodge Stratus
Dodge 1500
Dodge Durango
Chrysler Sebring
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Liberty

Highway trucks

Freightliner Columbia
Freightliner Century
Freightliner Cascadia
Freightliner Classic
Kenworth W900
Kenworth T600
Kenworth T2000
International Prostar
International Workstar
International Durastar
International 4700
International Eagle
Peterbuilt 389
Peterbuilt 387
Peterbuilt 386
Peterbuilt 379
Mack Vission

Busses

Gillig Low Floor
New Flyer D40LF
Nova LFS
MCI G4500
Prevost X3-45
Van Hool C2045L

[jimmo]

Here is a list of what I would like to see in modern vehicles, these are common in my area, I'm shure there are many common vehicles I have missed

Passenger vehicles

Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Toyota Camery
Toyota Corrola
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Sentra
Ford Crown Vic
Ford Mustang
Mercury Cugar
Chevy Capprice/Impala
Chevy Cavolier
Chevy/GMC 1500
Chevy Suburban/Tahoe
Dodge Neon
Dodge Stratus
Dodge 1500
Dodge Durango
Chrysler Sebring
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Liberty

Highway trucks

Freightliner Columbia
Freightliner Century
Freightliner Cascadia
Freightliner Classic
Kenworth W900
Kenworth T600
Kenworth T2000
International Prostar
International Workstar
International Durastar
International 4700
International Eagle
Peterbuilt 389
Peterbuilt 387
Peterbuilt 386
Peterbuilt 379
Mack Vission

Busses

Gillig Low Floor
New Flyer D40LF
Nova LFS
MCI G4500
Prevost X3-45
Van Hool C2045L

Define "modern"--almost all of these vehicles mentioned have been around for years. Are you requesting RTR only?

[bman]

     My definition of "modern"  would be the majority of the vehicles that I would see out on the roads today.  Probably what's been built within the last 10-15 years if you wish to put a number on it.  I am a little disappointed the Chevy Monte Carlo didn't make the list.  And as much as I enjoyed driving my fathers 1978 Ford Fairmont wagon with the wood grain trim package on the sides,  I cannot call that modern anymore.   It would be nice if we could get a small sampling, say 4 to 6, of vehicles from each decade.  Although that might be a licensing nightmare, who knows?

[Nilmadic]

I know as far as lisencing goes, we can all write off ever getting a Chevrolet lisenced product. In a telephone conversation with River Point Station, they told me Chevrolet has a choking clause in their lisencing agreement. If a child could put the car in their mouth and potentially choke, no lisence. That's why no 1/87 chevrolet. I'd imagine definitely no 1/160. Still a no go even that the product is clearly labeled and priced as a model and not a toy.

[Alaska Railroader]

Define "modern"--almost all of these vehicles mentioned have been around for years. Are you requesting RTR only?

Jimmo, can you make vehicles that just look similar to these without calling them by their make and model? That would give you plenty of elbow room legally and still have vehicles we would recognize. Except, of course, the Honda Odyssey Touring. I want that one down to the details including the backup camera. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

A lot of this would be possible if we had European copyright rules. look and style copyright expires after 20 years. Here, we keep adding time any point Mickey Mouse is about to enter the public domain.

[peteski]

A lot of this would be possible if we had European copyright rules. look and style copyright expires after 20 years. Here, we keep adding time any point Mickey Mouse is about to enter the public domain.

That's all fine and good but even with European laws, this still precludes us from having models of modern (contemporary?) vehicles. THose are usually lass than 20 years old.

[Nilmadic]

I don't expect to see 3013 model vehicles come out as soon as their prototypes do,

  2013 Oops.

But, yeah it would be cool to see someone do lnternational Trucks. Some boom trucks would also be neat. Like I said before Ford like an F 250 or 350 or chevy 2500 (if we can not call it a chevy and get away with it), Ford Econoline 250, service bodies, the stuff for a good construction/mow fleet.

Not to turn this into a complaint thread, but whats with the lack of heavy equipment? How good does a train full of norscot equipment look in HO? Norscot really dropped the ball when it came to N.

