I have always wanted some tinplate villas, but I couldn't see fit to scrape up the money. So, I started trying to copy them with cardstock. I can make them any color I want. Plus, I have added a porch and moved the entry. I use sharpie markers to "lithograph" the villas. Now, I am glad I tried it. They are quite affordable and they can be replaced if a disaster occurs. Such as a Toddler-Zilla, Doggie snack, etc. Now, I am trying a freelance tinplate fire station. It is sized for an old wind-up firetruck. The villas are a little rough on close inspection, but when used with the trains, they blend in nicely.
Paul
Warning...any tinplate left at my house by visitors is fair game!
Location: North Central Indiana | Registered:: February 14, 2009
They look great, It could become a cottage industry. I collect PUTZ houses from the 50's and this is the time of year they turn up due to Christmas. Nice work!
Location: Oakmont, Pa. | Registered:: March 02, 2009
I have thought about making patterns that could be cut out and glued together. If there is enough interest, I might do it.
The window pane openings look to be the most time consuming. If it takes more than 90 minutes to cut out, replace blades (have to keep new ones on hand if you want good, clean cuts) and paste a bungalow I'd be concerned how cost-effective this would be compared to buying an aftermarket MTH or Lionel original. Some people, though dwindling, like to "build" but more people have less or make less time for hand-work. Too many find assembling a Plasticville-like structure a burden hence all the built-up offerings out there.
But you never know! Maybe people will rediscover the rewards of building again.
I think this is a really neat project, and the results look spectacular.
Regarding build time... I've built a number of structures out of paperboard. The actual process of cutting out and gluing up the parts doesn't take terribly long. Maybe 30 minutes. After you've done a couple, it starts to go faster. Then let it sit for a while to let the glue dry, but at that point you can be doing other things.
Seeing this definitely has me thinking about trying my hand at it. It's not for everyone, but I think it's in the tinplate spirit. In that era, people often made their own things, whether it was out of necessity or for enjoyment.
Originally posted by DaveSTL: I think it's in the tinplate spirit. In that era, people often made their own things, whether it was out of necessity or for enjoyment.
So true. That's one of the reasons I love re-reading Model Builder magazines. Not only were there how-to articles in every issue but the photos of period layouts were so impressive demonstrating what people made with so little. There was a lot of creativity on display, just like Paul's models here.
