I saw this model kit on Ebay and thought it would be an interisting structure on my HO layout. I ordered one and was surprised at how well this kit was made and detailed. I built it and weathered it to fit the 'honor of its fame' for those who remember the Hitchcock movie. This would make a great structure on many layouts and I just wanted to share it with everyone. I still have some small details to finish but the kit comes with a stone step structure like the one in the movie, which I plan to use, and a base. Even Normans' mother figure is in the upstairs left window.
-*Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Disregarding the horror movie heritage, it could also be finished with bright new paint and multi-pane windows as the home of the railroad's president or the county's political kingpin. Either would be historically accurate. That style of construction was common in the Northeast.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Bob, who makes it?
Jarrell
You simply must have Arbogast (Martin Balsam) walking up the inside stairs -- or falling backwards down them (one of Hitchcock's cleverest and cheapest special effects ever):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bieIiX5KLQ
Dave Nelson
jacon12Bob, who makes it?
Would it be one of our model railroading ancestors from the 1960s -- Alexander Scale Models? There was a memorable monthly MRR black & white ad.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
didn't Polar Lights make a plastic kit also?
Does any one have/have you seen the Grimm's Funeral home from Downtown Deco ?. How did it come out for you, the one I purchased there were lots of hole in the outside of the walls, the back of the tower where the mold came together was really thin on one side,thick on the other and in two places parts of the wall was broken. I could live with the broken wall pieces they could be glued back together, but the tower and the voids in the outer walls I was not happy with. I took it back for a refund. Now I don't know if I got a bad kit or what but if you have this let me know how it turned out (if you have pictures please post )
He is really good about replacing any damaged or defective parts.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Pola didthe kit. Now all that you need is the motel down the hill and the quicksand in the back of the property.
Sorry, but the kit is from a company called Polar Lights
Here's mine!
They also do a kit of the Adams Family house(doodily doot snap snap, doodily doott, snap snap )
Karl
NCE über alles!
BTW technically not a "mansion" just a house. Victorians tended to have large families so houses were much larger in the 19th century than recent decades. Go into most any big city's older residential areas and you'll see many houses like this, many being used now as rooming houses.
Here is the link to Polar Lights
http://round2models.com/models/polar-lights/psycho-bates-mansion
This kit is about to get hot again. In case you haven't heard A&E will have a new series called the "Bates Motel" in March. Its a prequel to the Hitchcock film yet set in a modern setting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2188671/
Oh and to Bob the OP, the kit came out great!
Thanks for all the comments on the model. The kit is made by Polar Lights and includes an LED but I don't like the blue/white light it puts out. I am using a flickering yellow/amber LED from one of the tea lights sold at the Dollar Tree; 3 in a pack for $1.00. I just take them apart and use the LED which has the flicker circuit built in. I also use it in a 55 gallon drum as a flickering fire for the yard workers to keep warm.
This kit is very well made and the corners fit exceptionally well. I was really surprised and very pleased. Also, I thought about finishing it as a new or well maintained victorian home but the picture on the box was just too much to pass up.
-Bob
kbkchooch Sorry, but the kit is from a company called Polar Lights Here's mine! They also do a kit of the Adams Family house(doodily doot snap snap, doodily doott, snap snap )
Ohhhh.. love those stone steps! Where did you find those? And the street, that's a good concrete color and center line, how did you do those?
The steps came with the kit, the road is just 020 styrene, aged concrete (Floquil) weathered and the center stripe is, believe it or not) whiteout (correction fluid) from Bic, comes in a squeezable ballpoint pen type applicator.
Glad ya like it!
It's a nice looking kit. I bought one for the layout to make as a haunted house, but it looks so good, I thought I'd keep it as a nice old Victorian home that survived into the early 1950's.
Thanks Karl, especially the tip on the Bic whiteout. It looks very uhhh... controllable, which l've found is the chief obstacle to getting good stripes on roadways.
SOmewhat off topic, but my wife & I saw the movie "Hitchcock" yesterday. It's about the time Hitch made the Psyco movie. If you like Hitchcock movies, you shoud see it. It is in limited run, not at the major movie house chains. Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Helen Mirren as his wifehttp://movies.yahoo.com/movie/hitchcock/
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
To do the Addams Family one, it will require interior detail. Particularly, a model railroad, with two locos hitting head on and exploding, with Gomez standing nearby cackling with glee.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Mobius Models has come out with 1313 Mockingbird Lane, the Munster House. I got it as a Christmas present. Very nice kit. They have also announced Mel's Drive in from American Grafite. Yes, in HO!
Gary B
Fox River Valley Railroad
gsrrman Pola didthe kit. Now all that you need is the motel down the hill and the quicksand in the back of the property.
With the back end of Janet Leigh's car sticking up out of the quicksand, just before it sank.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Love the attention to detail! What kind of car is that in the driveway?
Merlin43 Love the attention to detail! What kind of car is that in the driveway?
If you don't get an answer it's because the last post is 2 1/2 years ago. The OP might not still be watching it.