Hi all.. I am looking for input. I am looking to add a police station to a CITY layout. I am having trouble finding kits that meet my needs. I have not ventured into scratch building, I think that I haven't reached that skill level yet... I model in HO and I'm looking for a fairly skinny building, about 3 1/2 or 4inches wide.. and 3 or more stories high. Something that LOOKS like a police station or municipal building even if the kit isn't designed for it. any leads or input would be appreciated!
thank you
This one? Life like, so probably not the highest quality ... But worthwhile with some detailing.
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/433-1382
njguy:
What era are you modelling? If it is an older building then City Classics has a number of buildings in your size range that could be made to represent police stations with simple signage:
https://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=H&manu=City+Classics&item=&keywords=&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
Their kits do require some work to build. For example, you have to sand the edges of the walls to make them fit properly, and painting is a bit complex because everything is molded in place. However, they are nice buildings when finished.
Here is one by Lunde Studios that looks the part, but it is a bit larger than you want:
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/396-31
Here is another one that has the right charactaristics:
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/405-38199
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Any city town house can be re porpoised into a police station. Put some garish blue paint on the lower level, put a couple of blue globes on the outsite flanking the entry, and don not forget to litter the place with empty donut boxes.,
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Three of the Walthers Cornerstone structures come to mind, depending upon how fancy or plain you want your police station.
Public Library
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3493
Liberty Bank & Trust
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3772
Industry Office
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-4020
Rich
Alton Junction
Walthers Cornerstone has released several kits over the years based on the same basic design. The Public Library and Liberty Bank above are two of them. Before that, there was the YMCA building.
I bought one and "repurposed" it into a railroad station. In my case, the building was too deep, so I used a razor saw to shorten the side walls and the roof and take off about an inch.
This building out of the box is probably a bit wide for your space, but with careful planning (look where the windows are) you can usually find a line to cut top-to-bottom on each side and take off some width.
These are a couple of the City Classics buildings also mentioned above.
Again, I cut the side walls down a bit to squeeze them in between the street in front and the tracks in back. There are a couple of other models with the same footprint and a different front you should check out.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi
buildings are often repurposed.
http://www.langleymodels.co.uk/shop/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2elangley%2dmodels%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fOnline_Catalogue_OO9_Rolling_stock_56%2ehtml&WD=lamp%20gas&PN=Online_Catalogue_OO_Scale_Accessories_NEW_Items_F220_onwards_19%2ehtml%23aF227_2e#aF227_2e
The fourth I think item down may be usefull a wall mount old style lamp that says police on it.
No mistaking who is in that building on such a small item, I don't think the slight scale size difference will show.
If your period is early enough PC Plod escorting junior home to tell his parents what he has been up to, could be a worthwhile mini scene.
Today the result of that would be both very politicaly incorrect and in some places against the law.
regards John
http://www.langleymodels.co.uk/shop/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2elangley-models%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fOnline_Catalogue_OO9_Rolling_stock_56%2ehtml&WD=lamp%20gas&PN=Online_Catalogue_OO_Scale_Accessories_NEW_Items_F220_onwards_19%2ehtml%23aF227_2e#aF227_2e
Made the link clickable. Neat stuff.
hon30critter
Thanks for sorting the link.
I think option two the rail op's building looks like a police station to me.
Just needs the police type items to identify it.
And no empty donut boxes it would look real good the council ranger fining a policeman for breaking a city council by law for littering.
I'll just point out that the OP is looking for a narrow building - 3 1/2" to 4" wide.
There are a number of DPM buildings that might work
https://www.walthers.com/exec/search?manu=243&category=Structure&split=30
Two story buildings can be easily bashed int taller buildings.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Hi,
I used to be on the NYPD in both Queens and Staten Island. Keep in mind, that most precincts have a parking yard for the vehicles, and a gas pump. I don't know about rural buildings, so you have to look around.
Clint
I guess it really depends on the most common architecture in the locale your layout is set in. Here in Fullerton, California, the police station is "Mission Style" and looks a lot like, well, a Spanish Mission.
Hornblower
Growing up in New York State in a small town we had our police sharing a building; the municipal building to be exact. They used a side entrance for the police and parked the patrol cars in front (diagonal parking). Just a thought.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!