The middle building was replaced with a 3 storey Greenmax kit from the 33
series.Japanese Model Buildings Page
Tomix
Tomytec
Kato
Greenmax
Happinet Robin
Tsugawa
Takara
Bandai & Fujimi
German
American
This page documents how I have used the items that are commercially available, and made a wider variety of buildings for my layouts. Nothing here has been scratchbuilt at all !!!
Initially many of them were used on Nihon Mokei Tetsudo, and then after that Setagaya. Of course as each layout's city gets bigger, most of them will end up on the Two Sides of Japan as well :-)
Most of these buildings were used on the layouts at some time or another but not all stayed on for the whole life of the layout, due to the many changes made, and newer buildings being released having to replace others. Many of these could only been seen from one direction, or were in the background, so I hope you can enjoy seeing them all 'in the full' now. However some buildings were only meant to be seen from one side, so the other side(s) may not be finished/painted etc. I don't believe in putting in work on things you are not supposed to see from the public's vantage point.
If you want to learn more about the general techniques that can be used to add to the variety, please have a look at this page.
Also please note that a lot of these buildings (Tomytec, Happinet Robin, Takara, Bandai) were released as 'collectibles', and as such are now no longer available - so please don't ask me if I can get them for you !!! The other brands are usually readily available most of the time.
(click on each picture to get a larger one)
4008 - 3 small shops
The middle building was replaced with a 3 storey Greenmax kit from the 33
series.
4013 - Suburban house.
Not really altered, but showing what the addition of details like trees, grass
and gravel and painting the fence can do to lift the appearance of a plain
one-coloured piece of plastic. The prefab building is from Tsugawa.
The houses comes in two different colours, and this one was used without the
yard.
Here I combined 2 houses to make a longer one.
4015 - Corner store.
Just the basic kit with a little extra painting. I especially like the effect of the red/white
awning edge !!!
A double height version of the previous building.
Two of these building make a 180 degree corner, in this unfinished version. The
top floor section is from Greenmax house kits.
4018 - Large office building
Another building that is made with separate floor sections, so the height can be
extended. It was also painted to match 4020. The hole in the front is for the
video player playing Japanese music videos and advertisements like the large
video billboards that are everywhere on the streets in Japanese cities. The
large poster came from a DVD cover !!!
4019 - 3 Office buildings (kit) - this item is now obsolete, and has been replaced by 3 separate 'ready to run' painted structures. I used 4 of each of these kits.
Using two kits, this one has been doubled in height, and I used the blue panels
supplied with the kit.
This one is just repainted olive green, but still using the yellow panels
supplied with the kit.
This version is repainted cream overall, with no panel highlights.
True brick buildings are very rare in Japan, so this one is probably just a fake
exterior coating. I have used a mortar wash to highlight the bricks, from
some American company whose name escapes me. The
'Kagome Tomato Sauce' sign comes with the kit, and the Coke sign came out of a
magazine. This building came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
A painted version of the same building. It had no roof signage due to being
right under the overhead tracks.
A didn't want to make a double height version of this building, so I did double
width and depth to make it lake a department store.
This building was repainted white, and I made the roof sign 2-sided
instead of 4-sided. The 'Akibax' poster came from a web page. I saved
the picture many years
ago, hoping I could find a use for it one day !!! A/C were taken from
Greenmax
kits. The pink arrows are a flashing neon sign, and works on the
principle of
electroluminescence. The electronics are inside the building, and
connects to a
battery pack under the layout with a multi-pin plug. The 'wiring' side
of the
building was right up against another one, and could not be seen from
the front
of the layout.
I repainted this building a couple of times, and even though I used the same
paint, the shade came out differently. Actually I liked the effect, so I left it
as you see it. The sign board came from the brick building, and the 'JAL' poster was
from a magazine.
This version is build as per the kit but made twice as high. This building came straight
off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
4020 - Medium Office building
More floors were added to this one as well, and it was painted to match 4018.
