Hello everyone.
I needed a little structure that would sit on a hill for my layout and I've always been a fan of the old G.Brill Co that used to be on the F&SM. I decided to scratchbuild my own version of it. This building is no longer on the F&SM. I'm going to stick pretty close to the original.
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This is the original model from George's layout.
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I made a rough drawing using some graph paper. I figured out the height and width by counting the clapboards and measuring a FSM window casting.
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The clapboard sheets I'm using I bought directly from George. I figured they are probably pretty close to the ones he used for this.
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I started cutting out the walls.
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The back wall will have no windows and details and won't be visible once it's installed on the layout. I cut out the back wall by tracing the front with an exacto knife.
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I usually cut my windows and doors out from the front. I change my blade after every couple windows.
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I wanted the windows to be pretty similar to George's but I didn't have anything that was close on hand. These are Tichy windows I modified to match George's.
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I stained all the walls with a basecoat of A&I.
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I washed the walls in mineral spirits and painted them using Americana Deep Burgundy craft paint.
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As the paint just started to dry I used a piece of tape to pull some of it up. I also scratched some of the paint off with a wire brush and my X-acto knife. The red can be a little challenging if you rough it up too much with the wire brush it starts to look pink.
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The windows are all Tichy and the freight door is laser cut wood from Master Creations.
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I added some nail holes to this one. I thought it added some character to the beat up siding and George's has nail holes of course.
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I added the trim. The trim and windows are painted Apple Barrel Khaki.
Thanks for checking in. Hopefully I can make some more progress on this later tonight.
-Steve
Hey Steve:
Looking great so far. I scratch built that years ago and still have it. Want me to post A pic of it.
Karl
Steve,
I'll be following along, this is one of my favorites on George's layout.
Tom ;D
Following along Steve
Looks good so far and I'll be following
Steve
Great project - I will be following along.
Hey Steve,
You have been killin' it on the builds lately!! No doubt this will be cool. Looking forward to this....
Cheers...
Great way to revive an old piece of the F&SM. Eagerly following...
Add me to the long list of followers! Great start on a really neat little structure Steve. :D
Great start Steve - looking good.
Doug
Nice structure Steve.....I'll be looking in. :)
Hi Appl:
Talks to Steve yesterday and he gave me permission to post photos of my scratch build of this structure I build many years ago.
Here's the pics. If you see any details you need let me know OK
Karl
Ah , Mr Mooney had an affiliate , looks great Karl
Thanks everyone. I'm glad you're all following along.
Great job Karl. You really did a great job with that one.
Moving forward yesterday I got the walls glued together and the main sign put up. I also started working on the concrete base.
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This is my update version of the sign. I tried to copy George's sign but it just didn't look right so I went my own direction with this one.
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I weathered the sign with chalks, sanded it and glued it up. I did not use any A&I on it just Rembrandt 408.3 chalks.
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George had a large block wall for the base. I decided to attempt a poured concrete one for my model. I build the form using balsa wood. I glued to wood to a piece of mirror but glass wouldve done fine as well. Anything flat. I didn't glue the walls together because I wanted it to be easy to pull apart.
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I used painters tape to keep the form together. I poured thick plaster of paris into the form.
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I started to pull it apart while the walls were just curing but not completely set. I could press hard into the top and leave a fingerprint but it wasn't so wet it fell apart. I did this so it would leave some texture on the walls and maybe a couple crumbly spots.
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At this point I let it sit for a few hours. If I handled it once I pulled the mold apart it would leave some fingerprints.
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I carved some cracks and things into the casting with a dull pocket knife. I also sprayed it with some gray primer from Walmart. Obviously I haven't done any weathering to the base yet. The concrete casting will be partially set into a hill on the layout so some of it will be hidden. I shingled the roof but I'm trying something new for me with the coloring so I'll post pictures later of it. I'm not sure how I like it yet. I added the small vent casting on the wall. I didn't have a matching FSM casting so this one is from SierraWest. For anything that sticks directly to a wall on a horizontal surface I prefer resin castings. I sprayed it with dark gray primer, drybrushed it with silver color paint and dusted with some chalks.
