I’m getting ready to take the plunge on scratchbuilding my first N scale structure, and I could use a little advice on supplies. Since I’m two hours away from a LHS, I hope you folks can make some recommendations for manufacturers as well as online ordering options.
I’m looking to build a brick packing plant, with a railside loading dock that has five warehouse-type doors for loading reefers. So … whose brick sheet do you like? And how about the warehouse doors? I’m modeling 1954, so I’m thinking swinging doors instead of rollup (or am I wrong there?). Who makes 'em? Most windows will likely be the masonry-type, with some double-hungs in the office areas. Suggestions?
You could make it with parts from DPM. They have N scale bulk packs. The doors are molded plastic which would fit right in for the era You are modeling. They build up into nice structures.
Gloor Craft makes really nice window and door castings, and a bunch of other bits and pieces as well. I use a ton of Evergreen siding products, from Clapboard to Board and Batten. For Brick, I like the variety that Plastruct offers. They range in scale from 1:200, which I use for N scale, all the way up to O scale.
I also have a junk box that I’ve accumulated over decades of kitbashing. Most of what I do comes out of there, so the origins are sometimes shrouded in the mists of time…
Thanks for responses, guys. I was aware of the DPM modulars, and they’re definitely an option.
Lee, to answer your question, I’m free-lancing the design of the building. It’s nothing very fancy (after all, it is a packing plant). But I’m working out the design using a graphics program, and will use brick and other textures from cgtextures.com to create a mockup before I start construction. In the meantime, I’m using Legos (the big ones) to make sure I like the general shape of the main structure and an attached secondary structure.
Thanks for posting the pics. I’ve long admired the roundhouse, and the others are equally excellent.
One question on the Plastruct brick sheets: Is their 1:200 scale their closest to N scale, or do you prefer it for another reason?
I like it because it has very fine detail. The texture is “there” enough to see, but not so crisp that you can see what’s NOT there, like bricked arches over windows and detail work. The station building you see above is an actual prototype, and if I worried about being totally true to form I’d drive myself crazy.
The also offer some slightly larger brick, about equivalent to the old Holgate and Reynolds sheets, if you want more detail. I can’t recall the scale they claim it to be, but a quick spin over to the Plastruct website would probably provide all the info you need.
If you’re that far from your hobby shop, you may want to call ahead to make sure they have what you’re looking for.
I have used the DPM modules in the past, and they worked fine. Lately, I’ve working with Walthers’ line of modules and I really like them. The pieces are thinner than DPM’s, and easier to work with. And right now they are on sale from Walthers. That said, I also always have a good supply of Plastruct and Evergreen sheet stock on hand as well.
One other tip. Never throw away any extra pieces or off-cuts from any kits you buy. I could probably cobble together several buildings from my ‘parts box’ alone.
Thanks to all for your responses. At this point, I’m leaning toward the DPM modulars for this project, but will give the Walthers version a look. I’m thinking modulars might be the way to go since this is my first attempt at something like this.
Thanks also for the mention of Gloor Craft earlier. That’s a new one on me.
Incidentally, has anyone used the Rusty Stumps line of etched doors, windows, etc.? Looks like an interesting product, but I haven’t heard anything about 'em.
