Anyone up for a Summer scratch building thread?

[Txrailnut07]

Well here we are several months later and I have actually made some progress!  So much for this being a Summer thread.

After a bit of a delay my windows and doors finally arrived.  They then sat in the box all summer as I basically dropped out of the hobby for a few months.  Well finally over the Christmas break I got the project back out and started to work on it.

Here is where I am so far. This is meant to be a representation of the Ballroom circa the 50's.  The following image from earlier in the thread is what it looked like then.

I still have to add some of the raised brick trim and figure out a good way to represent the sign.  This was lit with bulbs so should be an interesting lighting challenge.  I also want to put the spot lights up on the top of the structure.  Perhaps this weekend I can get it in situ on the layout and get the parking lot in order as well as some of the plant life out front.

Did anyone else that contributed to this thread so long ago actually complete their models?

Looking good Simon. And good work to all the others.

I've been thinking of dabbling in scratch building. Starting with a simple structure, like a small office or storage shed, out of Evergreen styrene. I'm nowhere's near starting on it. Don't have the $$$ to buy the material. Hopefully later this year I will.

[simon1966]

Well here we are several months later and I have actually made some progress!  So much for this being a Summer thread.

After a bit of a delay my windows and doors finally arrived.  They then sat in the box all summer as I basically dropped out of the hobby for a few months.  Well finally over the Christmas break I got the project back out and started to work on it.

Here is where I am so far. This is meant to be a representation of the Ballroom circa the 50's.  The following image from earlier in the thread is what it looked like then.

I still have to add some of the raised brick trim and figure out a good way to represent the sign.  This was lit with bulbs so should be an interesting lighting challenge.  I also want to put the spot lights up on the top of the structure.  Perhaps this weekend I can get it in situ on the layout and get the parking lot in order as well as some of the plant life out front.

Did anyone else that contributed to this thread so long ago actually complete their models?

[bwftex]

I finally I have the sand tower built. It still needs paint and some touch up. No commercial parts so far. Since the only details left to make are two doors and two windows I think I can get away without using any for this project. The tower is the most tedious section so the rest should go together quick. I may actually complete this in the next few weeks. The bin and pipes are not glued down yet so they can be removed for painting. Can't wait to paint. I got a new airbrush for Fathers Day!!! Here’s a picture of the tower part so far. Bruce

[Budliner]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MisterBeasley

Slow progress.

nice everyone


more more

[MisterBeasley]

Slow progress. The next step involves gluing the wall castings to the wood and styrene backup structure. The only thing that works is smelly silicone adhesive, so I want to do that with the windows open. The rain this weekend didn't co-operate, so I was limited to a bit of painting and assembly work. Here's a stairway and some iron fencing.



This is the short stairway down to the lower mezzanine level of the station, where the platform is lower for the PCC car. The rest of the platform is higher for the R-17's. All the figures are from Preiser, by the way.

[bwftex]

Simon,
A little. I’m working on the sand tower details now. I decided to have the structure open at the top so the bin and pipes can be seen. I noticed a sand house in an old MR article that had a small copula with louvers on the roof so I thought I'd add this to the model as well. Hopefully the exposed tower, copula and a few other details will add a little character and indivduality to a rather plain structure. Since I can’t find a picture or drawing of a prototype Texas Midland sand house I’m taking the opportunity to have a little fun freelancing as I go. Bruce

[simon1966]

Well, I have made no progress. I ordered my windows and doors a week ago and just got an e-mail from Tichy apologizing for the delay, but they are moving. Hopefully this week.

Anyone else making any progress?

[MisterBeasley]

Thanks to 3 straight days of rain, I got a lot of work done on the subway station. All of the I-beams are loosely in place (not glued, so some are a bit off-center) and painted:



Now, I have to think about lighting the station. It will have a "roof" above, and buildings above that. That whole piece will be a lift-off for access.

[MisterBeasley]

I bought one sheet each of "Tile" and "Sidewalk" styrene from Evergreen. From these, I made molds using WS Latex Rubber, and then I poured hydrocal. For the platforms and flat walls, I just had to cut the castings to size and paint them. For the curved pieces, I took a piece of 1x2 and rounded the edges with a router. Then I used the small-grid mold, but I only let the hydrocal set up for about 5-10 minutes before I wrapped it around the 1x2. The rounded castings are a shell which goes around pieces of 1x2 which will hold up the subway roof, or the ground below the street level above it, depending on your perspective.

[simon1966]

MisterBeasley,

are these castings you purchased, or did you make the masters and molds yourself?

How about the platforms?

Looking good by the way.

[MisterBeasley]

OK, last week I posted the raw hydrocal castings for my subway station walls. Now, I've got them cut down to size and painted:



The next step is to add the 50 or so vertical I-beams, and the iron fencing.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by stripes2
... The only other things I really am in doubt to is the large windows you would see in a drive through car wash, and how to create mortar joints.

How about Evergreen styrene strips painted gray on the edge to simulate mortar?
Large glass windows can be made with clear styrene and styrene strips painted with Testors aluminum or stainless steel metalizer for the sash.

