Chooch Ultrascale fronts

They look pretty good.....why not contact Chooch and ask about a rerun??? Or ask about a private run. We do this in the plastic model hobby all the time. We have a manufacture run 3,000 of a out of production kit and we market them. Chooch may be open to running 200 or so as IIRC they are hand cast. 

Totally agree. I thought I originally read they were being sold to Scenic Express but, I guess it didn't happen. Really a shame. Absolutely the best, most realistic fronts (probably because they were based on actual buildings from a well known turn of the century architect. p.s. really nice use of them on your layout. They look great. 

Paging Steve Nelson.....

I certainly hope that this will happen. Until now I knew nothing about these fronts and unless they sell the molds to another company, I would've been better off not knowing of them, lol.

luvindemtrains posted:

I certainly hope that this will happen. Until now I knew nothing about these fronts and unless they sell the molds to another company, I would've been better off not knowing of them, lol.

Just to clear things a bit. If these were hand cast they came from RTV rubber molds which have a limited life. So if anything could be sold it would be front masters and the rights to the masters.  Doubt there are any molds ready to go.  What kind of price were these?? And what are folks today willing to pay??

AMCDave posted:

luvindemtrains posted:

I certainly hope that this will happen. Until now I knew nothing about these fronts and unless they sell the molds to another company, I would've been better off not knowing of them, lol.

Just to clear things a bit. If these were hand cast they came from RVT rubber molds which have a limited life. So if anything could be sold it would be front masters and the rights to the masters.  Doubt there are any molds ready to go.  What kind of price were these?? And what are folks today willing to pay??

Well, depends of the use numbers, but much of anything over 50 pours and the life expectancy of the molds is dwindling rapidly.  Buying the masters would be the best course, but then someone with competency needs to make some large molds.  That's not as easy as it seems - small molds are very forgiving.  Original prices of these were triple digit - not cheap stuff based in the Van Pelt school of economics by any stretch. What people will pay is probably not enough to justify large runs - maybe a make to order system would work calc on cost of masters, molds and resin and just maybe a bit of profit....

AMCDave posted:

They look pretty good.....why not contact Chooch and ask about a rerun??? Or ask about a private run. We do this in the plastic model hobby all the time. We have a manufacture run 3,000 of a out of production kit and we market them. Chooch may be open to running 200 or so as IIRC they are hand cast. 

One of our custom builders did contact Chooch and inquired about sale of masters and molds  Chooch wanted nothing to do with it.  These fronts brought in big bucks   The 4 large fronts that make up the Schraffts buildings with all the trucks were $275.00 each  Most of the smaller fronts were in the range of $150-$200.   

I first saw the Chooch - Ultra line of historic building fronts on their display at the 2004 O Scale National convention in Alexandria Va.  I was totally impressed by them.  At the time I didn't have a location on my model railroad to use them but I began hunting for them at shows and on eBay.    In 2005 we moved to Williamsburg Va and began construction of a new model railroad.  One of the towns on the line is Huntingdon. PA and its freelance "Railroad Avenue" features quite a few Chooch Ultra flats.  The railroad will be open to attendees at this is summer's O Scale National Convention.  Perhaps  if I spend a little less time on the OGR Forum and more time at the workbench several of the Chooch Ultra buildings will will be ready for viewing.  

bluelinec4 posted:

AMCDave posted:

They look pretty good.....why not contact Chooch and ask about a rerun??? Or ask about a private run. We do this in the plastic model hobby all the time. We have a manufacture run 3,000 of a out of production kit and we market them. Chooch may be open to running 200 or so as IIRC they are hand cast. 

One of our custom builders did contact Chooch and inquired about sale of masters and molds  Chooch wanted nothing to do with it.  These fronts brought in big bucks   The 4 large fronts that make up the Schraffts buildings with all the trucks were $275.00 each  Most of the smaller fronts were in the range of $150-$200.   

Sounds like there is a market for some new fronts by someone with a little skill. I did resin casting in the model car hobby.......

Keystoned Ed posted:

... Perhaps  if I spend a little less time on the OGR Forum and more time at the workbench several of the Chooch Ultra buildings will will be ready for viewing.  

