Hello fellas and ladies if appropriate. As I begin to delve into the possibilities of numerous vendors for building kits I am curious about opinions on the Bar Mills offerings. Some of the Bachmann kits look unrealistic to me, relatively speaking. Can anyone share their experience?
I have not done any of their buildings, but I use their Instafence kits a lot. Also, when they were in production, I have made a few of their signs. I liked what I got, and will buy more fence kits as the need arises
I just recently finished Curry’s and Dunphy’s (built at the same time). Having built Craftsman kits by JL Innovative, Micro-Scale Models, Downtown Deco and Cibolo I found the Bar Mills kits to be of incredible quality and slightly higher than average to build skill-wise with a lot of details and requiring much patience. I would say the major challenges were fit of roof pieces and those amazing storefront windows lazer cut from some thin mat board that are just impossible to trim once sub-assembled. The models were relatively easy to paint and came together quite nicely in the end. I also built a FOS Scale kit which was equally awesome. Both have step by step instructions, cool signs and tips on weathering and other detailing.
I’ve seen their booth at the Springfield train show. The built-up models they have on display are certainly nice models. I haven’t found a place for any of their models on my layout, though.
There are a lot of small companies that make what have come to be called “laser kits.” The components are mostly wood, but they come as pre-cut (with a laser) sheets of thin wood.
These are both models from Branchline Trains I built for my layout:
There’s a lot involved in building these kits, but it’s not particularly difficult. It takes time and patience, but the skill set you need is not much different than for any other kit.
But, don’t dismiss plastic kits. I am very fond of the “four-walls-and-a-roof” models, particularly for urban buildings. I put a lot of time into these, too, painting, illuminating and detailing so that each one is a unique model all its own. By adding illumination and interiors, signs, ads on the walls and things going on outside in the street, you can get a lot of “play value” from building an inexpensive plastic kit and be rewarded with an eye-catching scene. The station is a re-purposed Walthers Cornerstone model, and the two taller buildings are from City Classics.
Be happy with the wide variety of choices you have.
I love the look of all of yours. When I went to my first train show two weeks ago i was overwhelmed wihtt he choices. As I have had time to reflect I remember there was a tremendous amount of already assembled buildings. As I am just now planning my layout I think i may wait until my next train show in June and see what buildings are offered there. I know this is a long term process, the planning, but I am just discovering the wide array of options. I appreciate the feedback from all.
I would take it easy on buying too many building kits at once. I did that when I was just starting out, and I ended up with a few that have been sitting unbuilt in my workshop for years. I realize now that I may never have a place for them.
Mr. Beasley has a good point. Buy your structures as you need them, and don’t let them stack up on you. One can easily end up with too many of this or that with no appropriate place to put them.
Bar Mills structures (I’ve done a few) are on par with most other laser kits and can produce a nice finished piece of work. BUT, if you are starting out, I find the Cornerstone kits to be great values. They are almost all plastic, put together nicely, and their offerings are many.
I have several of their kits and I have enjoyed them all. My only negative comment is that they are very light in weight however I added some weight to them by using additional wood (popsicle sticks) to strenghten some walls and also adding some maluable clay to the inside of the buildings for additional weight.
While I appreciate the sentiment, a kit may not be around when you want to build it. So if it’s one you really like, buy it now.
At least half of my kits are no longer available. And frankly, there are a number of kits I wish I had bought when they were available. And no, many of them do not show up eBay. If I live long enough, they will all be built. But if not, so what. At least I have the option.
Enjoy
Paul
I have built Bud Smiley’s Gas Bar and Mooney’s Plumbing Emporium. As has been said, you need to take your time, and I would suggest reading the instructions thoroughly (if that’s not too obvious a statement). Bar Mills includes a pamphlet with a lot of good hints, and their website has several very helpful videos.
Both built into really nice kits. The instructions are clear and the fit is good. Mooney’s was built as per the instructions but Bud Smiley’s was kit bashed a bit to make it fit better against the back wall. I detailed Mooney’s interior because it will be right at the fascia.
In hindsight I would have done Mooney’s a bit differently in a couple of respects. First, I didn’t think about the internal bracing interferring with the interior details so the braces are too visible. I would do the bracing differently. Secondly, the right (or warehouse) side of the structure has a two level floor which doesn’t make much sense when you think about moving stock in and out. I don’t think it would be too difficult to change that aspect. You would have to make up a stairwell for the back door and raise the rear warehouse windows a bit but that’s no big deal. I also put the two barrels on the dormer platform as per the instructions but that doesn’t make sense either. There is no obvious way of getting them up there.
If I can comment about when to buy kits, I personally suggest planning your layout first including what structures you want, and then buy them. Future availability is hit and miss with some manufacturers, although Bar Mills itself seems to be pretty reliable.
Unfortunately, this is all too true. While I regret some purchases because I never had the place to put them, at the same time, I regret some non-purchases because they disappeared from the market. If you know you really want something, then you should buy it now. The model railroad life-cycle of availability is indeed a short one.
Well, after rereading my post I find I just didn’t get my thoughts down properly and expected you all to read my mind…
By all means one should buy the structures “up front” and build them as they can. But, one should do some serious planning to make sure what they do buy ahead of time will actually fill a need on the layout. Buying structures for the sake of buying structures (like some of us have done with rolling stock, etc.) is not the way to go.
Oh, add “Better Than Scratch” (BTS) structure kits to your list of good ones!
I like the Bar Mills kits as I have done a few.I’ve done a couple fsm kits as well as some other craftman kits. I think the quality of the kit is important but more so what the builder puts into the build with coloring and weathering that will make it a great kit.
I have several Bar Mills kits sitting on the shelf that as many have mentioned, I liked at the time and bought and perhaps may never get built. I also have some SW kits and higher end DPM kits.
My layout is big in my standards and I some times grow tired and loose interest in working on it or just darn frustrated in making a decission. So yes buy if you want it but be aware you will probably loose on them if you ever need to unload them.
Joe:
You are going to miss a lot of fun and entertainment and sometimes a little muttering under your breath if you buy pre-built structures. Building kits is half the fun of modelling, at least it is for me. My biggest problem is that I have already built most of the structure that I will use on my layout. However, I have only detailed and illuminated a few of them so I still have lots of work to do.
Dave