plasticville,usa building question

[Anonymous]

I have the oppertunity to buy some classic Plasticville,USA buildings. The first is in the original box,the box is in fair shape with just a few tatered edges,folds and tears. The building,a church is in very good condition with the exception of 2 broken spires which are used to hold the walls together and a missing cross for the top of the steeple. There is a patent date on the box of June 17,1952 and it is kit #1600.
The second, a green house,no box. Other than a missing door,the kit appears to be all there and is in good shape.
The third appeares to be a motel,again,no box. the roof is missing from this kit. I have no idea if there are other missing parts or not,what is there is in good shape.
All three are scaled to "0" and "S" gauge.
My question is this,what would be a fair offer for theses?

[Big_Boy_4005]

There are people who collect Plasticville, I however, am not one of them, but I have seen and owned quite a few pieces over the years. If you offered $20 for all 3 you would be safe.

The church is common, but slightly broken and it has the box. I'm guessing $5 - $8.
The green house is a much harder kit to find, but it isn't PERFECT, I'm thinking $15 maybe a little more. The motel came in different colors, and when I was a kid, I had it in pink, which I believe was the most unusual color, and is the most valuable. I know that it came with two cars, but I can't remember if there was any other stuff beside that. let's say $7 - $10 for this one.

If you have done the math, you will find that this adds up to more than the $20 that I mentioned at the beginning. Value is in the eye of the buyer, the seller will take what he can get. I don't think you will insult him by offering $20, and if he says no, you can decide how badly you want them, and re offer or pass.[:)]

[spankybird]

Hi PRR_raised,
I agree with Big_Boy. I believe I have all three of these and many more of Plasticville. Most of it is in boxes as today my layout is based around 1910 era. I have seen the church and house for $10.00 to $15.00 each at train shows ( but they were complete). The Motel did have either two or three cars. I have them somewhere also. The motel also has a sidewalk with a place for bushes in front fo the doors. I beleive in the present condition, $20.00 is a fare price.

[brianel027]

Just food for thought: many of the classic Plasticville buildings are being remade by Bachmann. Which is good. Now even some of the previously hard to find ones are available. But with the good, usually comes the bad...

The few new ones that I have bought have had warped pieces. You snap the new ones together and they don't quite make it. The plastic on the new buildings isn't quite as thick or maybe solid as the older buildings. I made a fix for myself by using basswood to brace the pieces that weren't straight. Of course I glue mine together too after repainting them. Maybe I just got a couple of clinkers. But judging by the "clinker rate" of other product by some other well-known train makers, I suspect I might not be alone.

It's nice to not be alone, but in this case, an exception would be a blessing.

[Anonymous]

hey guys,thanks for the help. I have a fealing this guys is going to expect more but as you say,2 of them are not complete and I cant see going over $20. By the way,the motel does have pink doors.


now,just as a footnote; brianel027 mentioned he was buying recently manufactored pieces with warped parts in them,well,I think this falls in my field of work,I work at an injection molding facility. Chances are these kits are also injection molded,that is to say,the plastic is injected into a closed mold,allowed to cool briefly and the mold is then opened and the parts ejected from the mold.Taking into account the parts are most likley made from styrene plastic,the whole process would take less than one minuet per cycle. Warping is usualy caused by running too fast of a cycle,not having the water cycling through the mold (for cooling) or posibly,the parts landing wrong when ejected. I have found when I assemble model kits (I have 300-400 militry based models) and have a warped piece,they can be sofened in hot,almost boiling,water and straightened.

anyway,thanks for your opinion and advise.