I seem to have that same problem too.

MELGAR

bluelinec4 posted:

AMCDave posted:

They look pretty good.....why not contact Chooch and ask about a rerun??? Or ask about a private run. We do this in the plastic model hobby all the time. We have a manufacture run 3,000 of a out of production kit and we market them. Chooch may be open to running 200 or so as IIRC they are hand cast. 

One of our custom builders did contact Chooch and inquired about sale of masters and molds  Chooch wanted nothing to do with it.  These fronts brought in big bucks   The 4 large fronts that make up the Schraffts buildings with all the trucks were $275.00 each  Most of the smaller fronts were in the range of $150-$200.   

Well if these fronts bring in "big bucks" then why are they not reissuing them?

Count me in for one of each if they make a comeback. 

Come talk to me about the style of fronts at York! We are working on developing new products and styles of buildings. If you have an elevation front that you would like to see developed, bring it by!

Here’s our latest Corrigan Station prototype- now in paint mode in preparation for York:

ToddModel posted:

Come talk to me about the style of fronts at York! We are working on developing new products and styles of buildings. If you have an elevation front that you would like to see developed, bring it by!

Here’s our latest Corrigan Station prototype- now in paint mode in preparation for York:

 

How about some Art Deco and Mid Century modern fronts???

An era overlooked by almost all.

if someone has the castings from the rubber molds, make new rubber molds.. etc etc.. 

Dave-

We have our eye on the KCP&L building in Kansas City. It will most likely by next in line after we get Cammeron Apartments, Corrigan Station and the Pickwick Hotel to market. If you have some images, please email them my way.

Dan-

We have the equipment to make molds and castings. Just as I hope someone would not copy our work, I would not do the same to someone elses without their permission. As intonated above, this has already been attempted. We look to moving forward with our own product line and are open to suggestions of elevations to model.

For the record, I am not 100% versed on the assembly of large resin elevation fronts that are ast from rubber molds. Please stop by our booth at York to chat! I’ll have some samples of parts that we have made to supplement our laser cut building models.

BXCXDan posted:

if someone has the castings from the rubber molds, make new rubber molds.. etc etc.. 

With Chooch still in business that is borderline illegal.  Now if Chooch was gone, maybe 5-10 years.....I'd not have a issue recasting IF I also made some improvements and/or changes. Right now it would be best to master up new fronts like ToddModel is talking about. 

I've had my work in the plastic model hobby stolen....I didn't like it. 

The Chooch Enterprises web site previously hosted pictures of the entire line of "Ultra Scale II" O scale building flats.  Their  marketing strategy was that the structures would be done on a one time limited run - in essence buy now or miss out.  Chooch also produced a line of Ultra Scale resin freight car kits in the same general time frame.  My understanding is that each of the buildings were modeled after specific structures in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years as I acquired individual kits I would downloaded photos of the building to document my collection.  Several years ago Chooch closed down the Ultra line and removed the photos.  Now I wish I had pulled down all the building photos.  Some may find it interesting see some of the finely detailed facades I have photos of.  After I complete the Railroad Avenue scene I'll post photos of the finished structures.

 If you visit the Chooch Enterprises web site click on the History page and see a short video by owner Mike O'Connell.  Several Chooch Ultra Scale building flats and freight cars can be seen on his O scale model railroad. 

#621 Praeger Arcade (center)

#621 Reith bldg. (center)

#623 Dickson bldg.#624 Harmon Hotel

#631 Keowan Bldg. (center)

#633 Larson Bldg. (right)

#635 Branson Bldg.

#639 WP Fuller Bldg. (center)

#641 Miller Bldg.

#750 Wholesale Dry Goods

#774 Coast Grocery

#776 City Movers

#779 Graham building

Thanks for those photos....before I came to O....

Yes thanks again for posting those front photos. That #779 Graham bldg. reminds me of Atlas O'' Middlesex Mfg.

Try this link to Chooch pages on web archive.  You can pick different snapshots at the top of the page.

https://web.archive.org/web/20...cale_structures.html

Jan