I am looking for some modern era (1980 - present) structures for my layout. Many but not all of the Cornerstone kits seems to be 1950’s and earlier. I have the major industries for my layout already decided but I am looking for some otehr modern era stuff for along the tracks and to add more realism . Nothing too big. I am trying to keep them to 6" x 6" or less. Anyone have suggestions or pictures ?
You mention Cornerstone. Have you looked through Walthers catalogue?
Pikestuff industrial metal buildings used as COMMERCIAL stores, gymnastics studios, etc.
Specific fast food and identiable commercial chain buildings.
Probably less than 10 to 15% of generally available commercial kits are specifically modern, but modern scenes have older buildings too…
I know Kato N has plenty of modern buildings, I don’t know about HO…
Are you looking for residential, commercial, institutional or what???
Some kits that ought to work for modern houses… European kits might need tile roofs replaced with shingles…
Bachmann Ranch-style house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-45154
Bachmann split-level house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-45213
Bachmann contemporary house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-45432
Heljan ranch house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/322-218
another Heljan ranch house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/322-1774
Heljan suburban house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/322-1773
He;jan modern house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/322-1783
Heljan modern house w carport
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/322-1793
Here is the age-old IHC “three houses under construction”
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/348-711
and here is what I did using 2 of the three houses….photographed today:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/548/GlurkNeat.JPG
IHC ranch house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/348-4944
Kibri duplex apartments
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/405-8723
Vollmeer ranch-style house
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/770-3712
Right now I have a coal mining operation that transitions into a small city scene. I am trying to find structures to help with that transition. On the other side of the city I will transition back to an industrial and yard area. Again, I am looking for transitional structures.
I’m primarily using Walthers Cornerstone structures on my layout. They’ve started producing more modern era models lately, but many of their other ‘older’ models could still be seen in use during modern times.
I just took a trip to Savannah, GA (a very old city, established 1733), and while driving around, I found many rail-side industrial buildings still in use that were built many years ago. To name a few, I found buildings that resembled Walthers Carshop, Northern Tool and Power, Sunrise Feed Mill, Medusa Cement, and although a bit more modern, even Peterson Tools. Savannah also has a paper mill that kinda resembles Walthers Tri-State Power, which is a modern kit.
Keep your eyes and mind open, and you’ll find alot of ways to incorporate old buildings into a modern layout.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for modern industrial warehouse parks, I’ll second PikeStuff as they make alot of modern industrial buildings that would look perfect too.
Modern cities and towns have old buildings too. It’s not hard to update old structures to fit into a modern scene.
Most towns were established during last century or earlier. you can just modernize builings to what you see now. different windows and tenants, hairdressers, tanning and nail salons, computer stores ,phone stores,tax and accountants, antique shops replace mom and pop stores, tv and radio shops, drug stores,soda shops etc