I recall seeing a picture of a structure kit for a wedged shaped buiding but can’t find it after a search of Model Train Stuff and Walthers buildings. It was mostly brick but with large stone arches on the lower two floors and around windows on the third and fourth floors. It reminded me of the Montana Club building in Helena, MT which I am modeling on my layout. If anyone has the building I speak of or knows who makes it I would appreciate a response.
the only one i know of is downtown deco .
J.C. didn’t see the one I am talking about on their website. Could it possibly have been discontinued?
Giving a structure kit the “wedgie” is actually pretty easy if it’s composed of four flat walls that need joined. The key is sizing up the end that becomes narrow. You want it to look natural, so pick one with windows, doors, etc that are spaced right for what you need once chopped. Remember, you can take some off either or both sides and it need not be even, so long as the result looks right to “compose” your building.
After planning things, make your cuts. Usually best to leave the square end be, build up the three walls that make it up, then carefully measure and fit the angled wall. Use a file to dress the corners for best fit. Glue up, then use trim materials to hide any gaps as needed and desired.
These methods give you access to many more options to suit your needs.
Is this it?:
Ed
?
You can see the footprint on the lower part of the box
it is listed as a strip club i think , bit to pricey for me though.if you are into scratching i have the plans of a grocery.
Randy, That one is very similar but much taller (Montana Club is only 5 stories). Also, the Montana Club has the point of the wedge squared off as the entryway and two story arches at the ground level. I could surely kit bash this building but my wife may have a problem with the price tag. I may have to look for other options.
Eaglescout,
How about a photo of how the building looked in 1915…
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
eaglescout:
City Classics makes kits that would fit your purposes perfectly, with a little bashing that is. The kits come as four unassembled walls. All walls are detailed. You will have to do some filing to get the corners to fit properly.
http://www.cityclassics.biz/h_downtown.html
Dave
That Montana Club building will definitely be a tough one to find any kit out there to kit bash from, in My opinion. Each floor of that building has a different window design and to top it off…three sides of the building all have the same window designs on each floor…easier said then done! Challenging to say the least for anyone!
Good Luck!
Take care! [:D]
Frank
Frank, Thanks for the picture. Maybe I was dreaming that I saw a very similar kit at one time. Age has a way of doing that sometimes. I agree it would be a challenging scratch build. The windows I think I could handle as there are many sizes and styles available. I see the biggest challenge being the arched stonework on the bottom two levels and the arched brickwork on the third floor. I thing similar cornice work would be available somewhere also.
Arched stonework: N scale tunnel portals??
Have you looked at Design Preservation modulars? They have a lot of choices; not an exact match for the building you are thinking of, but might capture the flavor of it
If you’re adventurous enough to try building it yourself, and can settle for “close” I think I would try these options:
- You could try stacking more than one of the Walthers Merchant’s Row III kits. They’re not exactly what you want, but they have a similar look.
https://www.walthers.com/merchant-s-row-iii-kit-kit-6-1-4-x-7-3-4-x-4-3-4-quot-15-9-x-19-7-x-12-1cm
- Or…I would look at the products offered by Peco under their Wills and Ratio names. They have a huge amount of different plastic textured sheets, arched windows and just brick arches, arched stone walls, etc. You have to closely go through all the categories to see everything. There are too many to mention here.
You may be able to use the Walthers kits for the upper stories and kitbash the first floor from these parts. The idea of N scale portals is good, but I think it would depend on what the portals are made from. One advantage of using the Wills or Ratios parts are that they are all styrene which would make cutting and gluing fairly easier than if the portals were resin or plaster. I also believe the N Scale Architect offers some different styles of plastic sheets and arches.
Jim
Thanks for all the suggestions. Upon further study of articles about the Montana Club I found it is not wedge shaped but only has that appearance because of the 45 degreed cut off for the entrance wall. The rest of the building is actually rectangular. I’m sure between kitbashing and scratchbuilding I can come up with a reasonable likeness.
Eaglescout,
I must say that the new building that was built to replace the original, destroyed by arson in 1903, would be a lot easier to try and duplicate then 1893 version…now that would be a real challenge…that one also appeals to Me more than the newer one.LOL: Lot of interesting info on the site…don’t know if this is one You looked at, but it does give more shots for detail on the newer building:
http://www.helenahistory.org/montana_club.htm
Good Luck in Your endeaver!
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Frank, Yes I read that article and agree the original building would be awesome but since the second building still stands today and I have been in it is still my choice. Interesting they only received $60k of the $150k value of the first building from insurance. They then cut many corners to build the second building for $80k. It may end up close to that just to scratch build it today. LOL. I am finding some brick archways for the windows but they don’t give any dimensions. I guess I will have to buy the parts first before I arrive at a final size for the building. My original estimate is 5 1/4" x 6 1/2".
It doesn’t look too rectangular to me.