the coaling tower I have is the larger concrete one and it actually has 4 tracks involved. The photo attached shows the major walls of the kit 'scotch taped' together so I could see exactly how much space I would need and how to space the tracks. Also, the fourth track, which is elevated about 1/2" for the hoppers to unload the coal, had to be exact. I cut the rails inside the building so I can remove the model from the layout when necessary. As it turns out the 1st track is a little close to the building but I can't be sure until I build the coal chutes as see how far out they go. This is where track spacing dimensions would have been very helpful and something Walthers could have easily supplied on the box or instruction sheet. Surely Walthers has assembled one of these?
- Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
When Walthers initially introduced the modular line, each packet listed for $9.98. Looking at the catalog listings, I realized it would take a major investment to build anything. The price kept me away. Now the list price has dropped to $5.98, with the sale price of $3.98 I recently purchased two of the casting plants for $7.98 each. I haven't had a chance to build one yet, but the system looks like a good addition to the DPM modulars. The new price point should encourage more modelers to give them a try.
I agree they should be a little more specific on what's actually needed and what's not included for the construction. I have been scratchbuilding and kitbashing for nearly 40 years, so I have a pretty good idea of how that works. I needed a large brick structure for my layout and was going to kitbash it, but saw the modulars on sale. I downloaded the design template and worked out what I thought I'd need. The prototype of my building didn't have pilasters, so I didn't intend to use them. From the instruction sheet, I thought the pilasters were an add on overlay that went on top of the wall sections, not an integral part of the wall that was required for the wall to go together. Well it becomes reorder time, with me frustrated because I now have to spend more and wait longer, which was another few months for the pilasters to come in since they were on a slow boat from China.
In the long run, it would have been easier and cheaper to kitbash what I needed from a couple of other kits than use the modulars. Once I use up the parts I have left, there'll be no more modulars for me.
I don't have a local hobby shop so it's internet ordering. Had I been able to see a package of these in the hobby shop, it wouldn't have taken long to know what was and wasn't there. Without a hands on, I'm totally dependent on the description in the add or on line. The lack of clear information has kept me from ordering a lot of stuff I would have otherwise. In this case I still most likely whould have ordered a Walter's product, just a different one that I was familiar with. Come on manufacturers, give us the information we need to give you money.