Hi,
I am 37 years old, and from St. Louis MO. I am new to this hobby and I am in the process of designing and building my first layout. I have always wanted to build a real layout ever since I was a kid and got my first TYCO train set for X-mas. Last year I bought an Atlas True Track layout, the Northside Valley Line, and played around with that for a while but I did not weather cars, do scenery or structures. That layout wasn't big enough for me so I am now attempting to do it "for real" and so far I am enjoying the process of maximizing my space, and trying to get everything I want into the space I have. I have a 10 x 22 foot space to play with and look forward to getting track down and running trains.
I am snowed in at home today so I am putting together the C. Smith Packing House structure from DPM models. I have put together one structure already, it was the Mt. Vernon Manufacturing Company from Life Like Precision Engineered. The DPM model has a lot of what I think they call flashing that all the windows and walls have hanging off of them. Then you have to file and sand that stuff down. I really do not like doing that part, I would like to just paint,weather and glue everything together. Is their a company that makes structures where all of the pieces are just in the box, and all you do is detail and put together? The Lifelike model was like that and I really enjoyed putting that one together.
Thank you for your responses.
My railroad, my rules!
There are several brands out there that has models already assembled, Atlas, Walthers, Woodland Scenic are some of the easier ones to get at your local hobby store but you also pay extra for it. But kits can vary a lot as well. I have put together a house kit from Atlas and it required very little trimming and it has been a mixed bag with Walther kits.
Unfortunately, it's pretty common for a plastic model kit to have some "flash" that needs to be cleaned up. Even if there isn't flash, you often have to sand or trim the spot where you remove a part from the casting sprue.
Other than Life Like, Atlas comes to mind. I haven't bought one of their structure kits in more years than I care to say, but they should be pretty simple. I think Wm. K. Walthers Co. sells some kits that are fully colored and designed to snap together without any glue at all. Log on to their site and check 'em out.
As many have, you may become bored by what the hobby refers to as "shake the box" kits (you shake the box and the parts assemble themselves). There are a myriad of kits available from slightly more advanced than where you're at now to the so called "craftsman" kits. They're not called that because only Bob Villa can build one. In those you basically get materials and what amounts to a small book on how to build whatever it is the kit is for. You supply everything else, including considerable expertise. You'll gather that expertise building the simple stuff.
Your approach is smart in a way because by having easy to build kits you can populate your layout quickly and always go back to detail or weather as time and interest permits.
Happy railroading
Lou
It took you 37 years to get started, what's the rush. You have at least another 37 years to clean up the flash. Be patient.
The DINGER line Free Lance Steam to Diesel
Welcome to Model Railroading!
My first train set was a TYCO also! And I picked MRR'ing back up again around 33 years old.
Sadly Walther's recently discontinued their Gold Ribbon series. But you might be able to find them on eBay:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=H&manu=walthers&item=&keywords=gold+ribbon&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=walthers+gold+ribbon&_sacat=See-All-Categories
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I agree that eBay is a good option. I picked up 3 used - and nicely painted and weathered structures for less than I would pay for a new kit. I know some people enjoy the building part, but others not so much, or they are not as good as they would like to be.
I also picked up two built-up houses new from my hobby store. More expensive - but I could NEVER have made them to look that nice.
My Build Thread: https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/185298.aspx
Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephenkingsmaine
Since you are in STL, have you popped accross the river to K-10 model trains in Maryville Illinois? Well worth the trip! http://www.k-10smodeltrains.com/ make note of opening times as they are not very standard.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
The Great Train Expo will be in St. Charles on the weekend or the 28-29.
http://www.greattrainexpo.com/
I will be going to the train show. I have never been to one so I am looking forward to it.
I do enjoy putting the structures together and painting them myself..I just hate filing down the chad is all.
Aralai I agree that eBay is a good option. I picked up 3 used - and nicely painted and weathered structures for less than I would pay for a new kit. I know some people enjoy the building part, but others not so much, or they are not as good as they would like to be. I also picked up two built-up houses new from my hobby store. More expensive - but I could NEVER have made them to look that nice.
I like E-Bay myself for certain things. Awhile back I built a 4'x8' layout for my nephews & I found everything on e-bay. I would usually buy larger lots of stuff & use what I wanted and the rest would go right back up for sale. Often times I would get almost as much & sometimes more for what I was selling than what I paid for it.
Michael
Never attempt anything you don't want to explain to the EMT
Try using an Xacto knife on flash. It will be faster than filing and sanding.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
These tools will also help a lot:
http://www.micromark.com/SEAM-SCRAPER,7547.html
http://www.micromark.com/PATENTED-CAM-ACTION-SPRUE-CUTTER,6442.html
http://www.micromark.com/PROFESSIONAL-SPRUE-CUTTER,9277.html
Although to be honest, unless it's a really small delicate part, I like to use by good ole' Xuron rail nippers. These things are worth it! It will really cut down on your cut time. (Pun intended)
1trackmind Is their a company that makes structures where all of the pieces are just in the box, and all you do is detail and put together?
