Kits? We Don’t Need No Stinking Kits!

Don’t get me wrong.  I love kits.  Mostly I build kits.  Many are masterpieces.  The best teach you how to build.  But there are times when you want something a little different, and you are willing to make it yourself.  This is where you need to be when you are at that point.

These pages will also help you make your kits better, with additions, signs, and details.

The Big Ones

Comprehensive Manufacturer Listing         Compiled by Third Division, PNR, NMRA

Stripwood Suppliers

Kappler Scale Lumber                                      Scale lumber, order direct

Northeastern Scale Lumber                           Lumber, windows, and a couple of nice rolling stock kits

Mt. Albert Scale Lumber                                 Main company web site.  Canadian company, for orders you might want to consider the following:

Black Bear Construction                                US distributor of Mt. Albert Scale Lumber.  Promp delivery

Building Construction Materials

N Scale Architect                                              Don’t be fooled! Great HO building materials, kits and details

New England  Brownstone                            Cast brick walls, stonework, a true artist

Gatorfoam                                                           All about Gatorfoam

Monster Modelworks                                     Beautiful laser cut brick walls and                   accessories

 

Details

Details Page                                                            Go see the Details page

GCLaser                                                                    Details, kits

Grandt Line                                                             Windows and Doors

Minuteman Scale Models                                     Shingles, kits

Model Tech Studios                                             Lots of unique details, resin building kits

Monster Modelworks                                          Monstrously good stuff: laser cut brick walls and accessories for building

Rusty Stumps                                                         Shingles, windows, doors, lots of good stuff

Tichy Train Group                                                Doors and windows

Wild West  Models                                                Shake shingles, roofing, kits

Signs, Fonts and Decals

Railroad fonts                                                        All sorts of fonts for railroads

TM Signs                                                                 Everybody’s signs in one place

Railroad Line: Signs                                             Signs since 2005.

Modeler’s Forum Sign Pages                              Another sign thread organized by types

Model Railroad Forum Signs Thread                Yet another multipage sign thread

Oregon Archive Trademark Exhibit                  Lots of signs, labels, and other usables

Maine trademark archives                                   East Coast signs and labels

Weathering

Hunter Line                                                            Lots of weathering washes, all colors, with shoe dye

Bragdon Enterprises                                           Great weathering powders, rock molds

Rustall                                                                     Rust all…

Pan Pastels Home Page                                       Pan Pastels are AMAZING weathering tools.  Get some today

Paint and Stains

Scalecoat Paint                                                       Minuteman Models now owns Scalecoat

Hunter Line                                                             Weathering  mixes and bridge kits

Vallejo Paint                                                            Available on Amazon, eBay, our LHS by order.  Excellent for figures and details

Color chart                                                              Ok, I know, it’s a wargame site.  But it does show the colors

Vallejo Amazon search                                         Also, check   Micromark which often has the cheapest starter sets

Citadel                                                                     My LHS turned me on to this.  EXCELLENT metal and skin tones (the conductor? He is painted in Screaming Skull!)

Comart                                                                   Airbrush paint from Chicago Airbrush Supply

Ultimate Paint Conversion Chart                      Converting a variety of manufacturer paint colors

Plans

Smithsonian Plans and Photos                         Drawings and Photos from all over.

PAPER BUILDINGS

Main Street Illinois                                            A large number of historic and downtown buildings, free to download and assemble

 Styrene

Evergreen Conversion chart                             Decimal/Fraction/Dimensional conversion