I have been looking at what’s available out there for buildings and I noticed that there are no Victorian era buildings. I find this kind of strange since most towns in the north eastern part of the country have tons of Victorian era buildings. I really would love to get my hands on a couple of different ones, but there really doesn’t seem to be much selection. Are there any companies that specialize in these types of houses?
I have debated scratch building a few someday. Any thoughts on that? Is is possible to buy strips of styrene or other materials that already have bricks and siding embossed into them? Thanks.
Some of those buildings are exactly what I’m talking about. wow. I’d love to get some of those. I will have to start saving! Thanks for the link!
Does anyone know if there are any Queen Anne houses out there that have a round tower? I’d love to have one… especially since I can’t have one in real life! heh.
Whether you ever purchase anything from them, the Walthers catalog is your best friend and a great reference for just seeing what is available. Although it doesn’t contain “everything” that’s manufactured, it’s still worth the $15-$20 investment and is a good starting point.
Also, although you didn’t indicate, I assume you are looking for Victorian houses in HO?
What Joe didn’t say, though - is what kind of Victorian buildings he was looking for. Private homes in a small town, apartment buildings, factories or whatever.
Campbell Scale Models’ Grandma’s House is another option. I built one a couple of years ago. I estimate about 80 hours to build it - lots of fun. I got the kit on eBay for about $60:
AHM or I HC had a set of 5 victorian houses they sold years ago. I have seen them in both HO and O gauge. They may still be made. I know you will see them from time to time at swap meets.
He he he. The small Upstate NY town I grew up in has a lot of those style Victorian Homes lining Main and Front Streets along the river. The is a large one my Mother adored but no way could my parents afford the 24 room “mansion” {that eventually the Mormons took over as a Church}. There is even a law on the books that states that now one can carry a lunch bag or pail to work on Main or Front streets as the wealthy did not want to see the “common folk” going to work with their lunches in hand!!! ANd until recetnly, the law said garbage trucks must back up each driveway to pick up trash at teh back of hte houses so “no trash barrels or refuse will be placed on the curbside to ruin the beauty of the neighborhood”!!! {now they must put trash curbside in the “modern era”}
I think the problem is two fold…you CAN find Victorian style houses in HO. BUT also, they are complicated things to design and build…AND the big Victorian “McMansions” {as we call them here on the forum-old or modern} are nowhere near the RR tracks!! {at least in the small towns around here and the “big city” of Binghamton, NY}, Even the “railroad barons” or the wealthy who profited from RRs {trackside warehouse owners for example} lived nowhere near the RR tracks.
What WAS near the tracks were the smaller plain “commoner houses” or “RR Company houses” or “Coal miners Company houses” Or “warehouse company houses”. {ever hear the phrases “the other side of the tracks” or “the worng side of the tracks”??}
Here are some examples of houses I’m talking about… and none of these house are more than a couple of hundred feet from mainline ex-PRR, ex P&LE, or ex B&O tracks. I live in Pittsburgh and back during the 1900-1950 era you were hard pressed to get much further than a mile from railroad tracks…
My house, which is about 300 feet from the now NS mainline (ex PRR)
A house in North Allegheny that is about 300 feet from the old PRR mainline which ran through the park there.
I can’t exactly recall where this house was, but I specifically recall crossing some railroad tracks not too far from it.
This house is in the small town of Bentleyville, PA. There is a branch line of some railroad, either PRR or B&O, which were prevalent in that area of town. The tracks cross the main street no more than 500 feet from this house.
So, although I do agree with you that alot of the mansion type houses were far from tracks, the middle class had quite a few very nice looking examples that were close enough to get into a model railroad and look legitimate. That is especially true in the Pittsburgh / south Western PA areas.
Here is a picture of our home in Forest Hill, MD. The Ma & Pa tracks ran directly behind the orginal 8 acres it sat on. It is about 9 houses away from the Forest Hill train station which still stands today and is a model train store.
The house was built for a local business owner in 1901, the same time the Ma & Pa was formed out of several narrow gauge lines and converted to standard gauge.
How about this one? Stephen King’s house in Bangor ME. Built in the late 1800s, I grew up in the house across the street http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3449961
This is a subject that I know a little about. I’ve been into victorian homes for most of my life. Victorian is more of an era than a specific type, it runs roughly(opinions vary) from 1860-1905. There are several types of victorians. I believe you are looking for a Queen Anne style victorian. These are the ones with the round turrets with the witches hat type roof. There are also houses that mix two or more types of victorian within one house. One of the pics the OP posted was an Italinate victorian, this also has towers,but there usually more square than round. I’ve been looking for a HO Queen Anne type victorian with a round turret for my layout,the only one Ive found is one made of thin metal, I forgot the maker, but I will look it up and get back to you. The Campbell Grandma’s House posted above is a Queen Anne without a turret. You could add one to that kit.
if you go an look for the real thing , you will see that their about six blocks from the reel deal they didnt want the shake rattle going on verry proper homes u know
Hey, Atlantic I love your house! We have one very similar to yours next town over. I stare at it every time I’m in the area. Once I couldnt help myself and stopped and asked if I could look around. They where very nice and said yes.The staircase is incredible, it goes up two and half floors.This house is so original it has all its original doors,door hardware, transom windows, transom window hardware, radiators, trim, fireplace mantles, flooring etc,etc. I really love old houses, can you tell. My house is from the victorian era , but is a story in a half farmhouse style. Unfortunetly, the previous owners"updated" it. Its cost alot of money to undo that updating. I put in a period bath with a 1911 clawfoot tub,wainscoting, pedestal sink etc. Sorry guys, I forgot this is a model RRing forum…
Thank you, Since you are interested, here are a few details.
We bought our house in 1995 and began a complete restoration which was completed in 1998. I designed and managed the restoration and did about half the work myself (that is what I do, I’m a residential designer specializing in historic restoration).
It has mostly original trim, doors/hardware, floors (although most have carpet which we prefer), plaster walls as well as orginal built-ins. We did make a few minor changes, but kept those changes within the original style of the house. There are 5 bedrooms including a two room master suite, 2-1/2 baths, large foyer, parlor, dining room, family room, large eat in kitchen, and third floor sitting room.
Where changes and repairs were needed, new moldings were milled to match the original profiles so everything matches and looks original throughout. All the orginal woodwork was stripped and repainted to restore it to its 1901 condition - yes it was originally painted. The house, while it is a “Queen Anne”, it was built with many features of the newly popular “Colonial Revival” style. This was very common
