I dont know whoms running the N scale side of Walthers but his marketing savy leaves much to be desired.
The two structures Walthers plans on putting out in the Sept/Oct time frame are lame.
Hello Walthers! are you reading this??? Start off with the same large structures you made in HO scale.
Rob de rebel
I love large structures, and have a fairly large layout (12 X 17’) but not everyone does. Walthers puts out smaller buildings, and you can always kitba***wo together, or double the size by not modeling the back if you want larger structures!
To all the above responses, “AMEN!!!” How about some big city stations? Walthers put out a Union Station in HO, how 'bout one in N? Contemporary houses would be nice, too. How come many manufacturers are turning out modern diesels and frieght (and even Amtrak equipment) and the autos and such are stuck in the mid "50s? Even the new Athern N scale (thank you for finally seeing the light Athern) equipment (F59s and Bombardier cars) is matched with trucks last manufactured inthe early 1970s. Things are getting better overall, let’s hope it keeps up.
I would like to see more house models in N. I hope that Atlas will produce a N scale version of Barb’s Bungalow in the next few years.
Walther’s has put out some really exciting kits in HO scale. I keep dreaming they will wake-up to the vast market on N scale modellers out there. Probably make me bankrupt if they came out with that stuff in N scale…Walther’s got anyone listening???
Some Articles in MR showed how to build high-rises and big buildings with card stock and plastics. Other articles showed us how to build molds, and use plasters an plastics of different kinds. I have found the best thing to do is to stop wishing and trying some of these methods out. I was not very good the first time…and even the second…but the sound advice by experienced modelers really works, and best of all, using these ideas can be relatively inexpensive…
When is Walthers going to release the reset of the steel mill building in N? I have the blast furnace and two rolling mills, but want at least the coke plant. I need to have the dimensions before I start planning my new layout. I wish Walthers would shorten the time from the release of the HO version of the building to the release of the N scale version. The new single track truss bridge would be wonderful in N!
It would be wonderful is DPM would duplicate more of the HO modular wall sections in N.
I agree with the comments that N can use more larger buildings. Also more houses in all time periods. Some townhouse/rowhouse buildings for cities would be nice, too!
I’d like to see more modern businesses, restaurants, retail. stores. Tomix , Green Max and Kato, make a lot of these for the Japanese market, but the U.S manufacturers don’t seem to want to spend any money producing these. Another company that makes some cool modern buildings is Rix Products Pikestuff line, they make a nice styrene line of prototype metal industrial buildings. Great for kit bashing or building as is.
Found this while seaching the net. Where is the best place to purchase modern N Scale structures?
Tichy. They’re aggressively attacking Grandt Line with a fairly new and extensive line of HO and N scale windows, doors, and trim (they also just bought the old Dyna Models line of N scale structures and rolling stock). They’re easier to deal with than Grandt Line, and usually have online sales. Pay by credit card, and you’ll have your order within three business days!
Wow, you really dug deep in the archives to bring this one back to life. [8D]
Two places that come to mind:
ebay. A lot of strange, old, and custom strutures turn up here.
I’m sure that others will add more places for you to look.
Three years later and still not much progress in N-scale structures! [:(!]
Walthers, at least for research into what’s generally available. Do an online search for N scale structures, and you’ll end up with six pages and 60+ manufacturers. That’s over 1700 different entries, which should get you started.
Let’s not forget the Con-Cor series of “Cambria City” buildings. One of the local shops usually has them for about $4.44 or so. They’re great for kitbashing. Just the other night, I took two of the “Best Way Shipping” kits and extended it. While I was at it, I cut up a pair of the printer’s buildings to make a big factory. It’s up to 2 stories now and has a nice long loading dock. (It’s going up against the backdrop so it’s only about half as thick.
Atlas has the Kate’s Colonial house kit in N. It’s pretty much like the HO scale kit though.
How about an N scale version of the Walthers HO modern water tower or similar water towers such as the PEACHOID on I-85 in Gaffney, South Carolina.
This is the water tower that looks like a peach on a golf tee.
Try Walthers; they came out with their water tank and two penstocks in N scale about two years ago.
This is a wish list for more variety in N-scale structures. Specifically - I’d like to see more modern day suburban homes (2000 sq ft plus w/garages), modern townhouse condos, & modern low-rise office buildings.
Most house structures I see are still those early 50’s homes (small), or European styles that have been sold since the early days of N-scale.
I’m sure that others can come up with many other N-scale structure requests as (IMHO) the industry has not really kept pace with the growth of our scale in this area.
“the industry has not really kept pace with the growth of our scale in this area”
I agree, totally. I can’t figure out why Walthers has not completely mirrored their HO structure line in N. If you try to find some of the early N scale Cornerstone kits you will find that most are sold out. Which leads me to believe they must have been good sellers, right? We are now starting to see some of these kits re-released but there is still a huge gap to be filled in this area. Perhaps they monitor forums like these and will see the need exists!
AMEN, Brother! All Walthers needs to do is look at the prices some of the older kits are commanding on eBay and they would see the revenue they’re missing. Unfortunately, i’ve got a Brach’s Candy Company, but it’s so tiny I’d like to use three to make a decent N scale small factory, but could buy several locomotives for what two more kits would cost on eBay! Design Preservation Models has withered on the vine since Woodland Scenics took it over as well, with very little new being offered. I had hoped for more industrial type wall modules so a Roberts Printing or Hardwood Furniture type building could be assembled to fit a particular plot. Alas, they seem to be converting even N scale into “Toy Train Alley’” with all the “prebuilt” structures coming out from Walthers! [:(][:(][:(]
Geez, I’m grumpy today! [:I][:D]
I think if Walther’s realized how much they alienate N scaler’s, they would be surprised. But think about it, if you’re in N scale as I am tell me if the scenario hasn’t happened to you time and time again. You’re browsing through MR and lo and behold, a new structure from Walther’s. You get excited because its a more contemporary structure, you examine it and love it; only to realize that yet again, and again, and again, and again… it is for HO. The situation is so bad that I try not to look at Walther’s new announcements because I know I’ll just get angry - and life is too short.
On the Atlas forum I started a thread that basically stated that in N scale we are doomed if we are hoping for structures that “FIT OUR SCALE” and not just a repeat of what is happening in HO. N scale can handle larger structures, and have more of a presence than they currently do. Most items that are available out there are one and two story structures - which just repeats what is happening in HO. N scale can cheerfully handle 4 to 8 story structures quite nicely.
I wrote that I felt that there was an N scale lack of consciousness amongst manufactures. To my great disappointment (I’d hoped I was wrong), Marty McGuirk came on and agreed with me, giving even further examples.
The problem with N scale structures awareness is that we will get little support from newbies into the hobby as they aren’t aware of the problem of N is not just a scaled down HO. N has its own laws and one of them is structures can be bigger. The next problem is that N scalers in the transition period are probably quite happy with one and two story buildings. Its us guys who love SD60’s and 90’s and centre beams and automax’s and articulated inter modal, and …and …and… who want the larger buildings.
So to N scaler’s, its time to learn scratch building.
I edited in this kudo to Downtowndeco as the company put out a limited edition structure which was quite large for an N scale bu
YES!! PREACH IT BROTHER! You’re right on the button!
Imagine being able to model parts of a city with large buldings - even highrises??
Amen!!!
I am all for modern BIG buildings.
Lets look forward not back.
WE NEED MODERN!!!