I have started to make a few buildings for my train layout. These are of my own designs. I find this work to be slow and somewhat tedious but I am still having fun doing it. I build furniture as a hobby but I find these much smaller projects alot more challenging. I have to learn to be patient and not to rush. The tools I use are a big difference from making furniture, the only tools I am using are a hobby saw and a utility knife .
I love the buildings by Cedarhill designs and got some ideas from their website but so far I am not putting in near the detail they have in their buildings. How do they pack so much detail in such a small package? They are true craftsman.
I have seen some of the work done by members of this forum and am impressed with their ability of detail. I hope my attention to detail grows as I start some new projects. I am finding that I am going to run out of space before to long so I am going to pay special attention to my next scratch build.
Who else enjoys making their own buildings fom scratch?
i am working on a train depot i saw from an old clint eastwood film.
i am using balsa wood and its been quite a challenge. I really like doing it. My problem is taking my time. I already had to restart because i rushed. This is my first scratch built item ever but i am enjoying it!
Keep at it.Take your time.It gets easier and the results get better every time.You will learn more from your own mistakes and your successes than any of us here will tell you. I'm not saying not to listen but your results will reflect YOUR work and your work will get better with each attempt.
Ed
I've built many kits over the years but have made a few buildings of late from scratch. I enjoy working with basswood. Every building I've done features clapboard siding. I use Grandt Line windows and doors. I add nail holes and lift up some of the boards for effect. Most roofs are simply tarpaper. Valley Model Trains and Model Tech Studios are a great source for detail items.
Yes you can save money by scratchbuilding. But I think the best reason is that you can build to fit a given space on your layout. Often times in laying track especially sidings. A better idea comes along for an industry years down the road. It could be simply that new freight car you just bought that would service a particular industry or your opperatting interests could change. I know when Lionel came out with their Milk Cars. All of a sudden I needed a dairy and an Ice House. Not wishing to rip up track. These were built to fit a specific place. You can look for existing kits but often times they either aren't what you had in mind or simply won't fit the area.
Really don't know whats available today for wood structures other than the laser cut kits which really go together nicely. If you come across and old Gloorcraft kit at a show they are a great start to learning how to scratchbuild with wood. All the shopping is done for you as far as whats needed to complete the kit. But just following the instructions you will be getting a good introduction into how to scratcbuild in wood. Then it's simply a matter of getting the supplies needed and designing something up.
While I haev seen a few kits that I will eventually buy and build, I have resorted to stratch building just about everything now, primarily for "fit". I can layout out the available space and figure out what I want to put there. A toss up between buying a $100.00 kit or scratchbuilding something similar for about $15.00 in materials (including windows and doors) really isn't a toss up at all.
These are all scratch built:
I would never have been able to afford the number of big buildings on my layout if it weren't for scratchbuilding out of common materials.
Jim Policastro
Jim
very nice job on the background structures,
you are so right on the not being able to afford them any other way
also you didn't skimp on the lights, must look pretty cool at night
very nice....
Hi Rolo Tomasee
Just started on scratch building although a little larger than you would be using.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1102827/ShowPost.aspx
The primary structure is polystyrene foam like the stuff they pack domestic appliances in with wood and card framing mounted on a PVC base.
It has more in common with a fantasy structure than a real one but that's what I wanted
So far its working out well I would imagine foam core board like the war gamers use could be used for O gauge trains or foam sheets for larger structures like factories provided its indoors.
Details are just a question of what you want to make what you can see in the junk that lies around the place, and eventually ends up at the town tip.
Or buying suitable detail parts its just a question of how far you want to go and how detailed the trains are, you need to keep the detail level fairly constant throughout.
regards John
Hi Rolo
Picture please.
Quick fix for your house if you can still get inside it without whole sale destruction.
Put curtains up at the windows they will let the light out but stop people looking in
I have recently scratch built my first structure. I have started out simple with a trolley stop. The walls and roof are thick cardboard matting that I scored to simulate plank siding. The mat board is white on one side and grey on the other so I didn't even have to paint it. The roof I painted a dark grey. The beams are 1/16 x 3/16 strips of wood. The base and seat are 1/8" masonite and I added a simple bare lightbulb at the top that is mostly hidden by the sign. The sign is printed on thin cardboard and with the light behind it, it looks like an internally lighted sign, a very easy effect. It's a lot of fun making your own, you can customize the buildings to your layout and add your own personal touches. Try it.
