WANDRR

I'm in need of 20+ homes for part of my layout and I've found a few near perfect matches for some of the homes in my prototype area, but I'll need more.  I'm not in the least afraid of scratch building many of them, but before I start drafting my own plans, I was wondering if anyone has already done the leg work?  

I'm looking for two-story catalog homes from the early-mid 1900's, similar to what is offered by the Branch Line Trains brand at Walthers.com, and typical of many northern mid-western towns.  I've already ordered a few of those and will use them as reference also.

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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David Husman dave1905

HABS-HAER

Search the HABS-HAER site for homes in midwest states.  They have a lot of entries in there so you might have to sort through a lot of stuff, but they have lots of pictures of homes, many with plans.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index

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WANDRR

I'd never heard of that

I'd never heard of that before.  Thanks.  I'll look into it.

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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Uwe

House Plans

Try Here.  http://archive.org/search.php?query=house%20drawings%20%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts

Uwe

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ctxmf74

"but I'll need more"

 Houses tend to be similar in the same area with builders just copying the regional trends with modification to size and room layout for the owners needs. It makes a slow transition from type to type over the decades. If you have an era for the layout and an era for the houses you could just follow the prototype builders and build more houses based on the ones you have with suitable modifications to back date or update them to represent older or newer construction....DaveB

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WANDRR

Yeah, you're right.  The

Yeah, you're right.  The basic shapes don't change too much and I could easily expand from that.  There are about 5-6 basic homes that I can see.  I was just looking to see if anyone had already created some simple scale dimensional drawings for homes from my era (early to mid 1900's).

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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IrishRover

Sears

There are some websites that have plans and/or photographs of Sears catalog homes.  There's also reprints of some of the old Sears catalogs available at big used book stores.

Here's a few links for you:

http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/byimage.htm

http://architecture.about.com/library/bl-bungalowplan-sears.htm

 

Also, just do a google image search for Sears house plans, and LOTS of pics, many with floor plans and dimentions, will pop right up. 

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WANDRR

Perfect!  I didn't think of

Perfect!  I didn't think of that.  The Sears 1930's showed immediately some of the homes that are in my scene.  Thanks Irish Rover!

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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WANDRR

Other than an added dormer

_Cornell.jpg 

Haven(1).jpg 

Other than an added dormer and window placement, this is almost an exact match!  Jackpot!

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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IrishRover

Many still around...

There are LOTS of Sears houses still around, many with modifications.

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gary60s

Scratch build plans

I've done better than just plans. My sketch sets include plan views, in PDF format, that are used as templates for cutting out all pieces for each building. Each set has 3d sketches that show construction steps. Directions are also included. I've done 87 of them. Unfortunately they are all in N scale, and the only way you can see them or download them is by registering at nscale.net. They are in the download section. Ten of them are the Sears catalog homes.

 

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Michael Whiteman

Sears &Robuck kit houses

Go online and look at all the old S&R kit houses listed by years with included floor plans.  You'll be surprised as  I was realizing they're are  all over the place when you know what you're looking at.  It's amazing that all the boards were numbered and the complete house was delivered in a boxcar.

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Benny

...

...We do the same thing with model kits, it's just a really Big kit...

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits

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pipopak

Really Big kit...

...We do the same thing with model kits, it's just a really Big kit...

I shudder from just picturing in my mind ALL those coded pieces of wood scattered all over the lot while the whole gang is frantically looking for part #12547!. Jose.

_______________________

Long life to Linux The Great!

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WANDRR

Surely it would be the one

Surely it would be the one you can't find anywhere and decide it's not that important... until 3 months after you've finished!

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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David Husman dave1905

Era

When you say early to mid 1900's do you mean 1901-1906 or do you mean 1910-1960?

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index

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WANDRR

1910-1960.

1910-1960.

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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Jeff G.

A variety of plans in MR

Check the January 1987 issue of MR for "Residential  Ramblings - drawings of basic house styles" by Berne Danielsen.  Essentially, they're 3-view drawings of several basic styles from a broad time span.  Very much worth getting it.  Contact me and I will be happy to scan the pages and e-mail to you.

 

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WANDRR

Yes, thank you.

Yes, thank you.

TJ R.

Mobile, AL (Originally from New Haven, IN)

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prostreetamx

track homes

I worked on track homes for many years and I found that most modern day builders start with about 4 basic floor plans and go from there. Today there are many optional layouts inside with extra rooms and garage options but the same basic exterior shape. I would think that back in the 60's that there were fewer options but the same basic starter design. They would even flip a plan and rarely put the same plan next to itself on the next lot so each house looks different at first glance. Back when track houses started, they were not as concerned with this detail and it was not unusual to see rows of identical houses. Row houses were usually meant to be temporary and all identical but many have survived and been highly modified since then. Some of these have even been converted into 2 story houses so it would not be unusual to see different building styles in one building.

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Pelsea

Book

There's a marvelous book by Stewart Brand (Whole Earth Catalog) called "How Buildings Learn". It details how various structures are modified after they are built. Sort of kit bashing in the large. It's listed on amazon, etc. A PBS documentary was made and is available on YouTube. pqe
Temporarily inactive due to annoying but non life threatening medical issues.
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