[cgowdey]

Hiya! My name is Caitlin, I'm new to the forum. I'm trying to make custom HO scale figurines as a gift for a friend, I thought this would be a good place to ask around for the best way to do that. I've messed around with miniatures my whole life but never tried to make any. I'm very into the idea of painting them myself.

Details: His favorite movie is Harold and Maude, and he used to drive a Hearse just like the one Harold has (1959 Cadillac Series 75) so I really wanted to find/make him some sort of Harold and Maude figurines/scene for his slot car track. I would love to make a little Harold and a little Maude, and if I could find a cadillac hearse that would be amazing. Any suggestions on how to make your own HO scale people? Also sorry if this is addressed somewhere else on the forum, I looked and didn't find it but maybe I missed something. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[OilValleyRy]

Hmmm…. Well I’d begin by looking at modifying existing figures rather than “carving” your own. This would be like cutting off arms or heads to reposition or swap them. I’ve done this. The only difficult thing is sometimes heads go flying.

I’m not familiar with the characters, so I googled it. You might find figures wearing similar overcoats. Probably train passengers. Likely repainting would be needed as you pointed out you’re looking at doing. Which brings us to the heads which I already covered.

As for a hearse… a company called Woodland Scenics might make a set with a hearse & driver? They also make many sets of figures (usually 6 per set). Another company is called Preiser. You could google the company websites or visit walthers.com but I’d suggest the company sites to bypass all that other choo choo stuff. Each site I’m sure has a search function.

 

[traction fan]

Hiya! My name is Caitlin, I'm new to the forum. I'm trying to make custom HO scale figurines as a gift for a friend, I thought this would be a good place to ask around for the best way to do that. I've messed around with miniatures my whole life but never tried to make any. I'm very into the idea of painting them myself.

Details: His favorite movie is Harold and Maude, and he used to drive a Hearse just like the one Harold has (1959 Cadillac Series 75) so I really wanted to find/make him some sort of Harold and Maude figurines/scene for his slot car track. I would love to make a little Harold and a little Maude, and if I could find a cadillac hearse that would be amazing. Any suggestions on how to make your own HO scale people? Also sorry if this is addressed somewhere else on the forum, I looked and didn't find it but maybe I missed something. Thanks so much in advance!

cgodey;

I wouldn't even try to make my own figures. Though I do paint the N-scale ones. (1/2 the size of HO-scale) Its possible to heat arms or legs and re-pose the figures.
Preiser makes well-detailed figures in HO-scale and all the other model railroad scales. You can get them unpainted, or factory painted. They also sell sets, some with an automobile included in the scene. I don't know if they have a Cadillac specifically though. www.walthers.com should have figures.

Good Luck;

Traction Fan

 

[CTValleyRR]

Do you have a 3D printer, or have access to one? I think, in view of everything, that would be your best bet.

There is software called Makehuman, which has a bit of a learning curve, but allows you to create your own people. There are also tons of free files on the internet that you can download and print yourself, with or without customization. You can probably find a model of hearse that would be appropriate as well. If you're less computer savvy, there are options (albeit pricey): Shapeways is a commercial company that will print files for you (and they have hundreds for sale on their website. A company called Heroforge has a very intuitive web-based figure design system, although it's primarily geared to making fantasy and sci-fi miniatures in 28mm scale, you might find enough options there to make it work (and their figures can be printed by Shapeways in a half a dozen different materials).

Painting figures is a hobby all by itself. I've been doing it as long as I have been into model railroading, coming up on half a century now.