info@mpmhobbies.com
Call: 1-(904) 507-3327
9297 Ford Rd.
Bryceville, Fl 32009
Discover authentic urban realism with O scale scenery from Downtown Deco, specializing in gritty, weathered building kits that capture the character of working-class neighborhoods and industrial districts. These exceptional hydrocal plaster castings feature incredible brick texture detail, deteriorated concrete sidewalks, vintage storefronts, and authentic urban decay that brings layouts to life with unmatched realism. The collection includes distinctive structures like Cooter's Liquor, Atomic Cafe, Taco Juan's, Patterson Hardware, Metals Bank, and Trackside Tavern, each capturing mid-century American commercial architecture with weathered facades and period-appropriate signage. Downtown Deco's casting quality delivers sharp brick mortar lines, realistic window details, crumbling concrete textures, and architectural elements that replicate actual urban buildings. Sidewalk sections include Old Brick Sidewalks and Extremely Deteriorated Concrete options that add authentic street-level detail. Unpainted Detail Casting Sets provide additional urban accessories including fire escapes, air conditioners, and street furniture. Explore our complete Downtown Deco collection and visit Downtown Deco for building techniques.
Downtown Deco has revolutionized model railroad scenery by focusing on the gritty, weathered urban environments often overlooked by mainstream manufacturers who emphasize pristine small-town America. Their approach to O scale scenery captures the authentic character of working-class neighborhoods, industrial districts, and commercial strips where real railroads operated. Founded by modelers passionate about urban prototype modeling, Downtown Deco specializes in hydrocal plaster castings that deliver texture and detail impossible to achieve with plastic injection molding. Each building represents careful research of actual architectural styles from the 1940s through 1970s, capturing the era when railroads remained integral to urban commerce. The weathered, lived-in appearance of these structures reflects decades of exposure to weather, pollution, and deferred maintenance that characterizes real urban buildings along railroad rights-of-way.
Downtown Deco's hydrocal plaster castings provide exceptional surface detail that brings urban scenes to life with unprecedented realism. The material captures incredibly fine brick mortar lines with individual brick texture variation, realistic window frame details including peeling paint and broken panes, deteriorated concrete surfaces with authentic crack patterns, and architectural elements like cornices and lintels with sharp definition. Unlike smooth plastic surfaces that require extensive weathering to appear realistic, hydrocal castings emerge from molds with inherent texture that replicates aged building materials. The material accepts paint beautifully, allowing modelers to enhance natural shadows and highlights while adding selective weathering effects. Building kits include detailed instructions with historical background, painting suggestions, and assembly guidance that helps modelers achieve professional results. The castings are designed for straightforward construction using common adhesives while maintaining structural integrity for permanent layout installation.
The collection showcases diverse commercial building types that populated American urban neighborhoods during the mid-twentieth century. Cooter's Liquor and First Timer Bar represent the corner taverns and package stores that served working-class communities, featuring vintage neon signage, security bars, and weathered storefronts. Atomic Cafe and Taco Juan's capture period restaurant architecture with distinctive signage and authentic facade details. Patterson Hardware and Lindsey's Grocery replicate the small independent retailers that anchored neighborhood commercial districts before chain stores dominated. Metals Bank showcases substantial commercial architecture with classical details, while structures like Luci's Tattoo Emporium and Sisters of Mercy Thrift Store add character and storytelling opportunities. Each building includes period-appropriate signage, architectural details, and weathering that reflects authentic urban environments where railroads moved freight through densely developed districts.
Downtown Deco's sidewalk sections provide essential street-level realism that connects buildings to create cohesive urban scenes. The Old Brick Sidewalks feature authentic herringbone and running bond patterns with individual brick texture and realistic joint lines, while Extremely Deteriorated Concrete Sidewalks showcase cracking, spalling, and settlement patterns that characterize aged urban infrastructure. These sections integrate seamlessly with building foundations while providing realistic transitions between structures. The Unpainted Detail Casting Set includes essential urban accessories like fire escapes with detailed railings and ladders, window air conditioning units, exterior utility meters, downspouts and drain pipes, and street furniture that adds life to urban scenes. These details transform basic building shells into convincing representations of actual urban environments.
Modelers building comprehensive urban scenes should explore Downtown Deco's offerings in HO scale and N scale for multi-scale modeling projects. Complementary urban scenery manufacturers include Bar Mills, Banta Modelworks, and Woodland Scenics, each bringing unique approaches to realistic structure modeling. Visit the official Downtown Deco website to explore their complete product range, view detailed building photos, access painting and weathering tutorials, and discover the techniques that transform hydrocal castings into convincing urban structures that capture the gritty character of prototype railroad operations.