Trying It Out: City Classics Picture Windows

[mlehman]

This is the first in a very occasional reviews of stuff I found useful around the layout. This time around, it's a new product I found at the National Train Show, Picture Windows by City Classics. I picked up 3 different versions of it, along with some business signage I'll put to use later. I used Picture Windows #358, Restaurant w/ Bar; #361, Small Store #2; and #362, Small Market.



Essentially, Picture Windows are a illuminable instant interior that comes in a variety of useful small business interiors. A suitably cropped picture is utilized with the perspective designed to make it fit in your standard HO city or other urban building that is 3" to 3.5" wide. I had a location that the real estate agents call "Bleak Junction" for my repated false starts at filling storefronts there.



The building on the left has been lighted and otherwise improved, just needed some tenants.



This made installation about a ten minute process. After sizing things up, I figured a way to trim the images in the 3 kits fit the big windows and looks about right. The left side of the building was easy, just trim a little.



The bigger L-shaped window area inside the right side of the building required a bit more snipping, but went just about as fast.



You can use a couple of spots of Tacky Glue to keep them in place or the piece of extra styrene that comes with the kit can be curved and snap-fitted in behind the image. With the lights already on, we were suddenly open for business.



I still have some signage to change around, but the new interiors looks good even in daylight.



The result is a good looking building with the sort of minimal effort/instant gratification that can get even the dedicated RTR model railroader out of their easy chair and to the workbench to get their hands dirty. I highly recommend this nifty product to cure the slow business economy in your towns and cities.

This product is so new, nothing is on the CC website about it yet, but look for new info here soon: www.cityclassics.biz/index.html

[mrsocal]

Very nice Mike. By the way in the 2nd pic that little switch tower... what is the footprint size?

[mlehman]

Scotty,
Thanks!

That's an AMB tower, IIRC, and it's 16' x 13' at its base, with the stairway sticking out in back a little more and lots of roof overhang.

[Brakie]

Mike, If I may. While the interiors is a vast improvement there should be various people seated at the tables or the restaurant looks closed 24/7.

Or are the owners of the dying restaurant awaiting Gordon Ramsey?

[mlehman]

Larry,
Depends on what hour of the day it is. Most restaurants are really only busy about 3 hours a day, lunch and early evening. I suppose I could get one of the things they use in those old hockey game set-ups where it vibrated and the players "skated" around at random, but seems like overkill for the other 21 hours of the day.

But if this might be an issue, then other offerings in the Picture Windows series might be considered where the absence of people won't be such an issue. I'm guessing City Classics will have these part #s and illustrations posted on its website soon. There were at least a dozen choices (more than that IIRC.)

One could also put up some gauzy curtains that would block part of the view, but make the lack of diners less obvious.

[antoniofp45]

Good going Mike!

I have several DPM/Cornerstone type structure kits that had me pondering about how to give them decent looking interiors (without having to drain the wallet). I plan on detailing one or two with furniture, but now would like to take this route with the rest of them.

I looked at Walthers website and don't see any of these kits.

Are they already on the market?

[calzephyr]

Very Nice!!!!!

Larry

[SD90]

Nice!

[mlehman]

Thanks for the kind comments, everyone.

Antonio,
Jim of City Classics worked hard to get the initial batch out the door to bring to the NTS, which is where I picked mine up. He was planning some minor revisions in the packaging and instructions based on feedback like mine and other who bought them there in July. The CC website lists them as coming soon, but you could drop Jim a line via the contact info on CC website: www.cityclassics.biz/

I suspect he may have some available directly, but don't know for certain. It is certainly an attractive, cost-effective, and quick way to fill a bunch of empty windows.

[el3672]

Mike that's really neat....loads of interior detail. Once you detail
the building facades/ awnings, signage and street details, figures etc
you'll have an amazing scene then replicate with other building.

Btw... I might have a recent shot of me at the local ale house holding up the bar,
maybe you can cut, snip and splice me in the scene?

[mlehman]

Alex,
Well, maybe. The problems of static scenes have already come up. If you're stuck there all motionless, people end up thinking you're dead.

[antoniofp45]

Mike,

Thanks for the response!

I'm really interested in this and hope that there will be a variety. The Small Store, Small Market, and Restaurant are very good beginnings.

If the reps are open to suggestions for interior ideas that could potentially sell, I'd suggest:

1 A small local drug store.
2. A book and/or comic book store.
3. A music store (for "Baby Boomers" that would be a "Records Store").
4. A butcher shop.
5. (Oh, here's a crazy one)........A HOBBY SHOP!

Although I'm thinking 1960's-1980's scenes, the above businesses could fit in to the modern scene as well. I had thought that the classic record stores were now extinct. However, I was surprised to learn that (although no longer as numerous as back in the day) record shops still exist due to the strong interest from collectors (that even includes Generation X-ers).

[el3672]

Yes a Hobby Train Shop!!! Maybe the Hobby Shop signage up front & insert an interior image like this.

Window sign all Bachmann, Con-Cor, Athearn blue box 70% off

[mlehman]

Antonio and Alex,
Those are great suggestions! There was a pretty lengthy list of choices at NTS and I think several of your suggestions were covered, but if not they sound like great possibilities for adding to the line. I dropped a note to Jim about your ideas, so I'm sure he'll consider them.

[Brakie]

Mike,Be nice to have photos of real store interiors like Radio Shack,Hobbyland(Genesis 80% off as is),East Of Chicago Pizza etc.

[mlehman]

Larry,
That's true, those would be popular. I suspect copyright issues may intrude on that idea, however, although I'm not a lawyer...

Remember how scarce kits for popular fast food outlets tend to be? But there are ways to deal with that, although the costs of getting a legal opinion could be prohibitive. We have to remember that most model RR vendors are cottage operations and the Legal Dept. tends to be nonexistent -- which is probably a good thing in order to keep costs down.