Never built a kit by SS Limited...really liking their Corner Drug Store. Any comments on their kits? Thanks in advance. 👍🏻
Dave I have built that kit and really like it. It is similar to the old Campbell Kits. The company supports us and will answer all questions and replace parts if needed.
Jan
Thanks, Jan. 👍🏻
Dave,
I have a stash of their old kits from the 70's and have 3 in various stages of completion.
They are well detailed, the castings were very good and the instructions are done well. They were generally a bit more advanced, like FSM, than other kits of the day.
The new guy who bought the company seems to be very nice and was most helpful with a broken part from one of my old kits.....free or nominal cost to cover shipping, I can't remember.
Have fun and don't forget to post some pictures of your build.
Thanks so much, Greg. 😁
I just got another Gould 1890's Fire Engine from SS Ltd. the castings are sharp and the instructions are easy to read.
If they'd replace the old die-cut stuff (wood and cardboard) with laser-cut stuff, these would approach FSM in quality, I think.
dave
I agree Dave and I would certainly re-buy some of their old kits that I have if they would get rid of the cardboard.
I received the Corner Drugstore and was disappointed with all the cardboard structural elements. Here's a picture of a nicely done rendition posted recently by Graffs Airbrush. I wonder how hard it will be to replace these pieces with basswood, or even MMW's lasercut brick sheets?
I have the corner drug store kit - I'm wondering how much back bracing is required to keep the cardboard from warping?
It's such a great-looking structure. With our midwest humidity fluctuations that's a real issue. Plus the house is lakeside Onekama. Lots of moisture!
I'd seriously consider replacing the cardboard parts with styrene. If the cardboard is covered, the "Nehrich" scribe-snap-and-reassemble approach would work well.
dave
It would be interesting to know the chronology of ownership of S.S. Ltd. I have a bunch of their old kits. The first one I bought was from the LHS when it was still around. The kit was the Victorian Station with interior details. The box must've weighed about ten pounds. The drawings were right up there with Campbell's and B.I.S. The old castings were fabulous.
I'm not so sure about the new offerings. The last "Station Details" set that I bought had castings that looked like they came from a very tired mold.
As far as bracing goes - put in as much as you want. The only problem is when you get into detailed interior areas and you have theses big thick chunks of wood stuck to the interior walls. That - and when the bracing starts warping :(
I think a brick version using the MMW sheets is a fantastic idea.
Dave's styrene suggestion would definitely be moisture proof.
-slim
Considering styrene, too, maybe as a stucco structure. If it's to be brick methinks MMW is the way to go.
Quote from: Dave K. on January 18, 2016, 10:20:33 AM
Considering styrene, too, maybe as a stucco structure. If it's to be brick methinks MMW is the way to go.
I really would like to see this in brick. The quoins on the the two corners will take care of concealing two of the corner joints.
-slim
You've set me up for a challenge, Bill. It'll be a bit, though. Today it's a firehouse from Twin Whistle and Garner Hardware from KC. 👍🏻
I built it from card stock several years ago and I didn't use any bracing at all. It hasn't warped yet despite quite humid climate here in Georgia.
Vilius
Vilius.....you are an ARTIST .....!!!
Slim and others have commented on the high quality of the SSLtd. kits. His white metal castings were the most advanced of anybody including George for a while in the seventies. A ton of castings in some of the kits, like the beautiful Sterling, CO roundhouse. The kits were also distinctive because they included actual miniature blueprints in black and white that were done on thin paper and rolled up like the real thing.
The ownership chronology that Slim mentions could be easily traced by "Googling" John Coots the owner. This man was a great "character" of the early MR industry. Google "John Coots SS Ltd. model railroad and you will find many interesting links.
I have a 1970's version of his "Country Store" with complete interior detailing I will have to dust-off and reassemble as someone may want it.
Here is John's obit:
John F. Coots Sept. 8, 1929 - Aug. 27, 2008
John F. Coots Jr., 78, a Reno resident for the past 35 years John was born to J. Fred Coots (Songwriters Hall of Fame) and Marjorie Coots, devoted wife and mother of four children in New Rochelle, New York. Outgoing in public John was a truly private man, and wanted no funeral or services; he passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 27, 2008, at home, as was his wish.
