Thoughts on Bachmann New False Front Structures?

[Rossford Yard]

Saw these at Caboose Hobbies last weekend.  All looked nice, with exception that maybe the window sills were a bit thick and didn't like the colors (which, of course could be corrected.)

That parking garage would have come in handy on my last layout, where I scratch built a similar structure from styrene.  The others are two city stores and two warehouse or factory looking stuff.

Well, we can't complain no one is doing new stuff in N. I am looking for ways to incorporate one into my layout just to support them for supporting N.  Given I need fewer structures than on my last urban layout, and saved most of those, it will be hard, but I may be able to do it.

[C855B]

Here's a link if anyone is interested: http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=265_962

Insert the usual comments about Bachmann's MSRP versus street prices.

These are pretty cool, actually. Certainly capture that small downtown feel. I'd replace the signage, at minimum, but its my bias you want to do that anyway to make it "yours".

If the picture on their site is accurate, the parking structure is definitely a candidate for repaint. Where'd that speckled finish come from? Certainly doesn't depict any concrete I'm aware of.

[peteski]

Where'd that speckled finish come from? Certainly doesn't depict any concrete I'm aware of.

I think that is called artistic licence    Some worker in China wanted them to look visually interesting. 

[Kisatchie]

If the picture on their site is accurate, the parking structure is definitely a candidate for repaint. Where'd that speckled finish come from? Certainly doesn't depict any concrete I'm aware of.

https://www.google.com/search?q=terrazzo&client=firefox-a&hs=7BZ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=i42MVIezL9e3yATE14LYDA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1071&bih=808#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=NpcM7ygdCWoaDM%253A%3BXdQ7ykJxMn0XEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fthumbs.dreamstime.com%252Fz%252Fterrazzo-texture-25750335.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dreamstime.com%252Froyalty-free-stock-photo-terrazzo-texture-image25750335%3B1300%3B960


Hmm... looks like
terrazzo to me...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I thought they were going for that pebble in stucco look that was popular in the 80's.

For that money you can get two of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Parking-Garage-Blue-Car-Park-Aoshima-92538-1-150-N-scale-/361119646762?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item541468842a

[nkalanaga]

It wouldn't be hard to convert the store fronts to 3-D buildings.  Many such buildings have concrete block side and rear walls, so one wouldn't have to match the fronts.

[glakedylan]

seems to me, if memory serves me well enough, these fronts are a tad more expensive than DPM (I suppose they are WS now) and Walthers Cornerstone complete structures. that would mean you could buy a complete structure from the later two companies and covert each into 4 fronts. math does not look good to my wallet.

just my opinion...

[peteski]

I think that the point Mike was making is that the speckled surface is way out of scale.  If the "terrazzo" type of surface was reduced down to N scale, the texture would be so fine, it would be almost invisible.

[C855B]

I think that the point Mike was making is that the speckled surface is way out of scale.  If the "terrazzo" type of surface was reduced down to N scale, the texture would be so fine, it would be almost invisible.

Yes. If it was supposed to be a terrazzo effect then they really missed. Also, I've rarely run across a parking structure in this strictly functional configuration that wasn't plain-ol' gray concrete.

[Baronjutter]

Ridiculously expensive for a quarter of a building.

[nkalanaga]

Gary:  Very true, although I don't think the sides of most DPM/WS would make very good flats.  It would be more like two for the price of one.

I was thinking more of someone who actually LIKED the Bachmann building, but wanted a full structure.  Buying them just to fill the downtown wouldn't be cost effective.

Several of my buildings are fronts built years ago, before I had room for a town, with sides and rears added after the layout was planned and space allocated.  Much easier that way, as the building can be made to fit the depth available, and it doesn't take as much room to store the fronts.

[Rossford Yard]

The parking garage I saw wasn't quite as obvious as the one in the pic.  Funny, but I usually dust my concrete structures with some grimy black from a can to achieve a similar look and think it looks great.  If it gets to grainy, I simply dust again with concrete to soften the look to my eye.

As to cost, yes, but Walthers has shot through the roof on structures, too.  Given how few layouts actually get to scenery, I suspect there aren't enough sold to spread out the cost.

[Chris333]

I got the newest Woodland Scenics bar/pub building and it is approximately 1.5 million times better looking than these. Plus it's a whole building with interior for $40.

[Denver Road Doug]

I got the newest Woodland Scenics bar/pub building and it is approximately 1.5 million times better looking than these. Plus it's a whole building with interior for $40.

Ha, yeah if Woodland Scenics can scoreboard you in the pricing department, you've got problems.      

[basementcalling]

I try not to think about them.

Over priced for sure. Haven't seen on in person to tell anything about detail quality.

Only one I would possibly consider would be the parking garage.