So You Want to Build a Boontown, but You Haven't Struck Gold?
For those of us who like games set in the American West, the first snag often comes when we come to acquiring enough buildings to create a town of suitable size to do a good gun battle or settle our Range War. Since not many of us have that talent for making buildings of quality and period look, we turn to that age old method at the heart of the U.S. system--we purchase what we need.
But, in the area of 25mm buildings which have removable roofs and interiors, this is a costly proposition. Handmade structures of the type are available, ala H.G. Walls and the few others in game magazine adverts, but to raise twenty or more of these gems is a very costly proposition, coming to four digits, the first not being a 1! And if one attempts the same with resin cast or stone cast, it will still be in the many hundreds, often more than the cost of the figures themselves! What is a gamer to do?
Think Plastics
Well, what about plastics? It is less costly, and certainly weighs less (for conventions and such), but is there anything available? YES! ERTL, that old car and truck model company, comes to the rescue with the Farm Country series. These are 1/64th scale castings which are perfect for modern large 25mm size as Guernsey, and even work well with the huge Britannia line. There is a good selection and they are available. The following list are the pieces I have obtained for my use:
-
4233* Vintage Farm Set (barn, long shed, 2 story chicken coop) $ 19.45
4237 Farmhouse (2 story country home w/porch) $19.45
4236*/** Sale Barn Set (enormous livestock auction facility) $33.15
4421** Cow Town Set (Hotel/Saloon, Store, Livery, Bunkhouse) $33.15
4456** Longhorn Ranch Set (Ponderosa style house $33.15
Sets marked with * have chickens with them. Sets marked ** have saddled and unsaddled horses, Longhorns and shorthorns, as well as considerable arnounts of fence and a windmill. There are also a pick-up truck in 4237 and 4458, and 4421 and 4458 include wagons (poor, but useful for cluttering up the table).
The Cow town building set has interiors (wall lamps, panelling, etc.) I have used the Hotel Saloon for a bank and the Cattlemen's Association building (I have even assembled one with the side walls reversed). the Sheriff's Office will work as any store, just don't insert the bars. The Livery has been used as a Wells Fargo, and the local Leatherworks/Harness Makers (a fellow named Nog A Hyde in my town). The Farmhouse has become both the local Boarding House and Miss Nancy's Windy City Gentlemen's Club! The Chicken Coops are now Fly's Photo Gallery, and Ralston Purina's Checkerboard Square Restaurant.
With some lettering and 3x5 cards and a bit of thought and a smidgen of work, anything is possible. I have, of course, fleshed out my town with a selection of resin and wood, but the main source is ERTL. For any who are interested, contact the Evers Toy Store, listed below, and strap on those hoglegs and take a Greener, too!
- EVERS TOY STORE
204 1st Avenue
East PO Box 241
Dyersville, IA 52040
Turnaround was about six days for my $200.00 order to arrive here near Chicago.
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