John served with the United States Army Airborne during the Korean War. After his tour of duty he headed west and landed in Hollywood and worked for many years in the television and movie industry. In the 70's John left California and moved to Reno, NV to actively pursue his true passion, model railroading. First with Scale Structures LTD., and later with N Scale of Nevada. His designs were known worldwide and his expertise and knowledge was greatly appreciated by everyone involved in the industry, hobbyist and manufacturers alike.
John's other great passion was American Iron, Harley Davidson Motorcycles to be more precise. He was a life member of H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) He rode up until the day he fell ill due to complications from cancer.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his sister, Patti and his brother, Clayton. John is survived by his four children; daughter, Robin of Los Angeles, CA., sons, Jeremy and Jonathan of Reno and Sean of Dayton: his three grandchildren, Devon, Jamie and David and his sister, Gloria of Florida.
Good-bye Pop and God bless, You will be missed. In his passing I can only give you one of his most used and poignant quotes
"It has been one hell of a ride" - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rgj/obituary.aspx?n=john-f-coots&pid=117768488#sthash.DZhTsE20.dpuf (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rgj/obituary.aspx?n=john-f-coots&pid=117768488#sthash.DZhTsE20.dpuf)
Here's some more info on the chronology (from Walthers page):
"Scale Structures LTD (SS LTD) and Alloy Forms (AF) has had a very complex history that has been interwoven into the fabric of the miniature modeling world's history since the 1960's.
SS LTD was created by John Coots as a side business in his busy world of miniature modeling for the movie industry in Hollywood Calif. back in 1968. He soon incorporated the talents of John Herrmann and several other fine modeling artists to help build the large inventory of small cast metal super detail parts that were soon used extensively within the modeling community and outward into the worlds of museums and architetural modeling.
Walthers Inc. of Milwaukee Wisc. aquired SS LTD in 1977, merging the company into it's own vast lineup of fine hobby products.
JAKS Industries of Erie Colo. purchased almost the entire SS LTD line along with many building kits and cast detail parts of Magnuson from Walthers Inc. in the mid 1990's. JAKS purchased some of the Chooch, Period Minatures, Triangle Scale Models, Mile Post Model Works, Finest Kind Models, & Arkansas Valley Models' lines of buildings and cast detail parts also in the 1990's.
Alloy Forms (started in the 1980's in Calif.) created small detail parts and kits along with cast car and smalll truck kits. Purchased by JAKS Industries in the 1990's as well, the HO scale truck line from Lee Town Models was merged into the lineup to offer both automobile and truck kits and detail parts.
Ad Infinitum, LLC of Inman Kans. purchased the entire HO scale divisions of both SS LTD & Alloy Forms from JAKS Industries Inc. in 2009, and moved the company to it's current location in central Kansas, USA.
Since the purchase of the lines by Ad Infinitum LLC, new kits and details have been introduced, and many upgrades have occured. We have improved the formerly white/lead metal in the detail parts to genuine pewter (with extremely little to no lead content within the metal). Other improvements have included adding new Super Kits to several of our most popular structure kits, revision of instructions for many kits, & upgrading to extra high quality resins and mold release agents for casting the many resin buildings and detail parts SS LTD & Alloy Forms resin kits are made with.
SS LTD & Alloy Forms are now reintroducing many of their older kits that have been discontinued throughout the years as requests for them increase."
The main correction is that JAKS (Jon And Karla Stetz) lived in Lenexa KS when they were buying up companies, not Colorado. I visited their operation many times and was amazed just how much manual labor was involved. The Sterling Roundhouse kit must weigh at least 10 pounds since it is mostly metal parts. Their divorce, pretty much ended their kit building adventures and Jon moved to Colorado.
Fascinating stuff, guys. Thanks so much for sharing.
This has turned into a great thread. Lots of good information - thanks to all that posted!
One more note to SS Ltd history. "Paige Enterprises" was a notorious attempt to pirate SS Ltd and other vendor's castings (protected by copyright.) The Paige products, as knock-offs, generally weren't as good quality as the SS Ltd originals. There was a lawsuit and Paige was forced out of business.
