SS Limited?

[Dave K.]

Never built a kit by SS Limited...really liking their Corner Drug Store. Any comments on their kits? Thanks in advance.  👍🏻

[jankirkwood]

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

[Dave K.]

Thanks, Jan. 👍🏻

[GPdemayo]

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.

[Dave K.]

Thanks so much, Greg. 😁

[jankirkwood]

I just got another Gould 1890's Fire Engine from SS Ltd.  the castings are sharp and the instructions are easy to read.

[deemery]

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

[jankirkwood]

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.

[Dave K.]

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?

[S&S RR]

I have the corner drug store kit - I'm wondering how much back bracing  is required to keep the cardboard from warping?

[Dave K.]

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!

[deemery]

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

[Slim Jerkins]

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

[Dave K.]

Considering styrene, too, maybe as a stucco structure. If it's to be brick methinks MMW is the way to go.

[Slim Jerkins]

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