Hi!
The big layout features 027 and Postwar Lionel supported by “tons” of Plasticville accessories.
We are taking another close look at the layout.
Once again, we have two options and definite opinions:
Leave it as it is, just dust it.
OR
Eliminate the Plasticville and go another scenic accessory route.
Question:
(Aside from the usual “What floats your boat comments”) What is your feeling and/or opinion about Plasticville on a Classic Toy Train layout?
As always, many thanks.
I will never have a scale detail “O” gauge layout. I prefer the look of a traditional 1950’s Lionel layout. Scenery and accessories from companies like Lionel, American Flyer, Colber, and Plasticville. Maybe some grass paper too.,
I have a very detailed layout, and yet I have several Plasticville structures incorporated. Of course they are all weathered and painted, but they look good. I kitbashed 2 truss bridges together in my Narrows section, and my Ridgely tower is a slightly modified switch tower.
And i had to have the Frosty Bar (salmon and aluminum), which I plan on using on our North Pole layout.
I like the Plasticville buildings that I have and I an reluctant to get rid of them, but as time passes, there isn’t much that would still fit in on my layout divided roughly have snow village buildings from Lemax (and a few Dept 56) and more realistic buildings by MTH and Woodland Scenics. My layout doesn’t have much loyalty to “reality,” but the placement of structures does need to have some sense in its location.
I would probably not use Plastic Ville in a traditional manner - as is - so to speak. I have used Plasticville kits as a base to develop a different look. This was a plastic ville diner I bought for eight or ten dollars. This is how the original diner looked when I first started to plan the area:
The length is reduced from six windows and a door to four windows just by cutting a section out of the middle and likewise cutting a section from the roof. It is covered in thin steel in areas. Ramshackle window blinds and an interior were added as well as roof details and weathering.
In it’s modified form, it was just right for the available space.
This plastic ville “trailer park” trailer was modified to fit over a #22 post war switch mechanism. I had an awkward space and shoehorned in a used car lot:
I removed the switch mechanism cover and built a small wooden porch to conceal it a good bit and then modified a trailer by reducing it’s length, painting and weathering:
A CTT layout, gotta have Plasticville. Changing to all scale buildings would take away the “classic” part. Nothing wrong with blending the two I guess, you would be able to add some of the new you like without changing the overall look.
I like both but I do not like the gloss finish of the Plasticville buildings. I have found like others with some weathering and dull coat they can fit well into scenes.
My layout is semi detailed. The Plasticville buildings can work well with added detail.
So my quess it is up to the user what look they want.
Here is a log cabin that I added chicking to, a smoke unit, and moss on the roof.
Here is the Hobo Camp also added weathering and dullcoat.
Here is the Lionel coal building.
In my youth, I painted my Plasticville buildings. I glued wax paper in the window openings, and illuminated them. For one building, I made a small box with a light inside, and glued it around one of the windows of a house so it would look like only one room had its lights on.
Frank gives inspiration to the use of Plasticville stuff… I am trying to piece together a fire house with 4 doors like a small local department. Painting and small interior details make the stock stuff look and feel like its custom made. And if you can fit it in a desired space, like Frank, then its a bonus. Nothing is useless or out of bounds, just takes imagination(and time).
THANKS for all the input AND those pictures.
My personal choice is to dust it and leave it but, since there were different opinions around here, I thought it best to ask.
One thing, however, I think we will have to change is the grass. Because of original budget constraints, we got a terrific deal on and used green felt. While it still looks acceptable, is has (in my opinion) served its purpose. Am considering the Woodland Scenics Ready Grass vinyl mat.
Once, again, thanks.
LOL, green felt works for me.
FYI, I have the Woodland Scenics Ready Grass vinyl mat used in three shades of color and like it a lot.
I have a lot of Plasticville on my layout. I am not going for the scale look but what looks good to me. Have four or five railroad signal bridges(black, the older ones), and some single trackside signals, ordered some extra light pieces(green, red and yellow) for the signal towers and the lights look more realistic to me. The houses are very easy to put together. The apartment house came in two colors and you need to be careful when getting the add-a-floor for the apartment building to get the right color. My most recent purchase for Plasticville is the Turnpike building, the more current one by WBB.
Found some more - a Plastic Ville Coaling Tower:
I was going to make a flat using these, mounting a photo of a long line of hoppers and background to the wall and the using only about two inches of depth of four or five of these with the chutes facing out into the scene. I went for an ice house instead. Maybe next time.
And a Hobo Shack. I bought this when I was about ten and still had it:
Plasticville is a must for a Classic Toy Train layout. They were meant for each other.
Wow, NOT having some piece of Plasticville on a layout would be sort of sad to me. The stuff has been around forever and helped make a lot of pieces of plywood into layouts! You can do as little or as much as you care to with the kits, like Frank has shown. I just like the details in a lot of the pressings. Long live Plasticville!
Williams by Bachmann has offered some Plasticville cars for sale; the Plasticville hopper and the Plasticville tanker. Now they need a Plasticville engine for the freight cars.
I feel deprived after all these years. Here’s the only Plasticville piece I kept from my childhood American Flyer layout.
Bruce