Manufacturer
Wm. K. Walthers Inc.
5601 W. Florist Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53201
www.walthers.com
Era: late 1800s to 1950s
Comments: The Magnolia Hotel is one of the latest structure offerings from Walthers. The injection-molded plastic kit, part of the Cornerstone Main Street USA series, features a decorative peaked-roof cornice and two front entrance options. The footprint is 3-1⁄2″ x 5-7⁄8″.
Hotels like this were common from the 1800s through the 1950s, and a few survive today. Those that no longer serve as hotels have been converted to apartments or had their main floor renovated for new business ventures while the rooms on the upper floors have been turned into offices or rental properties.
The Walthers kit includes four wall panels with tab-and-slot alignment guides; a separate base, roof, windows, and entrance; a four-piece chimney; printed paper window treatments; and clear window glazing. The plastic parts fit together well. The brick detail was crisp, especially above the third floor windows on the front of the building. Some touch-up work was necessary on the cornice to smooth rough spots from the sprue-attachment points, but that was a pretty easy fix. You can learn more about how I built, painted, and weathered this structure in the December 2013 issue of Model Railroader.
If you’re looking for a fun weekend modeling project, consider Walthers Magnolia Hotel kit. This easy-to-build structure captures the classic look of hotels that once populated the downtown districts of cities throughout the United States.
