After putting together several buildings I have noticed several short-comings of popular kits. So I created a list of what I would pay a little extra for to see improved:
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If a model has large openings, or windows, I would pay for molded interior details like a wood floor and brick walls on a car shop.
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Mullens in windows were real and not printed on
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“Simulated Stained Glass” windows are clear decals applied to “Glass” and not printed on white paper.
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Use of small chain and not string where appropriate like on water towers
What shortcomings have you noticed, and what would you pay extra for?
My preference now is for laser kits like the JL Innovative line. These kits come with a lot of detail parts that allow you to really build an interesting scene. Interiors are not included in most kits, but there is often plenty of scope to detail out an interior if it is going to be lit. Most of these style of kit have good quality window and door plastic castings from places like Grandt Line. I agree that the windows in some of the plastic kits leave a lot to be desired.
For plastic kits I would pay extra for separate window and door castings. Painting window and door frames that are molded into the wall can sometimes drive me nuts (although I do enjoy doing it!).
Scale window mullions,electric meter boxes with conduit for powerline access, gutters and downspouts, rooftop details,(doorways ventpipes,chimneys)
Yep, the little extras make a difference.
Maybe having the kit built different ways without having to kitbash, to help out the structurally-challenged.
Maybe lighting instructions or add-in kits, or moving parts, perhaps?
Add different tips to the instructions like they did with the “Dummies” books like “Windows for Dummies”.
-Dave
I think Suydam made the best kits in way of included details (HO scale). They often came with full interiors, lights, signs, and nice exterior details like electric boxes, gutters etc… It was always a pleasure to build their kits. And although they are not the easiest to build, the results of a finished model are well worth the build/paint time.
To bad this type of detail no longer seems to be the norm in the hobby. And Suydam is no more (although a new company…Alpine something) owns the rights to the old Suydam kits, few have been re-released [:(]
Many of my layouts most complimented buildings are Suydam, like the grocery store, interlocking tower, orange packing house, and a very nice 1950’s California style house.
So what would I pay extra for? Interior details and included lighting just like what used to come with most Suydam kits.
im cheap so i would make my own.
I’m an N scaler, and as any N scaler knows, most ready-built N scale buildings greatly lack in detail… I’ve always had to do all the weathering and so forth myself, and would be willing to pay a few dollars more if all that were done at the factory where they were made. It sure would save me a lot of eye strain…
Tracklayer
Hmm… for me it would be interior and extirior lighting. And different colors for the houses. I know some built kits come in different colors then the do-it-yourself kits but how bout making them all that way. Interior details would be nice too a kitchen table to go inside the kitchen that you could put some ppl at eating a meal. stuff like that I would pay more for.
Some thing I would not pay more for and hope does not go away anytime soon is the kits them selves. I like to build my buildings and also build my rolling stock, and the jury is still out on the locomotives for me as well. I like to build them but also dont mind getting the RTR locos but please leave the rest of the rolling stock alone and let me build the kits.