[simon1966]

Nice link for Hunters, I had never heard of them and can see some great uses for their products. Not for my project here, but for some other things I am working on.

[csmith9474]

What? Nobody is scratchbuilding St Louis Union Station to scale in it's entirety??[:o)]

[Anonymous]

David, here's a tip for the grates. Tichy Train Group Open Grate Platforms

[BigBlueConrail]

I might do somthing like this as a station for the one commuter train on my layout.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by stripes2

I am planning on building a car wash. The interior details are important to me so I am using this site as a guide http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-wash.htm

David, here's a tip for the grates. Tichy Train Group Open Grate Platforms

[Anonymous]

I am planning on building a car wash. The interior details are important to me so I am using this site as a guide

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-wash.htm

The extrior will be plain concrete block with lots of glass to show the detail inside.

Will show some pictures when I make some progress.

David

[bwftex]

Well guys.....I got started. Not that much has been accomplished. First I reduced the S scale drawings to HO and printed a copy. Easy enough to do with the computer. Yesterday I stained my various strip wood pieces. I worked late tonight so I took a few minutes to make the first part of the tower legs. Theses are shown in the first picture. They were cut and glued together right over the plan.

Since this structure is small and straight forward with only two doors and two windows I decided not to use any detail parts and make my own. For the bolt detail at the leg braces I drilled holes and inserted a short piece of plastic .020 rod and tapped the end with a hot knife blade to make a round shape. See the second picture. Not as nice as a Grandt line casting to be sure but in HO scale especially after a little touch of paint they should look ok. I’ll do as many of these as possible before putting all the legs together because it’s easier to do them that way. In a few days I should have the tower assembly complete and I’ll be ready to make the sand spout and pulley. I'll report back to this thread then. Bruce

[simon1966]

Colisieum Ballroom Progress Update.

My wife happened to have a photo from 1949 in her collection.



The windows are quite different to those in the structure today. Thanks to Bob Gretch I was able to find very close matches for the windows both in style as well as size from Tichy trains.

I have now got the plans scaled out in HO. I estimated the dimensions based on the door height. I am going to use black foam board as the basic structure with a laminate of styrene brick sheeting. I can't remember the web site that suggested this method, but I have used it a couple of times and it yields a strong by liteweight structure. I think it lends itself to background structures in particular.

Here is the plan along with the cut foam and brick sheet.



I won't be doing much more until the windows and doors show up from Tichy.

Anyone else started anything and want to share the progress?

[GAPPLEG]

I began this little project a while ago, I'm trying to create a model of a GE prime mover. 7FDL to be exact. As I create masters I then make a mold and cast them in resin. That way I can make more in the future. This picture is the first cast block and air filters mounted, heads to be added soon. They are already cast also.



UPDATE WITH NEWER PICTURE, heads and turbo built.

[Anonymous]

I might as well try, it isn't too muh money wasted if i screw up

[simon1966]

Anyone made any progress? I took some more photos yesterday and today drew out my HO scale plan for the structure. I think it is going to be too big in true HO so may decide to scale it back a bit. I also found a post card photo of the Ballroom from 1949 so have discovered that the windows have been changed. Otherwise it looks very similar today. So far I have drawn a blank on finding the right windows from Grandt line et al. I have a feeling that the windows are going to be the hardest part of the project.

[BRVRR]

Sounds like fun.
I think I'll take a shot at this:

I'm going to have to go back to Berea and take some more pictures, and if I can get close enough, measurements. A good excuse for some rail fanning.
The end of July might be a stretch, but I'll try.

[BruceJob]

Hi, all...

Maybe this is the kick in the pants I need to finish my model of a floatbridge, based on the prototype at Greenville yard in Jersey City, NJ.

I was bitten by the rail-marine bug and I've been working on this model for about 3 years now...lots of research and data collection! Click on this link for a photo essay showing the prototype:

http://www.daylightimages.com/trackside/nych1.html

I've got the major structural components completed in styrene...I just need to do the final assembly, painting, and weathering.

PS to "jpmorrison": Nice pier shed. You must be modeling a full-length pier in scale. It must be pretty impressive in person!

[simon1966]

Yoshi, modelling the stacked produce shelves should be run!!

Bruce, nice idea. If the thread helps you get the pickle cars completed as well, then thats a bonus!

It would be really nice to post progress pictures of your projects, so we end up with a mini clinic going on for those that have not tried building their own models. I am such a neophite myself that I hesitate to use the term "masterclass" but I am hopeful that some real experts will chip in.

[railroadyoshi]

I know I'll never get it done, no way by the end of July, but:

http://www.idylwildefarm.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=366+Central+Street,+Acton,+MA

[Anonymous]

Mr beasley, I believe you mean Moosechusetts bay Transportation Authority

[bwftex]

Simon1966,
I've been thinking about building a sand house. That should be easy enough to complete by the end of July. I have drawings for several I just need to decide which. Something like this is what I have in mind but in HO.

While I'm at it I'll try to complete these pickle cars too. They have been sitting around waiting for me to get back to them for a long while. Bruce