HO Wild West Cactus

[buzz]

Hi all
Any body know of a manufacturer of HO cacti .
Particularly the ever recognisable western movie variety.
Failing that an article from the model press on how to make them.
If the Devil's Gulch and Helengon RR ever gets built it will need a fair few I would guess.
Don't blame me for the name its on the wagon kits
What shade of red should I paint Helengon  and is Clint Eastwood available in HO (sorry could not resist last bit)
Don't know why I am thinking of Cacti, when I haven't any idea what steam loco should be used to haul the five wagon train.
regards John

[mabloodhound]

You probably should be looking for an older American 4-4-0 loco.   Maybe the Jupiter or similar.

[Ken]

   John

   "Pegasus Models" have a couple of kits for cactus, Sorry cannot give you kit numbers.
    Various types and sizes included in the kits.

   Ken
    GWN

[Woody Elmore]

Years ago I saw a diorama that used dyed pipe cleaners for cacti. They were okay in the background but up close they resembled dyed pipe cleaners!

[Paul M.]

Woodland Scenics sells some cacti in their 'Scene-O-Rama' line.

[buzz]

Hi mabloodhound
Only one problem with those from my perspective and that is no coupling on the front
Model Power and Life Like both do an old style loco same problem
need to be an ever so slightly later Loco me thinks without the big cow catcher.
regards John

[buzz]

Hi Ken & Paul
Thanks.
Will check out your suggestions
regards John

[Ken]

   John
   

   Stopped by a LHS and checked out the Pegasas Models (Not Hobbies)  Cactus kits

   6507  #1      1/2"    to 2"  tall
   6508  #2       5/16" to 1&1/4" tall

  Between the two kits about 60-70 Cactus if I remember correctly<G>.

   Ken
    GWN

[jbsmith]

I found something else,,it is a backdrop.
Sort of like a wall paper or poster that is.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/949-706

[buzz]

Hi jbsmith
I had not really thought that far ahead thanks for that piece of information.
I did however make one of those pancake stack hills (sorry don't know the proper name for them) about the same diameter as a single record or there abouts.
Originally made for war gaming.
If I can get a lighter sand colour than the Tamiya one to highlight it and make it look a bit better I wonder if I could use that on the railway since I don't play wargames any more.
Or where they only in a particular desert area like where ever the popular western movie filming place is.
regards John

[buzz]

Just had a thought on locos
would one of the Bachmann 2-6-0's or perhaps an 0-6-0 with Baldwin short stock tender again by Bachmann be OK
As the line only has five wagons and 0 coaches as yet I haven't seen an wild west coaches about for a while.
regards John

[buzz]

Hi Paul
had some difficulty tracking down the cacti on woodland scenics web site
but yes that's them.
Would they be HO?? the figures they listed in scene-o-rama where quite large.
regards John

[buzz]

Hi all
I finally chose Bachmann's 50440 0-6-0 with short haul tender for a loco
after discovering John Allen created the road name I am using,
and seeing a picture of one of his trains with a similar looking loco
Just hope I can match the green before re lettering it.
Shame I will not be able to get any more of the Roundhouse wagons at reasonable prices the John Allen ones are very collectable apparently .
Any one any thoughts on where to get a couple of suitable western style passanger coaches for re lettering.
regards John

[jsmvmd]

Dear Buzz,

The classic western cactus is the saguaro, pronounced "suh-War'-oh."

Here are some pix: 

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm?eid=170356&root_aId=302

Never have seen them modeled. Perhaps Harold Minkwitz has a few ideas.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/

Best Wishes,

Jack