What I've been trying to aim for is bascially and old rustic look .. without being too old. I used various colors with a basic 'wash' of black. I've taken these pictures to study and also caught this Spring Arrival.
If anyone is interested in the colors I used, well basically 5 craft colors. Trail, Desert Sand, Spice Brown, Candy Bar, Dark Chocolate... mmm yummy.
Yo~ Mike! Hey thanks for the thoughtful words. Once again it caused me to think of various movies and the sorts. The movies, Unforgiven, Tombstone/Wyatt Erp, Northern Exposure and St. Elmo CO. I do have an old Fire house, but not really an Opera house. I am planning on a 'transitional' layout and hopefully it will blend into gradual growing 'progressed' town. If that all makes sense.
Someone in earlier replies mentioned that I would have to choose which scenery I wish to follow. That is, as in the movies? Or real life and closer to what it really was. Right now I am closely following the buildings in the movie Open Range by Kevin Costner. Nice..but dusty as I would imagine things back then. At the very worst, keeping in mind a nice scenic town with trees horses and carriages, well maybe somewhere in between Andy of Mayberry and Knotts Berry Farm.
Right now the good news is I'll actually be making my diorama and positioning the various buildings on it. I'll follow up on the various buildings I've been working on. We've had some rain and lousy weather so Picture taking came to a stand still. Not my work though. Thanks again for the input, it was very helpful.
Some variaions on western towns. In mining towns, buildings are sometimes made out of waste rock. In the southwest there are adobe buildings. Even in some more establishe towns, some buildings with milled lumber fronts, have log sides and back. An interesting building, that I don't recall mentioned so far, is the firehouse with its distinctive hose drying tower. Some other buildings were opera houses, lodge halls, and boarding houses.
No.. not done. Hardly. I'm learning as I go along here, I'm hoping for some questions in which I have extra pics. Working with styrene has been a challenge. Ok.. just some pics .. too early on the West Coast for me.
Hardly done, but getting there. I've spent more time on this set of 3 than the first set of 3. I've made some mistakes here that has led me to finding some great tips. Only by pure chance and closer to dumb luck. More pics tomorrow.
Ok.. now for some pics.
Blazzin I had my doubts. I'm such a doubter..I doubt my doubts. I resemble that remark!!!! It’s the eye to detail that can really make a scene stand out, though I sometimes wonder, especially if others don’t notice, whether the sweat and agonising to detail ratio is actually worth it. In your case I would definitely say Yes, and truth be known some of us have to learn that we “did good” and take satisfaction from that. Remember, Model Railroading is Fun. Cheers, the Bear.
Blazzin I had my doubts. I'm such a doubter..I doubt my doubts.
Ja Bear, I keep going over that reply of yours. All the while I'm trying my best to accomplish what I have set out to do. Quite Frankly it is the best I can do...and I have .. like many others, have to accept that. But here's where I am again. As stated in an earlier thread, I'm trying to have a different level in the sidewalk with steps. So, Steps with a new level .. as well as trying to tie in the actual posts of a balcony with the rails of the balcony. Now I'm sure this won't make sense until you see the pics. And that won't happen until I add the pics. BRB.
Small update here. Oh I've been working on these buildings. Half built here ..there, trying to tie it all in. I'm also wanting to break up the woodboard sidewalk in terms of height and steps, almost seems impossible and if so it has to be with building a substructure completed on one building entirely before you can even think about raising the 'stepped sidewalk'.
Quite honestly I feel I should have asked .. or looked up the 'pitfalls' of styrene scratching building. Well I'm getting there and I thought I should go ahead and post some pics of my progress. How I got there, well I'll add later. Ok.. pics of the near finished product. (hardly)
Thank you kindly. I thought I'd try to respond in a timely manner. I've been keepin busy. I'm learning once again and usually by mistakes. Enjoy the pics. On a side note, I've been partial to working wood. Styrene has some nice results, but I like working with wood.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
So now JaBear, you can see.. lol, why I had good reason to wait and finish this and show a 'Start to Finish'.
By just adding Grey Craft paint..in a 'wash' fashion... well take a look.
