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Scale Model Houses Duplex Semi Detached Models
$37.00
COMPLETE PACK ONLYSPECIAL OFFER! You Can Build These Houses To 36 Different Combination…
With The “Super-Saver” Pack Deal C Which Includes ALL 6 PLANS for Just $37…
SAVING 63% OFF the Individual Prices!
Mixing & Matching These Duplex Semi-Detached Houses
With the complete set of plans 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, and 637 you can join the houses together in various combinations to add variety, and/or just to extend your scene. Above are 36 combinations to consider. Remember you can print out as many copies as you like for your own personal private (noncommercial) use without breaching copyright.
Download, Print, And Build These Model Houses For
N Scale, OO, Gauge, and HO Scale Train Layouts
Download, print and build plans for these scale model houses to OO gauge size, HO scale, or N scale. The plans come in the popular easy-to-download and print PDF format. Each semi-detached model house can be constructed as a background building showing the full frontage, and part of the sides and roofs… saving valuable track space on your model railroad layout. This technique is otherwise known as building in “low relief.” There are numerous video tutorials throughout this website demonstrating the construction process. Have a look in the top Navigation Bar under “Videos & Ideas” and “How-To Instructions” for a guide to the process, and you will also see how sturdy and realistic these scale models are when assembled.
Modelers working in OO scale can select to purchase the OO scale version of these paper models, as can HO scale modelers. For HO scale, it is simply a case of reducing the OO plans to 87% on a home printer. N scale modelers can select to buy the N scale downloads and print them same size for N scale.
Construction Options
Background buildings can be constructed from different materials. Cereal box cardboard can be used, and is a popular choice for making N scale models and for constructing smaller parts. Corflute can be used on some N scale background models, and is widely used for constructing OO and HO scale background models. Corflute is sturdy, inexpensive, and is generally available from DIY, art/craft, office supply, and discount stores in varying sized sheets depending on where you live. You can make a lot of models from a sheet 900mm x 600mm x 3mm (36” x 24” x 1/8”). Foamboard is another popular inexpensive option. Balsa wood is easy to use for making chimneys, and veranda posts etc. Balsa comes in long thin strips of various thicknesses, and can be easily be cut with a craft knife and painted with acrylic paint.
Versatile! Make these plans as background buildings in “LOW RELIEF”, or construct them as “FLATS”
The plans can be used to make “low relief” buildings, or space-saving “flats.” The models are strong when constructed, and there is the option to add extra strengthen by gluing pieces of card, corflute, or foam board inside the finished model (see diagram below). This is just an option.
The other option, which saves even more space, is to construct these model houses as “flats”, which is the term given to structures that show only the frontage without any sides or roof parts visible. Adapting these plans to be “flats” is really easy to do. It is simply a case gluing the front textures to some foam board, corflute, or cardboard, before folding a small amount of the texture around the sides of the corflute, foam or cardboard. So, with “flats” you are basically saving space by not including the side wall or roof parts. The windows and doors on the front extension pieces can easily be cut out and glued directly onto the main frontage texture instead. This will save considerable space by reducing the depth of each building, if that is your objective.
The plans include textures for making these scale model houses in “low-relief”, as well as a texture for making the models as “flats.”
Corflute or foam board are perfect construction materials for background buildings because both materials are really strong and sturdy when glued together. Cardboard can also be used, and is preferred by many N scale modelers due to the smaller size of the model houses being made. Ordinary cereal box cardboard and photocopy paper works very well, so there is no need to buy special cardboard or paper.
After downloading these plans, scale modelers will immediately see the highly detailed photographic realism of the textures used on these plans. They are NOT amateur cartoon colored drawings; they ARE like photographic miniature replicas of real full-sized buildings complete with imperfections such as dirt and cracks on some brickwork, and some signs of natural weathering that is visible on many outdoor structures. There are even reflections in the windows to further increase the realism of these paper house models.
Most of our customers are repeat customers, or people who have been referred to our website on the personal recommendations of friends, or fellow diorama model makers or railroading enthusiasts. You’ll find a small sample of the hundreds of testimonials we receive every year on the Customer Reviews page. The link to that page in the top Navigation Bar.
After selecting the model house or structure plans you want to buy, simply select the scale either OO / HO scale or N scale, and proceed to the checkout. After payment you will be able to access your purchased downloads in your My Account dashboard in the top Navigation Bar. It is as easy as that.
The PDF plans for the scale model houses available for sale on this web page are based on full-size real world semi-detached duplex buildings, so lets continue by exploring the subject of these structures.
