I was searching for "images" of fast food places one night and low and behold an image of a Tyco HO scale Burger King came up. I researched a little farther and found out Tyco had a Pizza Hut and others that looked realistic. I didn't know Tyco had that much stuff back in the day.
And Life Like had a Free-Zee ice cream stand, 7-11 convenience store and a McDonalds - all of which were ultimately pulled due to licencing issues.
I've searched for these (and the Burger King and Pizza Hut) for years hoping to snag a deal. Finally got them all this year, paying no more than twenty dollars for each of them. The McDonalds regularly goes over $100 easy on ebay !
Want to find the room to build a 70's commercial district using them one of these days.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
3D printing is also adding many more to the "must haves" for a restaurant row ....
http://burgerking.turbosquid.com/3d-Models/3ds/max/xsi/c4d/obj
http://www.3drivers.com/catalog/324/1299/
willy6I was searching for "images" of fast food places one night and low and behold an image of a Tyco HO scale Burger King came up. I researched a little farther and found out Tyco had a Pizza Hut and others that looked realistic. I didn't know Tyco had that much stuff back in the day.
There are certain structure kits that appeared under the the Tyco name that at various times also were offered by AHM or LifeLike or maybe all three. The kitbashing book by the late Art Curren had an appendix that tried to sort it all out; Curren was not at all shy about using such structures in his articles, such as the Mt Vernon Manufacturing kit that Walthers only recently dropped from production in its LifeLike line.
Dave Nelson
Tyco made a lot of nice structures. Sadly what they needed most was a decent drive.
Jim
Soo Line fanTyco made a lot of nice structures. Sadly what they needed most was a decent drive.
No, that drive was pathetic.
Tyco and others made many good looking structures and structure kits that can still be found online. These can be easily lit and dressed up to look even better. They also can be easily weathered and kitbashed.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
dknelsonThere are certain structure kits that appeared under the the Tyco name that at various times also were offered by AHM or LifeLike or maybe all three.
Don't forget to include kits by Revell, Con-Cor, Model Power, IHC, Aurora and others. You can find the same kits appearing under many of these names. Of course, some were the original producers and others just bought the molds or later runs from whoever owned the molds. I was surprised to find out how many kits sold under Tyco's name went back to Aurora and then later wound up as IHC kits.
jeffrey-wimberly wrote
AMEN! The Turbo Torque drive was absolute crap! It only lacked the smell. At the time Tyco trains were marketed as toys and weren't expected to last long. If you got one for Christmas and it was still running at New years you were A: very lucky, B: didn't run it much or C: you actually got a good one. Two things that really helped do the motor in were 1: It was badly made and 2: The main gear was made of very soft plastic that could be damaged easily.
Our MRR Club (during our Christmas Shows) will try and repair those around the Christmas Tree Train Sets!
We have found that most engines wouldn't run because they set the track up on the RUG and the Engine picked up so much FUZZ in the gears that the engines just stopped!
We have been able to salvage quite a few old Tyco - AHM - etc. just by cleaning up the gears and giving the bearings a little oil!
We have made a LOT of kids really happy to see the old train running again!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
A lot of these structures have been around for decades (1960s) and the molds were moved from one mfg to another. In fact, I just got the Walthers flyer yesterday and they showed "beginner structures" they now have for sale.
Well, don't think these are new, for I have the exact same ones under my layout, that were bought between the late 1960s and early 1970s.
BTW, with some total painting, dull cote, and added details, many of these structures will yield a very acceptable piece for todays layouts..........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Most of the Tyco kits were sold under various American names. Most kits are too small to be realistically served by rail, but I always thought the brick detail and other aspects were excellent, and make good fodder for bashing into something bigger.
Also, several of the kits are used as the basis for several businesses. The Ramsey Journal building is used in many other kits, as is the Superior Bakery, as is the undertakers house, to name a few.
To the OP's point: I believe the BK and Pizza Hut were accompanied by a Baskin Robbins too. I have never seen the KFC kit in a Tyco box, but I assume it was introduced by whatever manufacturer about the same time as those others.
- Douglas
DoughlessMost of the Tyco kits were sold under various American names. Most kits are too small to be realistically served by rail, but I always thought the brick detail and other aspects were excellent, and make good fodder for bashing into something bigger.