Windows are different I think

Umm....

Now that you mention it, yes, the two kits do appear to be identical to one another. One might expect this of a lesser company. On the up side, the Northern Light & Power kits is on sale and thus much cheaper than the new brickworks, so go forth and save!

I do not mean to pile on --

I do not mean to pile on -- especially when I love working with Walthers building kits, but that model looks nothing like a brick works. The large windows make clear that the building is pretty much one very large room like that of a powerhouse where the generator and turbine are located. Walthers blew it with this one.

Jim Six

Re-purposed Plastic Kits

Manufacturer's have "re-purposed" their plastic kit offerings for many years. The first kits I recall that were modified like this were the Revell kits from the late 50s/early 60s (just one example: anyone remember the engine house/bakery?).

Walthers has done this on other kits, and so have most of the other "big boys".  They're just trying to peddle a few more kits from those dies.

kit repeat

The warehouse also looks like the old track-side built-up one the did a few years ago. just the building is painted gray instead of brown. I also agree too on the main building kit that its the power plant kit with different windows. you'll see the similaries of the warehouse kit.

Brick Building Diorama

I was always surprised that more layouts did NOT include a brick factory of some sort,...I mean it was a very popular building material back in the day.

Many years ago I saw this diorama posted in one of the mags, and said I need such a scene on my next layout. Then a number of years later at the Timonium Train Show I ran into a fellow selling plaster castings of those kilns and stacks. I bought all he had.

Had to go back into an old hard drive to find these photos I had saved.

I think there was a model of a brick German Brewery that I thought would make a nice office building for the brick yard. Also an old LifeLike building might have worked.
 

Mr. Plaster beehive ovens

Brian- I'd bet that you're talking about Mr. Plaster's beehive ovens. They were the cornerstone of the product line.

"Mr. Plaster" was Floyd Patterson, based out of the Toledo, Ohio area. The real genius of his product line, which included the beehive ovens, large chimneys, freight car loads and miscellaneous scenic details, was that he realized that he would sell a lot more if he sold them pre-painted. He came up with a number of techniques to paint his castings quickly and convincingly.

When he left the business a decade or so ago, he sold his product line to a guy from Adrian, Michigan, who ran it for a number of years as MRDetails. I don't know what has become of the molds since then.

Mr. Plaster's beehive ovens were the first commercially-available models I'd ever seen of them.

Mr Plaster's Ovens

Fritz,I think you may be correct about the source, but mine are currently buried in my stowage trailer, so I can't confirm it.

My new layout will have a 'Baltimore city' scene of some sort, and being that Balt (and DC) had considerable amount of brick work (row houses etc), I wanted to include a brick works something like that near the city. I've even designated an area for it,...preliminary.

Balt Row Houses

...

The main component of a brickworks are the kilns, the rest of the facility can look any way you like...build something out of DPM modules, use any old brick building as long as it has doors leading out...

Walthers has the kilns on the way.

https://www.walthers.com/brick-industry-beehive-kiln-2-pack-kit-each-2-1-4-x-2-7-32

Other HO scale brickworks kits - may take some finding...

Hi all,

Another option from Faller - Search for kit #130952 or 190208 This kit was also marketed under the Pola label.

Volmer also did one way back in the 1960's  - scroll to the bottom of this link to see it. 

but yes a brickworks is unlikely to ever had windows THAT BIG

Brick Plant(s) discussions

I found this very interesting discussion of brick making including the involvement of the railroads, and the loads in-and-out that might be needed for brick making.

Brick Plant - type of rail traffic
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/161058/1777076.aspx

As I have said I am interested in putting a brick making scene on my new layout, and I just found a spot for it,...over near my old port scene.

I'm going to cross link these discussions

Baltimore row houses

@Brian, Depending on your time frame, remember another of the uniquely "Ballamer" touches the rowhouses had: painted screens on the windows. Mom and Dad loved pointing them out when we went through town to Sears on North Avenue.

Born and raised, but no longer a resident of Baltimore (1956-1972)

Tim B.

...

Yes, it's the old Northern light and power kit being used for the cleaning/processing/extruder building for forming bricks.

The important addition in this arrangement are the new Kilns.  About two years ago I did a study on kilns and discovered HO had pretty much all but dried up on sources for just about anything.  I have a process that will make a decent kiln, but Walthers has now made this unnecessary.

https://www.walthers.com/brick-industry-beehive-kiln-2-pack-kit-each-2-1-4-x-2-7-32

Large Windows all wrong

That was my thought as well Jim.

Water Street Freighthouse

At the moment this is likely the kit I will use for the brick factory and office

https://www.walthers.com/water-street-freight-terminal-kit

And as mentioned earlier in this subject thread, I have 4 such ovens from Mr Plaster...