Rustic Rails Flatbed Wagon

Like the other Rustic Rails wagon I reported on this 1/87 scale model is cast in white metal and can be assembled with CA glue. Since you are using CA you can pre-paint parts first if you wish. And since so many the parts are small pre-painting will allow you to get to all of those nooks and crannies.

The components for the wagon includes the wagon and gear, 4 wheels, 2 horse, and a rider.

I should have added this note before, but it seems Rustic Rails is yet another defunct miniatures company.

Highway Miniatures Buckboard Wagon

This is another example of a horse drawn wagon and another Highway Miniatures kits. As you will note the kit comes with enough parts for two complete wagons. Like the Old Farm Wagon, this kit contains a set of highly detailed and delicate parts. Although this kit does not come with a driver it does come with two barrels and one sack. Take notice of the difference between the two horses.

This kit contains three sets of sprue

Rustic Rails Buckboard Wagon

It was some time ago I posted the assembly instructions for this metal kit. Why I didn’t make a post for the kit parts at that time is beyond me. So here is an image of the kit parts in different stages of completion. Actually, the only thing that is just about complete is the painting of the horse and wagon.

During assembly I accidentally broke one of the “springs” for the wooden seat and I set the whole kit aside for a while. It seems that a few of the parts need a little touch-up and I need to fabricate two spring replacements. I am thinking about using two small pieces of a small diameter solid copper wire here.

An Old Farm Wagon in 1/87 Scale

This 1/87 scale Highway Miniatures Old Farm Wagon kit includes three sprue molded in polystyrene. The three sprue, include sets of highly detailed and delicate parts. Two of the sprue in a cream color contain two half’s of a horse, the parts for wagon driver and other miscellaneous parts for the wagon. The third sprue, in grey, contains parts for the wooden body of the wagon.

Clearly written instructions with an assembly diagram are included. Attesting to the delicacy of the molded parts, there is a small order form printed on the instruction sheet that can be used send off for parts that might break during assembly.

The parts, assembled with liquid model glue produce a highly detailed model that will look great in a country scene on a train layout.

Since many of the parts of small and delicate, I would be very careful with the amount of glue that you use. It is very easy to mar the surface of the plastic parts with your finger prints. It should go without saying, but the removal of parts from the sprue should be done very carefully.

Rustic Rails 1/85 Wagon Kit Instruction Sheet

I purchased a few wagon kits from Rustic Rails, a now defunct company, some time ago. These kits are molded in white metal. This same instruction sheet was included in all three of my kits. I suppose one instruction sheet fits all. Here are the relevant instructions for my Buckboard wagon:

1. Glue wagon seat in space at front of wagon
2. Glue pins on the wagon tongue in team shoulder holes
3. Glue front axle to pins on the bottom of wagon
1. Glue smaller set of wheels to front axle
4. Glue separate axle to the two pins on the rear of body
1. Glue larger set of wheels to rear axle
5. Glue farm couple to seat and wagon load to rear of wagon body

Two Horse Drawn Wagons I Would like Build in 2014

The two horse drawn wagons are scaled at 1/72 and represent two unique periods of history. There is ancient Roman Nobelman's Chariot and a WWI Field Wagon.

The Roman Nobleman’s Chariot comes with a chariot, 2 horses and 2 figures. The two figures represent the nobles man and servant rider. The chariot is an elaborate affair, at least for that period. The manufacturer is Ykreol. This will be my second model that I will build from Ykreol, a French company. The model has been reviewed by the Plastic Soldier Review.

This is my first piece from this period. I am not all that interested in this period of history, but thought the model would be a nice addition to my collection of horse drawn wagons.

For supplemental miniatures Linear-B Roman Port set could be used to add to the scene. This set has 48 figures in twelve poses.

The WWI Field Wagon is a product of Hat Industries Figures. This kit includes three complete wagons, with two riders and two horses each.

