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Forum Boards => Scratchbuilding => Topic started by: jerryrbeach on September 29, 2019, 02:29:25 PM

Title: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 29, 2019, 02:29:25 PM
Full disclosure.  These structures were all started last winter.  They have been sitting while I have been spending my spring and summer outdoors.  I'll let you know why each sat unfinished when I post the pics of each. 

First up is a lawyer's office.  I started this project after noticing this style of overhanging roof on several buildings.  While I was working on a cardboard mockup and wondering what type of business it would represent I came across a sign on the internet.  The sign not only changed the look of the false front, it inspired me to use a "Victorian" color scheme for this structure.  Finding the wall sign on the internet was a bonus.  I thought because this was a law office it warranted copper roofing.  I downloaded a couple photos from the internet and after repainting it a couple times I think I have it reasonably close.  Side note, this is built of styrene.

I had this done except for the front steps.  I knew I wanted to do brick steps to match the foundation.  It took me a couple false starts and letting it sit until I figured out how to get the steps to come together. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Mark Dalrymple on September 29, 2019, 02:38:47 PM
Nice Jerry.

I just put this sign on the side of my hospital a few weeks ago.

Cheers, Mark.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: PRR Modeler on September 29, 2019, 03:30:33 PM
Very nice Jerry.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: MAP on September 30, 2019, 06:37:56 AM
Nice build!  Love the sign. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on September 30, 2019, 07:25:01 AM
Great looking build.  Love the signs.

Jeff
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 07:35:25 AM
Quote from: mark dalrymple on September 29, 2019, 02:38:47 PM
Nice Jerry.

I just put this sign on the side of my hospital a few weeks ago.

Cheers, Mark.

Mark, If I hadn't already used this sign here I would have used it on the side of the dentist's office I built (stay tuned).  Thanks for stopping in.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 07:35:55 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on September 29, 2019, 03:30:33 PM
Very nice Jerry.

Thanks, Curt.  Compliments are always appreciated.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 07:38:08 AM
Quote from: MAP on September 30, 2019, 06:37:56 AM
Nice build!  Love the sign.

Mark,  Thank you for the compliment.  I like to use signs for a little tongue in cheek humor.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 07:39:53 AM
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on September 30, 2019, 07:25:01 AM
Great looking build.  Love the signs.

Jeff

Jeff,  Thanks for the kind words, once I had the original idea and found the sign for the lawyer everything just kind of came together. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: ReadingBob on September 30, 2019, 07:40:20 AM
Great job!  Interesting structure and a wonderful sign.  Love everything about it.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 07:51:54 AM
Quote from: ReadingBob on September 30, 2019, 07:40:20 AM
Great job!  Interesting structure and a wonderful sign.  Love everything about it.

Bob,  Thank you so much.  When I am out driving around I try to notice different ways older buildings are constructed.  I wanted to do something with an overhanging roof (it is removable by the way), and once I had that figured out the rest was easy. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Opa George on September 30, 2019, 10:01:43 AM
Jerry, I really like that building. Beautiful work, and I always love a great sign.  The sign "makes it," but your craftsmanship brings it all together.
--George
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 01:00:16 PM
Quote from: Opa George on September 30, 2019, 10:01:43 AM
Jerry, I really like that building. Beautiful work, and I always love a great sign.  The sign "makes it," but your craftsmanship brings it all together.
--George

George,

Thank you.  I appreciate your stopping in and leaving such a nice comment.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 01:13:23 PM
The next scratch build that I recently finished is a dentist's office.  My friend Jim gave me a large bag of plastic windows.  There was a sheet in the bag that said,"1890 Style Depot Doors & Windows".  There was no manufacturer's name on the sheet.  I have often looked at these windows and wondered where I might use them.  I thought that they might work for a fancy storefront, so I gave them a try using some really old (and dry) northeastern scribed siding.  Once I had the storefront done I thought it should be some type of a professional's office.  I traveled the internet and found a great sign for a Dentist.  I have noticed that structures with an addition or stairs have more character.  I used some cardboard to mock up the addition and after a little fiddling, transferred it to some Northeastern clapboard siding with wider boards than the front of the building. 

