Who are your “alternate” manufacturers?

[robertjohndavis]

I have been doing some deep dives into N scale buildings and scenic details from outside of the normal Woodland Scenics, Walthers, etc… lines.

I am thinking of outfits like the great Model Tech Studios, but maybe even lesser known (at least in the US market).

I am about to try some Juweela products: https://www.juweela.de/en/home.html

And I am also interested in the self-adhesive brick and stone from
Redutex: https://tienda.redutex.com/en/12-modeling_textures

Despite being part of the Bachmann line, I am finding some interesting usable bits in their UK Scenecraft line: https://www.bachmann.co.uk/site/search?q=N%20scenecraft&catid=249

What are your go to’s outside of the norm?

Would share your favorite “alternate” manufacturers?

All the best,

Rob

[Mr Z]

I’ve been using a number of kits from www.metcalfemodels.com lately. While these are made in British N (1:148) and are British designs you may still find a place on an American layout
The structures are made of printed paper and card but when completed fit in well with Plastic and laser cut buildings.

Martin Z

[thomasjmdavis]

Rob,
Be careful with the Bachmann stuff.  Although your search specified "N scenecraft", many of the items that showed up on the page were other scales (including, unfortunately, the couple things I might have been interested in).

The self adhesive brick is an interesting product- although currently I am well stocked with brick sheet from N Scale Architect.

My go-to companies for buildings that are beyond the Walthers or DPM world are (no particular order):

Lunde
N Scale Architect
Blair Line
American Model Builders
Tomix
Greenmax

Canadian companies that I have not tried but I think have a lot of potential are:
https://itlascalemodels.com/  both their buildings and their elevated track structures based on NYC and Chicago "El" systems.
https://www.interactionhobbies.com/N-Scale-Kit-Jacobs-Welding-Engineering_p_11.html  I feel like I have to find a place for that welding shop on the future layout.

Caveat- I have to admit that while I have a bunch of these kits and materials from the first group mentioned above, most are either still in boxes, or "in progress" for the past several years.  In my own defense, I once asked a kit maker why he never showed photos of kits he had completed himself.  He replied that he never got to the point of thinking they were "finished"- he always found more to do with details, interiors, lighting, etc. - so his were always "in progress" too- usually on the back burner after he got the basic structure put together.

[chuck geiger]

I am trying to locate the N version of this: https://www.ssinnovative.com/online-store that I saw somewhere, I think they were in TN. Also
check out these switch stands, they are hard to order, they don't answer emails. https://www.central-hobbies.com/products/briggsmodels.html

[chuck geiger]

Rob,
Be careful with the Bachmann stuff.  Although your search specified "N scenecraft", many of the items that showed up on the page were other scales (including, unfortunately, the couple things I might have been interested in).

The self adhesive brick is an interesting product- although currently I am well stocked with brick sheet from N Scale Architect.

My go-to companies for buildings that are beyond the Walthers or DPM world are (no particular order):

Lunde
N Scale Architect
Blair Line
American Model Builders
Tomix
Greenmax

Canadian companies that I have not tried but I think have a lot of potential are:
https://itlascalemodels.com/  both their buildings and their elevated track structures based on NYC and Chicago "El" systems.
https://www.interactionhobbies.com/N-Scale-Kit-Jacobs-Welding-Engineering_p_11.html  I feel like I have to find a place for that welding shop on the future layout.

Caveat- I have to admit that while I have a bunch of these kits and materials from the first group mentioned above, most are either still in boxes, or "in progress" for the past several years.  In my own defense, I once asked a kit maker why he never showed photos of kits he had completed himself.  He replied that he never got to the point of thinking they were "finished"- he always found more to do with details, interiors, lighting, etc. - so his were always "in progress" too- usually on the back burner after he got the basic structure put together.

Canadian Osborn? Phone poles and loading dock were great years ago.