As an aside, it's worth mentioning Colonial Castings. This company was located in Mass, and might have produced the castings for FSM kits (I'm not quite sure about that.) The casting quality was mixed, some were very good, others (probably as the molds wore out) were less so. The owner of that enterprise now makes license plates for the state of NH (not related to the casting business.)
dave
I have asked Peter of SS ltd. if they have any plans to laser cut wood for their old kits, I have not gotten a response from him. That being said they are so good about replacing parts lost or ruined I am reluctant to bug him about it.
Jan
How can we not forget the early 1970's when the SS LTD Victorian Station and their Drugstore kits were only $35.00 each for those heavy red boxes. Yes that was a lot of money back then. When I visited Dick Elwell's Hoosac Valley RR 6 years ago, I asked him how he assembled his SS LTD Victorian Station in his town of Adams since the embossed stone wall material from my kit separated and came off the kit furnished cardboard walls after many years of service, I even used the 3M spray glue to attach the stone sheets, but it dried out over time ...... Dick's humble response was something like this , had the same issue, so had to rebuild my station with plastic stone walls ! ;D
Anyone out there built the Jennings Lumber kit?
Jaime
Quote from: deemery on January 22, 2016, 12:09:25 PM
One more note to SS Ltd history. "Paige Enterprises" was a notorious attempt to pirate SS Ltd and other vendor's castings (protected by copyright.) The Paige products, as knock-offs, generally weren't as good quality as the SS Ltd originals. There was a lawsuit and Paige was forced out of business.
As an aside, it's worth mentioning Colonial Castings. This company was located in Mass, and might have produced the castings for FSM kits (I'm not quite sure about that.) The casting quality was mixed, some were very good, others (probably as the molds wore out) were less so. The owner of that enterprise now makes license plates for the state of NH (not related to the casting business.)
dave
Dave
I believe that George has produced all the castings for FSM kits himself. His spin casting equipment is in the same room as the F&SM layout. Most people never know that it's there - he has it covered up in the corner.
I read or heard somewhere that George at one time did have someone do a few of his casting. Or there was a company somewhere that made casting and sold them with George's permission. I may be wrong but I think on one of the Allen Keller tapes George states he does all his own casting.
Of course, my disclaimer is that all the above may be a figment of my own imagination. Just saying.
Tom 8)
Quote from: NEMMRRC on January 22, 2016, 03:35:53 PM
Anyone out there built the Jennings Lumber kit?
Jaime
Jaime,
I haven't built the kit but do have it somewhere. Not sure I'll ever build it but I have built the Drug Store kit. Howard Zane has three or four of the Drug Store kits on his layout.
Tom ;D
Has anyone built the SS Limited roundhouse kit? I was wondering how the stone walls look when the kit is completed.
Steve
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 23, 2016, 06:47:37 AM
Quote from: NEMMRRC on January 22, 2016, 03:35:53 PM
Anyone out there built the Jennings Lumber kit?
Jaime
Jaime,
I haven't built the kit but do have it somewhere. Not sure I'll ever build it but I have built the Drug Store kit. Howard Zane has three or four of the Drug Store kits on his layout.
Tom ;D
I need to look up the drug store. I'm not familiar with it.
Jaime
Jaime,
Here is a photo of the drug store on Zane's layout. It's on the left.
Tom ;D
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-131215182852.jpeg)
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 23, 2016, 06:32:25 PM
Jaime,
Here is a photo of the drug store on Zane's layout. It's on the left.
Tom ;D
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-131215182852.jpeg) (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/24-131215182852.jpeg)
I remember Howard talking about the Drug Store in his book - I believe he said it was one of his favorites.
I think that I am going to get Dorothy's house.....and build it.
It's a good kit, but when you get it, think about redoing the walls in styrene. More work, but a more sturdy structure.
dave
Quote from: deemery on January 29, 2016, 12:53:04 PM
It's a good kit, but when you get it, think about redoing the walls in styrene. More work, but a more sturdy structure.
dave
Thanks Dave, have you put the kit together? How hard was it?
When I get to the drugstore I'm having the cardboard recut in basswood.
I think that I will do that too, 'cause i like wood better. >
I just bought Rusty Stumps brick plywood to replace the cardboard in the kit.