Plans for more semi-detached 2 level background houses available at https://www.modelbuildings.org/residential
Duplex and Semi-Detached Houses In the UK, USA, Australia and Other Countries
Duplex housing can be called different things, and mean different things, in different locations and countries. A duplex house will typically have two living units (homes) attached to each other, either directly next to each other as condominiums (condos) or townhouses, or sometimes like apartments that are above each other. In parts of the North East United States a building consisting of two joined houses or units on separate properties would be classified as twin homes or semi-detached (semis) homes, and often get called duplexes. So, call them what you like, the side-by-side 2 level scale model houses on this web page resemble semi-detached duplex homes seen in many countries around the world. In some places up to 20% of the population live in this style of residence.
Most commonly, semi-detached homes (semis) are two separate homes (having separate owners and lots), but sharing one common fire wall and constructed side-by-side adjoining each other. A duplex property would generally be on a single lot but having two distinct living spaces.
In the United Kingdom, a duplex property is the term often used by architects and real estate agents (realtors) to describe an apartment or flat on two floors generally connected by an inner staircase. A lot of newer apartments are more open-plan and include mezzanines. The term ‘maisonette’ is also used in some cases to describe a set of rooms for living in, usually on two levels of a larger building and having separate entrances from outside.
The scale house models seen here feature brick and stucco exterior textures, with photo-realistic front entrance doors and windows complete with reflections to provide incredible realism to these scale models. Unlike plastic models, these paper model designs are adaptable, in that the depth of the duplex model houses can be reduced, or even extended by adding or removing texture. The PDF paper models get downloaded just once, but multiple copies can be printed (only for personal non-commercial use), so a second or third duplex building can be added to extend a railroad background street scene. Windows and brickwork can be cut out or added by using more or less texture. The paper models are extremely flexible for HO scale, N scale, or OO scale model makers to adapt to their own individual requirements.
In Australia, a duplex would typically be a residential building comprising two homes that share a common central fire wall. In essence these homes are often a mirror image of one another in layout and design. There are numerous variations including paired homes which is basically two homes sharing a wall but having opposite side entries. The entire building is designed to resemble one single large home. Having separate side entries helps provide some more privacy for the residents or homeowners living in paired homes.
The term duplex is derived from the Latin duplex (double, two-fold), and from duo (two), so would not be an appropriate description for three or four unit buildings. A three unit building is sometimes called three-family dwelling or a triplex. A four unit building can have several names depending on where you live – a fourplex, quadplex, quadruplex, or simply referred to as a multiplex. The four scale house models featured on this web page are definitely duplex houses or semi-detached houses, but on an OO scale, HO scale or N scale model railroad they could be joined together to display four homes in a row. The scale models can be printed out multiple times, making it possible to display more homes by duplicating some of the models on the train layout.
While residing in a detached single stand-alone family home may be the ultimate dream for many, the fact is: city living is relatively dense and real estate is generally very expensive, so stand-alone housing is not always a realistic option.
In most big cities, a duplex house would typically have a “house-like” ground level and upper level floor plan for a more affordable price tag than would a single family home. Many homeowners consider it to be an upgrade from a typical condo or apartment, with additional amenities such as semi-private outdoor spaces. Buying duplexes is often viewed as astute property investment because homeowners of such properties can potentially live in one house while renting out the adjoining house in the duplex building. The affordability of renting duplexes can allow renting in higher-value locations that might otherwise be too expensive for a single-family home rental. Some duplexes include a garage for vehicle parking and some also have outdoor space, be it a patio and/or backyard.
Being close to a neighbor or neighbors is a consideration for residents living in semi-detached or duplex housing. Although residents reside in totally separate houses that are completely private, they will still be in reasonably close proximity to their neighbor(s). Whilst this could be viewed as a negative for some, it could actually be a benefit depending on the individual situation. For example, there might be advantages in living next door to relatives, where the homeowner could live or rent out one house and have your relatives living in or even renting the other. The disadvantages can occur when neighbors are unfriendly, untidy, noisy, or won’t share in the yard work or building upkeep.
Fortunately, buying the plans for these scale model houses won’t incur any of those real-world problems. Just download, print, and build the plans for these duplex house models to OO scale, HO scale or N scale. They are designed as “low relief” background buildings which are suitable for placement at the back of a model train layout providing character, realism, height, and perspective.
The plans for these miniature paper models can be made incredibly strong when glued on to corflute, foam board, or cereal box cardboard. No airbrushing or paints are needed, unless you want to touch up any white edges where the cardboard or foam board is visible. The house models can be coated or sprayed with a clear matt varnish after construction is complete. A spray artist varnish can be used or a paint on clear matt varnish such as Mod Podge can be applied. Applying a sealer to the assembled scale model buildings is entirely optional.
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