I was knocking around the interwebs about two months ago (instead of building something, shamefully) when I somehow stumbled upon this pic on Facebook. I was really taken by it and investigated further, learning that it's a work in progress by a modeler named Allen Goethe of North Carolina. He's got himself a kit and model-making shop called Twin Whistle Sign and Kit Co. Further down his page was this pic of the prototype.
I visited his website and saw that fire stations seem to be his thing, so I ordered New York City Engine Co. #5, figuring it would do nicely for 1950s Frankfort, Michigan.
http://twinwhistle.com (http://twinwhistle.com)
Had the kit within a week. Here are the goodies...
The side and back walls are styrene which, I'm sure, keeps the kit cost down ($39.95 in HO). I'll go ahead and build this simple box per instructions, but I may replace them with brick sheet from Jimmy at MMW. Allen has lines pre-measured and scored so you know exactly where to put bracing.
While I'm waiting to prep some more pix for posting, here's another of his HO firehouses, FDNY Squad 18. You can see the styrene used for the side wall. He also sells some of these as facades only.
Here's another detail shot I found on the web.
Putting in the stops for the roof and center "floor" support, then painting the interior flat black...
...and then a good ol' Amish wall-raising, but with clamps.
Novel idea having just styrene for the sides and back as not every building is on a corner.
Jeff
Yeah...I'll either replace with brick or it'll get sandwiched between two businesses downtown. Also could do the sides as stucco. Or put it between a lumberyard and a fireworks factory. 😜
The front façade is resin, and the detailed front piece nests inside.
Looking good so far. I can see the point of using styrene to keep the cost down and why waste the time if the building is up against another.
8)
Alternately, you can laminate brick sheeting (styrene, e.g. from http://www.the-n-arch.com or paper) to those styrene walls. That would make a great opportunity for detailing a 'ghost building' that shared the brick wall and was later torn down.
dave
Methinks you'll need a white ambulance parked in the doorway and a large, inflated Pillsbury dough-boy hovering above the layout nearby somewhere. I really want to see one of your little people painted as Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray. Just screams Ghostbusters to me! 8)
Keep the good stuff coming, please.
He's got the Ghostbusters kit in O and S scales. 😜
Looking good Dave , he's got some nice kits , wish there were more in Normal scale.
Well, somehow while getting reacquainted with Irfanview I accidentally deleted a bunch of pictures I'd taken for this thread. >:( I'll have to carry on with what I have.
The brick front is in two pieces, and gets bonded to these subwalls. Then it's ready for painting.
This is where I'll have to skip ahead. I painted the façade with Krylon Ruddy Brown Primer, then did the mortar lines with lightweight spackle.
Here's the lower-level façade painted, dry-brushed, and with the entry and overhead door installed. Slight issue with the overhead door...you'll notice the lower two rows of windows are out of line with the upper three rows. No big deal, as I think the building will be far enough back that it won't be noticeable to most visitors, but since I'm building this for someone else I think it should be right. I had to contact Allen about another issue so I asked about getting another overhead door as long as we're at it.
For this next issue I invite your feedback. In the above picture you'll notice there's an entry door (left of the overhead bay door) and to the right a tall space, purpose uncertain. I'm finding no pieces that go there, no mention in the instructions, and can't tell much from online photos. No big deal, but here's what's bugging me.
The door on the left seems a tad under-scale. Here's a pic with an HO figure for reference.
No big deal, but if I fill the space on the right with another door, the left-hand door really looks out-sized.
I'm thinking of going with the right-hand door and covering the left-hand one with one of those Community News signs you sometimes see outside municipal buildings. Maybe I'm just overthinking. Thoughts?
To me Dave if the left one is to short then the right one is to tall, unless you put a transom above it. another thing is measure it with a scale rule.
8)
I guess i'm overthinking it, but it vidually bugged me. The left door is 6'...maybe correct for the era. The right door is a whopping 8'. The LP is 6'. Time for me to let it go and move on. 😁
On the picture you posted after the primer/mortar, how did you get the 'concrete' lines so perfect. Did you mask them. You must have a much steadier hand than I do. ;D The door issue is interesting. Unless a figure is next to it, I doubt anyone would notice. Looking back at the pic you posted of the FDNY firehouse it seems to have a too small door as well. Maybe it's the door for the dalmatians.
Jeff
Thanks for looking in, all. A doggie door for the dalmation...great idea! Yes, Jeff...masked with blue painters tape. Among the pix I accidentally deleted.
Dave I have pictures of the San Francisco vintage firehouses and the 2 doors you are talking about show up in my pictures too, with no explanation.
Thanks, Jan. I'm going to use the space for a dalmation doggie door and community bulletin board.
Waiting on a few replacement parts and then the build will continue. Cheers! 🚂🚂🚂
Still waiting...moving on to CCK's Park Floral in the meantime.
Requested replacement parts 1/24. Hadn't arrived by 2/1. Apparently they were set aside for mailing but got lost in the shuffle. Package arrived today but incomplete. When I was told a replacement overhead door was on the way I cut out and pitched the bad one. So I'm without. Grrrrrr...
I know our favorite kit manufacturers are one-man operations, but this is frustrating.
Part arrived yesterday. Back on track and plan to finish this weekend! 👍🏻