Thomas A. Yorke Studios

I have been producing scale model kits for over 30 years for the model railroading hobby. The materials used vary from Hydrocal plaster to cast resin for the major components with the remainder of the kits comprised of wood, styrene and metal. Most kits are of the craftsman type, but some are designed for the beginner.

Purchases may be made using PayPal or you may send a check or money order. Please do not forget to include the proper shipping fee. See the shipping schedule for amounts.

The current offerings are in O scale (1/4” to the foot), HO scale (3.5mm to the foot) and Gn15 (nominally ½” to the foot). Most kits are of the limited production variety. When the run is sold out, there will not be any more for quite some time, if at all.

My models reflect the environment and the effect this has on the materials. I sculpt my patterns to reflect age, rot, water damage, and structural fatigue as well as failure. The textures are rich and are brought to life with color stains. Some structures actually have a lean to one side. I do not do sterile laser cutting, but works of art. That is why some of my kits seem to be more expensive at times. All of this handwork is tedious, but it makes my kits look like they were built from scratch. In a way, they were! You just need to assemble them. Extensive painting instructions are included to guide you along the way.

I encourage everyone to join the yahoo group Yorke_Kits (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yorke_Kits). This is the forum where my new products are introduced, ideas are exchanged and questions may be asked to either me or group members. It is a very helpful and informative forum. I not only want you to purchase my kits, but to build them also. If you need help, this is where to go. Someone on the group is always willing to answer your questions and guide you through a tough spot.

For now, I wish to keep this site very simple and user friendly. I will attempt to update it regularly at least with a weekly message. I am working, as time permits, on my own Gn15 island railroad which I will update here also on its own set of pages; The Grande Barbosa Islander.

Web Site Update

New in HO!
The Rubbles Depot is now available for ordering. The kit will be shipping in January 2009.

Past News

The Mercantil and Groceria are in stock and shipping. The El Gato Negro bar and Esperanza's Crib can now be ordered and will be shipping soon. All HO kits are SOLD OUT. Stay tuned for new HO kits in the coming weeks. The next in the Frijole Flats series will be the Frijole Flats Depot. Stay tuned. To see these new kits, please click here.

New in HO!
The Williams Market is now available for ordering. The kit will be shipped at the end of May.

If you ordered the HO scale Sonora Store or Stone & Frame Storefront kits, they have been shipped. I have additional kits in stock for immediate shipment.

I am reviving my HO scale line of structure kits starting with two popular ones from the past; the Stone & Frame Storefront and the Sonora Store. Each of these kits has been updated with some new parts cast in resin. New instructions, color photos and plans are included. This new edition will be signed and numbered also. Shipping will start in April for both kits. Additional pictures have been posted on the web page for these kits.
Stay Tuned!

Coming soon is the new Gn15 Battery Loco and Rail Tractor Loco. Stay tuned for availability and for some other great Gn15 items.

The second run of the O scale Rick's Bar/Mission is sold out. Stay tuned for the next run.

Past News

Grande Barbosa NEW Page 2!!!!

The Latest O Scale kit Pickapeka Pickle Works is now available to be ordered. Please click this link for more information.

Gn15

Coming soon -Storage Battery Locomotive

The Gn15 Locomotive Sketchbook is now available. Stay tuned for our next O scale kit announcement.

New O Scale Poco Querida Locomotive Conversion kit now available in a limited supply. This is the first run of this kit. To order just click the link.

New O Scale kit now available. Rick's Bar and Hope Mission. To order just click the link.

Now available is the O scale Vertical Boiler Teakettle kit to convert the Bachmann Davenport into a unique piece of motive power for your railroad. Click the link for more information.

I am doing another run of the HO scale Vicksburg building. This building is based on an actual building that was made famous in a Walker Evans photograph. To order this kit just follow this link. The Art of Thomas A. Yorke is also available and ready for immediate shipment. I will be posting information for a new sketchbook for those modeling in Gn15.

I am proud to announce that I will be starting a new series called The Art of Thomas A Yorke. A collection of sketches, plans, drawings and model photos tracing the work of Thomas A Yorke over the years. For more information, click this link.

Sketchbook Volume 5 is also now shipping.

The new Tram Car Series is now available in O scale. The cars also small enough to be used for S scale. Check them out!!!

I am proud to announce that I am doing a new limited run of Tony's Garage in O scale. This kit is very special to me. It was named in memory of my father. Have a look at this terrific kit!!!

Available in limited quantity are two new O scale items. The first one is a Stock Car and the second is a 1930's Home Built Trailer. For more information on each of these kits, just click the blue links above.

