"Down these Mean Streets a man must go..."
Raymond Chandler

At last, from the fevered brows of Mr. Scott Saylors and Patrick Wilson for Studio 33 Productions, comes Mean Streets , the first comprehensive effort to provide Gangster, Pulp Fiction, Sci-Fi and Horror gamers with the urban environment crucial to their miniatures scenarios. Rules and figures for these have come and gone, but never before have the city streets, buildings, and sidewalks so vital to the look and success of these games been available with such comprehensive detail and affordability.

Mean Streets is a range of full color, heavy card stock, self-assembly Block Sections in 1:60 scale (28mm), uniformly 10" square, though of variable height. Created using only photographic textures proper for the historical period of around 1920 to about 1950, buildings have a look that can hardly be equaled in any other medium, and for far less cost, time, and effort. Each Block Section represents all walls and roofs of one or more buildings that extend to those on the other side. Four Block Sections may be fitted into a standardized Full Block of 47" length and 14" width (including a central alley 3" wide, and 2" wide sidewalks all around). Each Block Section may be bought separately, as may a selection of street surfaces and sidewalks for those wishing the maximum variety of styles/textures for their own layouts.

The following Layout Schematic is the one we have used to fit all parts of the project together and is certainly recommended to those wishing to get a sense of what they can do with their own Block Sections. Notice the streets, including Broad which will have the Trolley Car line as indicated, and the Waterfront to the right on this plan.

Only scissors, a craft knife, white glue, standard 3/16" thick foam core board and, optionally heavy matte board, are required to build each Block Section into a permanent gaming accessory that will provide years of service for a fraction of the cost of other materials--even if they were available. Light weight and durable (especially when mounted and backed with foam core), a Mean Streets layout is easily transported to game nights and even conventions. No painting of any kind is required and some buildings come with their own signage and advertising. The Movie and Burlesque theaters even come with a selection of authentic period posters!

The project's technical advisor and master assembler is no less than crack modeler Richard Houston who has worked tirelessly to test the designs and simplify them wherever possible. Virtually all sides of each Block Section he has assembled may be seen via the photographs below and those on the Mean Streets Photo Page. The Block Sections are listed below with full particulars. (NOTE: Some Buildings are shown with Optional Rooftop Sheds which are available as a separate set. There may be some visual differences between the photographs of these prototype constructions and the product actually received, though always these are improvements in design and/or superior graphics.)

At the bottom of this page is purchasing information, including breaks for Bulk Purchase with "Half-Block" & "Full Block" Deals.

All portions of Mean Streets are also now available on in PDF File format (full details at this link). Priced at less than half of the professionally printed items, this option may be just the ticket for those who prefer to "Do-it-yourself."

HOW TO ORDER
from the Virtual Armchair General

STANDING ORDERS
Be the first to get new releases

FAVORITE LINKS
to wargame and historical sites on the web

The General at
HISTORICON 2003