This has been hanging around unfinished because I wasn't sure exactly how I wanted the metal roof to look.  I watched this video by Jason Jensen on YouTube and had my answer.  I tried his method for painting metal roofing and this is the finished structure.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4g4lKnV-o   Jason has a number of great videos, you might want to check out his YouTube channel. 

   
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: S&S RR on September 30, 2019, 09:27:06 PM
Jerry


Fantastic work! I look forward to seeing you back at your workbench this winter when the fields are under a blanket of snow and the cows are eating that hay you worked so hard this summer to put up for them.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 01, 2019, 06:18:48 AM
Quote from: S&S RR on September 30, 2019, 09:27:06 PM
Jerry


Fantastic work! I look forward to seeing you back at your workbench this winter when the fields are under a blanket of snow and the cows are eating that hay you worked so hard this summer to put up for them.

John,

Thanks for the compliment.  I dislike the cold and snow but I am definitely looking forward to enjoying my modeling this winter (while in my warm house).
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 03, 2019, 05:37:00 AM
I cannot claim this is an original idea though I don't remember where I came across it.  I used spray adhesive to fasten a small cutting mat (6"x8") to a piece of leftover flooring.  This allows me to align the edge of sheet material with the edge of the elevated cutting mat.  This makes it easy to use a machinist square to make perfectly square cuts in wood sheet material. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: barrymk on October 03, 2019, 07:04:02 AM
Nice work Jerry.  I shall pinch the cutting mat idea and claim it as my own  :)
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: deemery on October 03, 2019, 09:47:42 AM
The other alternative is the Micro-Mark thin beam square:  https://www.micromark.com/Thin-Beam-Square (https://www.micromark.com/Thin-Beam-Square)  I have a pair that I use a lot. 

Now I tried to build a more complex construction set-up, gluing a framing square onto a piece of MDF, then gluing a cutting pad in the interior.  My idea was to use the square as you would a T-Square and then use triangles for perpendicular lines (in both directions, as necessary.

The problem is the MDF warped.   :(

dave
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 04, 2019, 06:56:46 AM
Quote from: barrymk on October 03, 2019, 07:04:02 AM
Nice work Jerry.  I shall pinch the cutting mat idea and claim it as my own  :)

Barry,

Glad to see someone else benefit from it. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 04, 2019, 06:59:22 AM
Quote from: deemery on October 03, 2019, 09:47:42 AM
The other alternative is the Micro-Mark thin beam square:  https://www.micromark.com/Thin-Beam-Square (https://www.micromark.com/Thin-Beam-Square)  I have a pair that I use a lot. 

Now I tried to build a more complex construction set-up, gluing a framing square onto a piece of MDF, then gluing a cutting pad in the interior.  My idea was to use the square as you would a T-Square and then use triangles for perpendicular lines (in both directions, as necessary.

The problem is the MDF warped.   :(

dave

Dave,

I hadn't seen the Micromark squares before, they sure look great.  I have thought about building a setup like you described, even have a square on hand, but never followed through.  I built my cutting mat on a piece of 'floating floor" and so far it has remained dead flat.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Jerry on November 02, 2019, 09:00:04 AM
Jerry a very nice build on those two.


Now that the hay is in the barn and the cows are settle down for a long winter's night!!


You will have a little more time to sit by the heater an model.


Looking forward to the next scratch build.