The slot in the back was used to hold and overhead walkway joining the 2
buildings together - it cam from the Tomix 4033 station kit.
4023 - Electrical Substation
A nicely detailed kit, especially if you paint in the 'holes' in the framework
!!! I like the metal fence too.
4026 - Apartment building
Small apartment buildings, that are also available with a blue roof.
4031 - Suburban Station
4034 - Mansion (multi-storey concrete apartment building)
Using two buildings, I made a short one (you need at least the bottom, one middle and
the top
floor), and this one as high as possible. It was repainted dark yellow, and had
some roof details added.
Again I used two
buildings, but cut them up to form an 'L' shape. Extra roof details were added
from an HO kit, and a small shrine was put in the front corner of the building. The back shows
how only one set of spiral stairs was used, and holes for the other set of stair
was not filled in (because you couldn't see that side of the building).
For this one I used the top section twice to replicate the sloping tops that
taller Japanese building often have to allow more sunlight to reach the street
below. From the two sets of windows on the sides, you can also see that it is
deeper than the original.
4035 - Pension (holiday home)
This was made double height by using two buildings and repainted, but it never
appeared on the layout. Examples in Tomix Diorama books shows versions with 5 or
6 floors, but they looked a bit silly ...
4036 - Seven Eleven convenience store - (see below in Greenmax #30 & also Tomix 4050/4051, where I have used this buildings as a base).
4037 - Lawson convenience store
A very common brand of convenience store in Japan. A Greenmax sign was used on
the roof, along with a Micro Structures A/C unit.
4038 - Parchinko Parlour
This buildings has flashing LED lights behind the large sign above the entrance,
and it is powered by 2x AA batteries under the removable roof. The large round
things outside are flowers given to a business as a good luck wish when they
open for the first time.
4039 - Book Store
This is a book (or other type of media) store with the same type of flashing
sign as the Pachinko Parlour above. Both of these have rows of interior shelving
with colourful stickers for the contents. You can't really see much though the front
window/doors though unless you had interior lighting.
4041 - ENEOS service station
The addition of vehicles make a lot of difference.
4042 - Small Office building A - (see 4019 above).
4043 - Small Office building B - (see 4019 above).
4044 - Small Office building C - (see 4019 above).
4046/4047 - Overhead Station Entrance/Shops
These were used, along with 4031 platform sections, to make the elevated
suburban station.
4048/4049 - Gray/Beige Round Front city buildings.
The gray one as it comes from the box.
I got two of each of these sets. This one was combined as per the instructions.
With the beige
building, I used as many floors as I could, and had to cut apart one of the
fixed three floor sections I was left with one entrance floor section for
another small building. The 'HOTEL' neon sign flashes and is from Micro
Structures. The electronics are inside the building (with the switches
accessible through a hole ion the back), and connects to a
battery pack under the layout with a multi-pin plug.
4050/4051 - Green/Brown Flat Front city buildings.
The brown one as it comes from the box.
I also got two of each of these sets. I had to cut out one of the
large windows on a brown building to make a window rather than an entrance and
combined the two sets to make a taller building.
I combined every floor of the green
building, but had to use the backs of some ground floors, so the other side was fortunately
not visible from the front of the layout.
Here I used the idea
taken from a Japanese magazine, and 'improved' it a little :-)
As you can see, I altered the widths
of the front section to give an equal window spacing, which also made it a
little longer to allow some stairs to allow people to get to the upper floors
(something that the original builder acknowledged was an oversight !!). The back
is not shown, as some floors have holes in them because of lack of enough wall
sections.
The Machinami series have introduced older type buildings that just clip together, and are usually available in two colour variations. They are very cheap, but have a lot of (hand painted?) details.
Mar 2004 - series 1 - 6 shop buildings
This one is a chemist shop with the famous green frog out the front.
This one is a small liquor shop.
This one is a barber's shop.
A liquor store that was placed between 2 tall city office buildings, as if the
elderly owner was holding out to sell.
