Folks:
First, the images:
Front:
Back:
Detail of brick:
This is obviously unfinished and a little hastily constructed. I have to build some doors, and install one window and lots of detail. The sign looks a little odd; I will probably handletter one large and photocopy it small. Computer lettering tends to look too stiff for old hand-painted depot signs (take a look at the Sussex sign in the old MR Easy-to-build Structures book to see what I mean).
What I am trying to do here is rediscover a type of scratchbuilding that gives good results for a minimal time and money investment. This building went together quickly, and the cost is about $3 in balsa, a few cents in glue and construction paper, and one sheet of Scalescenes brick paper, which I can print out ad infinitum (by mfr. license) from the file that cost me about $5.
The building is, as I said, built on a shell of 1/8" balsa. First the shell was made, windows cut out. Then the paper went on, creasing the corners and X-slitting the openings, then gluing down the flaps. Sharp creases are essential for good appearance. The bay is separately made, of the same materials, and applied after covering and window-installing. The roof is made of the same stuff by the expedient of measuring the center section, gluing, then sanding the ends level and cutting pieces to fit. Corners are braced with 3/16 square balsa.
Windows are inked with a black ultrafine Sharpie on the back side of salvaged pack-bubble plastic, probably HDPE, rubbed first with crocus cloth to frost it a bit. Curtains are white electrical tape, shades are masking tape.
The roof is a somewhat quick'n'sloppy choice. I used strips of construction paper to represent roll roofing. It's a stopgap measure; I may DL some Scalescenes slate. Eaves are colored chippy-looking brown with a Mr. Sketch marker. Yay, now I have a depot that smells like cinnamon...
I should have taken more care to cut the windows square, but I was using a single-edge razor blade and a cardboard template. Nor do the window sash need to be so coarse. In fact, they were quite fine at first, but then I was silly and tried widening one, and then had to do them all or it would look worse. I should also have sanded the OPR bay square before gluing.
I do think this is a reasonably good-looking structure for the small cost, and the brick detail works wonderfully well, both for the camera and for my eye. :D I had no prototype in mind, but was going for an Erie look...fairly modern, but not flat-roofed.
I am not responsible for comments from trespassing robots.
That building looks great; please post another photo when the window and door are in so we can see the final effect!
I have had similar success laminating computer printed color cardstock to masonite shells. I was able to reduce an actual photo of rock to serve as a stone porch and terrace - the effect is good.
Good luck to you - anyone who can outwit the vendors who want model buildings to cost as much as real ones gets cheers from me! Your approach can help make model railroading affordable again!