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So I bought a couple boxed and "sealed" Plasticville Apartment (red and beige) houses from a dealer at last weekend's Kutztown train show. I had another at home and the plan was to make 2 three story apartment houses out of these 3 kits.

Well, upon opening the two that I bought at Kutztown, it became clear that the upper levels, balcony parts, etc. were removed (the plastic bags holding the small parts were ripped open) and the boxes were then shrink wrapped and sold to me as unopened. I will be looking for this vendor at the May show. Apparently someone wanted just the upper floors to use as "add a floors" for their apartment houses.

Anyway, I made a 4 story apartment house with what I had. Painted the red walls brown, made missing balconies from pieces  cut out of one of the extra roofs, used the extra ground floor sections for upper floors (made picture windows where the large entry doors were meant to be), and put balsa flower boxes under those. Trimmed fence sections became the balcony walls in the back. All of these small pieces and the roof were sprayed an almond color to all match. I used pop rivets to fill in some holes in the walls, to represent lights. Still have to put curtains or something in the new large picture windows.

I am happy with the result:

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Last edited by Lionelski
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@Will posted:

That 's terrible- I wonder if the vendor was the one who scammed you or he was passing on something unopened that he had no idea about. That seems more likely, since as a table holder, that petty scam would be a stupid way to scuttle his business.

Anyway, you made some nice lemonade, although I count 4 stories, not 5.

I hope so Will, but it was clear from the ripped open bags inside that someone, maybe not this dealer, pilfered the parts and re sealed the boxes. There were several other boxes of sealed Plasticville on his table, maybe he bought a lot on EBAY or something and was just, unknowingly, reselling them. I'm not mad anymore, challenges are fun, I enjoyed the project.

I'm glad that you liked my creation - thanks

I checked by counting on my fingers, yup, 4 stories, not 5, LOL. I just edited the post

John, your unique kitbashed Plasticville apartment building is terrific. You are a very talented modeler.

I also agree that to buy a Plasticville structure that the seller says is complete, only to learn that parts are missing, is upsetting. I find that one of the most charming things about Plasticville is the little parts that add detail, like little lanterns near a front door, little chimneys, and a little TV antenna on the roof or chimney. Arnold

@RSJB18 posted:

Great work John. I hope that the vendor was not aware of what happened. If he did then he should be ashamed of himself.

The bigger question here is- who would go to all the trouble to pilfer parts and reseal the kits????? It's not like we're talking big bucks for P-ville here.

Bob

Thanks Bob

The only thing I can think of is volume.

Foe example, twenty complete boxed and sealed kits may average $15 each = $300. Twenty incomplete kits maybe $5 each = $100 and they would be a slower sell.

The more I think about it, it had to be the person this vendor bought the kits from. I can't imagine someone on the front line doing this, and this vendor was chatty friendly.

Also, great title to this thread, John. Making lemonade out of lemons is, IMO, one of the most satisfying things that model railroaders can do.

I agree 100% Arnold.

As I stated several times over the last year and a half here, I love a project. "This from That" is one of my favorite things.

Thanks to everyone else for their kind comments about the result of this project too!

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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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