They Customize Tiny Model Trucks & Trains
FARM SHOW has done plenty of articles on toy model collections and builders, but we are fascinated by the detail in these 1/160 “N Scale” models. They are tiny enough so you can hold a replica of a 70-ft. semi truck in your hand, yet have moveable, working parts. Truckers Buster Bush from Louisiana and David Whiteside from Australia have collected them for years, and since retiring from the road now focus on building kit models, customizing and scratch-building.
Whiteside joined the Australian Army at 17 so he could drive truck, rather than wait until he was 20 to drive as a civilian. Single and on the road, he collected 1/87 HO scale trains and trucks at first.
“N Scale was very crude in the 1960’s. In the early 90’s they evolved in quality,” Whiteside says.
He collects Limited Editions from Trainworx out of Colorado, is a big fan of Southern Pacific Railroad, and as a trucker has a soft spot for movie replica trucks like those seen in Smokey and the Bandits and B.J. and the Bear. Many of the pieces in his collection started as kits that he changes to suit himself. He adds cab-mounted air conditioning units to earlier model trucks, for example.
One of his most challenging pieces was recreating a real 1976 Kenworth logging truck based on photos and a 1/24-scale version of the truck.
“It took a lot of measurements, parts and lug nuts,” he recalls. Despite its miniscule size, the brass wire in the thumb size A-frame hitch moves up and down.
Another favorite is the truck from the movie Black Dog. With hours of online research, he recreated the semi in N Scale. Whiteside currently has a 14 by 7-ft. model railroad displayed, and he likes to photograph them to share on social media. For example, in honor of a friend in New York state, he recreated her experience of a deer jumping in front of her while driving a pickup. He even drilled tiny holes into a mini deer sign to look like it had been shot at.
In Louisiana, Bush recreates train bridges, trucks and other equipment he sees in his area. His most detailed model started with a GHQ Peterbilt 379 kit that he heavily modified to create a tri-axle truck with a 50-ton lowboy carrying two heavy-duty forklifts.
“I made it to go with the portable car crusher I made,” Bush says, noting no one commercially sells N Scale car crushers. He made a silicone mold to create the resin parts for the crusher and has sold a few, including one to an Australian collector.
Bush also made a model of the Chevrolet C-70 car hauler, one of many trucks he used to own.
Bush notes that he recycles computer parts, medical parts and other scraps for his models. Cut-up plastic straws become a load for a train car. Bits of old floor tile turn into a stone wall for a train scene.
“You’re always letting your imagination run wild. And it doesn’t cost anything to make stuff out of cigar tubes, small tomato paste cans, bobbins for train car loads, or thimbles for tops of buildings,” he says.
He houses his trains, trucks and farm equipment models in a 12 by 32-ft. building where he can watch his trains and enjoy his collection. He credits his wife for painting and photographing many of his models.
Both in their 50’s, Bush and Whiteside work with magnifiers, tweezer, scalpels, mini drills rotary and other small tools and cutters to build their micro models with resin, styrene, balsa wood and brass pieces. The availability of 3D printing has also added another dimension, Whiteside notes. He works with companies like Shapeways to create small components or anything that can be CAD drawn.
Though Bush notes bigger scales are “easier on the eyes,” both love the challenge of N Scale and the fact that they can have thousands of models in a relatively small space. Bush adds that he also has a 1/220 Z Scale train layout, which is even smaller than the 1/160 N Scale.
Both retired truckers like to share their models and meet other collectors through social media sites and forums. Interest in N Scale is growing.