Jerry
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: hairball on November 14, 2019, 06:43:16 PM
Quote from: jerryrbeach on September 30, 2019, 01:13:23 PM
The next scratch build that I recently finished is a dentist's office.  My friend Jim gave me a large bag of plastic windows.  There was a sheet in the bag that said,"1890 Style Depot Doors & Windows".  There was no manufacturer's name on the sheet.  I have often looked at these windows and wondered where I might use them.  I thought that they might work for a fancy storefront, so I gave them a try using some really old (and dry) northeastern scribed siding.  Once I had the storefront done I thought it should be some type of a professional's office.  I traveled the internet and found a great sign for a Dentist.  I have noticed that structures with an addition or stairs have more character.  I used some cardboard to mock up the addition and after a little fiddling, transferred it to some Northeastern clapboard siding with wider boards than the front of the building. 

This has been hanging around unfinished because I wasn't sure exactly how I wanted the metal roof to look.  I watched this video by Jason Jensen on YouTube and had my answer.  I tried his method for painting metal roofing and this is the finished structure.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4g4lKnV-o   Jason has a number of great videos, you might want to check out his YouTube channel. 

   
Those windows are made by GRANDT LINE think they are 33" x 86" as the scale size.  I used them a lot in o scale and painted them in 3 colors for a pure Victorian look.

mike lynch................HAIRBALL
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: hairball on November 14, 2019, 06:44:40 PM
Quote from: jerryrbeach on September 29, 2019, 02:29:25 PM
Full disclosure.  These structures were all started last winter.  They have been sitting while I have been spending my spring and summer outdoors.  I'll let you know why each sat unfinished when I post the pics of each. 

First up is a lawyer's office.  I started this project after noticing this style of overhanging roof on several buildings.  While I was working on a cardboard mockup and wondering what type of business it would represent I came across a sign on the internet.  The sign not only changed the look of the false front, it inspired me to use a "Victorian" color scheme for this structure.  Finding the wall sign on the internet was a bonus.  I thought because this was a law office it warranted copper roofing.  I downloaded a couple photos from the internet and after repainting it a couple times I think I have it reasonably close.  Side note, this is built of styrene.

I had this done except for the front steps.  I knew I wanted to do brick steps to match the foundation.  It took me a couple false starts and letting it sit until I figured out how to get the steps to come together.

THE LAWYERS SIGN IS UTTERLY FANTASTIC

mike lynch.............HAIRBALL
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on November 16, 2019, 09:25:55 AM
Thanks, Mike.  I found it on line and appreciated the humor, so had to use it in a big way.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Jim Donovan on November 16, 2019, 01:55:59 PM
Hi Jerry;

Just caught up with your adventures with the buildings. This website has become very unreliable for posting during last few months. Even the formatting has gone to the old original text style, so I am not on it as much asI'd like. Anyhow, I too am going to use your mat glued to board idea, sure looks to make things easy. I have a 12 x 12 extra ceramic tile laying around. I will glue the mat board to it and see how it works. With the weight I hope to use it upside down to press things down as needed while they dry or whatever. Love the lawyer sign. It could also be aa tax collector sign.

Jim D
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on November 17, 2019, 11:15:04 AM
Jim,

I thought about gluing the cutting mat to a tile, but I had the flooring so used what I had.  FWIW, my mother and later my sister collected taxes for the local township for many years. 
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on April 15, 2020, 01:59:28 PM

My great aunt Christine was constantly making dresses for my sister.  Every Saturday she would show up with either a work in progress for a fitting or yet another outfit.  Sew anything for one of the boys in the family?  Not a chance!  She kept my sister in dresses all through grade school.  So, I scratched this storefront and named it for her.  I showed this structure to my sister a couple weeks ago and we both had a good laugh.
The interior light is an LED from a battery powered string of Christmas lights.  I didn't feel like getting out a power supply so I held a flashlight over the display window when I took the photo of the storefront.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Jerry on June 29, 2020, 08:38:17 AM
Jerry  I just came across this thread.


There some really nice buildings.  Love that lawyer sign.


I bet your sister was happy with her dress shop?


