Buildings

Buildings to meet every modeling preference. From complete scenes to individual, architecturally accurate structures and complete cities in a box, modelers can choose from a comprehensive selection of HO scale structures.

Built-&-Ready

Built-&-Ready structures are hand-painted, highly detailed ready-to-place buildings. Most include Dry Transfer Decals, window treatments and/or scene-setting accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I prevent the walls of my buildings from glowing and light leaking from seams?
  
  Use the Just Plug Light Block Kit. Apply Masking Paint to interior walls to keep the building from glowing. Press the included Ribbon Putty into interior corners, joints, and along the bottom edges of structures to seal the seams.
  
  Click here to see a video on using the Light Block Kit to prevent glow.
- What material are the building structures made of?
  
  Our Buildings and Building Kits are mainly injection-molded styrene. Some of the building details are molded slick plastic.
- How do I reattach details to a Built-&-Ready?
  
  We recommend cyanoacrylate adhesive (CA glue/super glue) for reattaching details. Before gluing, sand off excess glue from glue points with fine-grade sandpaper. Remember, with CA glue less is more. If too much glue is applied, the piece will not set and dry. Use a straight pin to apply a tiny amount of glue to both contact surfaces. Reattach detail and hold until setting begins (approximately 30 seconds).
- What are the ratios of the different scales?
  
  Model Scales
  
  G = 1:24
  
  O = 1:48
  
  S = 1:64
  
  OO = 1:76.2
  
  HO = 1:87
  
  N = 1:160
  
  Z = 1:220
HO Scale

HO scale offers a wide variety of kits that include basic structure kits, all inclusive themed kits with decals and details, partially constructed kits that include accessories, decals and window treatments, and modular pieces and kits to build anything you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the glue not working to adhere the building walls?
  
  Prior to adhering building pieces together, always wash pieces with warm soapy water to remove any residue. If they still do not adhere, try using a more aggressive plastic cement. Test plastic cement on the back of a building piece. Put a few drops of plastic cement, wait 5-10 seconds, touch with finger, if not sticky and gooey there may be a problem with the cement.
- How do I prevent the walls of my buildings from glowing and light leaking from seams?
  
  Use the Just Plug Light Block Kit. Apply Masking Paint to interior walls to keep the building from glowing. Press the included Ribbon Putty into interior corners, joints, and along the bottom edges of structures to seal the seams.
  
  Click here to see a video on using the Light Block Kit to prevent glow.
- How do I remove acrylic or enamel paint from my DPM building?
  
  Poly S™ Easy-Lift-Off will remove paint without harming plastic. It is kind of a slow process but it works.
  
  *Poly S is a Testor Corporation trademark
- No decals were included with the DPM building kit I purchased. I can't find them on your site, what do I use?
  
  Decals are not included with the basic DPM Building Kits. We do offer a complete line of Dry Transfer Decals and Model Graphics that include a wide array of letters, numbers and signage to meet your needs.
- The back wall of some DPM kits is too wide, what should I do to correct this?
  
  The back walls appear wider due to draft angles. Draft angles are necessary for removing the walls from the mold. Following the kit instructions, sand beveled edges (draft angles) on walls until flat and fit squarely together.
- What material are the building structures made of?
  
  Our Buildings and Building Kits are mainly injection-molded styrene. Some of the building details are molded slick plastic.
- What paint colors were used to paint Rocky's Tavern.
  
  The Scenic Details kit Rocky's Tavern was painted with the following paint colors.
  
  Brick Walls (base color) - Floquil® “Brick”
  Random Bricks – Polly Scale™ “Antique White” and “Rail Brown”
  Stone along bottom of walls – Polly Scale “CN Gray” and “Aged Concrete”
  
  Weather the structure with a Weathering Wash. Mix 1-part acrylic paint (Concrete or Aged Concrete), 12-parts rubbing alcohol, 8-parts water and 1 drop liquid dish soap. Using a paintbrush, dab on small amounts of wash until desired look is achieved. Sponge off excess.
- Do you have any painting and weathering tips for your building kits?
  
  Yes, we do!
  
  Colors are your choice, but we recommend natural brick colors such as rust, tan or other earth tones. Paint door and window trim the same color as the brick or a contrasting color.
  
  Painting
  Airbrush or Hand-brush: Flat finish paint
  Aerosol: Flat finish spray paint
  
  Interior Lighting
  
  Buildings may not be light-ready, but some modelers are adept at adding lighting. If lighting a building, reduce interior glare by painting interior walls and underside of roof flat earth-tone color.
  