Thanks for checking in. I'll be working on the roof and weathering the concrete base today. Then it's on to the porch area.
-Steve
What program did you use to create the sign?
Dave I used Libreoffice. It's a free open source copy of MS publisher.
-Steve
Thanks for the info...build is coming along beautifully.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
The sign looks so good , and I love how you made the base.
Nice job on the signage Steve.
Steve,
Very nice little build...
Loren..
Steve,
As usual, beautiful modeling. I'm looking forward to the method you use to color the shingles.
For anyone that is interested in scratching this structure but lacks the basic dimensions, below is a link to a drawing of an almost identical structure.
https://www.nmra.org/beginner/scratch-build-small-structure
Thanks everyone.
I worked on the roof yesterday and I spent some time figuring out how the base will work out on the layout.
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I weathered the concrete base a bit more with some chalks. I'll be adding vines and things once I figure out how much of it will be exposed on the diorama.
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I used the left over shingles from SierraWest O'Neills Fabrication for the roof.
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I colored the shingles first by dabbing different browns on the sheet with a paper towel. This is directly from the O'Neills instructions. I was a little unsure about it at first but once I start applying them I liked the result. After they were on the roof I dulled them with so A&I and white drybrushing.
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I add the roof trim and the rafter tails.
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I need to work on the dimensions of the porch next and also add the chimneys.
Thanks for checking in.
-Steve
The shingles look really great. Another new technique to try. Great sign, too.
Jeff
Came out just beautifully! Wow! Can't wait to see it in place!
Really nice job on the roof and foundation.
Thanks everyone.
Yesterday and today I worked on the front dock and the chimneys.
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I made square out of scale 4x4s first. The dock is about the same length as the building so it was pretty easy. I used a pallet as a guide for the depth. It's about 6 scale ft. I use double sided tape to hold wood in place on templates. I used to glue everything down but this is much easier and you don't have to scrape glue off the bottom of the piece when its dry.
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I wanted overhang on all sides but the part that meets the building. I use a wood piece as guide to keep everything straight and on the same plane. This is a technique I learned from Sierra West. This wood block is probably a left over from one of Brett's kits.
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All boarded over. With the chopper it only took 2-3 minutes to finish.
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I boarded over the lower portion of this window to install a chimney pipe.
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I used a piece of black paper to represent sheet metal where the pipe meets the wood.
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Here is the pipe in place. This casting is from Evergreen Hill Designs. I liked it because it was very thin.
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I added some support wires to the top of the chimney.
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I glued the dock onto the plaster casting. I also added the 2 most outer supports.
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All 4 supports are in place.
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I added the posts for the railings.
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Upper wood pieces were added.
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Front supports added.
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I added another small chimney to the roof. I wanted to show how I keep chimneys from sliding around while drying. In the past I had some pretty elaborate setups with alligator clips and clothes pins now I just keep a toothpick glued in the center of the casting. I drill a hole in the roof and push it in. Anytime I can drill and spike a casting for painting I do. It's much easier. Especially with drums and barrels.
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I have someone around 10 of these tiny brick chimney castings but I don't know where they came from.
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I added a small light about the front door. I mostly use plastic castings for these lights lately unless I plan on making them functional. This one is from Northeastern Scale Lumber I believe.
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Thanks for checking in. Tomorrow I'm going to start adding some details to the dock then I'll be working out the base for the diorama. I won't add the stairs till I get the base roughed out because I won't know how high the supports need to be. I plan on having it sit on a hill like George's.
-Steve
Steve,
Great job on the build.
Frank
Keeps looking better every update...this little build really grabs my fancy.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Steve,
Fantastic build, love it - great job.
Tom ;D
Beautiful piece of work, Steve. Shingles look great - everything looks great. Came together very quickly, too. Thanks for the journey.
Great job !!
Great job on the modeling and you nailed it with the detail parts.
