Is there a demand or need for old timer gas stations?

[FloridaBoy]

I am an older guy from a small town in western PA who moved to Florida many years ago, but my memories linger on to the PRR railhead that delivered ore and coal to the Sharon Steel foundry right along our family's compound.  Back then just like you see in Mayberry, we used to go to the gas station alongside the tracks for a "soda pop" on warm evenings and pass time away on the swing on my grandmothers back yard closeby. Memories.....

But back in the steam era, gas stations had plenty more activity than today, which is why a few years ago they incorporated selling food in their showrooms and eliminating mechanical work for the most part.

But those old gas stations had PERSONALITY especially for us steam-to-diesel era modelers.  But despite a lot of industrial models in the catalogs today, there are very few old time gas stations.  Gloorcraft made a few kits several years back and I have owned 2 of them and they to me were like N versions of Fine Scale Models kits.  Thankfully I still have one, as I was given an offer I couldn't refuse for the other.  Additionally, I went to Black Mountain, NC and right in the center of downtown is an old Pennzoil station converted into a camera shop but that characteristic high gable roof identified it right off.  More memories.......

I just saw where Woodland Scenics is issuing a ready made kit of an old gas station, which I am will buy when I find one.  But thinking about it more, the gas station to me qualifies as both a railside structure or a downtown commercial structure, often right next to stub ends of storage tracks in some places, and could be popular and well received.

In my humble opinion, our hobby could use some more 50's and 60's era gas stations and I would be just as welcome for a kit or ready built model.

Whaddaya think?

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[VonRyan]

I'm up for 40s-50s. 

[jmlaboda]

Late-40s but not being built... yet.

[Bob Bufkin]

City Classics, Republic Locomotive Works, and Showcase Miniatures make old gas stations.  You can see photos of them in the JanFeb N-Scale mag.  I've also seen a  few other but don't remember who made them.

[peteski]

I remember a very small old Mobil gas station kit. Maybe Detail Associates or Period Miniatures?  Friend has it on his layout. Blair Line IIRC also makes a gas station from that period. So does Walthers (their Art-Deco gas station).

[Hamaker]

That Mobil gas station you speak of has been on every one of the four N scale layouts I've made.  I treasure it !

[robwill84]

The little Mobil station is made by Micro Engineering and it is one of the best values out there. It comes with signs, a nice fence tons of details and even a tow truck. Here is one I custom made several years ago:





and the tow truck:

[peteski]

That's it! Micro Engineering.

[johnh35]

The little Mobil station is made by Micro Engineering and it is one of the best values out there. It comes with signs, a nice fence tons of details and even a tow truck. Here is one I custom made several years ago:





and the tow truck:

Compared to the door, those windows are huge!

[robwill84]

Normal size windows, really small building.

[sirenwerks]

Really high-placed windows, about 4 feet off the floor, creating a shack with a 12 to 16 foot ceiling.

[peteski]

Normal size windows, really small building.

Is that good or bad? Remember Ed's law... 

[robwill84]

Really high-placed windows, about 4 feet off the floor, creating a shack with a 12 to 16 foot ceiling.

They're three feet off the ground. It's about 14 ft. tall at the peak.

[nkalanaga]

Many buildings of that era had such large windows.  Electricity was unavailable, unreliable, or expensive in rural areas, so they used as much natural light as possible.  High ceilings also helped keep the rooms cooler in the summer, as the heat would rise, and could be vented through the eaves if electric fans weren't available.  Remember, no air conditioners back then either.

[wcfn100]

60's gas station? Yeah, I'll take this one:




Jason