Hi - I decided to Vlog the restoration of my Marklin 8910 Toporama Layout. This video is about the buildings. I'm not selling anything. Hope you like it! Barry
I spent a lot of time this past year building Archistories kits. Mostly because I just love building architectural models. Thanks for your Vlog, these old Marklin buildings are fascinating. Looking forward to seeing them finished after all these years!
Hi Barry, I watched your vlog, and have a couple suggestions to consider. First, Painting: I would recomment investing in an airbrush for painting. A great starter/intermediate airbrush that is easy to learn and gives great results is an Aztek A370 (it's what I still use). If you don't go this route, at least spray all the parts with Testors Dull Cote. It will kill the fake shine, and make the thick semi-transparent plastic actually look finer and thinner by killing the effect that lets you see somewhat inside the plastic. Always mask clear window material, or add it after painting. Second, Blackout: Instead of using the blackout paper, Use tamiya masking tape to mask glue joints then paint the inside walls black. After they dry, you can paint them any other color you want, and light will not bleed through the black layer of paint. 3rd, Details: For residential structures like apartments and homes, you can find photos of curtains and blinds to place in the windows. Also, if you have balconies on apartments, random details like flower pots, bicycles, chairs and BBQ pits look great on select balconies.
Robert, Thank you for the great advice! You are spot-on. I already have a Paasche airbrush and a compressor. I like the idea of dulling the surface and painting the walls black rather than using the paper. I usually try to prime/paint the parts on the tree and touch them up later. I also really like the idea of adding residential detail especially after the work is done because the houses and appt. buildings all look the same. I am going to try to start out by following the look of the box and go from there. Also - I am not going to glue the houses down so I can modify them later and chance the bulbs as needed. Thanks again.
Hi, Barry The Marklin kits if complete should come with window treatments for the windows. Any paper will work for shades. I like to vary the shades from window to window. Some up, some down...I have kitbashed a few of these kits into more American looking buildings. The freight house and signal tower in particular. Jim
Hi, Barry. Here is an example of those Marklin kits kit-bashed to look more American-like. I built this over 20 years ago (one of my first attempts at kit-bashing.) In those days it was slim pickings for anything US looking. The kits I used were the Durnau Station, the coaling kit and the freight shed. You will recognize what parts I used. Parts from my scrap box make up most of the details. I would forgo the Marklin lights and use LED's. They won't need to be changed. Besides, the tiny incandescent bulbs can warp the building if it is too close to the structure. LED's do not generate heat and are available in many colors. As Robert advised, definitely paint the inside and seal all seams or you will have a building that glows and leaks light. Very distracting. I have made 2 different building from the signal tower as well. I can't find the photos of them at the moment. Good luck with your project. Jim BTW. The barrels are made from rubber earring backs for hoop earrings. A bag of 100 cost about $2.00 and are perfect size.
Really nice work Kurt, even up close the buildings look great! I appreciate the advise on LED bulbs and will likely go that way. I am going to post a couple of new videos over the Holiday.