Oct 2004 - series 2 - 6 residential/shop buildings
This is a corner shop, pretty well straight out of the box (I think the power
pole got dislodged when being the building was being removed from the layout).
Another corner shop, as it comes out of the box.
An old style apartment building.
Mar 2005 - series 3 - 6 small shop buildings
Because most of these had interiors, I added figures to them and placed them right at the front of the layout, with interior lighting.
A fruit and vegetable shop.
A cake/bread shop.
A 'tudor' style corner cafe.
Another cafe.
A corner fish shop.
Two separate small bars.
Sep 2005 - series 4 - 6 buildings around a small suburban station
Apr 2006 - series 5 - 6 larger type buildings (fire station, cinema, office building and old type ryokan & bathhouse)
A modern office building with a circular sign on the roof that I supposed is
supposed to revolve. I made the 'Yodobashi Camera' sign from a magazine advert.
The round section is a little like a famous building in the Ginza area. Would
make an interesting motorisation project to have the sign turning slowly !!!
This is a ryokan (guest house), as it comes from the box.
This is a bath house - again straight from the box
The Diorama series started in 2006, and I did not use any of these on the layout, but they will definitely be on the next one !!! These two buildings from the farmhouse series could be used as houses in an older suburban area.
23-310 Industrial building/office
Used basically 'as it comes'.
23-402A/B - 2 floor Apartment block
This apartment building comes in two different colours, and a third was repainted in a two-tone style, which is quite common
in Japan. Easy to do, as each floor unclips as a separate part.
I saw a conversion like this, with a flat roof, on a Tomix exhibition layout
!!!
23-403A/B - Suburban House 1
This house had the same treatment as above.
23-404A/B - Suburban House 2
Other than the normal 2 coloured versions, I also repainted a 3rd kit as well.
23-405A/B - 3 floor 2 Family House
See above ...
23-406 - Family Restaurant A
One of the family restaurants, with the extra machinery detail and painting highlights
shown. Even though you cannot see it in these photos, the tables inside are also
painted.
23-407 - Family Restaurant B
The well-known Denny's Restaurant. The back of the restaurant shows how much better it looks with a little
painted detail on the exhaust fans and grills, truck dock rubber bumpers,
electrical boxes etc.
23-408A/B - Town Shop 1
This set of buildings is also available in a pink colour with a red roof.
23-417 - Accessory Building Set
Just a few of the items from this very useful set.
23-418 - Park
I couldn't find space for the full size park, so just used one of the end
sections.
Most of the following modern multi-floor buildings come in 2 colour variations, and also have click together floor sections (usually a pair of floors), so they are readily adaptable for making extra height versions by combining one or more of them. Good move Kato :-) In most cases I used one of each colour, and (at least) two more to make another taller variation.
23-431A/B - 4 floor Office Building 1
This is the standard building 431A, with sign stickers added and a 3-sided
version of the billboard
from Tomix 4019 added to the roof.
This is the colour variation 431B. I put the details on it but don't think it
appeared on the layout.
Two sets of 431 were used to make this double-height building. It was harder to
make than just adding together the removable floor sections, because the front
section hanging over the entrance was part of one floor section, and had to be
cut off to add in the middle, otherwise I would have wasted one floor. I also
repainted it, but didn't use it on the layout.
23-432A/B - 6 floor Business Building 1
This is the standard version of 432A. As always, the business names are changed
to protect the innocent, so the coffee shop is called 'Star Rabbits' :-))))
This is the colour variation 432B with a Greenmax sign added on top. The
'Parachute' sign is the logo and name of the business my wife had when she was
in Japan !!!
This is a repainted double height version of the 432 building, but used in the
background with no details added. Cutting the window cover (see 23-435) on the
LH side to match up was the hardest thing to get nice and neat.
23-433A/B - 6 floor Shopping Building 1
This is the standard colour version 433A, but made triple height !!! The exhaust
vents on the back had to be cut and lengthened.