At the end of May, the next in the Industrial Railway Sketchbook will be available. This is volume 5. This will be a special issue devoted to On30. If you are not modeling in this scale, just scale the drawings to your scale of choice. There will be many interesting pieces of motive power and rolling stock presented to the builder. Don't miss out on this one. If you have not purchased any of the other Sketchbooks, please do so by using this link.

On the Large Scale front, I will be finishing up the Box Cab kits and they will be ready to ship in a week or two. I will be introducing more Large Scale items as well as some additional items in O scale. Stay tuned to the web site for the updates.

New photos have been posted of the Ferrocarril Mineral de Chihuahua 4 Wheel Caboose. Click the link to see the photos. Stay tuned for price and ordering information.

The first run of the 18 Ton critter conversion kit is SOLD OUT!! The booklets are still available. There will be a second run for the conversion kit later this year. In addition, the second run of the large scale hoppers are SOLD OUT!!

Photos have been posted of the completed GE 20 Ton Box Cab. To see the completed model click this link.

Coming soon to the Large Scale Emporium are the 4 Wheel Logging Caboose Body kit and the 4 Wheel Logging Tank Car Body kit. Both will be ready Spring '07. Stay tuned for photos of the new cars as well some additional items.

The Large Scale Econo Kits are now ready to order. Photos have been added for the 15' Flat car with the wood deck as well as a photo of the 15' Tank Car. New Large Scale Details are now available for ordering. We are also working on a Large Scale Newsletter that will be available for download from the web site. Stay tuned ...

18 Ton 4 Wheel Critter - A new conversion kit for the Hartland Locomotive Works Mack Switcher.
Suitable for 1/22.5 and 1/20.3 scales. A collection of resin parts along with the necessary styrene and metal to convert this unit into an end cab model. New radiator, hood and a complete visible engine/ transmission unit along with sanding boxes and fuel tank details. Also new end beams, journals and deck filler pieces. Gauge panel and seat to help you start detailing the interior if you wish. An unbound loose leaf booklet that shows all construction, plans, B&W as well as color photos and complete painting and weathering instructions is available. Ordering information is now available as well as several photos of the completed project.

Additional Information...

'Bout it for now............
Tom

Message from the artist

It's been a long time since my last update so this one is very overdo.

First of all the HO line will continue. I have to work on things one run at a time so that means kits will become sold out and may not be in line for another run for many months. Such is the case right now. Work continues on the Rubbles Station re-issue and the Cherokee Parts Store. These two are near completion and the first to be released will be Rubbles around the first of the year. It features a new resin roof which is a whole lot easier to install than the original. There are also new roof supports cast in resin for a slightly more "solid" look. The Cherokee Parts Store is from the original photograph by Walker Evans. Production molds need to be done as well as the colorful decals. This one is an all resin kit except for the floor and sidewalk which are Hydrocal. The School Bus Yellow painted front wall with large sign is a certain eye catcher! This one will follow sometime in early '09.

The biggest news in HO for this coming year will be the presentation of a large, three story brick and stone factory with round corner turret. My lips remain sealed about anything else on this project for the time being.

The O Scale line will continue with the release of more Frijole Flats structures. A Depot and Hotel for the town and the factory complex. This is the reason for the town after all. The original Hacienda will be presented which is now turned into the office for the plant. It will feature a barrel tile roof and very old adobe that is in major need of repair. Also the picturesque walled front courtyard with tile floor will be represented. The entry gateway will be ornate and very old. The Boiling Building will be modeled along with the boiler and water tank. This building is where the raw beans are prepared for canning. The large canning building will be a three story affair. This whole facility has been redesigned and I will have a new rendering soon.

Large Scale will see two cabooses introduced hopefully next year. One is a 4 wheel Mexican prototype and the other a free lance design based on the Quincy & Torch Lake #4. This will be a set of kit-bashing parts to be combined with a Bachmann closed Trolley.

I have had little time for work on the Grande Barbosa Gn15 layout but hope to return to it in the following year with a few updates here. A few pieces of rolling stock have been added as well as one new locomotive. Another town building has been started but the carpenters have walked off the job to work elsewhere for the time being.

I still have a few back projects to complete. I wish I could just take the time needed and complete them, however, times being what they are at the moment, I must see to it that we can eat or nothing will be done. I will return to these projects next year as I can and finish them. Part of the problem has been the reduction in sales for me. I now need to produce about five kit designs for every one I used to produce! This takes a huge amount of time to devote to development. Designs and patterns take time. A lot of it. This takes away from production. It's a difficult situation but I am working through it. The global and economic situation comes into play here big time, but we do what we have to do and work through it.

Until the next time, I wish all my customers a great Holiday Season and hopes for a much better New Year!

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Thomas A Yorke Design Studio

210 Pitch Lake CT

Roswell, GA 30076

tomyorke@bellsouth.net

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