I had my doubts. I'm such a doubter..I doubt my doubts. Take a look. I was already feeling low, wondering already what steps to take to repair what i've already done. Trying to be neat and not just slop the wash of a dark brown, but getting into cracks of the joints.
Joists are meant to be up against the main flooring. Not so in my case, because I have this big block of wood in the very center. So my approach is more of covering up and adding some detail.
Once all the joists are in place, I came back and clipped the excess with finger nail clippers.
After that just add the braces. If I were to give some advice on the braces, whether this or that one should be pointed up on the corner posts. Answer, you don't want a kick out post. The bracing starts at the botton goint up for every corner.
I must admit, I wasn't too happy with the looks of it so far. It reminded me of some Rodeo stadium. Maybe its the color?
The hardest part of this project is nothing more than getting those posts glued in and straight up and down.
You might even have to draw some lines to guide you.
Once you have your posts in place, continue on with adding 'joists', pivoting from your cornerstone.
JaBear, I thank you for your input. I really am impressed with the amount of material available.
I really wanted to reply to you earlier, but felt I should finish up with what I was working on before I did. One of those things you need to show a 'before and after' look. So let us begin.
Turn the Wayback Machine to 2 weeks ago. Seems about that, and where I posted my Old West buildings.
I wasn't happy with the bottom, although being N scale not too many would notice. Except for myself, and that alone everytime I'd look at it, well I'd relive it over and over. My approach to adding a sub structure to the over-all buildings.
This is a simple approach that yields a fairly good look. The Secret.. is starting with a 'cornerstone' so to speak. Just glue in one corner with some good wood glue.
I happen to use Gorrilla wood glue, sets up fast and really strong. Also, it would appear..those clumps of glue.. seem to dissapear.
Let that one corner dry really good.. and pivot from there. I added some more posts and after drying I added some 'side rails' for no other reason it gives support.
Joe.. thanks.. lol, I would have never thought of Gunsmoke. Of all those Westerns, thats one I watched as a kid. I shall look them up.
As it is now, I'm modeling buildings after the movie Open Range. I put on the movie, everytime a scene showing the buildings comes up, I pause the movie and take a 'screen shot'. I have quite a collection of various towns, but this movie, wow. Everytime I stopped the movie, there was 'action' .. people.. a shootout. I tip my hat to the Cinema Photographer of Open Range. The Motiff was excellant. I wish I could share those screenshots. I don't think the magazine / printers would appreciate it, even if I gave proper credit to the movie and makers.
I am making these buildings as a filler for all the other buildings. I'm trying to make these buildings a tad smaller than N scale, but there's hardly any room for downsizing. I'm no expert, but I like to share what I've learned along the way. Nice to see someone respond to my posts. Thanks
Keith
Watch Gunsmoke or Cheyenne. One building stands out in any western is the Cattle's Association Building. then the more common ones, Sherriff's, Saloons, General Stores, Stables, Freight Stations, Dress Makers, Stage Depot, etc
Joe C
Just some pics. Gave it some thought, going to show a step by step.
Lets see. Draw it out on the styrene. If I had to give some sort of advice, I'd say start from the middle, centered it .. and draw to the outside. Centering makes it easier, and allows for final placement of doors and windows, giving lattitude to move windows further out.. or to center it for asthetics.
Craft paints. 2 colors of brown. 1 spray can of Flat White. 1 can of Dullcote
Lighter brown first, then the darker. Spray the Flat white at an acute angle only touching the surface of the styrene. Do NOT allow the White paint into the cracks/ board lines.
Spray with Dullcote, if sprayed with the craft paint semi dry.. (not over 24 hrs.closer to 1 hr) The white will break down.. and settle out to more of the 'aged' look I am striving for.
Add more Craft paint..but only the darker brown. Consider more of a wash. Once semi dried.. spray with Dullcote. The white breaks down again. TA DA?
I'm also working on these houses. The blue house actually has blue mixed into the roofing. I like to do that. Didn't like the shadow of the Tab A to Tab B look.. so I repainted the yellow house.
Just a few pics. I thought I'd talk about the balcony. The actual railings/posts are from an HO ladder kit. The scalloped looking trim at the bottom edge of the balcony is also a ladder with notches but without the rungs. Also some 'T' looking trim was also added. The posts were from a HO parts bash kit of left over 'rain gutters'\ they had some nice trim.. so I used those for posts to hold up the balcony.
