Here's what's on each site:
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Hello Everyone,
I thought I'd hop on this thread since I'm thinking about using Plastruct tubing and fittings in a rail-served small bulk oil products dealership. I'm planning on using some above-ground piping with in-line valves between the unloading track, storage tanks and pumphouse. I called Walthers about their piping kit. The smallest size tubing in it is a scale 7 in. in diameter. I need 4 in. and 8 in. sizes. Plastruct, however, has those sizes.
I also called Plastruct (yesterday), not about the ownership subject, but to get some info about the various valves they sell. The new owner evidently needs some more time to get up to speed on familiarity with the Plastruct line so the employee I spoke with couldn't give me much info about the valves. My modeling era is the 1920s so I'd like to find a valve design that was likely in use during that period. The Plastruct website uses what look like drawings of their valves, but the images only show the side view of a given valve. The "control valve" and "Saunders valve" appear like they might be good candidates for me, but I'm not sure. I'd prefer one that has a spoked handwheel since I've seen mostly that type (as opposed, say, to a disc design) in photos from the 1920s that happen to include a view of a valve. Photos of the Plastruct valves taken at an angle would help, but the guy I spoke with didn't know of any such photos the company has.
Anybody familiar with Plastruct's valves and/or know where I might find photos?
-Chuck
The Plastruct valves are not detailed. Their small dia. 'piping' is plastic sheathed metal wire that the slotted valve bodies snap onto, makes for nice clean bends. The valves can be made to look more realistic by adding rolling stock brake handwheels and scratch built flanges. Regards, Peter
Thanks, Peter, for your elucidation! Just what I need to make a decision. Looks like you may have used the "gate valve" or "control valve" and then added nice detail with flanges and brake handwheels, as you say. I presume you're simulating 'no spark' bronze valves from the color of the paint you used. I'm using 'dulled down' and 'dirtied' brass tubing for my 'no spark' delivery pipes to fill tanker trucks. From what I can see in your fuel wharf (?) photo, great modeling work!
Chuck, My pleasure and thanks for the nice comment.
Actually the color choice for my storage tanks and wharf valves was based upon the oil refinery I worked in. I'd say there's little physical difference between today's common valves and those in service during the 1920s.
Tichy HO and N scale brake wheels work well as valve hand-wheels with brass wire for the stems. A rising stem denotes a gate valve, rising handwheel a globe valve.
Btw, sent U a PM.
Happy hydrocarbon equipment modeling, Regards, Peter
My spare parts box has lots of plastic sprues with a few extra parts attached. More than once I've taken the parts off and tossed them back in the box. Pipe runs on my layout are mostly just leftover sections of sprue. Nice clean rounded corners.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I ordered 223 dollars worth of stuff from this " new Ownership" on 9 Jan. After 2 weeks, nothing shipped, no response. I emailed them 3 times, phoned twice, no response. Phone says mailbox full. On the 26th filed a complaint with my credit card. I think the new owners are cons.
Has anyone been able to order anything from Plastruct recently? I've been trying to order something but their website gives me an error message everytime. For over a week I've tried to contact them but no one ever answers the phone or returns my calls or emails. I also tried contacting Evergreen, with the same results.
I just tried the website and it says it can't ship to my address.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I don't even get that. I just get a message saying, "There's a problem with our checkout. Refresh the page or try again later."
I just did a test. I put one item in my cart and made it all the way to where I would have put in my credit card information to finalize the sale.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Ray Dunakin Has anyone been able to order anything from Plastruct recently? I've been trying to order something but their website gives me an error message everytime. For over a week I've tried to contact them but no one ever answers the phone or returns my calls or emails. I also tried contacting Evergreen, with the same results.
What part or parts from plastruct are you looking for?
maxmanWhat part or parts from plastruct are you looking for?
What I need most is their "Dark green, super fine gravel" (94500/GC-104)
I use it to make ocotillos and other plants that can handle constant exposure to the elements on my outdoor layout. I've never found anything else that could work as a substitute.
This morning they sent me an email that there was still something in my cart, but it doesn't like my address.
You might try a different browser.
Ray I love your old mine youtube videos.
Ray DunakinWhat I need most is their "Dark green, super fine gravel" (94500/GC-104)
Sorry, can't help. I never knew they even made anything like that
Try this website:
https://plastruct.myshopify.com/products/94500-gc-104
Could be how Plastruct handles retail orders.
If it takes credit cards, you would be protected if the card gets charged but nothing gets delivered.
My belief is that both Plastruct and Evergreen are both small operations. That is no excuse for not answering the phone or emails, but in this day and age there could be a host of reasons why.
Oh, and the webpage above has a 2023 date at the bottom.
Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. I got Chrome this morning and was able to successfully place my order online. I've already received an email saying it's being shipped today.
They really need to do something about their lack of customer service. Either take down the phone numbers and other contact info from their website, or put someone to work answering.
Hope Plastruct remains in business as their line of industrial and architectural materials would be sorely missed by many hobbyists. I can only guess they've lost professional architectural and industrial scale modeling sales over the years due to computerization.
Regards, Peter
Everegreen purchased Plastruct about 1-2 years ago. I believe they have kept the two companies seperate . --- Ken
KemacPrr Everegreen purchased Plastruct about 1-2 years ago. I believe they have kept the two companies seperate . --- Ken
Rich
Alton Junction
Isn't Plastruct ABS while Evergreen is straight styrene?
I have Plastruct from City of Industry, Ca. which is white styrene and some from Des Plaines , Il. that is gray ABS.
Overmod Isn't Plastruct ABS while Evergreen is straight styrene?
Not necessarily. Depends what it is. Look through the Plastruct catalog and you’ll see they offer(ed) what I think they called fineline items that were white.
Plastruct eventually sold both ABS and styrene in most of their product lines. You have to remember that Plastruct was originally a supplier for industrial models not model railroaders. Thats why their valves and other items are not real detailed. I've seen models of refineries. chemical plants and trash to steam facilities made with their products. Some were very large and expensive. That was their original customer base not us. They still exist as a seperate company owned by the same family that owns Evergreen. --- Ken
Regarding some of the discussion about plastruct / evergeeen ownership, it's the same company ownership at the same business address according to the State of Illinois business services website. It's easy to look up considering I need to file my annual report for LLC renewal with the state every year.
NorthsideChi Regarding some of the discussion about plastruct / evergeeen ownership, it's the same company ownership at the same business address according to the State of Illinois business services website. It's easy to look up considering I need to file my annual report for LLC renewal with the state every year.
This is true. However, they are both operated separately.
Ray Dunakin Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. I got Chrome this morning and was able to successfully place my order online. I've already received an email saying it's being shipped today. They really need to do something about their lack of customer service. Either take down the phone numbers and other contact info from their website, or put someone to work answering.
Did you get your order?
The issue with customer support has not been resolved. I have been trying to contact them about product information that I brought up in another thread and can't get through to them, and they don't return calls or answer emails.
If you got your order I guess I will just pull the trigger and hope for the best.
Rick
HO-Velo