Estimating Cost of a 1:12 Scale Building

[raydeck3]

Hello,

I'm researching the cost of creating a 1:12 scale building (weatherproofed). The building in question is 7 stories tall, and I'll only need the exterior. I'd love your expertise in helping to estimate the cost of material, and time (labor cost) to create it.

[Curmudgeon]

raydeck3

Hello,

I'm researching the cost of creating a 1:12 scale building (weatherproofed). The building in question is 7 stories tall, and I'll only need the exterior. I'd love your expertise in helping to estimate the cost of material, and time (labor cost) to create it.

 

 

Boy.

Okay.

You could tape cardboard boxes together and cover with tarpaper, cost is extremely minimal.

You could use 2X2's and plywood, cover with tarpaper, cost a little more.

Concrete foundation?

What kind of siding?
You want windows and doors?

Do you have a source for 1/12 window and door castings?

Interior lights?

Roof type? Flat or peaked?
Tarred flat, or shingled peak?

Balconies?
Awnings?

I have no formula to tell you how much, and since I don't have any reference material for 1/12 windows and doors, nor proper sized siding, I can't even come close to a cost.

 

TOC

[raydeck3]

That's fair. I think probably plywood, or some kind of plastic. Very detailed, yes to the internal lighting. The building is concrete IRL, so maybe a textured polyurathane sidding. Yes to windows and doors, but non-working. Flat roof. If it helps, this is the building: http://bellinghamflatiron.com/

[ttrigg]

For window and doors at 1:12 do a google search for doll house supplies. Window casings run $9~$20+ each. With working window sashes $30+ each. Exterior doors, non-working $19~$50 each. All made with balsa wood so you will need some aircraft modlers dope (a type of paint that soaks into the wood making it stronger and waterproof.) $20 a pint. Scale 9 inch lap siding $2 per foot. 

Be prepared to spend $1,000 or more for construction supplies and 5~8 months to build.

[raydeck3]

That's about what I expected. Thank you. 

Other input for me?

[Semper Vaporo]

That's gonna be a BIG (model) building!  Get a tape measure and mark out the perimeter on the ground and then get a pole as long as the building will be tall and see just what you are getting yourself into! Got room for it?  I wanted to make a 3/4 round RR roundhouse in 1:32 scale until I realized my design would be 15-ft in diameter!

 

As an aside... I assume that is in Bellingham "WASHINGTON"?  Funny how so many websites are created by people that don't realize that the rest of the world that might see the site have no idea where the mentioned city is located and that there might be dozens of other locations that have the same city name.

[raydeck3]

Yes, Bellingham Washington.

So . . . the FULL story is this:

I'm exploring the possibility of constructing a 1:12 scale model of the entire downtown (200 buildings across ~30 city blocks) as a park. There's a pretty good chance I could get the land donated.

46 MM people cross the WA/BC border every year, and about 19% of them are from outside WA and BC. THat's a lot of people looking for somewhere to stop, stretch their legs, buy gas, and eat lunch. We're hoping that something unique like this might cause more people to get off the freeway, and spend that money in Bellingham.

My job is to estimate the cost to build, and revenue potential. :-) 

Thanks for your help!

[Curmudgeon]

raydeck3

Yes, Bellingham Washington.

So . . . the FULL story is this:

I'm exploring the possibility of constructing a 1:12 scale model of the entire downtown (200 buildings across ~30 city blocks) as a park. There's a pretty good chance I could get the land donated.

46 MM people cross the WA/BC border every year, and about 19% of them are from outside WA and BC. THat's a lot of people looking for somewhere to stop, stretch their legs, buy gas, and eat lunch. We're hoping that something unique like this might cause more people to get off the freeway, and spend that money in Bellingham.

My job is to estimate the cost to build, and revenue potential. :-) 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

You do NOT want to put anything that can be damaged by vandals, kids, or clueless with reach.  "Keep Out" signs do...nothing.

Weather and rot are not your friends. If this is out doors, wood will rot. Balso won't last a year. Steel will rust.

Re-bar (epoxy coated) and wire mesh in a concrete form...and buildings solid concrete, inlcuding foundations..then paint. Paint the entire building, then dummy in details like windows and doors.

I can think right now of some spots to put this. Along the waterfront/BNSF, there is a huge mound of dirt right near Anthony's.

Might still find an empty corner in Fairhaven.

 

Good Luck!

[captain perry]

Interesting Idea!  I think I would build that building with layers of plywood, laminated or with plastic trim glued to it. epoxy glue or some other really performance product.  I would make the windows solid plywood with the sashes glued to it and the whole thing painted including the "glass"  I would not use doll house windows or details.  cost in the low hundreds of dollars.

 

if you want interior lights, make the basic box from Plexiglass even the details could be plexi.  the stuff glues well and is reasonably strong if unmolested. cost in the upper hundreds of dollars

 

--Eric Schade

[nan]

I vote for solid concrete with windows, doors and details carved out when in the green stage. In other words, more of an impression of the town. If this is done well, it will only look better with age. The problem with most other materials is that they'll need maintenance. Without maintenance, they'll look sad and funky pretty quickly (nature's entropy). Other concrete options include using windows and doors attached to the forms so they're already "cut" into the concrete when the forms are lifted. I like using the Stoneworks forms to get the  texture of the siding, whether it's stone, brick or shingles. These sides can be made in your shop and then mortared onto your pre-formed concrete blocks at the site with the help of Concrete Bonding Adhesive. That way you could make the general outline of the town first and then add the detailed individual buildings with their various types of sidings one at a time.  The way I see it, even if you never finished all the buildings, your impression of the town will still be permanent. As the whole structure ages it will collect patina from moss, stains and lichen. As it grows in detail, more interest from the town will wonder which building will be next. Maybe you'll get help, if you want it, or funding for materials. I know a magazine that might publish your work.