New Structure Kits

[TiVoPrince]

Standby  
mode for Mr. Wallet (and Tomytec gas station lingering in place) until then...

[peteski]

I have 2 of the best brand table top lasers on the market. Wood has always been possible with even the low end laser. I was trying to show how lasering in this hobby can go beyond just wood.

I truly felt the members here would like to see a laser project go from idea conception to finished product in a short time. I think I will go back to just doing what I do and spend less time sharing about it.

Please don't stop sharing your knowledge and methods!  I'm one of these ever-curios people who seek to find out the most minute details of how stuff is made (especially if it directly relates to really cool products like model kits).

I'm also impressed with how quickly you created that kit. Being familiar with several 2D drawing applications I do know that their ability to quickly duplicate and space out thing like windows makes things easier and quicker. That, in addition to your experience, makes such a quick turnaround time possible.  I also realize that you have to consider things like the kerf of the laser and material thickness to make sure everything fits properly. That's where your experience is invaluable.

I'm also grateful to you for using more and more plastic instead of wood. Wood is a natural material which can change dimensions depending on environmental condition and which has grain and fuzz.  It requires special handling and preparation while assembling the model.   Plastic is stable and it has a smooth surface.  Much easier to deal with.  And it much better represents concrete, brick or metal.  I hope that all the manufacturers use more and more plastic instead of wood (in kits which don't represent wooden structures).

For example, I would love to have the N Scale Architect's Worcester Union Station kit made of plastic, instead of wood!  It would be so much easier to build (cince the station is supposed to be metal, concrete, brick, and stucco)!

[Roger Holmes]

Karin--Mr. Wallet and I are just waiting for the price to be announced.  Don't stop now

[tom mann]

Where can one order the z scale shell station?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Karin,
None of us are bashing the building. We see things in that building in our mind's eye and are expressing that. As I said, it reminds me of my childhood school. I'll get one if available. Now it would be easier for me if the building was in brick, because thats what my school is. If you can do it with brick, awsome. If not, well I can overlay paper brick. Not a big deal.

Keep us up on your projects, its fun to watch these projects born.

[Lemosteam]

Please don't stop sharing your knowledge and methods!  I'm one of these ever-curios people who seek to find out the most minute details of how stuff is made (especially if it directly relates to really cool products like model kits).

I'm also impressed with how quickly you created that kit. Being familiar with several 2D drawing applications I do know that their ability to quickly duplicate and space out thing like windows makes things easier and quicker. That, in addition to your experience, makes such a quick turnaround time possible.  I also realize that you have to consider things like the kerf of the laser and material thickness to make sure everything fits properly. That's where your experience is invaluable.

I'm also grateful to you for using more and more plastic instead of wood. Wood is a natural material which can change dimensions depending on environmental condition and which has grain and fuzz.  It requires special handling and preparation while assembling the model.   Plastic is stable and it has a smooth surface.  Much easier to deal with.  And it much better represents concrete, brick or metal.  I hope that all the manufacturers use more and more plastic instead of wood (in kits which don't represent wooden structures).

For example, I would love to have the N Scale Architect's Worcester Union Station kit made of plastic, instead of wood!  It would be so much easier to build (cince the station is supposed to be metal, concrete, brick, and stucco)!

+1!!!  Don't get or bother to sound discouraged.  I enjoy your threads and commentary.

[packers#1]

That's Z scale...

We've been talking about the possibility of doing it in N, but that would be a ways off.

I would argue that's a sorely needed item; most of the gas stations available are seriously old...although some are still active in the smaller towns here in the South

[DKS]

Where can one order the z scale shell station?

That's a pre-production mock-up. There's a lot of work left to do on it, but it's on hold at the moment.

[NARmike]

Karin, because you're new to the forum it should be pointed out that the people here on TRW aren't your average forum crowd.

You will find that they are quite honest... sometimes brutally honest, none of that "everyone gets a first place ribbon" stuff here. Because they are all so used to it, it works very well.

Here are some of the things I've learned about them:

1. No News is Good News... If people don't say anything it is because they either agree with or approve of what you're saying/doing.

2. Pat's on the Back... These are only dished out if truly deserved. Any kind of "atta boy" here is worth it's weight in gold... If they are complimenting you it is because you earned it (count your gold... I see you've got some already).

3. Big Fish, Small Pond... The vast majority of members here are experts... at something... as such they do have high standards. They are detail freaks and truly "rivet counters" but , here, that's not a bad thing it just means that, as a result, they All tend to aim a little higher than they otherwise would... "better modelling through peer pressure" is the catch phrase they use.

