Crowdsourcing stand-in buildings for York

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've got a couple buildings I need for York on my new NCR layout to really make it "YORK".

The first is the former PRR office across the street from the station (which is a whole other can of worms).

Does anyone know of any kits that are close? It's nice and plain and feels easy to scratch except for the damned mansard roof. I'm not worried about being spot on, just something evocative of the real thing.

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The second is the concrete coaling tower. I thought about the Walthers one but it's about 50% too large for the application. Is there anything else out there that might be similar?

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I'm working on building my Christmas list, so any help would be appreciated.

[davefoxx]

That building would be easy to scratchbuild, as you pointed out.  To simplify the mansard roof, have someone 3D print those dormers in the roof.  Kick out how ever many you need, and that structure is mostly sheet styrene (plus whatever other commercial windows and doors you use).

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Good thought. I also just discovered the building is still there. I didn't recognize it because it didn't look like hell!

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9670287,-76.7278885,3a,75y,202h,91.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZeaklTCpxgBCAIFj4D0t7w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZeaklTCpxgBCAIFj4D0t7w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D346.0673%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[Philip H]

Tichy has you covered in HO:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363619702921?hash=item54a96c5889:g:BUwAAOSwHQphjrMv

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That Tichy one is even bigger, I think, than the Walthers one.

[mmagliaro]

Ed,
I think you could take a razor saw and miter box to that Walthers one, and convert it from double-track to single.  I did that to the Alkem N Scale concrete coal dock years ago to make it single-track.  As I recall, I cut a section out of the middle of each end wall.  Then I glued the two pieces together.  That keeps the pitch angle of the roof the same.  I trimmed the roof panels shorter so they didn't overhang too much.  I also had to cut and file the archways so a train could still fit through it, because once you cut out the center section of each end, the arched openings are not as high at their centers.
I can take some pictures of it if that helps (or you can look at your November, 2007 Railroad Model Craftsman magazine)

[keeper]

Take a look at some Faller city buildings. There are some with similar roofs.

Thomas 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed,
I think you could take a razor saw and miter box to that Walthers one, and convert it from double-track to single.  I did that to the Alkem N Scale concrete coal dock years ago to make it single-track.  As I recall, I cut a section out of the middle of each end wall.  Then I glued the two pieces together.  That keeps the pitch angle of the roof the same.  I trimmed the roof panels shorter so they didn't overhang too much.  I also had to cut and file the archways so a train could still fit through it, because once you cut out the center section of each end, the arched openings are not as high at their centers.
I can take some pictures of it if that helps (or you can look at your November, 2007 Railroad Model Craftsman magazine)

I do have that handy-dandy table saw. Hmm. I think you're onto something.

[cgw]

ok ed;   do you have any plans for the York coaling tower?    I may bite to print one but need plans and dimensions

[mmagliaro]

I do have that handy-dandy table saw. Hmm. I think you're onto something.

Yeah!
The hardest part, for me, was re-forming the curved arches over the track that passes under the tower.  But I see from your prototype photo that your tower doesn't have curved arches under there, they are 3-sided, so you could just make some cuts and do some big flat filing.  (Or you could carefully mark that 3-sided shape and then hit up some sucker with a milling machine to cut it out for you)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

ok ed;   do you have any plans for the York coaling tower?    I may bite to print one but need plans and dimensions

After Max's suggestion, I was just planning on hacking up the Walthers one. I'm assuming it was a standard Pennsy prototype though, and I wouldn't complain if a more accurate model was available.

[mmyers]

If you can find one this could be a starting point
https://www.walthers.com/city-house-with-balcony-terrace-4f27e1

[Ed Kapuscinski]

If you can find one this could be a starting point
https://www.walthers.com/city-house-with-balcony-terrace-4f27e1

Oh nice. That's the closest thing I've seen so far.

[wm3798]

The mansard roof on the office building could be simulated with parts from those old Model Power city buildings.  I probably have a couple floating around.  they've got the dormers cast right into them.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpicclick.com%2FModel-Power-N-Scale-Good-View-Movie-Theater-362258515438.html&psig=AOvVaw1dF4HtDYa3oo9j7uQtBcPi&ust=1637198648081000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCPCo8buenvQCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAa

[cgw]

as I looked into this coaling tower I cannot find a std design anywhere where I have looked.    I can find a 600 ton, 400 ton but nothing like the one in York.   does anyone know where to find a plan for the tower?