WWI is one of my favorite periods. I like this eras mechanized and armored vehicles. These vehicle, still in their infancy, used some very singular designs.

Supplements for this set is a set of Airfix Models’ WWI German infantry. This would give me several soldiers walking carrying their guns. They would play the part as guards.

Old Pictures of the Day-Horse Drawn Wagons

Old Picture of the Day is featuring some beautiful black and white images of horse drawn wagons from bygone days.

• A Carriage with several female occupants
• Omnibus
• Horse drawn cabs (Hansoms)
• A single Hansom with an inquisitive horse

Suppliers of 1/87 Scale Horse Drawn Wagon Kits

Although Preiser does manufacturer horse drawn wagons, the wagons are of European prototypes and are prebuilt and are not buildable kits. Here is list of the available buildable horse drawn wagon kits of American prototypes that I am aware of. If you know of other sources please feel free to let us know of their existence.

Jordon Highway Miniatures
1/87 Scale Information

Jordon produces the following styrene kits. These kits’s usually consist of a spruce or two of some very fine machine injected parts, which can be very delicate, so be careful when removing them from the spruce. These models are finely detailed and run in the $5.00-9.00 range.

• Farm Wagon - With 2-Horse Team & Driver
• Buggy w/Horse & Driver
• Buckboard – With 1-Horse & Barrel Load(2)
• Horse-Drawn Hearse
• Standard Delivery Wagon
• Light Delivery Wagon
• Brougham (Closed Coach)
• 1912 Popcorn Wagon w/Team
• Old West Stagecoach w/6 Horse Team
• Beer Delivery Wagon w/Teamsters & 8-Horse Team

Musket Miniatures

Musket Miniatures offers a nice collection of wagon kits that are manufactured in white metal. Some wagons can be purchased with a horse, mule, or oxen teams. These kits usually come with a horse or horses (2), driver, and load. (Will be indicated in the list).These kite range in price from $5.00-28.00. Most can be purchased for under $10.00.

• Covered wagon (horse team)
• Covered wagon (mule team)
• Covered wagon (oxen team)
• Open wagon (horse team)
• Open wagon (mule team)
• Open wagon (oxen team)
• Open wagon (horse team)
• Open wagon (horse team)
• Buckboard (1 horse, man, woman, and load)
• Buckboard (2 horse team , man, woman, and load)
• Farmers loading hay wagon (load and two figures)
• Wagon loaded with hay bales
• Settlers wagon (2 horse team, household supplies)
• Dr. Shockley’s medicine wagon (with "snake oil" pitchman)
• Delivery wagon with signs(2 horse team, driver)
• Photography wagon (1 horse; Canvas-sided. With photographer, camera)
• Wagon loaded with milk cans (2 horse team, 2 figures)
• Brewery wagon(2 horse team, driver, 9 beer barrels)
• Lumber wagon (2 horse team, driver, lumber load(resin))
• Coal wagon (2 horse team, driver, coal load(resin), shovel)
• Timber wagon (2 horse team, driver, timber load(resin))
• Stagecoach - walking horses
• Two Wheel Cart (1 horse)

Selley (A division of Bowser Products)

Bowser-Selley offers a few white metal wagon kits. These kits are in the $6.00 to 10.00 range.

• Farm Wagon
• Surrey with Horse
• Surrey with no horse
• Buggy with horse
• Buggy with no horse

Horse-Drawn Commercial Vehicles

Horse-Drawn Commercial Vehicles is a Dover publication, part of their pictorial archive series. The book measures slightly better than eight wide by eleven inches. Inside the covers there are 255 illustrations and black and white images of all sorts of horse drawn wagons.

There is a three page introduction, a wagon glossary, and 148 pages of horse drawn wagons of every description. Another book in this series that I will review sometime is Dover’s Horsecars, cablecars and omnibuses. Both books give you a fabulous glimpse in the past and into the nineteenth century’s stagecoaches, delivery wagons, fire engines, farm wagons, ETC.