Hi from Gary
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:42 pm
I'm a retired Architect with plenty of architectural model building experience. I was introduced to the smaller Putz houses in the late 1950's, a set my mother purchased from W.T. Grants. They were only to be used under the Christmas tree along with my Lionel trains.
My renewed interest came about when I found a box in a thrift store which contained seven of the larger 1930s (6 x 4 base) vintage Japanese Putzes. All of them had broken windows, but no serious damage to the structures or to the bases. At that time I made my own windows, I did not know of Paul's site cardboardchristmas.com where replacement windows were available. I searched around the local craft store and found red translucent cellophane gift wrap and a gold paint marker. I crafted red windows and doors with gold trim work, just like the originals. It took a good long time to replace the windows, but the finished product looks great.
Now for upcoming new Putz projects I want to expand the scope of repairs. My previous "minor repairs" to the houses was limited to the white walls and snow on the bases and to re-glue loose items. Now I considering taking on some of the more heavily damaged Putz houses listed on eBay, if their colors can be matched. So if any one knows were to purchase the matching colors used on the Japanese house please let me know.
My renewed interest came about when I found a box in a thrift store which contained seven of the larger 1930s (6 x 4 base) vintage Japanese Putzes. All of them had broken windows, but no serious damage to the structures or to the bases. At that time I made my own windows, I did not know of Paul's site cardboardchristmas.com where replacement windows were available. I searched around the local craft store and found red translucent cellophane gift wrap and a gold paint marker. I crafted red windows and doors with gold trim work, just like the originals. It took a good long time to replace the windows, but the finished product looks great.
Now for upcoming new Putz projects I want to expand the scope of repairs. My previous "minor repairs" to the houses was limited to the white walls and snow on the bases and to re-glue loose items. Now I considering taking on some of the more heavily damaged Putz houses listed on eBay, if their colors can be matched. So if any one knows were to purchase the matching colors used on the Japanese house please let me know.