Paul suggested that Life-Like's Proto 2000 Series kit Moore & Company Warehouse might have been inspired by some E. L. Moore projects other than his Novelty Factory. These other projects might have had elements that were referenced, possibly adjusted, and then stitched together into a composite building that was an homage to E. L. Moore's projects.
Let's look at the other sources he recommended having a look at.
The Cract and Dentit Manufacturing Co. that appeared in the December 1972 issue of Model Railroader in the story, The chair and desk factory.
H. Hoople & Sons that appeared in the September 1965 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman in the story, Major Hoople's Brick Warehouse.
This building is a favourite of mine, and I hope to build it in the future. And I think it would have made a great AHM kit.
The Schlegel Brewery that appeared in the October 1970 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman in the story, A Brewery in Stone. (Image sourced from RMC Oct '70)
And, for completeness, the initial contender, Novelty Creators Inc. that appeared in the July 1970 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman in the story, Novelty Factory.
I agree that Paul's suggestions give a better and more complete idea of what might have inspired and formed Moore & Company. But, as with my speculations on the Novelty Factory as a source, it might all be just coincidence. I guess it's another of those questions where we may never find out what actually went on, but it's fun to speculate :-)
I still think the Smithfield VA church was the inspiration for the Novelty Factory. I considered building that AS a church until then I found a slightly smaller ceramic model of the church in their souvenir gift shop. I think the stone brewery would've made a fine courthouse or police station, too. ELM's designs were adaptable and certainly Art Curren got our minds thinking about repurposing buildings.
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but while I'm thinking of Art Curren's kitbashes, this month's MR features some nice kitbashed boat models. I kept thinking, for all the work he went through to build what he did, he should've just built them from scratch. ELM's techniques plus a few I've learned elsewhere long ago gave me the independence to build whatever without fear. And when you scratchbuild, you don't have to compromise on dimensions, window/door placements or textures.
ReplyDeleteI'll need to get a copy of that MR to have a look. I do agree that I prefer scratchbbuilding to kitbashing - it's easier to build what you want. With kitbashing, the projects seem to have a direction of their own. I've always admired Art Curren's projects, but have never built one.
DeleteIt doesn't surprise me to still see new kits coming out today based on ELM articles. He had an eye for interesting structures that would fit on most layouts.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes think that whoever owns the the molds for the old AHM kits should repop them again and sell them in new boxes, with new instructions, as some sort of 'famous designer' series. They might sell if the price was right.
DeleteWhile I like his designs, it's ironic to sell the kits with a hefty 2019 price tag. Especially when they were meant to be scratchbuilt for nearly nothing. My N scale ELM builds were mostly from dog biscuit boxes!
DeleteYeah, I suspect if these kits could be re-popped today, the smaller ones like Ma's Place and the blacksmith would sell for $19.95 (at least), and the larger ones like Grusom's and the Brewery would be in the $29.95 range. These are somewhat out of the 'cheap and cheerful' price range :-)
DeleteIt's also weird that ELM didn't like building kits, especially plastic ones, but in the end his longest lasting legacy might be those plastic kits.
His legacy may be in plastic kits (and some modern craftsman kits!) but the biggest thing ELM gave me was the encouragement to try scratchbuilding. Art Curren encouraged kitmingling (remember, he hated the term "bashing") so I took the 2 men's work and turned out mostly scratchbuilds with some modified kit or spue parts. ELM may have had a stockpile of balsa, but I found scraps of illustration board (for HO) and grey shirt cardboard (for N) to be more handy and cheap. I still used the balsa for impressed shingles and pencil-textured log cabins and stone tunnel entrances. Those 2 men freed me from the expensive kit dependence.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that in today's world articles about inexpensive model building - and its pleasures - have disappeared. Like yourself, for me cardboard, and a little balsa, (as were computer punch cards :-) ), were mainstays at one time, and even today I think of those as 'my' primary materials . I find those materials freeing. I've had a long essay brewing in my mind for some time about the pleasures of using humble materials and so forth - maybe it's something to write in the new year instead of ranting about the cold :-)
DeleteAs a kitmingler/scratchbuilder who loves those found objects and humble materials, I look forward to reading such an essay. I've also long admired the 'Moore & Co' but never attributed it to E.L.. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteOver the last few weeks - and months it turns out - I've been trying to track down Strathmore multi-ply bristol boards. Mission accomplished. Strangely I wasn't able to find it here, but did down in Syracuse. I want to give that material a try as part of the essay. But, that will now go on the backburner for awhile as I'm writing an article for a magazine that I hope will get published this year.
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