Hi everyone and happy 4th of July! I am starting to notice that some of the N scale buildings that are available, are not really that good. One thing I noticed is that the scaling isn't very life like, well at least on the one building I looked at, the roof of the factory was about as wide as the train track was. I just don't think that's how it is in real life. Can or does anyone know of a company that makes decent scale buildings? Buildings that are life like in relation to the size of the train and of the buildings as they would relate to one another in real life? As always, thanks a bunch for your thoughts.
Are you sure the factory you were looking at wasn't a "flat"? Some manufacturers have produced buildings to put along the backdrop, so they may only be an inch or two wide. For brick buildings, I've had good success with DPM (Woodland Scenics), Walthers Cornerstone, and Downtown Deco. For wood buildings, I like Bar Mills.
If you find a building isn't big enough, you can always purchase multiple kits and kitbash them together.
Scott
I'm pretty sure it wasn't a flat. This is the actual name of the item. If you can see it next to a train or even track you'll see what I meqan.
You have a good idea there with the kitbashing, I'll have to remember that. Thanks.
Most of the buildings, if not all are to scale. I don´t think you can judge the harvest from one foul apple you picked.
I wasn't judging the harvest, I merely wondered if anyone knew of a company who manufactures decent buildings and/or scenery, thanks.
Irishbug:
I do HO, but I agree that most building kits are too small. They are to scale, but an industrail building needing a boxcar a day would need to have ten or more times the volume of the car. Most of us do not have that king of space. Combining two or more kits, or using flats are solutions.
Dave
Go to the Walthers search page at https://www.walthers.com/advanced-search-tips then select Shop All Departments, then select Layout, then Structures. When that page opens, scroll down if needed, select N Scale.
That should give you a good start on what is available in N.
Jim F
Irishbug I wasn't judging the harvest, I merely wondered if anyone knew of a company who manufactures decent buildings and/or scenery, thanks.
When I was in N Scale 4 years ago I used Walthers structures and Woodland scenics scenery material.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Irishbug,
To The Forums.
Take a look at some Walthers Cornerstone details & kits:
https://www.walthers.com/walthers-cornerstone/scale/n-scale
As a matter of fact....keep the link and use it to search for other Mfger's offerings of kits in N-scale. Real easy to search for items..once You get used to navigating the site...pretty good reference catalog.
Take Care!
Frank
Stay away from Bachmann Plasticville and Modelpower structures. I think you´d be much happier with buildings from the following companies:
There are probably others I have not mentioned, but a Google search will always help.
Hi Irishbug:
You might consider kit bashing to get the buildings you want.
I'm in HO but the same principles apply, although N scale will be a little more finicky.
Here is one example where I wanted a longer background building. I started with this:
And ended up with this:
I know you are not looking for background buildings. I only show this as an example of what can be done. In your case, if you can find a suitable structure to use as a base, start with one kit and then add additional kits as needed by joining them together.
Keep in mind that butt joints are not the strongest things on the planet, so you should use some form of reinforcement on the seams and the roof, something like this:
In this case, the original kit was designed so that the walls were bevelled to meet at 90 degrees. I used styrene tube at the joints to make them solid. The seams are painted black to stop light leakage.
You can also see the roof braces. Having a stock of styrene on hand is a good idea.
Please ask questions if you have any.
Regards,
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hi Irishbug
Well I am going to throw the pidgeons at the cat and say you are best at both.
Because regardless of how good the quality of the product you purchase is.
The final product that ends up on the layout is all down to you and how much work you are prepared to do to it to arrive at what you want.
Some of the lesser quality products actualy paint up quite well and with some detail changes / additions will become exactly what you want and at an affordable price and time frame as well.
Most of the structure models we buy are way to small even the most modest line side industry should be at least twice the size of the ones we use and the manufacturers make most things have had some compression to some degree or other.
I have the Model Power ex Hornby ex some one else High Speed Train shed well thats four kits and still two more to buy
Thats just to get it big enough for a model train, it would require another seven kits and more space than I have to get it up to prototypical length.
Most kits are like that.
regards John
John BusbyMost of the structure models we buy are way to small even the most modest line side industry should be at least twice the size of the ones we use and the manufacturers make most things have had some compression to some degree or other.
While that may be true for buildings represent larger structures, i.e. big factories a.s., it´s certainly not necessarily true for the smaller buildings and for craftman´s kits.
I think we should be rather careful with such generalizations.
John BusbyI have the Model Power ex Hornby ex some one else High Speed Train shed well thats four kits and still two more to buy Thats just to get it big enough for a model train
I think John and I are talking the same language.
John Busby:
It would be interesting to see some pictures of your train shed.
John:
I sent you a PM.
Hi Sir Madoc
I don't think it is a generalisation most of the track side industry used on a model railway is to small.
A real railway just would not service it as they just could not generate the business required.
To get big enough industries for the traffic generation requires kit bashing
combining more than one of the same kit or scratch building.
I do not include railway goods sheds in this as they come in all sizes.
How ever passanger stations are also all to often to small.
I would argue about the only buildings anything like the right sizes are the houses
and corner shops even the apartment blocks are to small not enough floors or big enough foot print.
I don't nesasarily think this is a bad thing because without it most of us could not
build a working layout.
I am about to start building a bar a very nice and characterfull kit if it was real it would not last a week in bussiness.
Not enough room for enough patrons so it could turn a profit even if I do the Euro thing and have some tables out side as a designated smoking area or for alfresco service depending on era.
Hi hon30critter
Your going to have to wait untill I have all the shed kits two more to find and enough Peco inspection pit kits to put it all together.
Would apreciate ideas for how to suport all the roof end joins its going to have to be done all as one structure.
John BusbyI don't think it is a generalisation most of the track side industry used on a model railway is to small. A real railway just would not service it as they just could not generate the business required. To get big enough industries for the traffic generation requires kit bashing combining more than one of the same kit or scratch building.
I agree..Unlike HO, N scale allows you more room to enlarge any industry building simply by kitbashing 2,3 or more kits.
Its my opinion the Pikestuffs buildings is better suited for nonrail served industries,kitbashed into larger industries or used as flats along the backdrop. A 45' trailer would overwhem the way to small recieving/shipping dock by the time one allows for the manufacturing area,rest rooms,breakroom and office space.
I think we talk about to different things here.
The OP stated that he finds N scale buildings too small, either by scale or by undue selective compression.
That I noted is not true in general and there are lots of manufacturers who offer kits and RTR structures in the correct scale and dimension.
However, some buildings, although correct in scale, may be too small to represent fairly the industry they are designed for the, i.e. the buildings need to be enlarged, either by adding another floor(s) or by adding an extension or both.
That is a completely different story and kitbashing is the best remedy for that.
Sir MadogThe OP stated that he finds N scale buildings too small, either by scale or by undue selective compression.
A lot of the N Scale industries falls into that category especially those from Pikestuff,Model Power,Bachmann,Life Like to name a few of the offenders..
The majority of the bigger Walthers kits is fully believable like the ADM,Superior Paper,George Roberts Printing,Metro Power and Light and others.
As you may already know there's a lot of kitbash modeling going on in the "Normal" Scale.
Had I knew (at the time) that my new medication was causing my eyes to blurr I would have never sold my Normal Scale stuff. I had a very nice collection of Atlas Southern and N&W locomotives along with my C&HV.