Jerry
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: GPdemayo on June 29, 2020, 06:46:06 PM
Missed this thread Jerry.....great looking structures and a lawyer with a sense of humor, who would have thought.  ;D
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 26, 2020, 04:04:02 PM
Quote from: Jerry on June 29, 2020, 08:38:17 AM
Jerry  I just came across this thread.


There some really nice buildings.  Love that lawyer sign.


I bet your sister was happy with her dress shop?


Jerry


Jerry,


Sorry it took me months to get back to this thread and respond to you.  I showed it to her and we both laughed so hard.  It brought back all the memories from when we were growing up (so very many years ago).  Thanks for stopping by and your positive comment.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 26, 2020, 04:07:21 PM
Quote from: GPdemayo on June 29, 2020, 06:46:06 PM
Missed this thread Jerry.....great looking structures and a lawyer with a sense of humor, who would have thought.  ;D


Greg,


Thanks for your nice comment.  It is ironic, at least to me, that my ex-wife has two brothers and a sister-in-law that are all attorneys.  My son popped a photo and showed it to his uncles and aunt (in law).  He said every one got a chuckle out of it.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 26, 2020, 04:16:53 PM
Finally getting back to modeling as the weather is turning colder and I have less to do outside.  I actually started this building last spring and only finished it up a short time ago.  The idea behind this structure came from a couple Foscale structures.  One is Bernard Tractor, the other a kit of the month whose name I cannot recall.  I am trying to fill out the commercial buildings for a couple small towns on my layout and thought I could adapt the concept to a similar structure for main street.  My current thought is to use this building for a shoe repair shop.  That may change so I haven't put any signs on the walls until I am sure I won't decide to label it for a different business.  Pics are of the basic drawings I started with followed by the walls.  I messed up when I designed the structure, the right wall of the second story structure had a window in the middle of the first story roof.  Naturally, I never saw the problem until I had assembled the second story walls.  Oops!  I managed to plug it with a piece of clapboard siding and did not have to try to deconstruct the second story and make a new windowless wall.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 26, 2020, 04:30:56 PM
Very nice build Jerry.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: Jerry on October 26, 2020, 08:02:18 PM
Jerry glad your back at it great looking building!


Those cows do have a way of getting in the way of modeling!  But I bet you love it!!  ;)


Hope your doing fine and the Winter doesn't kill you!!


Jerry
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 27, 2020, 05:50:51 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on October 26, 2020, 04:30:56 PM
Very nice build Jerry.
Curt,


Thanks for the kind words.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 27, 2020, 05:54:33 AM
Quote from: Jerry on October 26, 2020, 08:02:18 PM
Jerry glad your back at it great looking building!


Those cows do have a way of getting in the way of modeling!  But I bet you love it!!  ;)


Hope your doing fine and the Winter doesn't kill you!!


Jerry


Jerry,


The moos do keep me busy, probably a good thing in this time of limited safe options elsewhere.  I'm not looking forward to winter but it has arrived unwanted or not every year of my life.  Why should this year be any different?  Thanks for your compliment on my build!
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: ACL1504 on October 27, 2020, 06:46:04 AM
Jerry,

Wonderful builds. I love to scratch build and kit bash. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and a structure that is different than all the rest of the models on layouts. Love those dresses in the window. Really great work, well done.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: GPdemayo on October 27, 2020, 08:46:26 AM
Great job Jerry..... 8)
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 28, 2020, 08:06:58 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on October 27, 2020, 06:46:04 AM
Jerry,

Wonderful builds. I love to scratch build and kit bash. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and a structure that is different than all the rest of the models on layouts. Love those dresses in the window. Really great work, well done.

