I saw a Don Winters kit the other day for the Crested Butte station. It looks very detailed and cool. However, I did a Google search for "Don Winters models" and drew a blank.
Any opinion on them? Will the withstand outside use?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Although I never built the C B station I am very familiar with many of Don's rolling stock models going back to the days when he was doing everything in ON3.
Don passed away a couple of years ago after a long battle with cancer. He had been an early and inovative reasearcher and modeler in the ON3 hobby and was one of the first to move up to large scale kit production back when large scale was 1:24 for finescale work. After several years of retirement Don started to offer a few kits in 1:20 scale (Around 2000-2002). These were timely and well received because there was nothing much available RTR. I think the structure kits were some of the last of Don's offerings. Phils Narrow gauge (PNG) has reintroduced Don's drop bottom gons( with upgrades) and I think he is planning a few more re-releases.
Don was a model builder and he expected anyone that bought his kits to be one also, therefore they were usually very limited when it came to instructions and pre cut detail parts from wood. However he was always available to answer any questions and send extra parts (at no cost) if you messed up and needed them.
In case you haden't picked up on it I weas a big fan of Don and the way he ran his model business. I probably have 6-8 pieces of his rolling stock that I have built and a few yet to assemble.
I think that covers your blank on Google and and opinion of his models. As to it's outside use, with correct construction and sealing it should do very well.
Later
Rick
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month