http://www.rhyolitesite.com/tidewater1.html
I want to build a model of the LV&T Rhyolite depot. It was made from cut stone. What techniques would you use to build it? Build forms and use plaster, wood and carve the cinder block lines. Plastic? I’ve done lots of scratch building with plastic in the past but I am not sure it is the way to go here. Any kits that could be a basis for a kit-bash? Let me know what you think. - Nevin
I once built an N scale kit for a depot that had some lines very similar to Rhyolite. The model had curved parapets on both ends like the one on the right end in most of the pictures on your link. The center had a one story bay as I remember, not the two story section oriented perpendicular to the main axis of the building as Rhyolite. The kit was die-cut heavy cardboard- similar to some of the Suydam HO kits of 20 -30- 40 years ago. I will have to look and see if I still have the model or a photo…
Since the building still exists, and since you can (relatively) get easy access to it, why not just photograph every inch of the building, adjust things in Photoshop, and make your own “paper” kit for it? Mount it on Strathmore or Gatorboard, add as much 3D relief as you need, and “print” your own kit.
These days more and more in this hobby are printing out what they need, rather than trying to do things the “hard way”. Backdrops, decals, and LOTS of structures. The technique works, and has been written about in MR several times. And the best part is that you can’t beat the realism!