This is the colour variation 433B of this fabulous building. The neon sign on
the roof flashes each letter in turn and then the background, and says 'ni hon
kan ban' which of course means 'Japanese Sign' !!! The electronics are inside
the building and it is connected to a batter pack under the layout.
23-434A/B - 6 floor Office Building 2
This is the standard version 434A, but built up higher using 1 extra floor
section. Behind the 'Duty Free' sign are 3 LED's that continually change colour
through red-green-blue-purple-orange etc. This was supposed to make it look like
a multi-coloured neon light, but the effect was very hard to see in a bright
exhibition hall. Another 'Akibax' poster here as well, that I also saved many years
ago ...
This is the colour variation 434B left as it comes out of the box, but with the
standard details added.
This is nearly a triple height version of the 434 kit :-))) Used at the back of
the layout, so no details added.
23-435A/B - 6 floor Business Building 2
This is the standard colour 435A with a Greenmax sign added on top.
This is the colour variation 435B with an A/C unit from N'tranced Model
Railways.
An extra height (just 2 floors) version of 435A. The Gamera monster movie
'poster' was actually a trading card that came in with the Gamera toy. This building
was near the back of the layout, so details were not added to it.
This is what is left over from the above kit-bashing of 2 of the 435A buildings.
23-450A - Old style wooden Japanese shop - type 1
Details added as per the instructions.
23-450B - Old style wooden Japanese restaurant - type 1
Details added as per the instructions.
23-451A - Old style wooden Japanese shop - type 2
This is just out of the box with details added - the wire is for interior
lighting, as you can have the front doors open and it was right on the front of
the layout.
23-451B - Old style wooden Japanese restaurant - type 2
Details added as per the instructions.
23-452 - Old style wooden Japanese LH corner shop - type 1
Details added as per the instructions.
23-453 - Old style wooden Japanese RH corner shop - type 2
Details added as per the instructions.
23-461 - Local Bus depot
Straight from the box, but the Taxis are from the Tomytec range - the ones
supplied by Kato are not very good.
The bulk of the buildings came from Greenmax, and I used at least 3 of each building - one the normal height, and another two to make a double height version or other variations.
19 - Train Shed
Built as per the kit's instructions.
29 - Office building with ground level station entrance.
Mostly built as per the instructions, but the roof sign board came from the Tomix
4019 kit, and the sign from a photo by Dave Fossett. Because of the way it was positioned, you could not see
that the station entrance steps did not go to a platform !!!
This is a double height version of the same kit, showing the hole where the station platform entrance
is supposed to be. The top structure is from a Tomix building, and the signs
were all taken from photos.
Because of their similar colour and style, I often used these two buildings
together.
30 - Office building with overhead station entrance.
This building was built as per the instructions and came straight off Nihon Mokei
Tetsudo, with the addition of a billboard frame from Micro Structures.
A double height
version that was built on top of the Tomix 4036 Seven Eleven store building. I
found by chance that the top building section fitted perfectly on top of the
Tomix building, and this is a very common arrangement in Japan. The roof sign
board came from the Tomix 4019 kit, and the 'Boss' sign from a photo by Dave
Fossett. The holes in the back were not visible due to being right up against
another buildings.
33 - 6x Small shops
Unfinished: has a single floor extension at the back. Not used on Setagaya.
Unfinished: when I sprayed this, the paint came out in a speckled pattern, but I
liked the effect. Not used on Setagaya.
A small shop with exhaust chimney. Not used on Setagaya.
Unfinished: Not used on Setagaya.
This one came from Nihon Mokei Tetsudo. Not used on Setagaya.
Another small shop built as per instructions.
A Stockbroker's shop with vending machine outside.
An unfinished shop made double length. Not used on Setagaya.
A Photo shop with half of the 2 floor section, and a full 3 floor section. The
side stairs came from the Tomix 4034 Mansion, and the balcony and fences from
the scrap box. Note the bicycle outside the upper floor entrance.