Ok.. just going to follow up with one pic for tonight. Finished up on the balcony. Mostly, just wanted to see it bigger. OK.. enjoy..I'm happy with it.
Thank you my friend. Through the years you have seen my skills increase. Alot of it has been pure chance and accidents that have proven better results. Well anyways, I'm not done with those buildings, alot more detail is needed, such as a balcony and a step down boardwalk.
Not that I leave them for any spell, but I do spend my time on other buildings.
Laser Art Structures.. in all fairness .. can't say enough about them. Fun little guys to put together. Once painted, you pretty much can put on a movie.. and assemble. Well maybe two movies then. Since I'm striving for color.. but with an Old West look to it well I painted these two buildings fairly light with spray paint. Just a few fine mists and color. I'm happy with the results so far. Also the N scale shingled roofs, I've made mention on how you approach something like that using spray paint. Also, I try to include the same paint color of the building on the ashphalt singles.
Blazzin - those buildings are fantastic!
Just pics. No not done. Still need the Balcony and some boarded walk way. If the buildings seem crooked or leaning.. well they are not. They are loosely mounted on a wooded sheet, held temporarily by 'party foam' on the inside. It serves as a base for me to work on and work with.
Well good.. and while you're building.. I thought I'd throw some 'thought for food'
I'd like my threads to be fun and informative. Take the styrene and spray it with Gray spray paint. Next, using red spray paint.. Mist the entire face of the styrene.. BUT and ONLY spray at an acute angle almost horizontal to the styrene itself. What happens? Only the highest part of the styrene takes on the paint.. (via misting). Then using same angle.. but on various sides.. add black spray paint (misting of course) to the styrene to tone down the red and give it a brick color. Not easy.. certainly a challenge.. most fun when great results happen. TC Keith
Thought for food~
Hi Blazzin
Yes, interesting about scratchbuilding..... we used to do it all the time because we couldn't afford anything else. Recently I've been building laser cut kits that are, quite honestly, not that far removed from what we did all those years ago. The detail now of course is far more defined, but the style of build is not that far removed. And now I find myself puting aside the left over wood and 'sticky back' stuff for later use. Happier times? In heart yes but in reality probably not. We had next to nothing and my parents worked hard every waking hour. A family trait passed on to us that assured we didn't have to want like they did. But enough of that! I have a Laser Art Meat Packing Plant in HO to paint and build! (And put nail holes in the clapboard sides......... mmm, what does that remind me of?)
Barry, thank you for that cute story. As I was reading it, memories raced through my mind. Money was really hard to come by, more so then, than now. Every penny counted, and since everyone had no money, we all shared our toys and borrowed what we could. At times I look back and wonder if those weren't the happiest time of our lives.
I'm thinking scratch building then hasn't changed that much compared to Today's approach using styrene. You still have to draw it out, and cut it. Mark out the windows and doors.. also cut them. Make it, paint it and do add whatever you can find to add more 'detail' to the buildings.
One other thing I would like to add concerning the Wild West especially All those Western movies you have watched about the Gold Rush Days.. its closer to truth than fiction. The Miners and people came first, then the Law. Look up California Vigilantes for some good reading.
I made them with card. Measured and marked out the building sides and made the basic structure on a base of thick card. I cut up individual clapboards and stuck each board and stuck them on the building sides. Same with windows. The great thing about these buildings was the false front. Behind was a flat roof that was so easy to make. It was a lot of work, but at 14, let's admit it, I had all the time in the world.
I made a sherriff's office with a jail in back. I made a jig in a block of wood for the jail part. Marked it out, cut grooves for the bars, laid brass wire onto it and soldered it together. I did the same with the bars on the windows. I even put a light inside..... a big 12 volt bulb from my bike. (Remember it was in the days before LED's and tiny bulbs!)
I was very pleased with the result. There was no scale lumber around back then, the card was from an old shoe box and all I had was a hobby knife. Oh yes and a borrowed soldering iron! But I was only 14........
Cheers
Barry