Manufacturer
Wm. K. Walthers Inc.
P.O. Box 3039
Milwaukee, WI 53201
www.walthers.com
Era: 1920s to present
Comments: A classic brick ranch-style house is one of the latest additions to the Walthers Cornerstone Series. The easy-to-build, injection-molded plastic HO scale kit features a one-piece base, roof, and soffit; separate walls, doors, and windows; and clear window glazing.
Though ranch houses debuted in the 1920s, they gained popularity during the 1930s and ‘40s when they were the architectural style of choice for housing projects in the American West and Southwest. Following World War II, builders throughout the United States turned to the design to meet the nation’s housing shortage.
The Walthers kit, which has a footprint of 41⁄8″ x 51⁄2″, follows the typical Cornerstone Series design. The parts are virtually flash-free and fit together well. The walls and base have alignment guides, making assembly a snap. I especially appreciated that the windows, doors, soffit, base, and roof are separate pieces. This made it easy to paint the parts separate colors without masking. The basement windows are molded into the side and back walls, so those need to be masked or brush-painted.
To prevent viewers from seeing through the house, Walthers includes a sheet of printed window treatments (curtains and venetian blinds). The two front door options are a nice touch if you want to have more than one of these houses in a neighborhood scene.
The ranch house has been a staple of American architecture for nearly 90 years. Thanks to Walthers, you can add one to your HO scale layout.
