I have seen a couple of Art Curren's articles on Kit Bashing structures and not made comment, yet. Since I have done a few of his Kit Bashes, I thought I would discuss Art's simple methods of changing a structure kit into something else. Certainly Mr. Curren was/is not the only writer for Model Railroader to discuss Kit Bashing structures. I think that his "Kit Mingled" (his name for the process) might be so well used that many of us have few structures on our layouts that are straight stock, at least I know I am one of them. Follow along on Art's Kit Mingled projects and as he said, you start to look at kits as only the parts needed to build something different. I would say that roughly 50% of the structures on my layout have been bashed into something different than the manufacturer intended. Another 15% are scratch built from raw materials from Evergreen, Durango Press, JL Innovative design, Plastruct, Walthers, Tichy, Grant Line, etc... The art of Kit Bashing builds skills and confidence to go on to building from Scratch, if so desired! I bring this up at this juncture because in the March 1985 issue of Model Railroader, Art's Gambol Waite & Hope "Kit Mingled" business is discussed. It was built from two AHM Freight house kits and I guess that TYCO also had this same kit available. However, neither manufacturers are still doing business. A similar kit is now available form Walthers (In their Trainline Series) as either Brick HO 931-918 @ $22.49; or, "Board and Batten" Kit HO 931-905 @$22.49 also, as the kits Art used. Either of these would work for me and it's my guess that other manufacturers are also making this kit. This is a structure that I find really interesting and may actually bash this one for the new part of my Layout!
I think that people are still interested in building structure kits. Although more and more ready built structures are showing up. Building structure kits takes a little time; or, skill and if you haven't done so, give it a try!!