Best kits

I'm not the expert. I have done kits from Mt. Albert http://www.mtalbert.com/scale-models.html

and from Bar Mills http://www.barmillsmodels.com/

Very happy with the results. They are a lot of work though so, if you're looking for "easy and fast," these are not what you want.

Sierra west, Stoney creek, Yorke.  

Roger from Stoney creek produced most of the mt Albert kits as well

Stoney Creek are good. The aircraft plywood shell makes for a durable model. Add on detail is OK but Fine Scale Miniatures and Woodland Scenics both come with loads of added detail. The latter will make you appreciate the built up versions, by no means shake in the box kits.

Pete

Last time I looked Fine Scale Miniatures never made an O'scale kit. Generally, you can't go wrong with any of the laser-cut kits. Some vary from others based on their quality of instructions. Starting with Bar Mills is probably best since they do a pretty good job on instructions. I'm excited about the stuff that Andre Garcia at River Leaf is producing. They're good beginner kits and offer buildings with brick exteriors when you get tired of building one clapboard structure after another.

I think BarMills makes some of the best, both in design, details and more importantly, instructions. A lot of manufacturers make nice kits, but the instructions leave something to be desired. In those cases, if you're not an experienced builder and can go with the flow and improvise, they could be a problem. Also, Art Fahie, at BarMills, will replace any piece that is broken or missing, no questions asked. BTW, there is one kit that BarMills made that is an adaption of a Fine Scale Miniatures structure. Art got approval to do this from Fine Scale Miniatures' owner, George Sellios. 

Foscale Limited is mostly an HO kit manufacturer, but they have made 3-4 O scale kits and they are unique designs, filled with details, very good instructions and some very unique weathering and finishing ideas. 

Downtown Deco makes great kits using hydrocal. Instructions are terrific as are the finishing ideas. Some people are hesitant about hydrocal because it's plaster, so it's a bit fragile, but the material takes weathering beautifully, and the brick castings are excellent and the way an older building should be.

SierraWest is great but it's not for the faint hearted. Very detailed craftsman kits. 

Stoney Creek is also good and their kits get sold out every year. 

And, while less craftsman, don't forget Korber which has updated and expanded their line since Rich bought them. They are a type of resin, I believe, and fairly easy to construct and provide opportunities for your own addition of many details. 

I like Mt Albert, Altoona Modelworks and Riverleaf! I like Korber and Ameri-towne because they lend themselves very well to kit bashing! You really can't go wrong with any of the kits mentioned so far in this thread!

Altoona Model Works and Rive Leaf Models.  Two of the best out there.

Dave

Another thing that I think should be mentioned is that River Leaf, Korber and Altoona Modelworks offer really nice detail kits for the finished building such as water towers, metal or wood, Smoke stacks etc. Andre's new water towers are especially nice! I'm sure other people offer them also but I have firsthand knowledge of these!

HI,

I don't think we can say "the best" because all of them are potentially perfect for our needs, but some of them need higher skills than others models.

All the models offering today are for different scenarios but they can be mixed between them as in real life creating something very unique.

any question regarding our models, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Andre.

Bts makes some stellar kits.  The sawmill complex is amazing.

Walthers Cornerstone kits are fairly easy to assemble and look very nice.  These are 933-3305. Brook Hill Farm Dairy.  John

Sierra West has great detailing and incredibly good instructions. Craftsman kits... yes. If you want to learn a lot, try one, invest the time, and follow Brett's directions. You will be challenged but be pleased with what you learn.

Also have to mention Harry Heike. We have completed 5-6 of his creations and are amazed evert time at the results. He is our favorite. Check out his website; note that he offers kits or will build it for you with some customizing either way.

Andre with River Leaf - yes. And always willing to help. His products are nice and he offers lots of extras.

Korber, BTS, Bar Mills, and others mentioned above, are excellent. More was said about them and no need to repeat. We are fortunate to have a wide selection to choose from.

My only real experience is with the one custom building Andre made for me, and it was a great one.  Even with minimal directions since he himself had never built that building, it was well thought out and easy to assemble.  I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to constructing model kits, so I was definitely appreciative of that, and the kit came out very nicely.  I'm definitely a repeat customer as I just sent him a note yesterday about the possibility of doing another custom building for me.

This one was a big hit this year on my Christmas layout inside the prototype theater.