Now that I've got the Wainwright D class running, I'd like to put a crew in it. Looking at the cab there's hardly any room. I've looked at Modelu and liked what I saw, but the prices are a bit much especially since they have to be posted to Oz. Bearing in mind the size of the cab, does any one have a suggestion? I have got some of those cheap Chinese ones but don't really want to use them.

Hardyshobbies.co.uk do similar figures to Modelu - no idea about prices to Oz though.  From my personal, albeit limited, experience, both are very good and much more realistic than metal or a lot of plastic figures available.  I used quite a few of the Chinese variants for my town market scene, because I just wanted to give the impression of lots of people, so not so many up close photos.  Even then, I would avoid them and will slowly replace them for the new market scene.  
Michael

Just had a quick look at this site and shop.  Limited range but very nice looking figures.

Unfortunately, they are not shipping anything until they have sorted out their backlog of orders.  No news on when that will be but worth book-marking the page for future reference.

I think that the metal figures from Dart Castings are worth considering.  Much cheaper than Modelu.

Dart Castings - Montys Models OO Gauge Range


Terry

Thanks for the replies. The Dart Castings figures are out because there's so little room in the cab that whatever crew is put in there, they'd have to be modified to fit. Not easy with white metal.

I've bookmarked the Hardys web site and found that the postage suspension is for painted models. I've looked at footplate crew 2 group for 18quid. Postage to UK is 4 pound and I've asked them for a quote to Oz. The price for the models is very reasonable, I think.

I can't see any painted 4mm loco crew on the website.  They all appear to be unpainted at £3 each with cost to Australia/New Zealand being £13.50
£19.50 for two loco crew?  Ouch!  In your position I would be inclined to buy a large order of figures to lessen the impact of the postage costs.  You might even  be able to sell some on to other modellers in your part of the world and recover some of your costs.

Terry

The figures look very good, but bare in mind that the ones photographed are usually O guage, 00 for instance lose a bit defination.

I had a speedy reply from Steve at Hardys. He can alter the figures within reason for a small extra charge for his time. He tells me they are not malleable but I might be able to cut and glue, or I think, just cut a leg off. The space in the D class cab really is tiny. It must have been pretty cramped for 1 to 1 men x 2. I'll ask him if he can do them in 1:87th which would help.

Terry,
The painted figures choice is greyed out as Terry said, presumably because they've fallen behind. I like your idea of making up a larger order but will have to seek approval from the finance committee of one.  :) I only know of one other person anywhere near me that plays with trains in our scale.

Phil,
I hadn't thought of that, but they'd still be 100% better than ruining the thing with the el  cheapo Chinese stuff. Thanks for the info though.

Right, now to don my crash helmet and sweet talk 'er indoors.  :)

Not sure if they're still available but in the past, I've seen Airfix military figures used as cab crew, particularly German Afrika Corps with the "kepi" type hat.  They're cheap as chips and pretty easy to chop and change………….. :roll:  Being 1:72, they are perhaps a tad oversized but when I saw them used, I didn't notice the small difference.  The beauty is, they can be "slimmed", shaved, cut and chopped at will.

[user=753]Phil.c[/user] wrote:

The figures look very good, but bare in mind that the ones photographed are usually O guage, 00 for instance lose a bit defination.

I have a few of these figures - a waitress at the Abbey Hotel and some workers at the warehouse - very pleased with their detail in OO.  (I have no connection with the company, by the way!)

Michael

I've ordered eight figures in 1:87 scale but not a pack. I paid an extra six quid to pick my own. Hopefully I'll find a crew to fit the D class.

Hadn't even thought of Airfix, but I think finding them might be a real job. In fact I've just looked and the majority of what I've seen are 1:35.

Just sit and wait now. They have a note on the website that this could take two weeks to prepare. I've waited long enough for the loco, so I don't see another wait as much of a problem.

Thanks to all for the help.