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The Mainline => Scratchbuilding => Topic started by: restocarp on December 14, 2025, 07:06:43 PM

Title: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 14, 2025, 07:06:43 PM
Hey, all.

I have been absent for a bit, due to some life events(all good), but the modeling has continued.

Here is a small Baltimore City block featuring a corner store and the Null House, a historic house that still stands. I hope that this will be part of a future, larger, dare I say, layout inspired by the Western Maryland Hillen Station complex. Enjoy. More to come.  (https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225185643.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225185817-56499789.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225185819-565011905.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225185822-56502729.jpeg)

Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 14, 2025, 07:15:56 PM
Here is an old photo of the Null House back in the day.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225191348-56504114.jpeg)
And a more recent photo, restored some time ago, but falling in disrepair again.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225191348-565032109.jpeg)

Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Vietnam Seabee on December 14, 2025, 07:16:21 PM
Very nice...good to have you back, Matt

terry
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 14, 2025, 07:34:29 PM
Thank you, Terry! It's good to be back!

The next building that I built for this area was a warehouse that had several industries through it's time. I chose to model it as a poulterers.

Here is an historic photo taken late in its history. It no longer stands.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225192259-56505823.jpeg)

Here is my version, with a lit storefront and a customer picking out the perfect roaster.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225192613-565061287.jpeg)

I recently revisited this one and added some roof details, a billboard and a rooftop structure.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225192616-56507525.jpeg)

I particularly like the multicolored glass.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225193253.jpeg)

Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 14, 2025, 07:44:41 PM
And the third building group is a pair of Federal style rowhouses.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225194044-565081781.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225194046-565101388.jpeg)
The brick alley is hand cut foam.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225194047-565111100.jpeg)

And the three arranged as they will on that someday layout.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/303-141225194050-565121449.jpeg)

Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Philip on December 15, 2025, 11:24:16 AM
Great modeling! 8)
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Mark Dalrymple on December 15, 2025, 05:22:30 PM
Great modelling, Matt.

Always a pleasure to see your work.  The chipped stucco is very close to scale thickness.  In a lot of plaster kits it is often significantly oversized.  Fantastic attention to detail.

Cheers, Mark.
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Rick on December 15, 2025, 05:27:29 PM
WOW! That's some outstanding modeling.
Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Pennman on December 15, 2025, 06:38:42 PM
Yes indeed, I agree with everyone else. Your modeling is great to look at.

Rich
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Dave Buchholz on December 15, 2025, 07:12:48 PM
Please don't tell me this is HO scale!

Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 15, 2025, 07:35:13 PM
Hi, Dave. These are all HO scale.

Cheers!
Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Dave Buchholz on December 15, 2025, 08:15:19 PM
I quit!

Fantastic details. No trace of glue like all my stuff.
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: restocarp on December 16, 2025, 06:27:25 AM
Thank you all.

Mark, the stucco is spackling compound. You can work it with a wet brush and remove lots of excess to thin it down. Just smear the spackle on with a putty knife and then wet down a chip brush and pull the excess spackle off of towards the edge. I mask the missing portions, before I start, with torn pieces of painter's tape. The render coat is stippled paint.

Don't quit!  ;) There are plenty of mistakes. Some I hid with weathering or well-placed details. Some I can plainly see when I look at the photos.

Matt
Title: Re: The Hillen Station, Baltimore environs in HO Scale
Post by: Jerry on December 16, 2025, 10:27:51 AM
Matt that is some really beautiful work!!  Thanks for sharing.

Jerry