I'm trying to model a cupola like the top right of the photo below. Everything else is fairly simple except for the rounded hexagonal Cupola.. Anyone have any ideas on how to approach this? The plans I have only have the height and width, not the actual dimentions of each side. And the rounded part makes it incredibly difficult to craft out of styrene. Thanks for your help!
That sure looks like a copy of the cupola on Independence Hall in Philly.
Plasticville and then perhaps Bachmann once made them by the thousands. Unfortunately, train shows are on hold for now but I'm sure I've seen boxes of structure parts under the tables at such shows.
AHM, Model Power, Heljan and a few others had building kits with similar towers. I seem to recall a court house, perhaps some churches with similar cupola/steeples on them.
Maybe an ebay or Google search may turn something up?
Or, just work on making a paper mock-up until you get the contour right then transfer that to the styrene and make it from scratch?
This outfit has patterns for making the Independence Hall building. Once you have the pattern you're all set.
https://papermodelsonline.com/product/independence-hall/
This may help with pattern and layout work:
https://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/arch_dhb/arch-details/domes_spires_vaults/dome_panel_layout.html
The formula can be scaled down, of course.
Good Luck, Ed
Ed is correct: the old Bachmann Plasticville "Independence Hall" model has a cupola just like that, or at least close enough. Google "Bachmann Plasticville independence hall" under Images and you'll see what I mean.
I recall master kitbasher Art Curren used that cupola in some models (back when the list price for Plasticville was still very very low).
AHM had a "colonial church" that had a somewhat similar cupola, perhaps smaller.
This may sound nuts but Woodland Scenics has a gazebo that looks like it could be readily modified:
https://www.walthers.com/gazebo-scenic-details-r-kit-1-1-2-x-2-1-4-quot-3-8-x-5-7cm
Dave Nelson
Thanks guys! These are perfect! I used to have the Colonial Church a long time ago, and thought it might be similar but couldnt remember for the life of me what it was called.
And now that I see Independance Hall, it looks like the designers might have taken a thing of two from it.
I really appreciate the help!
Jake
Hey Jake-
You can use the top to a small bottle of eye drops or nasal spray. Or, you can go up and down the toothpaste aisle at the store until you find a cap that has the right size and shape.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Some Vollmer buildings have similar cupolas.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
If what you find doesn't come close enough, consider scratching one up...err, well you did. But your comments led me to think you think the cupola is round. It's not. It has flat windows, not curved ones. Count the number of sides/windows (8 I think), then look for that many windows that are tall and wide enough in the parts people's catalogs. For the tiny windows in the uppermost area, maybe trim them from bigger windows?
Also keep in wind that however you do the glazing, it has to come out in most cases when you go to paint unless you're very careful.
The roofed areas could be carved from wood (basswood or balso, even aspen or maple). Campbell-type shingles or even individual shakes could deal with the wedge-elaborate shapes of the roofing.
Yeah, I'd still hope to find a casting, but if you don't, consider another way.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehmanThe roofed areas could be carved from wood
Along those lines I was recalling a time when I browsed the aisles of a Michael's or was it a Pat Catan's. It was a doll-house-building department and there were dozens of neat, little shapes and building supplies.
Perhaps take a look in that direction?
Mike's idea of carefully cementing eight tall windows (Tichy) is a great start. Evergreen makes a half-round styrene that could be used to fill the slight gap at the joint where the casings meet.
Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate the input.
mlehman But your comments led me to think you think the cupola is round. It's not. It has flat windows, not curved ones. Count the number of sides/windows (8 I think), then look for that many windows that are tall and wide enough in the parts people's catalogs. For the tiny windows in the uppermost area, maybe trim them from bigger windows?
But your comments led me to think you think the cupola is round. It's not. It has flat windows, not curved ones. Count the number of sides/windows (8 I think), then look for that many windows that are tall and wide enough in the parts people's catalogs. For the tiny windows in the uppermost area, maybe trim them from bigger windows?
I actually did scratchbuild the side windows.. It was the dumb semi-dome roof that I was having trouble with. I ended up carving one out of a block of wood. It's not perfect, but it should work...
JakeTurner11I actually did scratchbuild the side windows.. It was the dumb semi-dome roof that I was having trouble with. I ended up carving one out of a block of wood. It's not perfect, but it should work...