“It’s not ‘he plays with trains’ anymore,” Whiteside says. “It used to be the 3-ft. rule. If it looks good at 3 feet, it was acceptable. Now that’s out the window. Digital photography shows the flaws, and you can criticize your own work. I want to do quality work. We inspire each other.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Buster Bush, 11634 Marlene Ave., Denham Springs, La. 70726 (ph 225 480-6479; olliepaws@aol.com; Facebook: Buster Bush); or David Whiteside, P.O. Box 387, Ashmore City, Qld, 4214, Australia (ph 61 401 438 441; dynodave6363@gmail.com; Facebook/YouTube: Dynodave6363’s Photo & Video Blog and dynodave63; Instagram: southern.pacific.lines.n.scale).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
They Customize Tiny Model Trucks & Trains FARM HOME Novelty Items FARM SHOW has done plenty of articles on toy model collections and builders but we are fascinated by the detail in these 1/160 “N Scale” models They are tiny enough so you can hold a replica of a 70-ft semi truck in your hand yet have moveable working parts Truckers Buster Bush from Louisiana and David Whiteside from Australia have collected them for years and since retiring from the road now focus on building kit models customizing and scratch-building Whiteside joined the Australian Army at 17 so he could drive truck rather than wait until he was 20 to drive as a civilian Single and on the road he collected 1/87 HO scale trains and trucks at first “N Scale was very crude in the 1960’s In the early 90’s they evolved in quality ” Whiteside says He collects Limited Editions from Trainworx out of Colorado is a big fan of Southern Pacific Railroad and as a trucker has a soft spot for movie replica trucks like those seen in Smokey and the Bandits and B J and the Bear Many of the pieces in his collection started as kits that he changes to suit himself He adds cab-mounted air conditioning units to earlier model trucks for example One of his most challenging pieces was recreating a real 1976 Kenworth logging truck based on photos and a 1/24-scale version of the truck “It took a lot of measurements parts and lug nuts ” he recalls Despite its miniscule size the brass wire in the thumb size A-frame hitch moves up and down Another favorite is the truck from the movie Black Dog With hours of online research he recreated the semi in N Scale Whiteside currently has a 14 by 7-ft model railroad displayed and he likes to photograph them to share on social media For example in honor of a friend in New York state he recreated her experience of a deer jumping in front of her while driving a pickup He even drilled tiny holes into a mini deer sign to look like it had been shot at In Louisiana Bush recreates train bridges trucks and other equipment he sees in his area His most detailed model started with a GHQ Peterbilt 379 kit that he heavily modified to create a tri-axle truck with a 50-ton lowboy carrying two heavy-duty forklifts “I made it to go with the portable car crusher I made ” Bush says noting no one commercially sells N Scale car crushers He made a silicone mold to create the resin parts for the crusher and has sold a few including one to an Australian collector Bush also made a model of the Chevrolet C-70 car hauler one of many trucks he used to own Bush notes that he recycles computer parts medical parts and other scraps for his models Cut-up plastic straws become a load for a train car Bits of old floor tile turn into a stone wall for a train scene “You’re always letting your imagination run wild And it doesn’t cost anything to make stuff out of cigar tubes small tomato paste cans bobbins for train car loads or thimbles for tops of buildings ” he says He houses his trains trucks and farm equipment models in a 12 by 32-ft building where he can watch his trains and enjoy his collection He credits his wife for painting and photographing many of his models Both in their 50’s Bush and Whiteside work with magnifiers tweezer scalpels mini drills rotary and other small tools and cutters to build their micro models with resin styrene balsa wood and brass pieces The availability of 3D printing has also added another dimension Whiteside notes He works with companies like Shapeways to create small components or anything that can be CAD drawn Though Bush notes bigger scales are “easier on the eyes ” both love the challenge of N Scale and the fact that they can have thousands of models in a relatively small space Bush adds that he also has a 1/220 Z Scale train layout which is even smaller than the 1/160 N Scale Both retired truckers like to share their models and meet other collectors through social media sites and forums Interest in N Scale is growing “It’s not ‘he plays with trains’ anymore ” Whiteside says “It used to be the 3-ft rule If it looks good at 3 feet it was acceptable Now that’s out the window Digital photography shows the flaws and you can criticize your own work I want to do quality work We inspire each other ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Buster Bush 11634 Marlene Ave Denham Springs La 70726 ph 225 480-6479; olliepaws@aol com; Facebook: Buster Bush ; or David Whiteside P O Box 387 Ashmore City Qld 4214 Australia ph 61 401 438 441; dynodave6363@gmail com; Facebook/YouTube: Dynodave6363’s Photo & Video Blog and dynodave63; Instagram: southern pacific lines n scale
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