An Electrical Goods shop with an 'L' shaped extension with a 4 floor section.
Some nice etched metal outdoor furniture from Pro Hobby's Micro Gallery range
goes well with the Kato kimonoed figures.
An odd shaped Sushi shop with exhaust chimney that I built first, and then found
a place where it would fit !!! The front doors came from the Tomix 4034 Mansion,
and fitted into a scrap plastic front wall. Again this has the speckled paint
effect.
34 - 6x Small houses
As per the catalogue, a row of 3 houses joined together.
A double length house with 3rd floor extension (that opens out onto a balcony
with no fences !!!)
A house I built to fit into a triangular land space.
Another odd shaped building that I built first, and then found a space for it to
go. The roof needed a bit more detail, so I added signs and an A/C from Micro
Structures. I painted one half in Hanzomon line purple
so that it looked like 2 separate residences. Even though most buildings in
Tokyo are a subdued light colour like white, gray, beige etc, sometimes you see
a brightly coloured one, that really stands out. The blank space on the purple
end was for a vending machine.
A 3 floor building with a single floor extension and undercover car space. The
solar water heater came from N'tranced Model Railways
An 'L' shaped twin residence building with extended upper floor section. This is
very common in Japan. The rooftop balcony has the washing being done.
A 3 floor building with half sized single floor extension (that lost it's roof).
A 'normal' building with full size single floor extension.
An idea I got from the a diorama in the Greenmax catalogue, making the entrance
door recessed, but it didn't get used on Setagaya.
This one is double length with a single floor lean-to on one side. Not used on
Setagaya.
Something I made from pieces left over. Not yet painted.
Another building to suit an L-shaped area.
This one used the front of the 47 series shops.
38 - Factory
Built as per the kit's instruction, with a few extra items added for variation
on the roof.
44 - Apartment block
This is actually the size of the 'normal' kit, which contains parts for 2 of
these. In fact this one is made from parts left over from some of the
conversions below !!!
Rows of identical apartment buildings are very common in Japan. These were made
double height, and the doors painted different colours for variation.
One of Greenmax's most versatile and useful kits, this double height and width
version using the back walls was used in the background.
All the front sides from the above conversion were used to make this slightly triangular
one, which is 3 sections high.
A double length version, in progress ...
46-3 - Pedestrian Overpass
Busy intersections in Japan are usually kept clear of pedestrians by overhead
foot bridges connecting all the various footpaths. Here I made a '3-legged'
version.
46-4 - 4x 3 floor city buildings
I used 4 of these kits, at least one was built as per the instructions, and another 2 were used to make a extra height version, etc.
TYPE 1
This one was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
Two kits were used to
make an extra height version which is a 'Business Hotel'. Because of the high
entrance section, only one extra floor
can really be effectively used. The stair entrance on the roof came from
the Tomix 4048-4051 series.
The fourth kit was used as the original size, but attached to another structure
made from parts of the 46-8 kit. Lots of strange angles on this one !!!
The JR girl poster is from a magazine.
The fourth shop front section was used in a variation of the 46-6 kit.
TYPE 2
This one was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei
Tetsudo.
Two kits were used to make a double height version. The side
extensions come from the 46-8 kit, and are at an angle to fit a curved street.
It's not completely finished yet.
The fourth kit was used as half of the front of this odd shaped building - it
was made to fit in a curving street, and is basically
two front sections (one made from a shortened side section) narrowing back to
one rear section. A/C details on the roof are from Micro Structures and
N'tranced Model Railways.
TYPE 3
(not
NEW, but I just added the awning) This one was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei
Tetsudo. The large sign on the wall came from a photo.