Was watching an old Allen Keller video on the F&SM, and there was G. Brill! :D
Thanks everyone. I haven't seen that video in a long time but I remember borrowing it from my local hobby shop on VHS. I think George does a little clinic on signs and weathering flextrack on that video as well if I remember correctly.
I'm not quite done yet. I got the base laid out this morning.
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First step was trying to figure out the elevations. This diorama will live right next to the other 3 I just built. Once I'm done this one I will run the road down the front and connect it to the dirt road in front of the casket company.
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I modified the top layer and cut out a chunk of the third layer for the concrete base. I also accidentally pulled the main building off the base. No big deal to glue back on and it made it a bit easier to work the base.
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I placed a few small rock castings around the scene. I have a few rock molds from Bragdon I use. They are large molds so I fill them and once they are dry I wrap them in a towel and drop them on the floor till they break into smaller pieces. Then I pick pieces that fit whatever I'm trying to use them for. It's very precision stuff.
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I colored the rocks with some black and brown thinned out and spread some plaster over the diorama. After I mix my plaster I squirt a bunch of cheap brown craft paint into the container to give it a brownish tint.
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The area in the front will be where the road will be. Once everything dries Ill start adding the scenery.
-Steve
How cool watching this come together!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Hey Steve:
WOW!!!!!! Beautiful job.
Karl
Nice looking build Steve.
Jim
Very cool. I've never used foam so this is different for me.
Thanks everyone!
Small update today.
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I started putting down the first layer of scenery today. Still wet in this photo so it'll lighten up a bit. I felt like the hillside to the left of the structure needed something so I started building a billboard for it.
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The rear of this billboard will not be seen on the layout so I kept the construction pretty simple and easy. I cut out a sign and glued it to some chipboard backer.
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I framed out the sign with some scale lumber. I used what I had sitting on the desk that I had already colored. I think they are scale 2x6s.
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Some posts glued in place.
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A few front supports.
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The good thing about using foam as a base is I just poked a few holes in it with a small drill bit and pushed the sign in place. I'll add the rear supports once the glue and scenery dries.
I need something for the area to the left up top. The area will be up against the tracks but it looks very empty to me. Maybe a water tank or some trackside sheds.
-Steve
Really nice job Steve.
Thanks Curt.
I made some progress on filling the area in the rear of the diorama yesterday.
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I built this little shed to fill the area. I didn't want anything too complicated because the area will be difficult to see from the front of the layout. I colored the walls with Apple Barrel Pavement.
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Test fit to see how it feels.
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Added the roof and rafter tails.
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I thought the area around the shed was too plain. I built this little coal bin with some scrap wood I had on the bench. The base for the coal pile is a piece of blue foam painted black and sprinkled with cinders.
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I added some scenery and a few details to the area. I also added more coal to the bin.
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It looks more complete to me now but it still needs quite a bit of detailing. The ground cover is still drying in this photo so it should lighten up a bit.
I started to work on the front staircase last night but in the process I broke off the whole front loading dock. I got everything back in place but I didn't want to mess around the area anymore last night. I'm going to try to get the stairs put together this afternoon and add some of the detail parts.
-Steve
A+ work, Steve. A simple but beautiful addition to the scene.
Matt
yes, nice work Steve!
I see, like me, you use the Gallery Glass liquid leading!
Wonderful work on G. Brill!
I remember that building from my first visit to F&SM during the 1986 NMRA Convention.
And thanks for using graph paper ;)
--Rich
Great looking build Steve - didn't George use the original building to cover an above ground switch machine?
Doug
Really nicely done Steve. That will look great on your layout.
Thanks everyone.
Bob, I really like the liquid leading for representing roofing tar around vents and chimneys. It's much easier than mixing up white glue with paint or worse epoxy with paint.
Rich, I remember it being still on the layout in the late 90s. I would've loved the have seen the F&SM in the 80s while big areas were under construction. I've seen a few pictures of some small dioramas in place as George was planning the layout and it's really neat to see how everything started to get worked out.
