Beginner's Structure Kit?

I wish I could provide some info but I never heard of this kit. It sound like something I would like to try to build just for the challenge. Have fun with it.

Alan Graziano

I don't equate Steam Era Structures with Beginner's Structure Kit; those tend to be something of an adventure even for experienced builders.

mwb:  I was being facetious.  As I described, I did not find their "Village Store" to be

that difficult, and I am sure my ignoring the double walls on it sped up the process.

(now if an interior is planned, the interior walls should probably be incorporated)  I

really was "thinking on paper" as to whether I wanted to build this now, the Bar Mills one, or something else.  And as to whether I wanted to enlarge it to look more like the

photograph, which would probably guarantee it a life as a "shelf queen", too large to

put on the layout.  My scratchbuilt sugar beet plant and creosote plant are larger,

so size isn't scaring me.  (I would build that $1,000 kit of the Delores, Colo. ore mill,

but I won't pay that for it...would scratch build it first, or more likely, one of the

large mills that were up the Silverton Northern).

Mr. Graziano: The fellow from Cincinnati would set up at the March Meet O scale show

when it was up at the racetrack in NW Chicago (don't think he has made it to recent

ones close to Wheaton off Roosevelt Rd.), and display his kits.  Not so long ago he was offering these on eBay and I exchanged emails and found he was tired of doing them, and closing out.  He had the store, this mill, and several other unusual factory building kits.  I am sure there are unbuilt kits out there, and some will pop up at auction.

The hardest kit I have built and most difficult to get right, is a Mullet River caboose

kit, a whole lot smaller than these.

I've been warned about them but never tried a kit.  Someone who had told me "If you can get them at a good price (ata  swap meet) they're worth it for all the materials.  Just throw away the plans and scratch build with them." 

Yeah these kits take a part time job to complete, but they are nice! Here is an older link that describes some of their structures and construction...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...96#27052841017134496

Jeez....I even commented twice myself on that link, and forgot about it.  The link

indicates that a number of experienced modelers on here have built these and liked

the results.  I don't think I will start this one yet, though, until I have thought about

it for a while, about whether to enlarge it to more closely resemble the prototype

photo that is in the kit.

SES are interesting kits and not run-of-the-mill topics. That said, they're strictly old school, in that there is no laser cutting. All window holes have to be cut out. I built Tudlow's using the 2-layer method they suggested, and found it to be the toughest kit I ever built. I would buy more of them only because I like their subject matter. 

I put an interior in the store front and installed light blocks in all the other spaces. It looks great, and is a representation of a real business in Cincy. Take your time and enjoy reading the instructions. When you're scratch-building there are no instructions.

I agree they do look good.  I'd like to build one sometime but I would probably bash it a bit - the one you posted, Trainman, looks a lot like a building near my grandfathers house in Trinidad Colo, so I'd change it a bit..  

Sounds like there beyond my expertise!

Spence, you could build the Village Store as I did by leaving out the double walls,

and an interior, and not kitbashing it.  (I always make kits more difficult by kitbashing them) I think others of the series, such as the Tudlow's above, are more difficult,

with their detail.  Patience is all it takes, and if you make a mistake, just consider it

a kitbash.

I found Martin's small building a good start model, that touched a lot of the paint and assembly technique needed for more advanced building.  Nice to have a laser cut kit that doesn't required cutting filing and fitting of pieces.   Even some of the old old Korber models, with warp pieces/instruction of how to "un-warp", windows that didn't fit, and templates for the floor and truss parts were way beyond beginner. IMO.

Martin's (mwb) model.

No room for error on those....

I found Martin's small building a good start model, that touched a lot of the paint and assembly technique needed for more advanced building.  Nice to have a laser cut kit that doesn't required cutting filing and fitting of pieces..

If there is interest in these, I think that there might be some of these kits left in storage although excavating them might prove "entertaining".