Is their a company that makes structures where all of the pieces are just in the box, and all you do is detail and put together?
Yes. Just about any company except DPM. Actually, every manufacturer kits has "flash" issue from time to time depending on the kit. You'll also discover warped walls occasionally also from just about every manufacturer. Its great that you like to paint them, since I don't like the tedium of trying to paint the molded in windows on the DPM 100 series products. Many kits have separately molded windows and parts that are differently colored from the walls. DPM's 200 series kits and their modular walls are like this. Don't recall offhand if your kit is a 200 or 100 series.
DPM kits are more in-town or business district kits whereas other manufacturers have more kits that represent railroad served industries, like your Life-Like kit.. The DPM kits are fairly unique that way, are quite popular, and are excellent kits for the money. But yes, you probably will have to fiddle with them more.
A company called Smalltown, a division of Rix and Pikestuff, make building kits that are "towny" like DPM. I never built one so I can't speak to their quality, but I think they are quite popular also. They have a website under the Rix name I believe.
Beware of ebay purchases of building kits that have been assembled by someone else. Glue spots and poor paint jobs can really detract from the crisp tooling. Taking you time with a kit will reap benefits for the next 30 years. Plastic lasts forever you know.
- Douglas
I actually did it backwards in that a couple of years ago I did my first structure project with a scratchbuild of a grain elevator/feed mill. It was a version of Maxon Mills from the Kalmback book titled "Lineside Industries You Can Build". I didn't build the entire structure, as it goes against my backdrop on my layout. What I built was complicated enough, with intricate roof lines and wall structures. It wasn't a great piece of work but it certainly was a learning experience. It took me about a year to build, working on it on-and-off. I surely don't regret starting out with a scratchbuild as it prepared me for any kit that is out there. The tough part about scratchbuilding is that just about every part has to be made, which, when you've gotten through measuring, cutting and fitting each and every part, kit building is relatively easy. By that time, just removing flashing from parts becomes a minor inconvenience. The only advice I can give on scratchbuilding is to not do it like I did - - start small! I did sometimes feel overwhelmed by such a large project that I wasn't quite sure where it was going at times.
Welcome to Model Railroading and, above all, have fun, it's a great hobby!
Welcome back to the hobby. I'd suggest you pick up some of the Blair Lines laser cut wooden kits. They're relatively simple to assemble, and they have separate window moldings, that are more scale to size. There are a couple of things to remember when assembling a laser cut wooden kit:
I think you'll be happy with the results.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I've put together a lot of kits from a lot of manufacturers, including Atlas, Model Power, IHC, Walthers, Blair Line, DPM, Kibri, Heljan, and probably more that I've forgotten. I'll tell you one thing: every manufacturer has the odd kit that just doesn't come out right. Quality control just ain't there.
A couple of the suggestions are good ones. A good pair of sprue nippers, a sharp hobby knife, and an 8" mill file go a long way towards minimizing the amount of "retooling" you have to do on a kit, and making short work of it when you do.
Kind of like me and ballasting, which I don't like to do but tolerate it because of the improvement it makes in the appearance of the track, cleaning up model kits is something you'll just have to suck up and get through.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
1trackmind:
Welcome to the hobby!
I second the suggestion about trying a Blair Line kit. The lazer cut stuff is pretty accurate and you can paint individual pieces before assembly which makes for a much better appearance. Also, give Bar Mills Scale Model Works a try. These are the only 2 lazer kit manufacturers that I have tried - there are lots of others. Just remember to thoroughly prime the wood with cheap auto primer before painting with acrylic paint so the parts don't warp from moisture absorption.
I have also built a few Walthers kits and the amount of flash is negligable.
There is another method that has almost no flash whatsoever and that is scratch building. Give it a try. The results can be very satisfying.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thank you to everyone for the suggestions. Maybe I am just overwhelmed right now with the first layout, and all that goes into the whole process. I have not tried a wooden structure yet , but I will add it to my to do list.
I recently made the wooden Hog House kit and it was the first wooden kit I have made. It ended up pretty good and was not too difficult.
The definitive website for railroad structures, both kit and scratch-built, is Railroad-Line.com. You can find all the information and help you may need there, from very friendly and helpful people.
Cleaning up the castings comes with the territory, I'm afraid. When I start work on any of the four-walls-and-a-roof kits, I expect to spend at least a month on it before it's really layout-ready. Part of that, of course, is having a full-time job, and being a weekend skier and also the family chef. The rest requires patience, Grasshopper, patience.
Trimming the flashing and sprue links is the first step. As such, I don't mind it. It's simple and mindless, and starts the process going. While I do it, I think about paint selection and how I'm going to detail and light the interior. There's also layout preparation to work on while the paint dries, including driveways and sidewalks. Ads "painted" on the walls require scouring the web for old logos, and printing out decals. Assembly of a building is a relatively minor part of the whole construction process.
With the right tools and a bit of practice, you'll be surprised at how quickly your modeling skills develop. Enjoy the journey.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thank you all for your suggestions.