I ran across some really nice UK style card building kits by Sam Toys/City builder. These would look great on a Thomas area of a layout. These are also on eBay, do a search for CityBuilder in O scale. I am not selling these, just an FYI.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Many can be used in older American towns.
Problem: what do numbers convert to in MY money and what is shipping going to be on them?
Pretty neat product. This one is priced at 595. Rupee's...about $8.80.
The company also has them on eBay. Go to the O scale category and do a search for CityBuilder.
I could go for these, but, not at Ebay's prices.
Big Jim posted:I could go for these, but, not at Ebay's prices.
Agreed. Prices jacked nearly 400%.
I decided to spring for the Ice Cream Stand.
It's a nice little kit with colorful graphics printed on some sturdy card stock. All of the pieces (with the exception of the clear sheet) are pre-cut with a minimum of cutting needing to be done to get them loose from the sheet. The four outside walls are connected. The instructions say to install the inside back wall and front window after the getting the four walls together. I decided that it would be much better to install all of the windows, the back door and inside wall while the four walls were laid flat.
I didn't try to rush this build. It wasn't a one night project. I used weights and/or clamps to hold pieces flat until the glue thoroughly dried, especially on the window pieces. I used regular Elmer's on most of the building and Gator's Grip Acrylic Hobby Glue on the window pieces.
The windows need to be cut out individually. The clear sheet has a protective film on one side and I removed this after each window was glued in.
I learned a lesson with the freezer cover that needed to be curved. The clear acetate is pretty stiff and when I went to bend this cover piece, it fogged up from stress where the sharpest curve was. Thinking this piece might be ruined, I painted* and cut out a new one from the left over clear sheet. I then heated my oven to about 225 degrees F. I took a wooden spoon that just happened to have the right diameter, laid it across an oven dish then balanced the new freezer cover on the wooden spoon and popped it in the oven. Keeping a close eye on this, when the clear cover slowly softened and formed a curve over the spoon handle, I took it out of the oven to cool. Wa-la, a perfect freezer cover.**
*After thinking about it a little more, I should have painted the lines silver instead of white.
**As a side note, since this turned out so well, I decided to put the original fogged up cover in the oven and let it flatten back out. When I took the now flat piece out of the oven, amazing to me, the fogging was gone!
I took some heavy paper that I had and made corner pieces to hide seam made from bending the walls 90 degrees. The next time that I am out, I am going to try and find some tape to closely match the roof trim color and try to cover those seams up as well.
These look interesting but the first link had Indian currency prices that really threw me for a moment. Like, hundreds of rupees (made in India). I gather that they are all cardboard construction?
Ace posted:These look interesting but the first link had Indian currency prices that really threw me for a moment. Like, hundreds of rupees (made in India). I gather that they are all cardboard construction?
Yes, I believe that they are mostly card stock.
Here is another line of UK style buildings. I built a bunch of these about 20 years ago. Most are low relief.
Big Jim posted:I could go for these, but, not at Ebay's prices.
$35 for card stock??? Cleaver is a better deal...
I figured you'd be the first to chime in about money. Actual $4.04 when you pay India price.
milnyc posted:Ace posted:These look interesting but the first link had Indian currency prices that really threw me for a moment. Like, hundreds of rupees (made in India). I gather that they are all cardboard construction?
Yes, I believe that they are mostly card stock.
Here is another line of UK style buildings. I built a bunch of these about 20 years ago. Most are low relief.
milnyc,
I couldn't find anywhere on his site to view each building. Do you know of where to view them?
Big Jim posted:milnyc posted:Ace posted:These look interesting but the first link had Indian currency prices that really threw me for a moment. Like, hundreds of rupees (made in India). I gather that they are all cardboard construction?
Yes, I believe that they are mostly card stock.
Here is another line of UK style buildings. I built a bunch of these about 20 years ago. Most are low relief.
milnyc,
I couldn't find anywhere on his site to view each building. Do you know of where to view them?
No I don't. Maybe try sending him an e-mail asking for more information.
Thank you mil. I did, so, I'll see if I get a reply. Seems the last update was 2013, hope he is not out of business.
That ice cream stand came out very nicely!
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