The other three kits
were used to make one building that has a single section and a double section
side by side. The side extension comes from the 46-8
kit. Here I tried to give the effect of the roller shutter just having been
opened to start the morning's business. 'Red' is the word here :-)
TYPE 4
BEFORE 
This one was built as per the instructions, with an extension from the 46-8 kit
and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
AFTER 
Later on I added the
fourth original section to the other side, so that it now looks like this. I was
going to position the new section further forward, for a stepped effect, or
place it sideways for a corner-type building, but without a definite location
where those shapes were needed, I went for the simple one you see here.
Two kits were used to make this double height version. As usual, the side extensions come from
the 46-8 kit.
An unfinished building made from just the back sections used in this kit.
46-6 - 2x 5 floor city buildings
3 of these kits were used, one for a 'normal' version and two for a double height version.
TYPE 1
This one was built as per the instructions, but with an extension from the 46-8 kit,
and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
Two of this kit was used to make an extra height version, with an interesting
triangular front section made from the 46-8 and a shop front from the 46-4 kit.
The 'Omega' sign was covered over with a billboard.
Another small
building was able to be made with the left over front pieces from this kit, as
well as the sides from the 46-8 kit.
TYPE 2
This one was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
Two kits were used to make a double height version, with a roof top item from the
Tomix 4034 mansion.
46-7 - 5 floor city building + parking tower
3 of these kits were used, one for a 'normal' version and two for a double height version.
TYPE 1
This one was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
Two kits were used to make a double height version.
TYPE 2
The parking tower was built as per the instructions, and came straight off Nihon Mokei Tetsudo.
Two kits were used to make more a higher, more realistic version.
However the back is just a sheet of styrene as it can't be seen
normally. The
'Ian Thorpe' poster came out of a magazine.
With the third entrance left over, I was able to make this ridiculously tall
looking version (but still very realistic). The sides came from the 48-6 kit,
but all the rest was just styrene sheet. The sign on the roof was from a photo,
and the large 'P' was a flashing electroluminescence sign powered by circuitry
connected under the layout. The large poster on the
front (advertising the opening of the new Kyushu Shinkansen) was taken from a
photo of a poster I saw at Kagoshima station.
46-8 - Elevator shafts & signage - now obsolete, these parts are now packaged in both 46-6 and 46-7.
Other than the extensions to many of the above buildings, this kit provides a lot of parts that can be used in their own right.
Many buildings in Tokyo have sloped back upper floors, to allow light to reach
the streets below. I tried to replicate this with this building, and also to do it
in a 'surprise' colour. The front is actually the back from the 46-6/7 kits.
I got the idea for this unfinished triangular building after seeing something
similar in an anime DVD !!!
An unfinished round building, built like the one on the kit box instructions.
An unfinished office type building. I couldn't find it when I went to do the
latest photos :-(
An unfinished department store type building.
A very narrow building that is actually narrower at the back !!!
47-1 Old style wooden shop
An unfinished variation to make a longer version.
47-2 Old style wooden shop
I made a single storey extension to this kit, by using half of the back wall to
make the sides - you can tell by the window patterns.
47-4 - Old style shop with decorative front
This kit was built pretty much according to the instructions.
I combined two kits to make this L-shaped version.
48-6 - Public office
This kit was built pretty much according to the instructions.
48-12 - Fire watch tower
Built as per instructions.
A small shop that is available with a number of window and colour variations.
This type of prefab building with external bracing rods is very common in Japan.
The set includes this one, and a smaller one, seen with Tomix 4013.
There was two series of these made in 2004, as a collectible sets of 2 buildings and 2 trams (and a secret building). I was lucky enough to get the buildings separately without having to get trams I could not use.
This old wooden building with a decorative front is a Barber's shop, and there
is another version with a beige front done as a Post Office. The bases on these
mean they stand too far apart to be realistic.
This small restaurant was also in series 1.
This is a variation of the previous building.
This building was the 'secret' item in series 1, and then released again in
series 2 !!! The piles of empty bottle crates are a nice touch, and it even
includes a dog kennel.
Another version of the previous building.
A nice series of buildings (although a little on the small side) that were
basically just a painted plastic shell with stickers for the ground floor
details. From a distance you could not really see that the sides were one dimensional.