  Weathering
  Weathering Wash: Using a paintbrush, dab on small amounts of wash (formula follows) until desired look is achieved. Sponge off excess.
  Formula: Mix 1-part acrylic paint (color suggestion: concrete or aged concrete), 12-parts rubbing alcohol, 8-parts water and 1 drop liquid dish soap.
  Airbrush: Lightly spray thinned flat black paint (color suggestion: grimy black) to areas where natural discoloration can occur (near windows, chimneys, etc.).
  Chalk: Rub a dark color of pastel chalk (color suggestion: gray, black, brown, etc.) on sandpaper to create a chalk dust. Using a paintbrush, dab chalk dust where discoloration can occur.
- What colors were used to paint Sonny's Super Service Building Kit pictured on the box?
  
  Below are the paint colors used to paint the Landmark Structure Building Kit - Sonny's Super Service . Additional painting and weathering tips can be found on the back of the instructions booklet.
  
  Building Base Color: Floquil® - Wisconsin Central Gold
  
  Roof: Floquil - Daylight Red
  
  Random Bricks: Polly Scale™ - Earth Brown
  Trim: Polly Scale - TTX Yellow
  
  Apply a Weathering Wash on top of dried base color and roof. Using a paintbrush, dab on small amounts of wash (formula follows) until desired look is achieved. Sponge off excess.
  Formula: Mix 1-part acrylic paint (color suggestion: concrete or aged concrete), 12-parts rubbing alcohol, 8-parts water and 1 drop liquid dish soap.
- What are the ratios of the different scales?
  
  Model Scales
  
  G = 1:24
  
  O = 1:48
  
  S = 1:64
  
  OO = 1:76.2
  
  HO = 1:87
  
  N = 1:160
  
  Z = 1:220
- Can I "scribe" and "snap" the DPM wall material?
  
  Yes, you can.
Modular Structures

Build anything from a corner gas station to a multi-story office or manufacturing complex. HO scale modular parts offer unlimited building options. Interchangeable wall sections make easy to build a structure of any size, shape and height.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I prevent the walls of my buildings from glowing and light leaking from seams?
  
  Use the Just Plug Light Block Kit. Apply Masking Paint to interior walls to keep the building from glowing. Press the included Ribbon Putty into interior corners, joints, and along the bottom edges of structures to seal the seams.
  
  Click here to see a video on using the Light Block Kit to prevent glow.
- What material are the building structures made of?
  
  Our Buildings and Building Kits are mainly injection-molded styrene. Some of the building details are molded slick plastic.
- Do you have any painting and weathering tips for your building kits?
  
  Yes, we do!
  
  Colors are your choice, but we recommend natural brick colors such as rust, tan or other earth tones. Paint door and window trim the same color as the brick or a contrasting color.
  
  Painting
  Airbrush or Hand-brush: Flat finish paint
  Aerosol: Flat finish spray paint
  
  Interior Lighting
  
  Buildings may not be light-ready, but some modelers are adept at adding lighting. If lighting a building, reduce interior glare by painting interior walls and underside of roof flat earth-tone color.
  
  Weathering
  Weathering Wash: Using a paintbrush, dab on small amounts of wash (formula follows) until desired look is achieved. Sponge off excess.
  Formula: Mix 1-part acrylic paint (color suggestion: concrete or aged concrete), 12-parts rubbing alcohol, 8-parts water and 1 drop liquid dish soap.
  Airbrush: Lightly spray thinned flat black paint (color suggestion: grimy black) to areas where natural discoloration can occur (near windows, chimneys, etc.).
  Chalk: Rub a dark color of pastel chalk (color suggestion: gray, black, brown, etc.) on sandpaper to create a chalk dust. Using a paintbrush, dab chalk dust where discoloration can occur.
- Do your modular system wall sections have a brick detail or are they smooth?
  
  N, HO and O scale Modular System Wall Sections have brick detail.
- What are the ratios of the different scales?
  
  Model Scales
  
  G = 1:24
  
  O = 1:48
  
  S = 1:64
  
  OO = 1:76.2
  
  HO = 1:87
  
  N = 1:160
  
  Z = 1:220
- Can I "scribe" and "snap" the DPM wall material?
  
  Yes, you can.

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Buildings

Built-&-Ready

Frequently Asked Questions

HO Scale

Frequently Asked Questions

Modular Structures

Frequently Asked Questions