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Post by railtwister on Sept 22, 2017 20:07:37 GMT -5
In Marklin's "Made for the US Market-Classic Series" of solid cast resin structures, whose sku's numbered from 2630 to 2640, was there ever a number 2636 (and if yes, what was it)? I can find info & pictures on all the other numbers, but nothing for item #2636. It seems like Z scale, even after 30 years, still suffers from a lack of reasonably priced American style structures, either kits or ready to paint and place.
Bill in FtL
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Post by neverland on Sept 23, 2017 14:57:32 GMT -5
Bill, you won't get an argument from me! There were a handful of really good z scale model makers who, either due to illness or lack of financial wherewithal, have gone out of business in recent years.
Marklin's resin castings are not what I call outstanding as they lack depth & detail.
Miller Engineering's brass Micro Structures kits are about the best but now they are becoming harder to find & are not for the casual modeler. The company is still in business but has stopped designing & etching structures.
Many of the European plastic structures don't look right for a US railroad.
The devil is in the details, in this case trying to create minuscule details in 1:220 scale. It takes engineering, hardware & software development & for most manufacturers I guess it's just not cost effective considering how few of us there are working in Z.
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Post by railtwister on Sept 23, 2017 18:13:50 GMT -5
While Marklin's solid-cast structures certainly were not contest winners, if painted carefully & tastefully, they were not that bad for use as layout structures. Considering the cost, I think they are more than good enough for a layout, certainly so if placed away from the very front. The Micron etched pieces are nicer, but they are much more money, and require a lot more time and effort to properly assemble & paint so they look halfway decent. My real question remains was ther ever a #2636, and if so, what was it?
Bill in FtL
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Post by markm on Sept 23, 2017 20:48:07 GMT -5
Bill, I don't believe I've said welcome yet. Here's what I have on cast resin buildings from Märklin: Painted European style: www.guidetozscale.com/html/marklin_resin-cast.htmlUnpainted U.S. style (2010 list): 2630 - Depot 2631 - 2-story house 2632 - Factory 2633 - Feed Mill 2634 - Freight terminal 2635 - Mine Head 2637 - Country Church 2638 - Modern Ranch House 2639 - Barn 2640 - Store Fronts I can't find any reference to #2636. Hope this helps, Mark |
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Post by strummer on Sept 23, 2017 23:12:43 GMT -5
Interesting.... So would this be the #2638? It's a solid block of resin(?), and has very fine details. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to paint in those windows!  Mark in Oregon |
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Post by markm on Sept 23, 2017 23:21:35 GMT -5
Mark, Yup. I'd suggest painting curtains on them  Actually since they are recessed, try a toothpick with just a touch of paint on the end. Unfortunately I didn't purchase any of these structures when I had a chance, so I haven't tried the method on them, but it has worked for me on injection molded structures. Another Mark |
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Post by rvn2001 on Sept 24, 2017 5:02:09 GMT -5
Use a small brush and paint the windows first so you can cover up any mess on the outside with the trim and house color paint.
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Post by railtwister on Sept 24, 2017 8:14:20 GMT -5
Interesting.... So would this be the #2638? It's a solid block of resin(?), and has very fine details. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to paint in those windows! Mark in Oregon Actually, that one is the #2638 Modern Ranch House, I remember it from years ago, when I worked in a LHS. Since I have no memory of a #2636, can't find any reference to one online, and all the boxes and stock lists don't show anything, I guess there wasn't ever a product with that designation. Pretty strange to have a missing number in the middle of the series like that. If these things were still around in the 2010 catalog, then I guess they had a pretty long product run. Looking back now, I think I can recall wondering the same thing in the early 1990's... Bill in FtL |
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Post by markm on Sept 24, 2017 9:50:47 GMT -5
Likewise I can remember no casting beyond the list above. I worked for a company that assigned part numbers when the product design was started. If the design didn't work out, they'd skip the number.
Getting back to structures, many are short-lived: as Robert Ray, another Z scaler, likes to say: "if you see it, buy it. Tomorrow it will be gone."
There really is a lot of selection out there. Don't sell the laser kits short. They come in a wide variety and can be quite detailed. I've been happy with kits from MTL, Märklin, GCLaser and RSLaser. I'm working on Amimek's Snowden Theater: a very detailed mixed media laser kit. Very prototypical. Even the cast resin kits from people like Randy Brown can come out well.
During the conventions and shows I've talked with many structure producers, most of the producers in Z, and the common complaint is unit volume. For example one vendor of brass kits has to etch a minimum of 3 2x2 ft. sheets...that's a lot of Z scale kits. I suspect these people would produce more in brass if they could presell 40-60% of their production.
AZL also made a couple of nice structures (which I also wish I had bought at the time). Maybe they could comment on producing structures.
Mark
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2017 11:01:21 GMT -5
Marklin's resin castings are not what I call outstanding as they lack depth & detail. Here is my church, after painting by my modeller friend ; I must admit that it is not SO bad ... The cross was added as a 3D-printed part (in FUD)  |
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Post by neverland on Sept 24, 2017 13:45:56 GMT -5
Marklin's resin castings are not what I call outstanding as they lack depth & detail. Here is my church, after painting by my modeller friend ; I must admit that it is not SO bad ... The cross was added as a 3D-printed part (in FUD) View AttachmentLooks good. I was just expressing my personal preference. I love kits & kit bashing so tend to avoid resin structures. Enjoy your church! |
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