New kit ideas (Downtown Deco)

[sirenwerks]

Daniel,

Have you considered knocking out a scratchbuilt wall panel the exact way you want it,  giving it some depth, and casting your own in plaster? The building you have there is cast like a castle wall, making it an easy concept to replicate if that's what you want. Hydrocal is easy to work with and good for the thick stuff, and suitable for a flat that's braced by a backdrop.

Otherwise, N Scale Architectbs Model Builders Supply line has brick sheet that is 11"x14" (with the flat border of each sheet, it's closer to 9.5"x12.5" - orientation running the longer dim). AFAIK, that's the largest brick sheet available for N and is suitable for curtain wall constructions, and it's got good masonry detail. With strategically placed butressing elements or drain pipes to conceal the joints, you can go pretty big with these sizable sheets. The brick sheet also comes in different bonds for different era-d buildings/additions.

Ed,

You come up with drawings and I'd be glad to help build your Crown complex.

[up1950s]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Attachments/ViewImage.aspx%3FFileGuid%3D0BA86CF0-E14B-4DF7-9754-CB79DEE7238E%26Extension%3DJPG%26Width%3D0%26Height%3D0&imgrefurl=http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16736792/133-135-Shore-Rd-Pelham-Manor-NY/&usg=__toN5pFLe4McMShztZ-5aqCNFM58=&h=680&w=1024&sz=647&hl=en&start=99&sig2=i6DvkQrK2hzIqLZep62OxA&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=TpU8CVagoT6EAM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsmall%2Bstone%2Bservice%2Bstation%26start%3D80%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dig%26gbv%3D2%26sout%3D1%26prmdo%3D1%26ndsp%3D20%26biw%3D1249%26bih%3D771%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=0JZ1TITgEYOC8gaE5L3yBQ

[Denver Road Doug]

I'd say a modern (80's plus, and not a loft) apartment building.  You could do a kit with one middle unit and two end units or something along those lines and then you'd have people buying multiples to put together a pike size complex.   Offer an office/laundry building with a pool too.

[Dave V]

Hi guys. I'm always looking for new kit ideas so I thought I'd put out the word here. Our next project should be something smaller rather than larger, brick, stone or stucco (or a combination) and not terribly region specific. Something with a cool roof line & plenty of character would be great. If you have any sugestions I'm all ears. Cheers!

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco
www.downtowndeco.com

As soon as I read this, I immediately thought of the PRR Huntingdon freight house...  Cinder block construction with brick accents; very region-agnostic.  It's in a book I have on the PRR, but haven't found pics online yet.

Another option would be a PRR brick tower like COLA:

http://thecrhs.org/Images/COLA-Interlocking-Tower

It's VERY generic, and in fact I've seen towers like that along the UP here in Nebraska.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I still think the Framingham depot or any of the Boston Line depots would be a great project.

Framingham




Holyoke

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2172412
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=756144
Warren

[SkipGear]

Staying within the original request for something smaller.....with an interesting footprint/roof.



This was a corner gas station in town in the 20's. B&O Ohio Division main line runs to the right of the picture.

[sirenwerks]

Staying within the original request for something smaller.....with an interesting footprint/roof.



This was a corner gas station in town in the 20's. B&O Ohio Division main line runs to the right of the picture.

Oh joy, another shack/gas station in N. Just what we need to fill the spaces between the weed choked brownfield sites where the industrial-size structures we really need should go.  ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

I would like something like this station:

[MichaelWinicki]

While there's always a passenger station "look" that hasn't been done yet, I'm guessing DD is looking for something different.  Freight stations, various types of "out" buildings and gas stations can probably be lumped under this category also. 

[DKS]

Hi guys. I'm always looking for new kit ideas so I thought I'd put out the word here. Our next project should be something smaller rather than larger, brick, stone or stucco (or a combination) and not terribly region specific. Something with a cool roof line & plenty of character would be great. If you have any sugestions I'm all ears. Cheers!

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco
www.downtowndeco.com

In keeping with the original request (which seems to be a challenge for many of the regulars here), I'd suggest perhaps an urban firehouse, for starters. These are sometimes quite small and loaded with character. If you freelance the design, you can pick and choose the most interesting features from several buildings to come up with one that has brick/stone walls and an interesting, detailed roof.

Here's a starting point:



More inspiration here:

http://smartpei.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/29/firehouse.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7294653@N07/558574682/

http://www.helloboston.com/media/articles/large/2129_image1_large.jpg

[wm3798]

Just say NO to more gas stations.  I dare say that every era since Dr. Benz first invented internal combustion has been covered.

I've got just the thing...

A modular Baltimore rowhouse, such as the ones on the left.  

They're pretty ubiquitous in most northeastern cities, and are almost never more than a stone's throw from the right of way.  Modular would work in that details, such as front porches, side bay windows and rear additions could be scabbed on with reckless abandon.  You should also be able to build them either on a flat plane, or step them so they can follow a sloped street.  The only real details would be the cornice at the top of the wall, and you'd only need 5 or 6 window castings, usually less, to complete a house.






And you gotta do one in Formstone!


DPM's modular walls are fine for industrial buildings, but they're too big to make houses out of.  Aside from the ancient (and too euro looking) AHM models, there really isn't a decent urban dwelling unit availalble in N.

Lee

[sizemore]

Hi guys. I'm always looking for new kit ideas so I thought I'd put out the word here. Our next project should be something smaller rather than larger, brick, stone or stucco (or a combination) and not terribly region specific. Something with a cool roof line & plenty of character would be great. If you have any sugestions I'm all ears. Cheers!

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco
www.downtowndeco.com

Complete with Venkman, Stantz, Zeddmore and Spengler....

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-a&hs=nfz&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=ghostbusters+firehouse&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=eId2TOCNJsT6lwfqyrTrCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC0QsAQwAA&biw=1680&bih=813

The S.

[Blazeman]

Take Lee's idea for row homes, but instead of casting and shipping the walls, sell the flexible molds so modelers can pour their own and make entire blocks of homes.

[MichaelWinicki]

Take Lee's idea for row homes, but instead of casting and shipping the walls, sell the flexible molds so modelers can pour their own and make entire blocks of homes.

I like Lee's idea.  I'm just not sure DD is into homes, be it a row house or of the stand-alone variety.

I think David's idea is top notch.  The brick firehouse with single door can be found just about anywhere... I can think of at least a couple still standing in this more-rural area.

[MichaelWinicki]

Take Lee's idea for row homes, but instead of casting and shipping the walls, sell the flexible molds so modelers can pour their own and make entire blocks of homes.

I think if anyone was entrepreneurial minded they could run with this one.