so as Im designing my layout in my head, i want a replica of the Porsche Factory in Zuffenhausen Germany, it consists of 2 factory bldgs joined by a walkway, I already have the HO scale dealership and Im thinking about a replica of the new Porsche museum, I can live with them being a bit smaller than actual scale size. I was thinking it would be a complicated task to build them, and the rest of my layout have structures made from kits. I live near a major university, I was thinking of maybe trying to hire an architecture student to build me a replica since architects often build models of buildings. Has anyone tried this before? cost?
Never done it but I think it’s a great idea. Might get a great builder who hasn’t developed an ego about his work…yet [:D]
It’s an interesting idea. The state government building I work in opened in 1998, it still the architect’s model for the building on display under glass in the auditorium. My only concern would be that architectural models are usually done to a very small scale, and often without a great amount of detail.
You might do better to hire an actual architect to build a model. There’s probably quite a few thousand out there that would be happy for any kind of work. They probably would like to build a model. I like to build models. Most architects don’t build models as they are very time consuming and expensive (materials, etc.). I had an instructor who was an Architect in India. He built a model of a 60 bedroom house for a Saudi King’s grandson as I recall. The model cost $160,000. I always like those airport models you see under plexiglass. I’ve thought about scratchbuilding some iconic architecturally designed buildings by Richard Neutra, F. L. Wright, etc. A model of the Porsche factory/museum in Zuffenhausen (not the new one) could likely take some serious time to execute representively, maybe a couple hundred hours. Imagine what it would take to build a model of the new museum! I was involved in designing many buildings over many years and never actually built a single model, just lots of drawings. Good luck in your endeavor, is your layout HO?
I have a brother who is an architect. He and I have had discussions about this very subject; down the road apiece he’s going to design a series of both residential and business structures and I’m going to design kits from his designs.
Rafferty,
intriguing idea to have the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen Porsche factory put on a layout - the original is not really small, IIRC correctly.
Why don´t you scratchbuild it yourself? That creative bit is what makes our hobby so fascinating.
I guess I’m pretty close to what you are looking for. I have a degree in Architectural Engineering and have actually spent the past 15 years working for general contractors. So I can both design and build most anything. I’m modeling the area that I live in and lucky enough many of the structures are still here that I want to model. I go out, take pictures and measurements, bring those home and use AutoCAD to develop my models. There is a lot of enjoyment in it. And in a round about way I do get paid for it, as I’m not buying a $200 kit. Jay
Not a bad idea. I’ve thought about hiring an art student to paint my back drops.
This is not quite HO but is just crying out for rail service!
http://www.pegasustown.com/more-info/pegasus-display-centre
Bill
I wanted a HO scale container ship about 300’ for my Miami layout and after contacting several business’s that do custom work, it was going to run me 1800.00 for a 36" ship model, based upon my photos. Fortunately, Sylvan will be coming out with a HO container ship next year for hopefully under 500.00.
This is not a plug,but,see Howard Zanes layout to see what an architect builds. Also there’s another guy whose name escapes me i think it might be Lane Stewart, but has been features in the mag and on the DPB DVDs, BILL
I’m redoing an atrium project for the Williston site with an architectural student up here. The art student idea for backdrops is an excellent one.[tup]
i don’t know how many of you guys remember Bill Clouser from st louis mo but he was an avid O scale traction modeler and a professional model builder by trade. a lot of his work was for architectual firms and he also built court case model scenes. some of his work including a 1/2" scale steet car is in the Smithsonian. he was one of the earliest modelers to work with resin castings for freight cars.
grizlump
And, as far as I’m concerned, Bill was the greatest photographer of models the hobby has ever seen, too, especially considering the (by today’s standards) vintage photographic equipment he had to work with. The man was truly a master.
More in line with this thread, I don’t think most folks fully appreciate the typical sort of building models architects build for customers. Generally they are relatively basic mock ups that illustrate the general appearance and outlines of a structure. They aren’t usually what most of us would consider layout-quality models.
If you’re looking to obtain a fully detailed structure model, you probably should be looking for a model maker, not an architectural student. What you are going to get from the latter is not likely to be in the same class with what you see being done by either Zane, or Stuart. Incidentally, the fellow that operates Depots by John is also a well known for hire model maker. But these folk don’t come cheap.
Backdrops painted by art students, now that’s quite a different matter and probably would be a good idea.
CNJ831
If so, make sure what kind of “-Ism” the student is learning. A Dadaistic backdrop, how artistic it may be, will not be what you are after. I´d even go as far as saying that you´d be better off hiring a T-shirt painter (or a sign-painter). My [2c]
I would also say to check the artist’s work beforehand. Each person is often better at some things than others, and all have a style of their own. You want to be sure you like their style yourself, and not just depend on opinions.
My wife, for example, is great at landscapes but not that good with faces, which works out well for me, but she finds it frustrating.
Your right about that. Most of the architectural models are quite basic. The only reason for those models is to sell the idea to the potential client. Now, if one was more model building oriented that might be a bit different.
The guy I’m having help me is more of a detail oriented kid for all that.I’m still doing the building but I’ve got him around to help in terms of the period I’m in. Y’see, the issue here is one of what one could get away with in terms of then current architecture—in the 1970’s/1980’s—and in terms of location. Would/could a ‘post-modern’–kind of ‘Milanoesque’ atrium have been built in a town with a population of say 30,000? What types of ‘styles’ would have been used, given certain ‘budgets’? How would one structure the thing if one is using 4 older buildings within the particular approach being used? Those types of questions. Lotsa fun here–[:-^]. As much as I’m modelling a high plains/prairie area one does sort of have to contend with the issue even there—that region did have a rarity in Bruce Goff ( a bit of an architectural renegade—google the name).
Yeah, I thought about going to the local high school and asking the art teacher if they could recommend someone with landscape talent.
It is a pretty big complex, but I’m thinking of putting it towards the back of my layout, I already have the Porsche dealership, it appears to be based on the factory dealership in S-Zufenhausen and it appears to be smaller than the real thing
No, Rafferty, I never have - not even thought about it even when over come by deep and destructive lethargy. This is in the same way that I usually try to build my own scenery and kits. You must have a try at constructing the Porsche building yourself. Even if you use some selected compression where you build only one smaller but significant part of the building.
In my somewhat limited experience with professional people, or people that charge fee’s, is that you will be stuck with paying an amount that is almost comparible to that paid to repaint the Golden Gate bridge.
Try cutting up appropriately shaped pieces of cardboard and join them together with sellotape - just have a bit of a play around and a practice with this thing and you will be surprised just how good you really are - better than you think right now anyway.
Bruce[:)]