Just received a E-mail from one of our customers (James Santagati) with some photos of his builds using our Munson city building kits. He also used some fencing kits on the roof plus the store front from a Daka dry good kits on some of them. I think he did a sure great job and just to make it even better these are Z scale. rich www.rslaserkits.com
That’s a beautiful row! Beauty in its roughness, and the old way of life in those buildings... darn impressive work!
Wow Rich! Those look so good, it reminds me of a scene from the HO Franklin and South Manchester layout. I like lots of details like that, it really puts life in a scene.
Hi, Rich. Thanks for posting these. I don't know how I missed seeing this building for so long. I've built several of your kits but this one I missed. It was just what I was looking for to complete one end of the block. The Grove kit will fit right in. I have since added porches to the back of some of these buildings. In reality they backed up to the NHRR viaduct that ran along Columbus Avenue. They were demolished in 1966. It is now the site of the Orange Line of the MBTA. Thanks for your kind words and for your commitment to Z scale. Jim
Thanks for your kind words. Model railroading is about memories and these are some of mine. This block was across the street from us and was called the "Lent Block" after its developer. There were 9 similar buildings. I modeled 7 of them. In this block was a glass company, a liquor store, a Chinese hand laundry, an Italian deli, a sign painter, a tavern and a Cuban restaurant. The NHRR ran behind them. The rooftop gardens and pigeon coops are also part of my memories. There are 2 pigeon coops on these roofs. One is lighted with a nano LED. This is a work in progress. I get side-tracked easily...Jim
Thanks for your kind words, Robert. I hardly think I'm in the same league as that guy. My philosophy about model railroading is : Model what you know. This is what I know and model railroading is a way to preserve it. I have used several of your kits on my "waterfront" module. It is a work in progress, too. My inspiration was the late John Pryke and his Union Freight RR in Boston. I agree with you about lots of details. They really add to the scene. Looks like you've got a lot of unpacking to do. Jim
Yes, Jim, don't sell yourself short. Getting that level of detail into Z Scale is quite an accomplishment! I struggle to find enough variety of details to make my scenes, but you not only have the variety, but the quantity too! George Sellios works with HO, where every detail imaginable is available off the shelf, of out of his investment casting machine, but square inch per square inch, you may have more time and details packed in, and you too had to make your own details. That's what I call modeling!
Thank you, Rich & Rob. I appreciate your comments. I wish there were more options for adding details to z-scale. Basically you've got to wing it and use what is available. Rooftops are great for storing your bike. Put one on the fire escape, too. One of the buildings has an LED module that resembles a B&W television. I modeled a wire going into an open window connected to a rooftop TV antenna. One of the fire escape's even has an old fridge on it. It's easy to add details to this kind of environment, basically anything goes. The hope is that it is convincing and looks possible. Your comments tell me I'm on the right track...Jim
Hi, John. Go Urban!! I haven't finished the back yet. I made one set of porches but need 3 more before I finish it. I will post when it is done. I look forward to seeing your updates. BTW. I love the color of the water on your LIRR. It's the same color as it was in Boston's Fort Point channel. Somewhere between lethal and toxic green. Jim
Hi, John and anyone else interested. Here are a couple of pics of the back. I am adding porches. One is almost complete. This build is 4 complete Munson buildings and 2 that have had the rear wall moved to the front creating 2 separate buildings with no backs. I am using Archistories brick sheets for the wall and putting dummy doors on the walls, no windows, to depict a way in. Nothing fancy. The porches on the Grove kit are ideally what I'd like. Maybe if I build another module I would use the Dakra storefront on all the buildings and use the Grove porches in the back.
Sure thing, John. I have a small correction to make. I used 3 complete Munson bldgs. and made 4 storefronts from 2 kits. I don't know if Rich intended this kit to be as versatile as it is. The rear lends itself easily as another shopfront. Even better, it is totally different looking. The 2 side-by-side look like 2 different bldgs. They are even different heights since the original slopes back about 1/4". I didn't weather the brick or even add mortar. I may have bought the last of MicronArts balcony kits. I've got several versions. Jim
I love those buildings! I wish I could see them in real life, they look bigger in pictures but when you see them with your own eyes it adds that mind boggling “how can they do that “ experience. Good show!
Hi, Eric Next time you have a layover in Boston give me a ring. I am easy to get to on the MBTA. I am equally impressed with your progress. I've been a z-scaler much longer and still haven't made a working layout. Jim