I was thinking about this today, looking at the various recent kit announcements as well as recent builds.
Seems to me we still have a deficit of masonry (brick or concrete block) urban buildings. That includes storefronts/city block buildings, small independent (standing alone) buildings, and factories (now that Bob Van Gelder has retired.) My #1 choice would be a mansard roof 2-3 store wide brick block building (with cast iron storefronts.) But that's in part because of my modeling era.
What would others like to see?
dave
I guess out of the 55 people who read this Dave. Everyone is happy with the kits they keep coming out with!! :(
When was the last time you saw a Blacksmith Shop a new one??
Jerry
Doug (FOS Scale) has Ed Fulasz's line, which are almost all masonry structures. He is repurposing each of them into new kits (see Hendrix Type Foundry or Wiley Waterproofing). He casts them in Hydrocal. Also, Brett at SierraWest makes exemplary resin cast walls -- see the Brass & Iron Foundry.
Still, I'd like to see some more masonry structures out there though, it's just a lot to produce them!
Quote from: Jerry on September 10, 2021, 05:51:21 PM
When was the last time you saw a Blacksmith Shop a new one??
Funny you should mention that... ;)
Craig, Do you think Doug will ever sell them again? Never see any of them on his website.
D~,
I think we need more brass kits! ;D
Thanx Thom...
Quote from: deemery on September 09, 2021, 01:11:02 PM
I was thinking about this today, looking at the various recent kit announcements as well as recent builds.
Seems to me we still have a deficit of masonry (brick or concrete block) urban buildings. That includes storefronts/city block buildings, small independent (standing alone) buildings, and factories (now that Bob Van Gelder has retired.) My #1 choice would be a mansard roof 2-3 store wide brick block building (with cast iron storefronts.) But that's in part because of my modeling era.
What would others like to see?
dave
Totally agree with you Dave
Eric
When was the last time you saw a masonry depot? I recently bought the C.C. Crow GN depot (he made one special for me) - I think it was his first kit back when we were both much younger. Take a look at the F&SM photographs and how many masonry depots George has on his layout.
Quote from: Dennis Bourey on September 10, 2021, 06:20:34 PM
Craig, Do you think Doug will ever sell them again? Never see any of them on his website.
He's re-released four of them so far. Still more to come, for sure.
I honestly can't find them. :(
Hendrix Foundry, Wiley Waterproofing, Jensen Tower and Yard Office 3.
They were all Ed Fulasz kits (in some form)
Oh ok. I thought he brought back the fire dept, corner store or the tenement? my mistake.
Not those, yet.
I'd love to see the Tenement Building!
Quote from: tct855 on September 10, 2021, 07:16:28 PM
D~,
I think we need more brass kits! ;D
Thanx Thom...
Now there's an opinion I can agree with. I definitely would like to see brass engine kits.
Bernd
Interesting topic. I don't really have anything I can contribute though. I've reached the point of total kit saturation and have more than I'll probably ever build/use as is. :o
Any well made kit representing wood framing, brick, block, stone or steel structures with great detail castings.....we must strive for inclusion of all and not discriminate in favor of any one type of kit over another. ;D ;D ;D (read buy, buy, buy so we keep the kit manufacturers solvent and happy!)
Oh yeah I hope Doug continues to release Ed's kits
If you can find one of the rare kit #1, "Turn of the Century Mill" is great old northeast US mill structure.
I have a copy of Jimmy's kit (Railroad Kits) Ed's #2½, "The Office" in a box
I built a number of kit #3, "Three Story Tenement to Let "
And the Cranberry Warehose (kit #4: "Break Time"). This one can be expanded with some very nice brick and/or wood expansions
I built kit #5B (brick) "Three Story Tenement with Garage": There's a C version (clapboard)
Kit #8, "The Old Stone Warehouse" is one of my favorites. I've got one of Doug's versions on the shelf. Plus 1/2 of Jimmy's - I used the other half as a background structure on a friend's switching layout.
Kit #09: "The Mill" can be reconfigured or kitbashed into all kinds of interesting complexes.
Kit #013 "The Used Car Lot" comes in B (brick) or C (cinder block). I love the cinder block variation and hope Doug releases this one.
Kit #014: "Corner of Main & Smith " consists of three structures. And like a few of the others I have one of Jimmy's sitting on the shelf. All kinds of of opportunities to customize these.
Here's a pick of my Kit #3 for 2004(?)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/641-110921083431.jpeg)
I hadn't responded yet because I stand about where Bob is--I'm getting to the point of "all filled up" on my layout. To that end, I find myself now drawn to small footprint kits--3 x3 inches or less, but I'm always a sucker for those occasional really funky, quirky looking kits (many roof angles, or odd features).
Nevertheless, I have heard many calls for good masonry structures, and believe that is a need for lots of modelers.
Laser- cutting and 3-D printing have revolutionized modeling since I first began many decades ago. How does anyone see those technologies contributing? What would you like to see as kit features using those tools?
--Opa George