I had long petitioned Chooch to come up with a brick church building front and alas, the Ultratech superb building fronts are no more to be had. And I had asked Clever Models to investigate a possible brick church structure.
But at the recent International Hobby Expo in Rosemont, lo and behold was Woodland Scenics with their new O Scale pre-built, pre-weathered structures.
I got introduced to Woodland Scenic's product development officer and talked with him about the idea of a small footprint brick church circa late 1880s or early 2oth Century.
We agreed the hardware store was an iconic structure for anytown, anyplace USA. We also agreed that there are the abundant trackside structures of brick--MTH Station, Atlas O track tower, even Lionel brick water tank, along with hosts of others. But no brick church.
Is this a phenomenon of how secular society has become? What is more iconic to the American landscape than the little brick church?
This could be made in a way where it could represent any possible denomination. He said he would take the idea back to his product development team.
To be sure there are wood frame churchs in kit form and sort-of-scale built structures. But besides the diminunative Plasticville churches, this is a subject not really addressed in O Scale.
Ironically, there are a number of brick churchs in the HO line, pre-built and kit form.
Would anyone else like to see a picturesque little brick church with stained-glass windows?
Rob Mozgawa
Madison, WI
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