I’ve bought a couple of these Bachmann Spectrum Cityscenes buildings. They’re wonderful, however they’re few and far between. Are there any other makers that have comparable buildings for around $60 range? I’m sure I can find some for over $100 but that’s too much for me.
I’m currently building a Wather’s Cornerstone “Merchants Row II” building, and it’s just not up to snuff with the Bachmann Spectrum buildings
Try the best part about this hobby ,make it. Price less then $30.oo ,and you will appreciate more
Design Preservation Models makes a Modular Wall Bulk Pack that has plans to build similary sized structures. To my recollection the price wasn’t all that unreasonable iether.
James
Bachmann has ceased production of all their Spectrum buildings, so your best bet to find them will be Ebay. Some hobby shops still have them on their shelves, but they want full MSRP for them. You’ll be able to find them for much less on Ebay. When Bachmann announced early last year that they were discontinuin them, many outlets had fire sales on them. I ended up getting the skyscrapers for $20 apiece. Still don’t know what I’m going to do with 'em tho…
You have the skyscrapers? Buy them off you. Let me know if you’re interested in selling them.
I’ve asked this before, but does anyone know why Bachmann discontinued this line?
I myself have 2 hotels (yes, brought off a clearance sale), which will be the perfect basis of a large apartment building to be built any day now - some of the other buildings were very good too, although I didn’t really think the skyscraper looked realistic.
I’ve talked to “the Bach-man” over on their forum, and he said they just weren’t selling that much because not enough people have room to build cities in HO scale. Sadly enough, these buildings (the hotel more specifically) were what help me make the decision to go with HO instead of N.
Anyone have any of these buildings that they’re willing to sell?
Try Ebay
I’m looking for the Spectrum “Sears catalog home” that Bachmann released approx 12 or so years ago. It is a model of a 1920 or so era two story house referred to as a ‘four square’ and was actually sold as a (full size / not HO) kit by Sears in their catalog, along with many other, mostly smaller homes, especially Craftsman style bungalows, The kit # was #161- 88001 according to a 1994 Walthers catalog. (note - I’ve tried Ebay already) Thanks.
Bill
Those of you whom are looking for Bachmann skyscrapers may want to check Jay Cohen’s “fallen flag” kit outlet, he has them listed under Spectrum, although he has other Bachmann stuctures listed under Bachmann:
http://www.jaystrains.com/HO-HOn3/Structures/hostr7.htm
Another possibility might be Nixon Enterprises:
http://nixonenterprises.com
Good luck.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Bill,
Keep looking. I’ve snagged three of them (2 HO and one N) over the past 12 months, each for less than $20, and each factory sealed. It might take awhile, but they’ll eventually pop up.
jrbarney, thanks for the links.
Does anyone know if any company makes comparable quality to these buildings?
orsonroy –
Thanks for reply. I’ll keep looking. . .
Hey guys!
I was not even aware that these kits were no longer available and are in demand.
I saw at least one, but there may have been more of these at HobbyTown USA in Brandon, Florida.
I remember that the one large kit I saw looked impressive and realistic. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve last visited, but call information, look up the phone number and give them a call.
Hope this helps.[:D][8)][:)][tup]
I think maybe if companies like Bachmann and Walthers would produce smaller buildings other than the huge skyscraper or hotel kits. with the exception of a few people with big money and space who would have enough room for even one of Bachmann’s skyscraper kits on a layout? Bachmann, Walthers and others need to quit making these huge kits for like the blast furnace, great lakes freighter, and coke oven. they need more reasonably sized kits like walthers modern commercial bakery, flour mill and sterling dairy that are coming out this fall.
Well, there are a decent number of HO medium sized buildings out there, but you must remember that in the real world most buildings dwarf rolling stock - you see a huge expanse of concrete and metal distribution center, and along the botton, down low, a small string of reddish brown blotches - oh wait, that’s a cut of 10 60ft highcube boxcars!
Heck, even the mills of the 1880s were fairly big compared to the rolling stock of the time.
Anyway, the trend (well, since 1950) is to use these tall buildings as background flats (either directly against the backdrop, or in low relief with around 2 inches of side wall (I think Walthers sells this type of flat too), so they don’t have to take up a 2 square foot section of your layout…
Scale Model Supply
458 N Lexington Parkway
St. Paul , MN , 55104
phone: 651-646-7781
fax: 612-782-6982
has some, full MSRP.
Actually, there are already plenty of medium-sized building on the market currently. The Bachmann Spectrum kits were something needed by anyone building a major downtown urban scene. The problem was that the kit prices were simply too high. At half the MSRP I think they would probably have sold very well in the longterm, since once they started dumping them people fell over each other to buy them up. They are still in great demand on eBay. I’m using the wall sections from several of these kits in building a highly urbanized scene myself right now.
CNJ831
City Classics and DPM both make a couple of medium-sized office buildings that aren’t quite on the scale of the Bachmann big buildings, but are close in terms of detail and splendor.
The atlas “Lovely Ladies” series (Barb’s Bungalow, Kate’s Colonial, Kim’s Classic American Home) are probably the closest thing to the Sears-catalog house you’d find in plastic–newer laser-cut homes are even nicer, but cost twice as much and not everyone is eager to mess with wood.
Don’t forget to check “Heljan” (from Denmark.)
They made a number of American structures for the Bachmann Spectrum line.