Walthers announces new Cornerstone Buitups

[MichaelWinicki]

I think for what they are and the price point they're aimed at, they're OK.

Granted many that frequent this site probably won't be interested, but there are a lot of folks out there that aren't into building their own structures and don't want to drop $50 on a DPM built-up.  But they'll spend $15-$20 on the less expensive built-ups like these, IMEX, Bachmann and Model Power. 

[rogergperkins]

The roadhouse is sort of a mirror image version of my scratchbuilt general store.  I am interested in seeing it as a possible structure for my home village area.

I agree it would have been more attractive as a kit which would allow for some kitbashing.

My general store is an approximate model of a general store initially built about 1880 as a two story structure with a nine room apartment on the second story.  I think the one story second was added in the early 1940's with about 1/4 as retail space and the remainder as the stockroom.

[Nato]

    These buildings were original Revell Rapido many moons ago. The station is an SP prototype, cannot rember the style with out my referrence books. The Train order signal is way oversize. They came mostly painted,but I had to use a fine brush and do all the brown trim on the Colonial Yellow building. The baggage wagon that came with it and a figure were very crude,also there was a seperate ramp to put against one end of the platform. This station is currently serving as "Riverside" on my layout. AHM later offered the buildings as kits. I purchased one and my layout helper Bob/Robert Gilmore is now building it and adding better details, new scale train order mast etc.to replace my old one. There was a lyout reciently featured in I believe N Scale magazine an O.R.W.&N. Northwest themed pike with that staion painted exactally as in the Wally advert, did maybe they use the photo from the article. The road house was sold as a general store.Again built up and painted. Later an AHM kit. I had one on my old layout and wanted one for an N Quack (trak) module so built the kit and exactally painted it to match. Kit came with the signs and two 1920's style gas pumps. This module is now incorporated into my layout,it also has two American Style houses,also AHM kits of the Revell Rapido redy builts, which I painted to match.Wally has not offered these,maybe do not have the tooling,which I believe was Hong Kong originally. The tower is a copy of the HO tower that Revell offered for years,one is also on my layout serving temporary duty untill the tower kit I have withan interrior can be assembled,it is a Bitish kit ,but looks U.S.Lastly Revell Rapido did not offer the Revell HO water tower in N  it was distinctive with the piping enclosed in protective wooden covering for colder climes AKA :CP/C&N. It had no spout on tank W-A-A-A,but a water standpipe. Trix offered this tank in their junction set in N along with a tower.Nate Goodman (Nato). How about the Rivoli Theatre in the latest Wally flyer in N not HO,or the grocery store?

[Dave Schneider]

Speaking of trolling, I made this video last year when Walthers released the Northeastern caboose with its much-vaunted new jewel case:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7670277/marketing?page=1

I am so going to use the "jewel case hand wave" next time I talk to a Walthers rep (at Trainfest). In fact, we should all start doing this EVERY time we talk to them! If they can't make us happy we can at least have some fun messing with them. 

In fact, I will buy a six-pack for the first person to post a video of themselves giving someone at Walthers the "hand wave". 

Best wishes, Dave

[Rasputen]

That video made my day - I'm still laughing several hours later!

[MichaelWinicki]

As a marketer I cringed when I originally read that line about the new jewel case.

It was a sure sign someone who really didn't understand marketing was behind that.

[conrailthomas519]

You keep forgetting it comes in a new box....... still lmfao! As for the jewel box wave at the walthers guys.... Im ALL IN!!!

[Mr. G]

So, this is where Walthers is at with the N scale market?  Groan.

[MichaelWinicki]

So, this is where Walthers is at with the N scale market?  Groan.

I think it's a combination of factors that caused them to bring out these items...

First is that they had access to the tooling.   So that's a natural.

But the N scale market is being blessed with a large number of higher-end kits, many in the $50-$100 range.  Woodland Scenics must be doing OK with their more expensive built-ups– they keep coming out with more of them.  I can see understand why Walthers would come out with some built-ups in the $20 price range.

[SkipGear]

Just thought I would add a little footnote to this topic.

I ordered a couple of each of the buildings for our shop and they arrived today. I must say, overall, for the price, they are not bad. They are not the same old buildings. They may have used them as a reference to copy but these are done like the Woodland scenics stuctures. The main body of the building is cast in one piece with details like window trim pad printed on the outside. The signal/switch tower looks the best of the bunch with the Roadhouse a close second.

I think Walthers will do well with these. They look better than the Bachmann and Model Power builtups and are only priced a few dollars higher.

[rogergperkins]

Tony (Skipgear), thanks for your comments on these. The Roadhouse is the one of most interest to me.
I want to see it first to decide how much it could be modified.
I really wish it had been done as a mirror image; it would be a good stand in for the City Hotel that existed in my homevillage in 1908.  The one story part survived as a restaurant long after the two story part was razed.

[mcjaco]

We checked them out at Trainfest, and I think all of us were a bit surprised with the looks of these built ups.  The only thing that needed work on them is the roofs.  They're a bit clunky, otherwise, they look pretty nice.  I thought the water tower and the farm house were very usable.