After sitting on the shelf for 20 years these kits have finally made it to the top of my job jar. As you can see in the pictures below both have covered loading docks:
The only thing that has changed in these kits since I bought them is that they are now Woodland Scenics instead of DPM. What I have found is that the instructions do not address the roof for the loading docks nor is any material included in the kits for them.
If anyone has built these kits did you fabricate the roofs or leave the docks uncoverd, and if you did a roof what did you do for the framing and supports?
Rick
Sheet styrene can do this easily. Plain sheets are easiest. Evergreen makes ribbed styrene sheets to simulate metal siding. I would use those, painted silver and then dul-coted to look like sheet metal. Get some styrene square rods to use as a back-side support and something for the truck side of the loading dock as well.
if there are loading dock doors on the walls, cut one of them open so you can build a small shadow-box with illumination beneath the awning.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hello All,
Another source for patterned sheet styrene is JTT Scenery Products.
On the menu to the left go to ARCHITECTURAL MODEL PARTS > PLASTIC PATTERN SHEETS.
I used their Scalloped Edge Tile sheets (1:100 scale); painted with Krylon "Chalky Finish" Anvil Gray, to simulate slate tile roofing with great effect.
Take a look at the Corrugated Siding or Ribbed Roof sheets.
For framing, Plastruct makes Waren Open Web Trussing from 1/8-inch to 1-inch.
Go to Structrual Shapes > Pg. 5-7.
As far as support you could use H-column or square tubing for the vertical supports.
Oftentimes, the awnings over the loading docks were supported by steel rods from above attached to the building facade.
This allowed for a completely unobstructed dock.
Solid round tubing (rods) could be used to represent the supports and short sections of round tubing; slightly larger, could represent couplings.
Small pieces of "L" shaped angle could represent the tie plates to the awning.
Drill a hole in the tie plates to run the rod through then use a piece of tube to represent the fastener at the end.
Square pieces of styrene could be attached to the building to represent anchor plates. Drill a hole through them and the facade to attach the rods.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
A loading dock overhang adds interest to a structure, used Evergreen styrene sheet/strip/shape, brass wire and Grandt Line turnbuckles to fab one for my cannery structure. Kinda wish I'd done a lighted shadow-box behind one or more of the doors like Mr. B suggested.
Regards, Peter
Thanks for the responses. I have many materials around to add overhangs.
I don't think I have ever bought a kit other than these that didn't include the materials to make it as pictured on the box (excluding accessories and add-ons.)
hbgatsf I don't think I have ever bought a kit other than these that didn't include the materials to make it as pictured on the box (excluding accessories and add-ons.)
And I don't have a lot of structures where I haven't dug into the scrap parts box to make it NOT as pictured on the box! I always see a structure kit as merely a starting point, just a template that needs some improvement to go from an assebled kit to a true model for my layout.
A four-walls-and-a-roof kit typically takes a month, but comes out with at least a rudimentary lighted interior, a full paint job, window glazing and a detailed roof, plus unique era-appropriate signs.
MisterBeasleyI always see a structure kit as merely a starting point.
Me too.
My parts/detail box gets raided for every build.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
MisterBeasley And I don't have a lot of structures where I haven't dug into the scrap parts box to make it NOT as pictured on the box! I always see a structure kit as merely a starting point, just a template that needs some improvement to go from an assebled kit to a true model for my layout.
I get that, but how many kits don't have the parts needed to build it as pictured?
hbgatsf I get that, but how many kits don't have the parts needed to build it as pictured?
I'd imagine the marketing types try to make every picture look better than reality. How many pictures have you seen where it say, "Figures and vehicles not included?"
I agree that a structure kit should include all parts needed to build it as pictured.
Campbell Scale Models makes corrugated metal sheeting out of, well, metal. I always found it preferrable to the plastic sheets.
Nice looking box car!
Bryan B.
DGX GP 38Nice looking box car!
And a treasured piece of rolling stock.
I don't recall if the support anchors for the roof overhang came with the kit or not...
..but I'm pretty sure that they didn't come with this one...
...and I'm definitely sure that they didn't come with this one...
...as except for the doors and windows, this one is otherwise totally scratchbuilt.
The overhanging roof on the loading dock of this structure (comprised, if I recall correctly, of small Tyco structures cobbled together) was built using .060" sheet styrene...
On this one, I opted to forego a roof over the loading dock, as I wanted the bolted tierods, which keep the front and rear cut-stone walls from collapsing, to be visible (although they're not very visible on the painted-on signage)...
GERN Industries, the largest industry on my layout, does have iron rods supporting a roof over a loading dock, but otherwise, most of the loading and unloading goes-on inside the plant...
...a little advertising is usually good for business, too...
Wayne