Station out of popsicle sticks finished more projects needed.

[Anonymous]

Great post Ken and thanks! I’m new here and to this hobby, and just snooping around various mfgrs’ and retailers’ sites leaves one with a headache regarding exact scale in garden rr'g. It appears the best way to go (for me) is with 1:29 locomotives and rolling stock and either purchase structures etc. in that scale or scratch build my own.

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

I have gave up on the pola design and I am going to make my own.
It will have complete inteirior (as I have found scraps for every thing around my house and it will have a bathroom (I will have to make the toilet and sink). That will be an interesting project.

The windows will be peices of clear CD covers (I found that trick out from the website link on the cardboard coaches topic). I am sure it will look splendid.

By the way, I am going to build it to 1:20.3 scale.

Nick

PS: Thanks for the measuements kevin

[kstrong]

QUOTE: The golden rule measure three times cut once

Don't forget the addendum to that rule:

And still buy extra wood for when you forget which side of the line you're supposed to cut on.

If you're going to be scratchbuilding your structures, build them to the same scale as your trains. I know 1/2" seems like an easy compromise, but a 1/2" scale (1:24) station next to a 1:20.3 locomotive will look odd. A 1/2" scale station next to a 1:29 locomotive will also look odd. You'll be going through the trouble of locating plans, enlarging them, and scaling measurements off of them anyway. Using a scale rule properly scaled to your trains will make all the difference in the world visually.

Large buildings can be "selectively compressed" to fit smaller spaces, while still retaining the proportions of key architectural details such as doors and windows to suitably match your trains. You don't want your engineer bumping his head on the door frame any more than you want him staring eye-to-eye with the doorknob.

1/2" is a popular scale because it's "visually acceptable" with large scale trains, and is a holdover from the early days when 1:24 was the popular scale for products designed for the garden. Everyone had a ruler, so everyone could build to the scale.Today, it's no longer "visually acceptable" because the trains themselves are no longer either 1:22.5 or 1:24. With the emerging separation between the 1:29 standard gauge and 1:20 narrow gauge, there's no reason in the world to hold on to this relic of the past. If you're building it yourself, build it the right size.

"But now I have to go out and buy a scale rule for my designated scale."

You already have one--on the same tool you used to build your 1/2" scale buildings. You've got to look at those "funny" lines on the other edge, though. Don't worry, the fabric of American society will not unravel because we teach ourselves metric. For building in 1:20.3, the scale works out to 15mm to the foot. Make a dark line every 15mm, and you've got yourself a 1:20.3 scale rule. Every 5mm works out to 4", so you can measure very accurately.

Working in 1:29? It's even simpler. The ruler's already marked for you--no adjustment necessary. 10mm to the foot. Okay, 1:29 actually works out to 10.5mm/foot, so it's about 5% off. 10mm/foot (1:30.5) is the common scale for modeling standard gauge trains in England. It's certainly far more compatible than the 21% size difference between 1:24 and 1:29. If a building had a 50' long wall, it would be 19.7" in 10mm (1:30.5), 20.7" in 1:29, and 25" in 1:24.

I doubt we'll see building manufacturers adress the scale separation going on in large scale. The vast majority of large scalers "run what they want," and the manufacturers have little desire to cut their market share--at least not in the foreseeable future. Anyone who takes the time to build their own structures and rolling stock, though, has a vision for what they want to accomplish. That vision is far easier to achieve if everything fits together. The key to that starts with a single common scale. It doesn't matter what the scale is, just so long as it's consistent throughout.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Hi Nick
As vic said 1/2" (13mm) to the foot
Look in model railway mags for a simple one that gives dimentions in full size feet and inches.
The golden rule measure three times cut once
regards John

[vsmith]

Nick

General rule of large scale structures: 1/2" is equal to 1 scale foot.

This is 1/24 scale but it is by far the easiest way to build if you do not have a scale ruler. Walls=8' -0" (4") minimum 10'-0" (5") was common up to 1950's

Doors 7'-0" (3-1/2") is easiest to use.

The tops of window usually line up with the tops of doors.

Get a good general book on house construction from your library, it will explain most of what you will need.

Be careful with roofs, these can screw up a seasoned carpenter, right Matt? start simple then try things like hips roofs and dormers and valleys

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

The station was too small. I placed it up to my Aunt's Lionel and It looked like an O gauge station, So I am starting over.

What are the dimensions for the Pola and Piko stations?

Nick

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

I have just finished my station (based on the pola models) out of popsicle sticks. I cut of the rounded ends and I looks splendid. I used Gorrila Glue that I bought at Micheal's arts and crafts store. There are even becches, tables, and desks in the station.

After I painted it, I tackled my next posicle stick project, a Caboose. It is almost finished as I had plenty of time to work on it oer the weekend. I am going to fini***he inteiriors before I attach the wall and the roof. I found a Bachmann Conductor figure at a yard sale on staurday, and there is simulation carpet.

I am definatly addicted to sratchbuilding.

Nick.

Are there any projects you would like to suggest?