N Scale Family houses

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi ,

I am just building my layout . I want to model a nice little town with theese typical colourfull shops an diners of the 50´s. And I d like to model an avenue of family homes - I mean theese one and two story houses with a little garden and a double garage. You remember the movie “Back to Future” - Marty´s home, the “Lion Estates” and this really cute location of “Hill Valley”?
If I put now a look on the walthers katalogue, the manufacturers offer lots of industry buildings, factories, office buildings, gas stations etc. but no homes for my n scale citizens. Does anyone know manufacturers that offer some of theese family houses?[8)]

Chris

2

Model Power makes the largest line of American-prototype two story houses in N scale:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=490&item=&keywords=house&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

Doing a more general Walthers search for “house” yields 20-30 kits appropriate for your needs by several manufacturers (stay away from Pola & Faller):

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=house&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

And a search for “home” yields fewer, but as useful kits (especially check out Atlas):

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=home&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

Finally, look to Tichy for a great and extensive new line of N scale windows, doors, and details:

http://www.tichytraingroup.com/index.php?page=view_category.php&category=Framed+Windows&offset=0

Scratchbuilding houses in plastic, in N scale, isn’t hard at all, since you don’t need to add as much fine detail. I model in both HO and N, and scratchbuild structures in both scales. N scale is by far simpler, faster, and easier than HO, and doesn’t use up nearly as much materials (for example, a single sheet of Evergreen clapboard siding and a single sheet of Plastruct HO brick sheet - for shingled roofs - yielded me about 40 8x12 section houses in N scale, for about a full Saturday’s work!)

3

Atlas also has a nice set of houses. They are available already built in 3 different colors and as a kit.
I added one each of the 3 colors in a residential neighborhood on my layout. They look very nice. I have not built the kit, but think it has many possibilities for kitbashing or alteration to change the appearance.
Atlas also has a forum at www.atlasrr.com. There is an n-scale section on that forum. You may find it helpful.

4

[quote]
Originally posted by orsonroy

Model Power makes the largest line of American-prototype two story houses in N scale:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=490&item=&keywords=house&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

Doing a more general Walthers search for “house” yields 20-30 kits appropriate for your needs by several manufacturers (stay away from Pola & Faller):

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=house&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

And a search for “home” yields fewer, but as useful kits (especially check out Atlas):

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Structure&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=home&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

Finally, look to Tichy for a great and extensive new line of N scale windows, doors, and details:

http://www.tichytraingroup.com/index.php?page=view_category.php&category=Framed+Windows&offset=0

Scratchbuilding houses in plastic, in N scale, isn’t hard at all, since you don’t need to add as much fine detail. I model in both HO and N, and scratchbuild structures in both scales. N scale is by far simpler, faster, and easier than HO, and doesn’t use up nearly as much materials (for example, a single sheet of Evergreen clapboard siding and a single sheet of Plastruct HO brick sheet - for shingled roofs - yielded me about 40 8x12 section houses in N scale, for about a full Saturday’s work!)

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Cool [8D]Thanks a lot ORSONROY!
IThe links had been perfect. I have just made my orders. The Tichy Shop gave me the right hint for my downtown area bringing up a little of the Chicago fascination scratchbuilding some big buildings.

There is one more thing - maybe you can help me aswell:
The most important details that make a town look American are fireescapes and rooftop water reservoirs. I have the common dpm bu

5

Gold Metal Models makes some great detail parts to make fire escapes, ladders, & so forth.
Many of the rooftop water tanks can be made from bottle tops or other items that can be scratchbuilt into a water tank. You can get 2 or more Model Power housing kits & repaint them. Many times, a similar house will be built nearby, with a different color trim. You should also look out for Heljan or other European kits. If you can find one, the Bachmann Sears House makes a nice kit. You may also find wood kits for detached garages. A small house will have a small 1 car garage.

6

The Gold Medal Models fire escapes are your best bet in N scale. I’ve also kitbashed the Alkem industrial walkways into N scale fire escapes (you get more material for less money).

As for water tanks, Alloy Forms makes one in N scale, but it’s a little small. Use their HO version. You can also kitbash N scale water tanks from Atlas, Dyna Products, or Bachmann.

7

Rooftop water tanks are pretty easy to build, too. I built one out of PVC pipe with Plastruct scribed styrene sheeting wrapped around it, and styrene 1"x2" strips wrapped around it–although one could use narrow striping tape for a finer-scale look. The top can be a flat piece of styrene, or a circle of styrene with a wedge cut out to create a conical top. Just build a frame out of scrap styrene or wood and glue on a bit of ladder…mine cost about 10 cents in materials and took about an hour to make, not counting waiting for the paint to dry.