Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Top Ten Fine Scale Miniatures Kits

13091 views
78 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:57 AM

Besides laser kits, I've assembled two three HO craftsman kits: Alexander Scale Model (ASM) freight house, ASM flag stop, and a diminutive Suncoast Models FM concrete coaling tower.  All primarily wood, with a few pieces of cast metal.

Many, many hours went into cutting, assemblying, painting, and illuminating each structure, as the majority contents for each kit were primarily uncut strip wood.  The drawing for the coaling tower was in 1:1 dimensions so I had to convert everything into 87.1:1 before cutting.

A rewarding experience, once completed.  And each of those kits will share the spotlight on my next layout.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:51 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
I have built my share of wood kits, and some of the newer lazer cut kits are very nice, but honestly, I would rather work in plastic be it kit or scratch built.

 

My two cities will be very different. Centerville will be all plastic or resin buildings of brick construction. Port Annabell will be all wood buildings from wood kits or scratchbuilt.

-Kevin

 

Kevin, I love every example of your model work I have ever seen in the photos you post.

Because it is the nature of things here in the Mid Atlantic I will have strong mix of buildings that represent all types of construction.

But I am not automaticly a fan of the idea that wood is the best medium for models of wood structures.

Just like in real life I'm not a fan of the molded in wood grain of vinyl siding and other modern building materials. It looks like what it is  - fake. You don't see the wood grain in real wood buildings in good, or even fair condition.

Wood sided buildings are baby butt smooth when they are built and painted, and even when they are left to age, you can't really see wood grain 200' away. You may see the variegrated colors of aged wood, but you need to be pretty close to see the wood grain.

Just my view.

When I build a wood structure, it gets sealed, sanded and painted to look smooth.

Sheldon 

 

    

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:24 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
I have built my share of wood kits, and some of the newer lazer cut kits are very nice, but honestly, I would rather work in plastic be it kit or scratch built.

My two cities will be very different. Centerville will be all plastic or resin buildings of brick construction. Port Annabell will be all wood buildings from wood kits or scratchbuilt.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:14 AM

richhotrain

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Years ago I bought two Bachmann 2-6-6-2's for $75 each, new in the box, never ran. Why so cheap? Soundtraxx was working on a deal with Bachmann, Bachmann sent the locos to Soundtraxx, the deal was abandoned.

They put the locos on Ebay cheap to get rid of them. Clearly they knew what they were worth..... 

 

 

Yikes, I paid $225 for mine at my LHS in 2004.

 

Rich

 

Don't feel bad, I paid over $200 each for two others that I have, and nearly $300 for the C&O H4 version.

But if I dollar cost average my entire loco roster of 140 powered units, that number is only about $110 each.

Back to structures for minute. I have built my share of wood kits, and some of the newer lazer cut kits are very nice, but honestly, I would rather work in plastic be it kit or scratch built.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, May 13, 2023 7:55 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Years ago I bought two Bachmann 2-6-6-2's for $75 each, new in the box, never ran. Why so cheap? Soundtraxx was working on a deal with Bachmann, Bachmann sent the locos to Soundtraxx, the deal was abandoned.

They put the locos on Ebay cheap to get rid of them. Clearly they knew what they were worth..... 

Yikes, I paid $225 for mine at my LHS in 2004.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, May 13, 2023 7:46 AM

I have a thought on something else that has been brought up in this thread - finding bargains.

Sometimes sellers don't know what they have and they let stuff go for well below market value.

AND sometimes, whether they know or not, they simply don't care. They want to be rid of whatever itis as quickly as possible. The profit is secondary.

Years ago I bought two Bachmann 2-6-6-2's for $75 each, new in the box, never ran. Why so cheap? Soundtraxx was working on a deal with Bachmann, Bachmann sent the locos to Soundtraxx, the deal was abandoned.

They put the locos on Ebay cheap to get rid of them. Clearly they knew what they were worth.....

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, May 13, 2023 7:25 AM

Sold them for years when I worked in the hobby shop. Had a good friend who's layout had that sort of theme and he built lots of them. They are works of art, and in my opinion my friend made them better than the originals.

I've built lots of other craftsman kits, Campbell, etc.

But in general, FSM kits don't fit my era or theme all that well.

I'm sure I could take one and turn it into my vision for my layout - but as presented they are not my thing.

Never saw one that I felt would fill that perfect spot on any of my layouts.

While my layouts often have had some rural structures and industries, my theme has always been to depict a small city, a reasonably prosperous one, and the rural areas either side of that city.

Industry can be messy and dirty, and old building do show age, but even when I sold MATCO TOOLS in the oldest parts of Baltimore, few buildings/businesses showed the kind of neglect often protrayed in FSM kits as presented by their designer.