Tom  ;D


Tom, 
Thanks for stopping by.  Glad you like the dresses.  I made them from some less than stellar quality figures.  I do enjoy scratchbuilding, but find I can usually assemble kits more quickly.  You are right that it does give a sense of accomplishment to know that a particular structure is unique.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on October 28, 2020, 08:07:25 AM
Quote from: GPdemayo on October 27, 2020, 08:46:26 AM
Great job Jerry..... 8)


Greg,


Thanks for looking in and your kind words.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on December 30, 2020, 11:28:18 AM
This may be considered a "cheat" since it started with a kit.  I picked up a Keystone Company house kit that had only one of the three houses in the kit left in the box.  (The box is marked $5 so I think I did OK.)  Anyone familiar with these kits knows that the walls are pre-cut, but all window and door openings must be cut by the modeler.  A paper template is included in the instruction sheet to lay out the openings.  First up, I compared the parts and found the two end walls were not the same size.  One end was 1/4" taller than the other.  Fortunately, the shorter of the two more or less matched the side wall height.  The fun began when I checked the walls with a square.  The taller end wall and both side walls were not even close to square.  I squared all the walls, shortening the one end wall to match the other.  I shortened the side walls and decided to omit the rear porch so the house would fit in the available space on the layout.  Keystone supplies cast roof trusses, but makes no provision to fill in between the gaps between them in the side walls.  I doubted that any company houses from 1900 +/- used anything but rafters to support the roof, so the trusses were set aside.  I glued some strip wood to the top of the side walls so they matched the height of the end walls.  Next I cut out the window and door openings and proceeded with normal construction methods.  The roof cards are red.  I gave the cards three coats of rattle can primer.  Still, when I painted under the eaves with acrylic, the red bled through leaving me with a decidedly pink color.  So, I scrapped the roof cards and made new from chipboard.  The corrugated roofing is a corrugated scrapbook paper I found at A.C. Moore.  I wish I had bought more than one sheet, with them no longer in business I might not be able to find any more of this.  The foundation is a piece of Masonite cut to size and covered with Micro-mark cinderblock paper.  The porch roof is a piece of tapered balsa I found at the hobby shop (plane tail maybe ?).  By now I am guessing everyone understands why I consider this more of a scratch build than a kit. [size=78%]  [/size]
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: tom.boyd.125 on December 30, 2020, 11:33:55 AM
Jerry,
All those structures add up to time spent at the bench.
Big or small they all add up to take space on the shelf or layout.
Keep them coming, you are doing a great job !
Tommy
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: madharry on December 30, 2020, 12:59:31 PM
Really nice builds Jerry. A big well done!

Mike :)
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: PRR Modeler on December 30, 2020, 04:23:46 PM
Looks great Jerry.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: S&S RR on December 30, 2020, 10:31:31 PM
Jerry


I just managed to get caught up with your thread - beautiful work - love the dresses in window of the dress shop. I like to look at kits as a box full of parts with a suggested way to put them together. I know that most of the kit manufactures love to see their kits take on a different looks through the imaginations of the builders.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on December 31, 2020, 05:09:09 PM
Quote from: tom.boyd.125 on December 30, 2020, 11:33:55 AM
Jerry,
All those structures add up to time spent at the bench.
Big or small they all add up to take space on the shelf or layout.
Keep them coming, you are doing a great job !
Tommy


Tom,


Thanks for looking in and your nice comment.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on December 31, 2020, 05:09:50 PM
Quote from: madharry on December 30, 2020, 12:59:31 PM
Really nice builds Jerry. A big well done!

Mike :)


Mike,


Thanks.  Your comment is much appreciated.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on December 31, 2020, 05:10:21 PM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on December 30, 2020, 04:23:46 PM
Looks great Jerry.


Curt,


Thanks for the kind words.
Title: Re: Scratching my itch
Post by: jerryrbeach on December 31, 2020, 05:12:34 PM
Quote from: S&S RR on December 30, 2020, 10:31:31 PM
Jerry


I just managed to get caught up with your thread - beautiful work - love the dresses in window of the dress shop. I like to look at kits as a box full of parts with a suggested way to put them together. I know that most of the kit manufactures love to see their kits take on a different looks through the imaginations of the builders.


John,


Thanks.  The dress shop is a special tribute to my great aunt and I enjoyed everything from the planning to the execution.