It helps to see what quality "styrene kits" are available to model as-is, for kit-bashing, and building flats in front of city/industry/scenic backdrops. Here are two sources...
[1] Woodland Scenics (former Design Preservation Models) and eBay DPM.
[2] eBay Plaza Japan Store (apx. 800 structures).
Note: Japanese N Scale (1:150) is compatible with our N Scale (1:60). You can also convert a building kit to another purpose -- Convert a bank (kit) into a passenger union station, and add an island platform (kit).
Also see Dave Vollmer's N Scale Juniata Division for what can be done in N Scale (see Lewistown) on two hardwood doors. The newer staging module captures the essence of the Enola Yard (see YouTube) just north of Harrisburg, PA, and; note the bridge structure's ability to act as a view block along with the hillside. This layout will be part of the Great Model Railroads 2014 special issue.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Mr. LMD I know. I do not have room for single family homes, so I'm going to have apartments instead to maximize my space for people to live. The look of the buildings will have that same grimmy looking appearance like the Downtown Deco buildings.
I know. I do not have room for single family homes, so I'm going to have apartments instead to maximize my space for people to live. The look of the buildings will have that same grimmy looking appearance like the Downtown Deco buildings.
Are you looking to build a town or a city? The apartments and grimy buildings you describe speak to a city rather than a town. A town will tend to have individual or company houses, even close to the track. Going to either a town or a city is a good choice, and would make an interesting setting for the railroad, but would have a different arrangement of buildings and types of buildings depending on which you model. Apartments mixed with a general store for example would look out of place, but would fit with a West Bottoms type plan.
tgindy It helps to see what quality "styrene kits" are available to model as-is, for kit-bashing, and building flats in front of city/industry/scenic backdrops. Here are two sources... [1] Woodland Scenics (former Design Preservation Models) and eBay DPM. [2] eBay Plaza Japan Store (apx. 800 structures). Note: Japanese N Scale (1:150) is compatible with our N Scale (1:60). You can also convert a building kit to another purpose -- Convert a bank (kit) into a passenger union station, and add an island platform (kit). Also see Dave Vollmer's N Scale Juniata Division for what can be done in N Scale (see Lewistown) on two hardwood doors. The newer staging module captures the essence of the Enola Yard (see YouTube) just north of Harrisburg, PA, and; note the bridge structure's ability to act as a view block along with the hillside. This layout will be part of the Great Model Railroads 2014 special issue.
I already made a list of DPM and Woodland Scenics structures for my layout I just need to know what additional buildings i would need to call the community around my branchline railroad a town. I saw a few Japanese buildings that could be converted into American buildings uses. I have Mr. Vollmer's layout website bookmarked and usually browse his layout every now and then because he done a great job on his layout.
Mr. LMD, Owner, founder
The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad
jmbjmb Mr. LMD I know. I do not have room for single family homes, so I'm going to have apartments instead to maximize my space for people to live. The look of the buildings will have that same grimmy looking appearance like the Downtown Deco buildings. Are you looking to build a town or a city? The apartments and grimy buildings you describe speak to a city rather than a town. A town will tend to have individual or company houses, even close to the track. Going to either a town or a city is a good choice, and would make an interesting setting for the railroad, but would have a different arrangement of buildings and types of buildings depending on which you model. Apartments mixed with a general store for example would look out of place, but would fit with a West Bottoms type plan.
I am wanting a city, but due to space I am settling for now a town. I have seen a few layouts including one on Tracks Ahead that use Downtown Deco buildings not to make a town, but just a few shops to depict a town or city is near the railroad. I would like to have that look for a certain part of town to have the downtown lively area and the bad sides of the tracks.
Mr. LMDI am wanting a city, but due to space I am settling for now a town.
Another crazy idea- a PORTION of a city that supposedly extends beyond the visible and modeled portion of the layout may possibly be more effectively represented than a small town in a limited space.
As I remember back in the days of live TV drama, a director said if he had only budget for 10 people in a crowd scene, don't set up the camera to make sure you show all ten (to get your limited money's worth!) Rather crowd your ten people together and have the camera focus on only 7 or 8 in the middle of the crowd with one or two at the edge, suggesting that they are part of a crowd that goes on and on.
leighant Mr. LMDI am wanting a city, but due to space I am settling for now a town. Another crazy idea- a PORTION of a city that supposedly extends beyond the visible and modeled portion of the layout may possibly be more effectively represented than a small town in a limited space. As I remember back in the days of live TV drama, a director said if he had only budget for 10 people in a crowd scene, don't set up the camera to make sure you show all ten (to get your limited money's worth!) Rather crowd your ten people together and have the camera focus on only 7 or 8 in the middle of the crowd with one or two at the edge, suggesting that they are part of a crowd that goes on and on.
That's why I already planned on having flats on my layout before I made this post. Didnt know I had to explain that. Oh well.
He's not really talking about flats. He's talking about implying that there's stuff where the aisle is.
NittanyLion He's not really talking about flats. He's talking about implying that there's stuff where the aisle is.
The only structures or industries that are going to be closer to the aisle are my postal service warehouse, my harbor, downtown entertainment area, and other industries (brick, lumber complex, steel mill, and quarry).
Might sound weird, but I am going to combine both the fire and police station together and going to have a salt storage structure to give the appearance they the town has a snow removal services.