MisterBeasley This is a City Classics kit, with a slightly different twist on decreasing the depth of the model. On the other side of the building, there are two windows towards the back that I wanted to preserve, so instead of cutting the side walls at the rear, I cut them at the front. You can see that the stepped parapet wall at the front is shorter than the others, but it's not something you'd notice.
This is a City Classics kit, with a slightly different twist on decreasing the depth of the model.
On the other side of the building, there are two windows towards the back that I wanted to preserve, so instead of cutting the side walls at the rear, I cut them at the front. You can see that the stepped parapet wall at the front is shorter than the others, but it's not something you'd notice.
If I decide to go with this kit and do a chop, and I am leaning in that direction. I would want to make it as simple as possible which would be to take one cut off the rear of each of the side walls. What I don't want to do is have to do a splice because my experience is that usually leaves a noticeable scar. Your idea of chopping the front off the one side wall would not work well for me because that is the corner that is most prominent in the normal viewing angle. I think I will just cut out as much as I need to take most of the rear side windows off. On the one side I think I can preserve the one small window.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
G Paine On my Custom House (see above post) I cut out one of the windows. That worked out just right Take a look at the single and double windows on the side wall shown on the kit boxtop picture. IN my Custom house, the opposite wall was blank, so no problem there
On my Custom House (see above post) I cut out one of the windows. That worked out just right
Take a look at the single and double windows on the side wall shown on the kit boxtop picture. IN my Custom house, the opposite wall was blank, so no problem there
Assuming the side walls are the same as the LB&T kit (formerly the YMCA building) It looks like the best solution is the one Mister Beasley came up with and that is to cut off all the back windows from the sidewalls (on one side, one small window would remain near the rear). That would require chopping about 2 7/8 inches off the side walls leaving a depth of 4 inches plus the footprint for the stairs. That's a little shallower than what I wanted but the structure will be flanked by taller buildings on either side so the lack of depth won't be too obvious. Still keeping all options open including selecting a different structure. Right now I'm leaning toward chopping off the rear.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
MisterBeasley I think this was the YMCA on the package. I made it into a downtown railroad station. It's on a narrow shelf, so I cut the side walls and roof to reduce it's depth.
I think this was the YMCA on the package. I made it into a downtown railroad station. It's on a narrow shelf, so I cut the side walls and roof to reduce it's depth.
I had considered a chop job but that ran into snag. The Public Library kit is the same as the Liberty Bank & Trust kit except for the front walls. The LB&T is the same kit that used to be sold as the YMCA building. I built that structure as a Post Office in my largest city. The best place to do a chop would be off the back of the side walls which would eliminate the need for a splice. Unfortunately, that puts the cut in the middle of a window opening. There is one section in the middle of the sidewalls with no windows that is 2 1/8 inches wide. If I take 2 inches out of that, it leaves only 1/8 inch between windows. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but it is a negative. The third option would be to take more than 2 inches off the back which seems to be what you did.. That might be the best idea but I'm wondering if that would look right in my space. Still considering this kit or I might just go with a different structure.
If you like the structure, just cut 2" off the side walls to make it fit. there is no rule that says you have to build something to the kit plans, just a litte kitbashing.
I built the Walthers bank kit, which is similar to the library to represent the Portland Custom House on the Boothbay Railway Village layout, and had a similar problem. I just cut about 3" from the middle of the side walls, and to fit just fine. The original kit had 4 side windows
Thanks for the tip on downloading the footprint. I hadn't noticed that feature. Sure would have been nice if they were more specific in their catalog. It seems to me they used to do that. I'm still old fashioned enough to go to the catalog first.
Looking at the PDF, I think the depth is 8 1/2 inches and that includes the front stairs. Unfortunately, that is 2 inches too deep for my space. Too bad because I was going to use it as a city hall building in my midsized town and I thought it had just the right look for that. It's also on sale right now about 20% off MSRP. I suppose I could chop a couple inches off the back with a little surgery.
Looking closer at that structure, I now realize it is basically the same structure as their Liberty Bank and Trust kit. It just has a different front. I have the LB&T kit and that is also deeper than it is wide but doesn't have the front steps so it isn't quite as deep. Still too deep for my space though.
John - That's an issue that has irritated me for years. It's the manufacturers that furnish the data and Walthers ought to instruct them how they want it. Call Customer Service and they'll have someone check the box. 1-800-4TRAINS. And yes, I understand it's a Walthers kit, so Marketing oughta pay attention.
jrbernier Just go to the Walthers website, and download the PDF of the footprint. It is 8.5" wide....
Just go to the Walthers website, and download the PDF of the footprint. It is 8.5" wide....
Hmm. May want to double check that. There's a little bump out on the left side of the pdf footprint which looks like the front steps. That makes me believe the depth of the building is 8.5 and the width is 6.5.
Maybe I'm wrong but it's worth looking and making your own decision.
T e d
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
The dimensions of this kit are listed as 8 1/2 x 6 1/2. Unfortunately, it doesn say which dimension is the width and which one is the depth. If the depth is 6 1/2, this structure fits perfectly in the available space and is exactly they kind of building I was looking for to fill it. However if 8 1/2 is the depth, it won't fit at all in the space. Looking at other structures in their catalog, they don't seem to be consistent with which dimension is listed first. Most of them seem to list the depth first but on the very next page of the catalog (243), the large US Post office has 13 1/2 as the first dimension and that is clearly the width.
Looking at a picture of the public library kit, it looks almost square but if I had to guess, I would say the width is the larger dimension but that is far from certain. One the boxes of their kits, they indicate the dimensions with the orientation but not in the catalog or on the website.
I am going to my LHS tomorrow and if they don't have this kit in stock, I would have to order it but I wouldn't want to do that unless I am sure of the dimensions. If anybody has this kit and can tell me the true dimensions, I would appreciate it.
PS. I find it very annoying that Walthers doesn't make the dimensions clear in either their website or their catalog. In the future, I don't think I will be buying their catalog if they can't provide this very basic information.