F&SM G. Brill Co Scratchbuild

PRR Modeler · February 07, 2019, 10:37:26 AM

Really nicely done Steve. That will look great on your layout.

SteveCuster · February 07, 2019, 10:58:48 AM

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

SteveCuster · February 07, 2019, 11:13:14 AM

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.

Looks like George removed the base and repurposed the building in a different location on the layout.

-Steve

sdrees · February 07, 2019, 12:42:33 PM

Hey Steve, this scene looks really terrific!

rpdylan · February 07, 2019, 06:29:08 PM

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

SteveCuster · February 08, 2019, 07:17:34 AM

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.

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.

I used Northeastern Scale Lumbers stair stringers to make the steps.

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.

This is after all the railings were added.

Next step is adding the details and finishing up the scenery.

-Steve

S&S RR · February 08, 2019, 08:14:32 AM

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.

ACL1504 · February 08, 2019, 08:18:03 AM

Steve,

Well done, looks great.

Tom

jerryrbeach · February 08, 2019, 09:44:22 AM

Steve,

As usual, WOW! I would swear that it was built into the hillside, and not the other way around.

PRR Modeler · February 08, 2019, 11:11:10 AM

Nicely done Steve.

SteveCuster · February 08, 2019, 04:09:52 PM

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.

I added a bunch of details to the dock area.

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.

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.

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.

I added a few gray tarps on the dock using the kleenex technique I described in my other threads.

I moved the whole thing to the layout so I can get a feel how it fits.

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.

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.

I cut out a new sign and glued it over the previous one. Took me about 5 minutes to fix no big deal.

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

PRR Modeler · February 08, 2019, 04:19:43 PM

I like the mail pouch billboard best. It's perfect for the scene.

NKP768 · February 08, 2019, 04:21:54 PM

Nice wrap up Steve - your modeling is first rate.

Doug

Janbouli · February 08, 2019, 04:27:18 PM

Love all the clutter on the stairs looks so real.

S&S RR · February 08, 2019, 04:40:09 PM

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!