Now that you mention it, I think your layout just might fit inside the "greatroom". I keep telliing Rex that this thing is too big for his layout. (even if it is some 20 times larger than mine.)
Tom Trigg
I think thats bigger than my whole layout
Very cool work
Have fun with your trains
Rex:
Have you thought of the name for this "Grand Palace Hotel"? When you get tired of this monster, UPS knows where I live.
The roof is ready for shingles after a trim job with a new dremel mini saw attachment. The siding is done and ready for stain. I've added some brackets by cutting some "artistic appliques" into quarters. Now I've started the railing. This is going to take some time.
Rex
That thing is starting to look too large for your layout. If that's the case, just UPS it out to Rosebud Falls. I understand that old Flatbottom is shopping for a new house!
Rex. Looking great! Am really looking forward to the finished project. This is obviously a FIRST CLASS resort. Jack
Here is another update. I'm putting up the roof structure now and as you can see the trusses are in and the base planks are being put down. I liked the look of the 4-40 bolts I used on the helix so I used that technique again on these trusses.
Once this is finished I'll start the turret/tower before shingeling the roof. Still a lot to do before this project is finished. Porch, deck, and staircase railings will take some time. Then there is the stone work to do.
Tom,
I'm still down in the desert doing my building. It's too cold up in the pines this time of year plus my chief-of-staff is still working. It's not safe here in the Phoenix area to leave her home alone at night. Too many illegals doing home breakins and all that stuff. Anyway she plans to retire in July so we'll move up there then.
Here is the latest progress report. The second story walls are just about done so I can finally start on the roof design.
OK! I've said it before, but it is looking good my friend. Guess I will need to make a "night trip" to the pines.
Another progress report - The first floor walls are done and stained. I'm starting on the second floor. Pictures include a front and back view. Now the fun part begins of designing the roof structure.
Don't worry the second story isn't fully attached yet so I can still glaze the windows and add the doors without going through too many contortions. The river rock fireplace has to wait until I get the roof structure done. Looking at the back view it will be centered between the windows and is about 9' wide and 30 to 36' tall - scale feet that is.
My sketches/plans are what you see on my board. I have some ideas that just sort of come together as the project goes on. That's not the way I do full scale for sure but for models its more fun to just ad-lib.
Since this project is in the pines I'm envisioning a heavy timber structure for the roof. I'm also going to try to cast a river rock fireplace and ... well we'll see.
Nice work
Are you going to post a copy of your plans, or will you make us "freelance" copy/build our own variations?
Here is another progress report. I've got the wing walls done and added to the first floor. I also built the outside staircases from the GR article. Still need to do the hand rails but I'll do that when I build the rest of the railing. Also I stained/preserved the work to date so I don't have to go back afterwards and try and get into impossible places. You can tell the stained walls by comparing them to the one section on front wall I just finished.
Rex, Know what you mean about getting ahead of your self. I guess thats something that comes naturally when you build with a "rough idea in your head". I treat my siding about the same, except I lightly round both top and bottom edges. It looks as if your hotel will be a really great addition to your city. Looking forward to its completion. Jack
Another update picture. I got a little ahead of myself and put the walls together before I framed the windows and doors. Framming takes a little more effort than fitting up a plastic window as you have to cut and glue each piece to fit. Here's the pic
The sidding is kind of interesting to. What I do is rip a piece of cedar to 1/4" by 1/8" and then bevel the top edges with a hand bar sander. When you glue them down you get the nice grove between the boards for a nice sidding look.
Wow Rex, looking great. I may need to watch this closer so someday I could actually have something besides track on bare plywood! Joe
Rex in Pinetop It's tough building a whole miniture economy remotely especially with the real economy in such a mess. Rex
I second that motion, and my forest is just outside the patio door. I guess I'm going to have to find something else for my "Ponderosa Pines", "little Jammies" seem to only live two years in my yard, the just fail to thrive.
The depot is next to the Grand Hotel so passengers can disembark at the depot platform and walk over to the hotel. The back deck overlooks the waterwheel of the city power station/grist mill on the right and then out over the lake with the rail and auto bridges with all that activity. The front of the hotel faces the road that goes around the city park. It sounds crowded but it should work or at least it does in my mind for now. Things will probably change once the weather thaws and we can go back up to the mountains in the spring.
I do have some reports that some trees in my forest didn't make it through the winter so that may mean I'll have to reconsider keeping them in their pots. It's tough building a whole miniture economy remotely especially with the real economy in such a mess.
Since the overhead portico is for rubber tired vehicles, how about the deck out back? Looks like that might make a nice little "trolley stop" since it backs up to the rails? (just putzing with ya.) Looking good my friend, eagerly awaiting pix of the turret.
I got started on the walls Friday after doing some painting. Here is a pictorial progress report:
Actually I do have a turret planned for my Grand Hotel. It doesn't compare to the Hotel Del Coronada. I plan to do it in stone along with a massive fireplace. The unique feature is at the front where the rubber tired vehicles can pull up. The main dining room is above. The back of the Grand Hotel faces the rails. More pics to follow.
If you're going for the GRAND in "grand hotel", you will need some outstanding feature like the turrets in the Hotel Del Coronado.
What kind of unique feature do you have designed? From your pix, I can see a concave front with overhanging protico? If so, will this be for rubber tired vehicles or iron rails?
Here are today's results. The second floor is roughed in and decked. I've set it on temporary posts so I can start on the first floor walls. Here are the pics:
Yes the plan does give a vision of what this two and a half story hotel is to look like. The truth is that it will probably morph as the project progresses. I'll keep you posted. Today the task is to build the floor for the second story so that it matches the first floor where it is suppose to and allows for the creation of the walls.
Rex, Looks like a "Grand" project as well as very interresting. will be looking forward to seeing future progress reports. Jack
Do you have a vision of the final design, or is this a design as you go?
Good looking start, keep the pictures coming
I've decided my "resort" town needs a grand hotel for the traveling guests to stay at. Here is a picture progress report:
First the Plan
Next the Foundation
Then the Decking
And that was two days - more to follow
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