These kits are simply not in line with my life experiance - even with my considerable time spend in rural Appalachia. Even the people in West Virginia know what a paint brush is......

To those who are struck by the prices - look closely at the complexity and detail. I have no problem with their value - if I wanted one.

Sheldon 

    

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Fruita, CO
  • 541 posts
Posted by slammin on Saturday, May 13, 2023 7:23 AM

 SeeYou190 That was a great find! If the seller knew what he had, the title would have included Campbell and Fine Scale Miniature and most likely brought a higher sale price. Several years ago I ran across several listings that were titled Model Train Accessories. I purchased 5 lots of new Kadee freight cars (close to 20) for less that $5 each! Sellers that don't know what they are selling usually ask many times the value. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, May 13, 2023 6:38 AM

Got a bunch I have bought over the years but of the ones I built only one has ended up on current railroad. They are very cheap now compaired to what they used to sell for.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 13, 2023 12:49 AM

crossthedog
Ha! Ch-chingggg! That's the way to do it. Way to go.

Recently snagged this one on eBay. A Campbell Howe Truss Bridge and a Fine Scale Miniatures engine house for $30.00!

Yes please!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Saturday, May 13, 2023 12:14 AM

SeeYou190
The prices ar ecoming down. These have been like my collection of brass USRA locomotives. For some reason people bought them and stored them for me until I could afford them. Then they sold them to me at reasonable prices.

Ha! Ch-chingggg! That's the way to do it. Way to go.

I do admire them. They look fantastic.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 12, 2023 8:37 PM

BigDaddy
Pricey kits.  I do not have any, but out of curiosity: Barnstead 

Barnstead Lumber is a masterpiece with a retail store, millwork shop, lumber shed, and storage shed all parts of the diorama.

In my opinnion, it certainly deserves to be at number one.

crossthedog
I cant' afford those, not even at swap meet prices. People buy them as investments. They never build them, just sit on them and then sell them eventually and buy a yacht with the profits.

The prices ar ecoming down. These have been like my collection of brass USRA locomotives. For some reason people bought them and stored them for me until I could afford them. Then they sold them to me at reasonable prices.

I don't know why so many people bought these kits just to sit them on a shelf for decades, but I sure am glad they did.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 12, 2023 8:37 PM

IRONROOSTER
My favorite is the Coal and Sand Shed.  It's the only one I own and was a gift from my wife many years ago.

I assume that is Kit #115. I own one of those also. I plan to build it with the coal shed as a storage shed. My intention is the use the Alexander models coal tower for my coaling needs in that area.

Kit #180 "Sand House" (it also includes a coal shed) is number 11 on my list, and is also one of the kits I own.

richhotrain
Never owned any.

I did not buy by first one until about a year ago. I simply had to have Barnstead Lumber, and then I got it for about $175.00, and the same seller sold me R Schramm Manufacturing for an easy $125.00 when I asked about it.

I have gotten very good deals on pretty much every one I have bought. I have eight now.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, May 12, 2023 6:43 PM

crossthedog

I cant' afford those, not even at swap meet prices. People buy them as investments. They never build them, just sit on them and then sell them eventually and buy a yacht with the profits.

 

LOL. That's what they used to say about Department 56 collectibles.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Friday, May 12, 2023 6:30 PM

I cant' afford those, not even at swap meet prices. People buy them as investments. They never build them, just sit on them and then sell them eventually and buy a yacht with the profits.

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Friday, May 12, 2023 6:00 PM

Me either, Rich.  I have enjoyed the few AMB kits I've purchased and assembled over the years.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, May 12, 2023 5:18 PM

Never owned any.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, May 12, 2023 4:31 PM

Pricey kits.  I do not have any, but out of curiosity:

Barnstead 

Schramm

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, May 12, 2023 4:08 PM

My favorite is the Coal and Sand Shed.  It's the only one I own and was a gift from my wife many years ago.

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Top Ten Fine Scale Miniatures Kits
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 12, 2023 2:28 PM

Just out of curiosity, what are your ten favorite Fine Scale Miniatures kits?

These are mine:

195: Barnstead Lumber Company 1981

190: R. Schramm Manufacturing 1980

200: Rollin Sawyer Chemical Company 1982

JS-12: Oatman's Mercantile 2009

JS-15: Brownsville Depot 2012

280: Cartwright's Machine Shop 1994

265: Swakhammer's Welding 1990

JS-10: Avram's Baking 2007

175: Rail Car Shed 1979

Special: John Allen Structures 1981

-Kevin

Living the dream.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!