Once I tried building with foamcore but found it too difficult to cut accurately and work with.
jimsrpo wrote: I would never have been able to afford the number of big buildings on my layout if it weren't for scratchbuilding out of common materials.Jim Policastro
just wondering what common materials your referring to. I am trying to work on a building and im stuck. Just looking for ideas.
also lighting what lights are you using?
industry from beer cans and O 27 metal ties and rails
8-bay freight warehouse, 12 feet long and 3-track storage inside made of 027 tubular rail (inside portion); freighthouse is cedar
working next on casting concrete structures using wood forms and perhaps styrofoam
My main reason for scratch-building/kitbashing is SPACE. On my small layout, space is at a premium, and sometimes a given space is odd-shaped. MTH makes some nice buildings, but they are too large for me to use. Ameritowne fronts have been a blessing because I can make them as deep as I want.
I recently built a White Castle hamburger stand because none were available (White Tower kit, yes; White Castle, no).
I love detailing the interiors of my "up front" buildings. Joe
Joe
I look at space the same way, I try to build to suite the area.
There is a spot on the layout that I want to use as a hatch but don't want to just put in a field or lake.
I have access and know how to be able to CAD most anything and that is how I think so when I first start a project I build it in the computer to be able to get all the right sizes and also the 3 dimensional feel.
This shows me what size and shape building can be used in that area.
Once that is done I can zero in on each individual building, design it and then it is just a matter of putting everything together.
Showoffs!
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
CSX
This is an engineering software that I use to work from home in design work.
http://www.powershape.com/
there is a free downloadable version you can play with but won't be able to save anything unless you pay.
What you see are actual 3d entities, buildings, vehicles etc. that I built individually in model space.
It's great because I can treat it like you would an actual model, rotating it in any angle, zooming and even slicing it.
Everything if measured has an actual real life size so when it comes to putting the structures together you can measure each wall or window right on the computer.
I'll add a couple more pics when I go back into the part.
Model Builder Software is great for certain applications but this is used for actual 3d designing .
this pic shows how I zoomed in at a different angle and then in the 2nd one sliced it a certain depth
zeke wrote: jimsrpo wrote: I would never have been able to afford the number of big buildings on my layout if it weren't for scratchbuilding out of common materials.Jim Policastro just wondering what common materials your referring to. I am trying to work on a building and im stuck. Just looking for ideas. also lighting what lights are you using?
Hi Zeke,
The 3 larger buildings are matboard cardstock on a clear plexiglas core. First, I make a rectangular box with plexiglas. Then I brace the corners with 3/4 inch square pine. Then I glue horizontal strips of thin cardstock on this core to represent the floor levels. Finally, I glue thick (1/16 inch) matboard strips vertically to complete the structure. Experiment with different color materials and different combinations of wide and narrow strips. I cut the strips with a big metal straight edge and sharp utility knife - be careful! This way all the windows happen automatically. I have spray painted the cardstock first on occasion to get the colors I want. The foundation walls in this photo are carved from pink Styrofoam insulation using one of those hot knife units.
The ventilators, etc. are bits of wood, dowels, and detail parts cut off old locomotive shells among other things.
The larger buildings I light with one of those newer 40 or 60 watt screw in fluorescent bulbs. The others are grain of wheat bulbs hot glued above most window openings. I leave a few unlit for variety.
Use the cheapest plexiglas you can find and big sheets of matboard from an artist supply store. That makes the buildings very inexpensive.
Happy railroading,
ok thanks
one more question
how do you know how big to make them or small and make them in scale? i dont want a overly huge or a tiny building.
Zeke,
If I'm making one that has the appearance of a skyscraper, I figure about 10 feet between floors. In O scale this is 2 1/2 inches. If it is a model of a factory or warehouse, I double that. I just try to make buildings that look correct next to each other and next to the trains.
Most real buildings would be way too big for our layouts if built to exact scale. There is a term called "selective compression" where modelers try to get the feel of the original building but reduce its dimensions somewhat. Just go by what looks good to you and what fits in with the rest of your buildings. I have even used HO buildings to represent buildings off in the distance.
your buildings and stone foundation walls look great!
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