They could even have interior lighting !!!
A series of collectible plaster(?) buildings that started to be released in 2003 to complement the 'B-Shorty' range of N scale trains. However they are usually a little smaller than comparable N scale buildings and couldn't be used side by side with them. Four series were done until I think they stopped due to the Tomytec 'Machinami' releases. They were a one piece casting, but with lots of nice little (hand painted?) details.
This small bath house from series 1 (Itchome) actually came as two pieces (bad
luck if you only got one of them!) - that is why there is some sticky tape at
the back were it couldn't be seen. Each half also has a full interior - one half
for the men and one half for the ladies (complete with figures :-))
A small apartment buildings from series 2 (Nichome).
A corner Chinese restaurant from series 2.
2 small shops from series 4 (Yonchome).
A bookstore from series 4.
This is a beefsteak restaurant from series 4, but it is larger and fitted
in better with the other buildings.
Fujimi
This is a model of one of the famous buildings at Horiyuji. Unfortunately the
decoration right on the top got broken off during transit :-((
Vollmer
This is Vollmer kit 7728 built as is out of the box.
The same
Vollmer kit as above which I could not change in height, so I painted it a different
colour, and added more roof details. Most of these type of European buildings have
shops on the ground floor, which I don't want for a residential type building,
so this one has a space like an undercover car park. Extra roof details and
signs came from Greenmax kits.
This is Vollmer 7727 built out of the box, but with the peaked tile roof
replaced with a flat one, and an elevator room entrance from a Tomix kit.
The above kit made as a double height version. A flat roof with lots of details
could easily be done here as well. In this case i was able to do away with the
ground floor shop windows :-)
This is Vollmer 7721 which I got at a S/H stall. Could probably be expanded if I
could find another one !!! The 'back' without the shop windows is the side I put
on the street.
This is Vollmer 7726 as built straight out of the box. The Santa-Fe type roof
beams jutting out all around don't look very 'Japanese' to me !!!
A double height version of the previous Vollmer kit, with modifications to the roof
level to eliminate the roof beams and the stair well. Because of the extra parts available from 2
kits, I was able to replace the bottom floor shops. Greenmax detail parts and
signs were also added.
This is Vollmer 7729 which I bought S/H. The unusual shaped top section means it
would be very difficult to expand in any direction.
The Vollmer 7720 kit, which I doubled in height. Once again, I was able to replace
the bottom floor shops on one building. I didn't make any 'normal' height
versions of this building.
Kibri
This kit is Vollmer 7722 which I picked up S/H at a swap meet and I made it
without all the awnings. I actually used the 'back' of the building as the
front, because it looks more like a small industry with a loading dock. The
exhaust and A/C were taken from Greenmax kits.
Half of the Kibri 7334 kit, which I could not really change the height of, so I just added
extra roof
details. In this case both sides of the building look
like completely different structures. This building has the famous 'Pumpkin Poo'
sign :-) I have another one of these that will probably be repainted before
construction.
The other half of Kibri 7334. Even though the front and back could be Japanese,
the roof looks too European, and will probably be replaced with a flat roof.
Half of the Kibri 7332 kit. This one is best placed on a corner, but the roof is
not good. I'm not overly keen on the gaudy window dressings they use for their
shop windows, and I DEFINITELY don't use the bright multi-coloured curtains that
come with all the German buildings !!!
The other half of Kibri 7332. See above about the roof. The sides of these Kibri
buildings with no windows make them good for placing right next to other
buildings. Again I have another set of these waiting to be repainted.
This is Kibri 7330, and i replaced the tiled roof on the smaller section with a
flat one.
A Kibri building 7132 that I bought finished & second hand from a guy in the U.S.
It needed a bit of cleaning up, but I would KILL to get some more of this kit -
I am sure it could be made higher !!! I actually got two of these and
usually had them side by side at 9-0 degrees to each other in the background.
