Re-detailing house models How just a few details can change everything/Brian Holtz L
ike most modelers over the years, I have accumulated a number of structure kits. Not
having a layout right now has allowed me time to enjoy building and detailing a number of models, and I recently be- gan to build some of the house kits that I have on hand. This is one time where procrastination worked to my advan- tage. Today, there are many fine details to add to scenes; they were not avail- able when these kits were purchased. My plan is to build more than one of these excellent HO scale kits and modi- fy each of them differently so they can be placed on the same street to create a neighborhood look. One of my goals is to make every building look like it has not just been set on the ground, but is set in the ground, as well as to have a lived-in look. It makes all the difference in the world to do this at your workbench rather than trying to reach and bend over your layout to add details. Believe me: I have tried it both ways. To accomplish this I make detailed mini-scenes by mounting the structure on a small board. This also makes for a nice display piece to show to visitors who ask, “What have you been doing lately?” It always interests me to see if other modelers recognize the original kit. Modifying these houses and detail- ing them have made my creative juices flow. Here’s a look at some of what I have accomplished so far. We start with a familiar, stock Rix Maxwell Avenue Home kit with a porch. It is just painted light gray, but it is amazing to see what happens to it when you add a couple of flower pots, a porch swing, a flower bed, a dog house and an old tree with a Woodland Scenics tree house. A few bushes, some grass, a side- walk and driveway complete the scene. The Rix house can also be modified with a screened-in porch and side bay window. A lady in the window and cur- tains add interest and eye focus. I’m a firm believer that these kinds of details are helpful to bring the focal point away from a nearby, less realistic flat back- drop. The house was raised from street level by using a repainted Bachmann stone wall. The addition of steps and a steep driveway add further interest. A different front door, bushes and hedges get away from the old flat grass mat look. I find kids’ toys, bicycles, tricycles and basketball hoops on garages always seem to bring favorable comments.
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MODEL PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
A stock Rix kit (top) has been painted gray and now has flowers, a porch swing and a tree to decorate it. The same kit (above) has been modified with a screened-in porch and a bay window with curtains. The lady cleaning her windows gives it an everyday touch.
Now take the same Rix house and move the porch to the far right side and enclose it, as was frequently done in colder climates. Some Campbell win- dows, the addition of Grant Line band-
stand lattice below the porch and mov- ing the front door to the side combine to make quite a difference in the ap- pearance. The original brick porch posts were used on each side of a con-
APRIL 2013
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