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Our (LHS) Games Dept. just brought in some laser structure kits from a UK supplier.  The product line is called "Tabletop Scenics", a subset of TTCombat, a U.K. gaming company.

Offered are some interesting structures and scenic accessory items.  Many of them are scaled to 25-28mm (excellent for O scale) proportions.  The structure kits we obtained for our store from the Wild West series, for example, are laser cut from 3mm (1/8") MDF hardboard stock.  They're a tad on the simplistic side....begging for enhancements of the buyer's choice/skill.  But they're VERY affordable.  The Small House A, for instance, is priced at $12!  Check out the structures in the other series....such as the WWII series.  Note, though, that some items/structures are in 15mm scale proportions.

I especially like the Barn in the Wild West series, and the Church in the World War series.  Some paint, some thinning of the windows, maybe some paper shingles and other details on them.....Hmmmmmmmm.   Could be fun!?

A customer joining in our staff discussion about the potential for this new product offering suggested, 'Kids could build these!  Paint them in seasonal colors, add an interior light, snow on the roof,...great simple buildings for the under-the-tree Christmas train layout!'  Why not?

FWIW department.

KD

Last edited by dkdkrd
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I have built several of the Knights of Dice Sentry City 28 mm range. All would make good models for o scale.  The only noticeable issue for me is the door size is a bit small. Windows and overall height work well.  The buildings are a nice addition and offer a different look---art deco- that is not so common. 

The highway overpass bridge represents well an art deco overpass and can be expanded.  The price is also competitive but shipping will elevate costs.  

IMG_4513IMG_4511

First photo is the rear of the building and the next is the front. 

I have a number of their kits and all construct easily with tab and slot.  The accessories to these structures are compatible to o scale, including park benches and other street details. 

 

Paul 

 

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  • IMG_4512
  • IMG_4511

I thought I'd update this thread I posted about 5 months ago...

I purchased, built, and enhanced the Country Church from this company's product line.  It was an experiment.  I shared it with the Games Dept. staff at our LHS....they having arranged for procurement and stocking of this games-related product line.  This is the kit as purchased...  

1 Kit as Purchased

The label indicates its scaled for 28mm gaming....a number which typically reflects the height of game (human) figures from ground to eye level.  So, in this case it probably is closer to S scale proportions.  But, as I'll show in later photos, an O gauge figure is by no means disproportionate when placed at the doorway.

Here are the 7 panels of laser-cut elements, 6 of 1/8" mdf, one of heavy cardboard...

2 Kit opened

So, as built with no embellishments it looks as in the kit package photo.....plain mdf-colored.  Here's a work-in-progress, not completed, couple of photos...

IMG_5383IMG_5385

Actually the above photos do have one alteration.  I added some styrene angle stock at the corners of the bell tower to hide this interlocking joints of the tower panels.  Also, the apse does not have its cardboard roof in place in the photo.  The roof of the main chancel is removable, as is the bell tower roof.  The building is constructed on three interlocking mdf floor panels.  Six pews are provided.  The front door is laser cut, but without hinging provision for operation.

Well, for gamers, this would typically be fine, well, and good as built.  Maybe an overall coat of paint to disguise the laser burns would suffice.  Printed instructions are not provided in the kit, but a notation on the label takes you to a website having several pictograms of the construction sequence/steps to facilitate logical assembly.  There are no other suggestions for further enhancements, though.

So, as I proposed in the earlier comments in this thread, I added a few embellishments, giving the church a stone appearance...

IMG_5649IMG_5650 

In the first of this last two photos is a figure at the front doorway that measures exactly 6 feet in height in O scale.  I don't think the proportions are that bad.  What do you think?

Here's what I did to the plain mdf interior...

IMG_5652IMG_5653

I added a simple Christmas ornament bell to the tower...

IMG_5654

All in all, what I added was:

  • Paint/Weathering (Chalks)
  • Exterior Stone Overlay (Noch 57740 Quarry Stone Wall)
  • Shingles (Laser Art 943 Carriage House Shingles)
  • Window ‘Glass’ (Stained Glass Window computer images sized/printed on clear film)
  • Floor Overlay (Busch 7414 Rustic Plaza Flagstone)
  • Tower Corner Covers (Evergreen 295 9/32" Styrene angle stock)
  • Tower Bell (Christmas ornament)
  • Tower Window Treatment (Painted Nylon Netting)
  • Front Door Hinges (Du-bro 116 Nylon)
  • Interior Wall Overlays (Painted Cardstock)
  • Altar (Wood/Plastic scraps)

 

If I decide to add this to my layout....depending on whether the Games Dept. has other, more lucrative ideas...I'll probably do at least two or three more things.  First, I think by adding another base, elevating the building by about another 1/2" cut to the exact contours of the building with steps leading up to the front door, and wrapped in a larger stone pattern, the building would look even better in an O scale setting.  Maybe.

Secondly, it definitely needs some vine growth on the walls.  Not too much, but just enough to 'tie' it to the ground.  But this would be after consideration of its finally setting....church yard, small cemetery, old oak trees, etc., etc., etc..

Thirdly, it needs some interior lighting that will benefit the stained glass windows.  Maybe an ITT Products church bell sound card.  Put some parishioners in the pews....add a speaker to play the singing of hymns. Lots of possibilities.

Anyhow, the whole project was a lot of fun.  The basic kit is quite inexpensive as laser-cut products go.  And, as I found, a few relatively inexpensive embellishments/changes give the structure a whole new character.  Other kits in this company's product line could be similarly treated.

FWIW.....always.

KD

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Images (9)
  • 1 Kit as Purchased
  • 2 Kit opened
  • IMG_5383
  • IMG_5385
  • IMG_5649
  • IMG_5650
  • IMG_5652
  • IMG_5653
  • IMG_5654
Last edited by dkdkrd

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
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