[Missaberoad]

Also
check out these switch stands, they are hard to order, they don't answer emails. https://www.central-hobbies.com/products/briggsmodels.html

Chuck, try ordering direct from Briggs, I've always had a good experience.

https://briggs-models.myshopify.com/

Also @BCOL 747 is associated with and handles most of Jeff's online presence.

[chuck geiger]

Ryan thanks!

[Angus Shops]

I am trying to locate the N version of this: https://www.ssinnovative.com/online-store that I saw somewhere, I think they were in TN. Also
check out these switch stands, they are hard to order, they don't answer emails. https://www.central-hobbies.com/products/briggsmodels.html

Central Hobbies lists a lot of Briggs products that are no longer available. However, Central also carries some new stuff from a another local area n scale genius (actually a full scale genius, but he makes products in n scale) marketed under the F & M Models name that includes printed switch stands and wheel stops, as well as an awesome kit for a CP snow plough (I’ve built two). Central is my local pusher; I’ll ask about your lack of response to emails.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ooh, I love this.

I'm always looking for stuff that's not in every hobby shop.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Two of my recent favorites:
http://www.nscalelaser.com/
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?isRefine=true&_pgn=1&sid=hdcustomdesign

[chuck geiger]

Trying to get these: Briggs on Central page.

N Scales   N Scale CN/BCR Switch Stand: 2-pack   $ 5.00 CDN$
N Scales   N Scale CN/BCR Switch Stand: 10-pack   $ 24.00 CDN$
N Scale   Although only a limited number of 10-packs were made, when they run out we will sell five two-packs for the price of a ten-pack.
Each package contains (for a 2-pack):
One sprue of three resin castings
One etching:
2 etched metal staffs
2 etched metal tables
2 etched metal targets
2 etched metal rectangular washers
2 etched metals locks
Instructions.

[mmagliaro]

Stuff that's not in every hobby shop that I use:

- Eileen's Emporium - metal strip, sheet, tube, wire in metals like phosphor bronze and nickel silver, in addition to brass,
   and sizes much finer than the stock K&S stuff

- AMSI ground cover materials - I like them because they sell more muted earthtone colors and very fine-grained materials
   (alternative to Woodland Scenics)

- Drill bits: Precision Twist Drill, Union, Cleveland, to name 3 "new old stock" USA made drill bits that beat anything you'll find in a hobby store
   I try to just hunt these down in lots on eBay

- Jeweler's Files: Grobet (Vallorbe) - ditto on hobby shops, although Grobet bought out Mascot, and Mascot makes pretty good files

- Fine pliers:  Lindstrom

- Fine tweezers: Regine

The tools I'm listing ain't cheap... Not gonna lie.  A nice pair of Lindstrom needlenose pliers or flush or diagonal cutters are around
$75.  But they are fabulous.  These are cutters that will snip plastic and metals with crisp cleanliness all day long.  And if you are stupid enough to cut hardened music wire with them and nick the blades, you'll cry for a week.

[garethashenden]

I have some Lindstorm cutters that I was given by a previous employer. They were “too dull” for their process but have served me well for the past decade. Highly recommended, probably my most reliable tool.

[u36b]

The cooling tower is cool:
https://www.n-scenic.co.uk/collections/n-gauge-all-items?sort_by=created-ascending#MainContent
Very nice and well made kits -1:148 but most are perfect for N-scale.
The cooling tower would be one of the smaller ones even in Z-scale - look mighty impressive, though 

Useful and cheap (though my buildings so far looked rather awful  ):
https://scalescenes.com - can be printed in N-Scale

and for the wild wild west:
https://microwelten.de/shopsoftware_neu/index.php?cPath=13_77
Easy to build kits , surprisingly delicate

[PiperguyUMD]

I'm a big fan of what Stephen is doing at Rail Scale Models - https://www.rail-scale-models.com He had worked with the late Jim Cushon to develop some of his WM kits, and even helped me to get a pair of the company houses that Jim was working on when he passed.