Doug, He may have but it's not mentioned in the book. I know he mentioned using a brick warehouse to cover a switch machine in the book so it's definitely a possibility. I'm not sure this building wouldve been large enough though.
-Steve
I was looking through some F&SM pictures I took last time I was there and I'm pretty sure I found what the original G.Brill had become.
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Looks like George removed the base and repurposed the building in a different location on the layout.
-Steve
Hey Steve, this scene looks really terrific!
Steve, yeah.., once I started using the liquid leading I never mixed black paint with glue! I like how it is thin enough to apply with a toothpick and dries fast. Nice job on the wall weathering
Thanks Steve, Thanks Bob.
I got most of the work done on the staircase yesterday. It was definitely the most challenging part of the build.
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I didn't really work out heights for the posts ahead of time instead I just drilled a few holes in the hill and moved them up and down until I got the right height.
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I used Northeastern Scale Lumbers stair stringers to make the steps.
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I wanted the stairs too look they were just thrown up and a bit dangerous. I added random bracing all over to get that effect.
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This is after all the railings were added.
Next step is adding the details and finishing up the scenery.
-Steve
Steve
Great looking build. I'm not sure about the history on this structure. I tried to trace the history in my pictures but it seems to have disappeared in one of the redo's.
Steve,
Well done, looks great.
Tom ;D
Steve,
As usual, WOW! I would swear that it was built into the hillside, and not the other way around.
Nicely done Steve.
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the positive feedback.
John, I took the picture of the Dagwood Fish Co at the Danvers Expo. I'm not sure if it's still there or not. I asked George about the original building and he couldn't remember it or what happened to it. I found the modified version on the layout in the Manchester area I think. If you are facing the F&SM it would be on the right side near the wall. I looked through most of the pictures of the F&SM on the forums but I couldn't find it.
I added a bunch of detail castings and mostly finished it up today.
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I added a bunch of details to the dock area.
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I'm not sure who made most of the castings. Whenever I build a kit I always paint a few extra castings while I'm doing the kit castings. I usually have a box of 40-50 already painted or at least primed castings.
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I added some more weeds and pieces of scrap lumber under the sign. The wheel and tire is from a Woodland Scenics truck kit. The castings in the kit are pretty rough and I don't think they would build into an acceptable model but I've used lots of the pieces of the truck as details in different scenes.
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I added a few details to the back area. It's pretty far back and won't be easily seen so I didn't go crazy here.
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I added a few gray tarps on the dock using the kleenex technique I described in my other threads.
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I moved the whole thing to the layout so I can get a feel how it fits.
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None of the 4 buildings here are glued in place. I'm still feeling out the configuration but I'm pretty sure this will be it. A cement road will run along the front and down the hill in front of G. Brill.
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When I took this picture I noticed a problem. I used the same billboard on the building behind the body shop. I spent a few minutes trying to justify why it wouldn't be weird and then I decided to fix it. One of my personal modeling rules is if I have to try to justify something looking wrong or out of place with a story it shouldn't be there and I need to fix it.
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I cut out a new sign and glued it over the previous one. Took me about 5 minutes to fix no big deal.
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I think that looks much better.
Thanks for following along everyone. I just got done cleaning off my workbench for the next project. I may start to glue these buildings in place and work out the road. I've never built a layout this far before so it's pretty fun to see everything start to come together.
-Steve
I like the mail pouch billboard best. It's perfect for the scene.
Nice wrap up Steve - your modeling is first rate.
Doug
Love all the clutter on the stairs looks so real.
Steve
It looks great on your layout. To followup on the history - the pictures that I have of the building where taken by someone else. I have a directory full of pictures that I have collected over the years. It was already gone when I started photographing the F&SM. The wall side on Dagwood sure looks the same. It may be from one of Geoge's early kits. I will be looking for it, now. Great build!
Steve, I've thoroughly enjoyed following this thread and your final results are superb. The structure itself was looking fantastic, and your layering of scenery and details to finish it took it to an entirely new and fantastic level.
--George
Not a great shot...screen caprure from video.