What do you think of lifelike kits? I have just aquired the KFC kit, and i think it looks great! Yes, it does look a tad plasitcy, but i think it is a cheap good looking kiy=t.
Some other kits that i like are the National Oil co, Mount Vernon Manufacturing (This one has tonnes of potential) and the Ace Super Market.
So why do people think that they are cheap and plasticy?
I am aware that a few month ago i had a discussion on the pros and cons of lifelike, but i dont feel that this discussion really did the buildings and scenery justice.
Well the buildings aren’t bad. To get rid of the plasticness airbrush with flat model paints then weather it. Now it wont so toy like. Or you could paint it with a brush but it can dry kind of shiny.
Well, I think if it works for you, then it will work for you. [:)] Quite a few will have same thoughts as me on that. Others might try and steer you into better kits. Which will provide much better detail and realism. But other hand, more exspense and time to build. With the cheap plastic ones, its amazing what some paint and little weatehring will do. Throw in a few details, maybe a couple of cars or some trach cans, a little scenery, and it will go a long way to shake that “plastic” look
Personally, I have a few nice structures on my layout, but mosty, they are cheapy ones. Bachman, modelpower, 2nd and 3rd hand me downs from garage sales and swap meets. As times goes on and skills get better, I pracitce on these weathering and detailing. And, they allow me to quickly fill the layout up. I would rather have a cheap building too look at for 6 months to year, than a bare spot of foam or wood. Its mucm more fun to me to set out cars at a building rather a blank spot
Yeah, they can be pretty good with some weathering and detailing, but the Mt Vernon Manufacturing, Ace super market and KFC Restraunt are pretty good out of the box
Alexander
There are a lot of inexpensive plastic kits out there that are really quite nice, but people shy away from for some reason. I suspect a lot of modellers buy these kits as first projects so many people have only seen them in that state. A lot of times, a good paint and weathering job will bring out the details that are there and otherwise gets missed.
Alex - For the most part, Life-Like structure kits are based on tooling that is decades old, or are actually older kits/tooling acquired from other manufacturers (Mt. Vernon manufacturing is arguably the oldest in-production plastic structure kit in the hobby, dating back to the mid 1950’s!). While some of the LL structures can be made acceptable through painting and detailing, none really stands up to scrutiny when compared to just about any of the latter day structure kits offered by other manufacturers. As “filler” structures lost amid a complex scene they are ok but, quite honestly, while LL kits were good fodder for the kit bashing articles in the 1950’s-1970’s, much better items are available today.
These are some of the oldest plastic kits on the market, think Revell made them first and Lifelike bought the company. The die work is very well done and with a little paint, these kits will look much better, The Western Homestead is my layout.
i think the greatest thing about them is their longevity. i was under the impression they were the old “Plasticville, USA” kits. this is a piece of hobby heritage even a neophyte can share. build them the best you can, display them proudly, and when you’re able to get the $200 craftsman kits your skill level will be ready to embrace the challenge!
The trick to inexpensive plastic building kits is to lose the image on the box cover and build it differently. Add a window here or door there, find a better window from tichy or grandtline if possible, add your own extras, scuppers,downspouts,electric meters, etc. Another trick is adding a foundation, even if it’s only two scale feet or so, it gives the building character and it has to be painted. There’s no such thing as" molded in realistic colors".
