I need a barn on my layout. Since I am now a confirmed scratch-build convert, I went looking for the right subject to model. Last Summer I found just the barn sitting right on my Father-in-laws property. I present to you this fabulous little structure.
Lou's Barn
Look at the warn and dilapidated siding. Wood boards, aluminum sheet, corrugated steel and asphalt roll siding. You could not make this up and make it look convincing.
It gets better. Here is the front of the structure.
The weathering of the wooden boards, the streaks of rust from the iron nails and hinge fixings.
But the piece-de-la-resistance.......
The tree! Now I think that the tree came first and the lean-to was added and built around the tree. Lou loves his trees so I can't imagine him felling one just because it was in the way of a barn expansion project!
So this is my current project. It is coming along nicely and I will share so pics later in the week. In the mean time the purpose of this small photo essay is to encourage you to keep your eyes open and see what character you can bring to your layout from everyday scenes.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
TA462 wrote:Don't forget to add a really old car in the barn covered in dust and bird crap.
When I saw that photo and your location, I thought, "Hey, that's the barn my father built on his former property in Pinckneyville, Illinois!" But closer observation nixed that thought because he had no trees growing close to it.
FYI, that barn is from a kit that was sold rather extensively throughout the midwest in the 1950's and 60's.
Safety Valve wrote:Half tempted to drill a junker car and plant a nice WS tree right into the middle of it.
Somebody has posted pics of a 40s-50s pickup i think with a tree growing up through the engine compartment.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
"Campbell" or "Alexander" around long enough I think to have issued a kit of this barn. Didn't realize they did 1:1 scale.
Jon
That ought to make for a great scratchbuild.
Can't wait to see your progress on the project.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
cacole wrote: When I saw that photo and your location, I thought, "Hey, that's the barn my father built on his former property in Pinckneyville, Illinois!" But closer observation nixed that thought because he had no trees growing close to it.FYI, that barn is from a kit that was sold rather extensively throughout the midwest in the 1950's and 60's.
cacole it is about 2 hours North of Pinkneyville in Benld, Il. Thanks for the information on the kit, I did not know that. Do you happen to know if the kit had the windows in it? The ones that are in the prototype structure seem much newer than the barn itself. I don't really like the windows so I am planning to leave them out of my model.
It is going to be in HO by the way.
Love it! Can't wait to see how it goes.
Mike
Modelling the UK in 00, and New England - MEC, B&M, D&H and Guilford - in H0
simon1966,
The barn kit had windows, but I don't recall their being like the ones that are in the barn today. The side sheds are add-ons that were not part of the original building.
As csmith9474 mentioned, Sears Roebuck sold house kits in the early 1900's, and there are many of them still standing throughout the midwest. Atlas' "Barb's Bungalow" (150-612) and Laser Art's "Catalog Homes" (181-621 through 181-625) are models of the Sears houses built from kits.
I remember my father saying that a boxcar would be put onto a team track nearest the location where the house was to be built, and the purchaser had to arrange for it to be unloaded, delivered, and built. They were the forerunners of "pre-fab" structures that are so popular today.
cacole wrote:simon1966, The barn kit had windows, but I don't recall their being like the ones that are in the barn today. The side sheds are add-ons that were not part of the original building.As csmith9474 mentioned, Sears Roebuck sold house kits in the early 1900's, and there are many of them still standing throughout the midwest. Atlas' "Barb's Bungalow" (150-612) and Laser Art's "Catalog Homes" (181-621 through 181-625) are models of the Sears houses built from kits.I remember my father saying that a boxcar would be put onto a team track nearest the location where the house was to be built, and the purchaser had to arrange for it to be unloaded, delivered, and built. They were the forerunners of "pre-fab" structures that are so popular today.
I don't want to get too far off topic, but our Illinois house was built in 1926 and is VERY similar to "Barb's Bungalow". Definately a quality home, although we outgrew it quickly.
Thats NO Barn! Thats a shed with a high pitched roof. You need to come to Iowa to see a REAL barn
I managed to get quite a bit done today, adding the lean-to section and starting the weathering. So here are some progress shots of my Illinois barn (Iowa shed).
I decided to leave out the windows. They are really a recent addition to the actual structure and I think they rather spoil its look. I might re-visit that thought though.
Here is another view of the real thing from the front
Aside from the Campbell corrugated material, this is basically just parts from the scrap box. I cut individual boards from some scrap siding stock and laminated them over a frame cut from a box that had the boys valentine cards in them. I think that I am going to build this into a small diorama separate from the layout and then create a space that I can drop it into. Hopefully the scrap box will yield some materials to fill it up with.
Looks great! Don't you love those scrap boxes in your layout area. They are the best for details and scratchbuilding. Keep up the good work!
-beegle55
Thanks for the good words.
The weathering of the wood is just an India Ink wash and some additional marks and weathering done with a soft pencil.
Driline,
You're right, it is not really a barn, but a large storage shed in the shape of a barn. I think the kit was called The Little Red Barn.
Top job Simon. I like it just fine without the windows. I wish it was mine.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU