Why don't MTL buildings get more love?

[rswinnerton]

Joe.. How about 1980-99 convenience stores? CR modellers would buy tons.... Specifically Sheetz, a popular local chain.

[Gozer the Gozerian]

That would be a good one...given the obvious dietary preferences of CR modelers    Kidding.  I have something like this designed but it needs to be generic.

JOe

Joe.. How about 1980-99 convenience stores? CR modellers would buy tons.... Specifically Sheetz, a popular local chain.

[Catt]

How about some modern concrete tilt ups.They could be done in a modular style so several kits could be combined to make something bigger or just different.

[jnevis]

Thanks Joe

BTW, the Sheetz pictured could easily be any convenience store (7-11, Circle K ect) with the right signage

pre-emptive strike

[basementcalling]

Give me some ideas...
 

Joe

Gladly,

Modern era really needs a modern gas mart/convenience store hybrid likes Sheets or WaWa. A lot of these are also local owned.  Often on intersections near the tracks too. One of these clearly sets a modern era.



How about a modern looking factory type building.











This is some high quality scratch building here. Modeler unknown.



Modern warehouse type structures are everywhere, but not on N scale layouts unless scratch built. Hard to do a modern industrial park without a few of these.






Older brick style storefronts that are modernized into condos or lofts would be nice too. These could easily be kitbashed to fit a lot of spaces.



Generic brick and metal industrial options abound.



I would love to see a small ready mix concrete batch facility.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Modern era really needs a modern gas mart/convenience store hybrid likes Sheets or WaWa. A lot of these are also local owned.  Often on intersections near the tracks too. One of these clearly sets a modern era.

Do em both, as a set, and set them on dueling corners like they do in real life.

[peteski]

Gladly,

Modern era really needs a modern gas mart/convenience store hybrid likes Sheets or WaWa. A lot of these are also local owned.  Often on intersections near the tracks too. One of these clearly sets a modern era.

Wasn't Karin (from Bridgestone Stonebridge)  working on some modern laser-cut building kits?

[Dave Schneider]

I would like to take a short detour back to the original topic if I may. One reason that MTL buildings don't get more love (in my opinion) is that they have been flying well below the radar with regards to advertising. We get monthly run downs (followed by run downs of a different type) regarding their rolling stock, but next to nothing about buildings. In addition, it seems like the buildings are all limited time/one time models (correct?). I have purchased plenty of models "on spec" over the years, but have been trying to curb this practice and invest in what I need. I suspect that there are nice buildings that I would have utilized if they were available on a semi-routine basis. You could say this about most MTL products in fact. Their business model works for them (which is great), but this practice is difficult for the modeler and consumer.

Best wishes, Dave

[Ngineer]

but to me seemed way overpriced for what appeared to be, but wasn't exactly, card stock.

That was my reaction, too. I bought just one early model (packing plant? small warehouse?), but had problems with warping. Not sure what glue and paint (yes, for some parts) to use.

Javier

[mionerr]

I agree with the limited availability. I picked up a pair of the military warehouse kits for my Army depot siding. I managed to find a third one later on, but then I couldn't find more or even see them listed on line.
I've also got the packing shed and the warehouse, which I'll use as another packing shed. I need lots of packing sheds and I don't see two remotely similar ones in the real world of where I model.

[Jesse6669]

How about a modern looking factory type building.

This is some high quality scratch building here. Modeler unknown.

This looks like:  http://scalescenes.com/products/T009-Modern-Industrial-Building

They have quite a few potential modern structures, cardstock construction tho.  Price is right!

[Flagler]

Docks, warfs and piers please.

[packers#1]

Really, rather than the huge Sheetz/Wawa/QT (for the Southeastern modeler, I know if I were to build a layout based on the Greenville sub I'd need at least one QT), why not smaller Shell/Exxon/Kent'sCorner/whatever gas stations that could be converted. I know back home some old Shell stations were bought and then rebranded as Green Light Convenience stores or some such name. There are also local chains; Phillips 66 was also making a comeback in my hometown but those were rebranded toPalmetto eXpress, a local chain. Also, if just the station pumps were available, that would work. The closest gas station to my house back home is a Shell station where the pumps are standard Shell but the store is part of a strip mall designed to look like an old country store.
http://binged.it/1vq77UH

It occurs to me scratchbuilding basic filling stations from styrene would not be all that challenging though, so perhaps the large Sheetz/QT stores would be a more logical kit.
An example of a QT:
http://www.hoganconstructiongroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/QT.jpg