I do have a lot of the vehicles discussed in this thread, but I could really stand to look into herpa and other manufacturers.

And yes, I am talking about RTR vehicles.

[cfritschle]

  :facepalm:2013 Oops.

But, yeah it would be cool to see someone do lnternational Trucks. Some boom trucks would also be neat. Like I said before Ford like an F 250 or 350 or chevy 2500 (if we can not call it a chevy and get away with it), Ford Econoline 250, service bodies, the stuff for a good construction/mow fleet.

Not to turn this into a complaint thread, but whats with the lack of heavy equipment? How good does a train full of norscot equipment look in HO? Norscot really dropped the ball when it came to N.

I do have a lot of the vehicles discussed in this thread, but I could really stand to look into herpa and other manufacturers.

And yes, I am talking about RTR vehicles.

For heavy equipment you will probably have to go with 1:150 scale.  I am gradually creating content for an N gauge models page that will feature comparison photos of 1:160 scale models with 1:150 scale models.  There is not much there yet, but it is a start.  http://nscalevehicles.org/n_gauge_models.php

Carter

[jimmo]

Jimmo, can you make vehicles that just look similar to these without calling them by their make and model? That would give you plenty of elbow room legally and still have vehicles we would recognize. Except, of course, the Honda Odyssey Touring. I want that one down to the details including the backup camera. 

I (Willmodels) will continue to make vehicles that look as much like the real thing as possible until someone much bigger than myself comes along and forces me stop or I come to the end of my life-cycle.

We have some modern vehicles in our lineup. For example, modelers have been begging for Crown Vics other than that undersized Monopoly-token based thing. I not only gave you a new, correctly scaled '90s Crown Vic but I also gave you a late model Crown Vic, still seen everywhere as police cars, taxis and family cars. Sure they are solid models but finished correctly they are nice little reps of the real thing.

To address the comment about wanting International trucks, we currently have the DuraStar medium-duty truck in our lineup. The next generation of Willmodels trucks will have hollow cabs and interiors with common chassis and sleepers. Straight trucks will have a variety of bodies to choose from or custom-build your own. We are evolving here at Willmodels. Believe it or not, I like see-through windows in my vehicles.

I understand the RTR thing. A lot of you guys would probably rather spend your valuable hobby time detailing those locomotives you spent way too much on than messing around with a teeny little car model. Model railroading is different from other modeling hobbies as we basically have to model the entire world, or at least the one that surrounds our trains. I started Willmodels with the intention of providing a low-cost way for the average modeler to populate his or her model world with recognizable, scale vehicles. Because we don't have to invest in thousands of dollars worth of tooling every time we want to produce a vehicle, we can usually produce faster than the big boys. Ebay has provided us a place to sell our wares in an affordable, safe, accessible environment. With a little effort, a little practice and you have some acceptable props for your miniature railroad drama.

Honda Odyssey Touring? What year?

[Nilmadic]

Jimmo, it's great to hear from you on the topic. I actually just built some of your vehicles. They will be really cool with windows. I need to get a super small brush I think to paint them.

I'd really love to see a super duty Ford pickup??? Or like we previously kicked around on the thread...a chevy-ish 2500 pickup. Super cabs preferred.

[Nato]

             The Matel Board Game "Cars"Tractor Tipping  based on the movie features all the characters in near perfect 1:60 N Scale ,they are all painted execpt the Tractors which need to be repainted from pink.I know we were discussing Modern Cars,one of our WNS club members has them placed in a large three module city scene and kids at shows love to look for them. Since all the vechiles on his modules  are removeable they appear in different locations at each show mixed in with Mini Metals, Atlas,etc.Easiest character to find the orange Combine with the angry face usually parked near a grain elevator. We now return you to our regular programing. I bought a 2000 era Audi Wagon from Bush because the blue color and general aero shape viewed at a distance looks like my 06 Subaru Turbo Wagon. I plan to locate it somewhere on my transition era layout.Nate Goodman (Nato).