Kato Japanese Structures for US Layout

[JoeD]

Cruising Hobby Link Japan looking for some generic stuff to fill up a freemo module and was looking at the Kato buildings.  Some of these can be adjusted a bit and fit in just about anywhere.  I really like the Seafood resturant, potential there.

http://hlj.com/product/KAT23-406/Rld 
http://hlj.com/product/KAT23-402A/Rld 
http://hlj.com/product/KAT23-477/Rld 

Joe

[Pomperaugrr]

Joe, you are correct.  Those would make good generic structures with a few modifications.

I have also found that some of the other Kato and Tomix kit parts can be used in kitbashing projects.  I modified and used a wall of a Kato enginehouse as the office and entry area for Sheffield Plastics, which is currently under construction on my layout.  This building still needs paint and details.  Sorry for the crappy cell phone grabs.

I have also gotten some great deals from Plaza Japan, on ebay.  He combines items for reduced shipping too.



Eric

[tehachapifan]

The apartment building looks exactly like those that can be found just about anywhere in the US. Been eying that one for quite some time but I only just now noticed it's 1/150 per the links above. May not matter in thus case though.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah. And don't forget one of my favorites:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Tomix-N-Warehouse-A-Kit-p/tmx-256298.htm

[peteski]

The apartment building looks exactly like those that can be found just about anywhere in the US. Been eying that one for quite some time but I only just now noticed it's 1/150 per the links above. May not matter in thus case though.

When it comes to buildings, the 1:150 scale doesn't seem to stand out. Buildings come in all shapes and sizes in real life and I suspect that Japanese buildings are generally smaller than American.  Also, most models are compressed already.  The doors might be a tiny bit too tall, but not enough to make them look out of place on 1:160 layout.

[asarge]

Tomytec has some generic office buildings that can be used also.

[Bob Bufkin]

There was another Japanese company which made small scale dockyards, cranes, etc for small waterline ship models (can't remember the name) but I have some of their pierside buildings and one of the cranes.  The buildings can be used as skylight on large buildings and the crane scales out fairly decently in N.  You can just see the crane to the right above the cabin car.

[peteski]

There was another Japanese company which made small scale dockyards, cranes, etc for small waterline ship models (can't remember the name) but I have some of their pierside buildings and one of the cranes.  The buildings can be used as skylight on large buildings and the crane scales out fairly decently in N.  You can just see the crane to the right above the cabin car.

Yeah, very small part of the crane.    Maybe you're thinking of Green Max?