Vollmer 7601 kit - a signal box that looks perfect as a small Japanese dwelling (with
tiled walls), as long as you cannot see the other side with the observation
window in it.
Pola
This is a Pola 237 kit, built as per the instructions. I have another one but
the complicated wall lines make it hard to add on top or replace with a flat
roof.
Auhagen
I discovered this kit (#14-464) in a German importer's catalogue at an
exhibition. Before then, I had never heard of this company before. The kit normally
contains 2 buildings (in 2 colours), each of 4 floors (3 + a base floor) with a
choice of a peaked or flat roof (guess which one I used :-))). I bought as many
as the importer could find, because I could see how the groups of 3 floors could
be used side by side and/or on top of each other to make large apartment
buildings. I don't like the ornate balcony rails though. This pair was used
behind the bullet train line, so the lower unfinished floors were not visible.
I combined many sections to make this large apartment building, which has the
typical sloping upper floors.
Another multi story apartment block.
Faller
This is kit 2291 and I picked this one up at a second hand shop, and built is as
per the instructions, except replacing the chimney with a water tank. Another
one of these bloody German buildings with shops at the front - is there one
building in Germany that DOESN'T have shops on the ground floor ???
This is kit 2293, and I also have a double height version somewhere that I
cannot find :-((
DPM
Not very realistic for Japan, and taken off as soon as I had a better
replacement.
See above ...
A DPM Hotel building, which was doubled in height. It came straight off Nihon Mokei
Tetsudo, but I turned the large Coke billboard (from a Walthers HO kit) around
the other direction..
Parts from the above kit, with the window rails knocked out. It was used in the
background between other buildings, hence the need to not finish the lower level
sides.
A couple of conversions in progress for background buildings. Breaking out the
double-sash windows makes a lot of difference.
See above ...
Atlas
Atlas made a series of 'N' scale skyscrapers, which consisted of a bottom floor, 2 middle sections, and a rooftop. You could also buy the middle sections individually to make a building as tall as you wanted. There are 3 styles, and I originally got one from Walthers, but then bought most of the stock that I could find in shops in Australia. They are made of a brittle type cast(?) plastic, and as such are quite fragile.
This is the square gray building, made up to the 'normal ' height. I just
painted the corner sections for variety.
2 add-on sections were used to make this variation, which has a hole for a Sony
PSP to fit in, to play Japanese music videos and advertisements like the large
video billboards that are everywhere on the streets in Japanese cities. I only
have one base of this size, so the above 2 buildings cannot be used at the same
time, unless I use the sections to make it higher.
This is the rectangular black version with 2 extra sections to make it 4 high.
The white patterns were pained on to make it look more interesting, as these
kits are just one colour with ribs to simulate floor and windows :-)
This is the hexagonal bronze version, and has 3 sets of outside lifts (I only
used one). One additional floor makes this 3 sections high.
There are even people inside the lift, but you wouldn't believe how many idiots
at exhibitions wanted to see the lift go up and down !!!
Bachmann
Don't tell anyone, but this is actually from their 'Spectrum' series of 'HO'
scale art deco buildings !!!! I would like to replace the window sections with 2
smaller ones, to make it looks like there were more floors.
Same as above, but not finished yet. Thanks to Bob Tomasko for getting these for
me at a bargain price - I have seen them in the stores here for nearly $100 !!!!
ConCor
This is a kit that I think was started with a European origin, and can be made
up as a Hospital or Hotel. I would like the make a higher version, if I could
find more of them :-))
Modelled after the first McDonalds store, this was actually sold as a Xmas tree
decoration, but was also very close to 'N' scale - prices on eBay are now
astronomical :-)
Bought from an architectural model firm, and obviously originally part of a
larger structure. These types of companies make amazing models of modern buildings
like apartment blocks etc, but they want to charge you a fortune for them, even
after they have finished their normal display life.
Whole page contents and images 2010 Doug Coster
E&OE - all details subject to change without notice. Details current at 01/01/2010