4. Constructive Critcism... Usually it will come in the form of "why did you do it this way instead of that way ?" kind of thing... take that also at face value. It is meant as assistance and to satisfy curiosity, nothing more.

5. Send in the Clowns... the people here are truly a witty bunch and will jump at any opportunity to get a laugh. This will always be accompanied by a  or a  or , if they're really trying to stir the pot, a  Sometimes it can get pretty edgy so if you have a weak stomach for that kind of stuff please try to ignore it. Modelling they take seriously, everything else... not so much!

6. Stand Your Ground... Don't be afraid to tell them "that's the way I do it", but be prepared to back it up with your reasoning... That's what they are looking for, "Your reasoning" (you've already done that and, don't worry, you haven't offended anybody) They can take it as well as dish it out. They are not easily offended!

[Chris333]

Plus remember you can't please everyone...

[POVC]

That's Z scale...

We've been talking about the possibility of doing it in N, but that would be a ways off.

Summit USA already makes a similar shell station in N-scale...

http://www.summit-customcuts.com/shellstationn.html

Tim

[Hyperion]

Can we make NARMike's post required reading for all new members to the Forum?  That was pretty damned eloquent.

[peteski]

Can we make NARMike's post required reading for all new members to the Forum?  That was pretty damned eloquent.

Separate it from this thread and make it a sticky?

[SebastianLee]

That's a pre-production mock-up. There's a lot of work left to do on it, but it's on hold at the moment.

Since it's on hold, I would suggest a starter gate pump layout or a home plate layout since they have the smallest footprint outside of the under canopy micro-stores.  Funny story, BP at one point had an under canopy store  that came in two halves  that had to be welded together onsite.  Well somehow they welded the two halves together placed the store on it's raised slab, and erected the canopy columns before someone finally noticed that it was upside down.  At this point it was faster and cheaper to cut out the sheet metal panes on the sides and replace with glass.  When they were done  it was pretty unnoticeable except for outlets being 2' from the ceiling

[Alaska Railroader]

These words stopped me in my tracks. Mike, thank you for the heartfelt response. I knew coming into TRW that you guys were very serious about trains and I also knew I was going to be a fish out of water here. But when you are a small time manufacturer and you want to make the best product you can then this would be the place to ask. As David had noted more than once, if you ask what people want to see produced you will have a list longer than your life. And in the end I tend to do whatever has inspired me. On the flip side of that, the end product can often be influenced by suggestions from those who may be the very people who buy and build said product.

I agree, Mike's post to me would be a great intro to newbies although it does lean towards me being a designer. I also want to tell you Mike that I read your your blog and your enthusiasm exuded in every post. Especially touching is your history connected to trains in your area specifically.

I have already figured an affordable way to add brick to part of this building and may implement it on the final revision. I also realized that spending time on this building took time away from a backlog of other work     When I have the time I do have some Z scale structures that I like well enough that I plan to scale them up to N and I do hope you will like them as well.

Thank you for all of the encouragement I received in this thread.

Karin

Karin, because you're new to the forum it should be pointed out that the people here on TRW aren't your average forum crowd.

You will find that they are quite honest... sometimes brutally honest, none of that "everyone gets a first place ribbon" stuff here. Because they are all so used to it, it works very well.

Here are some of the things I've learned about them:

1. No News is Good News... If people don't say anything it is because they either agree with or approve of what you're saying/doing.

2. Pat's on the Back... These are only dished out if truly deserved. Any kind of "atta boy" here is worth it's weight in gold... If they are complimenting you it is because you earned it (count your gold... I see you've got some already).

3. Big Fish, Small Pond... The vast majority of members here are experts... at something... as such they do have high standards. They are detail freaks and truly "rivet counters" but , here, that's not a bad thing it just means that, as a result, they All tend to aim a little higher than they otherwise would... "better modelling through peer pressure" is the catch phrase they use.

4. Constructive Critcism... Usually it will come in the form of "why did you do it this way instead of that way ?" kind of thing... take that also at face value. It is meant as assistance and to satisfy curiosity, nothing more.

5. Send in the Clowns... the people here are truly a witty bunch and will jump at any opportunity to get a laugh. This will always be accompanied by a  or a  or , if they're really trying to stir the pot, a  Sometimes it can get pretty edgy so if you have a weak stomach for that kind of stuff please try to ignore it. Modelling they take seriously, everything else... not so much!

6. Stand Your Ground... Don't be afraid to tell them "that's the way I do it", but be prepared to back it up with your reasoning... That's what they are looking for, "Your reasoning" (you've already done that and, don't worry, you haven't offended anybody) They can take it as well as dish it out. They are not easily offended!