Are there publications that show nothing but plans of HO structures? Older issues of Model Railroader Magazine used to carry such drawings in almost every issue, but desn’t any longer.
I’ve decided to try building my own wooden and cardstock HO structures, but am hesitant to do so without plans. Perhaps I’m being too cautious. Perhaps I should dive into the project. But, I don’t want to waste time and energy.
Those of you who scratch-build strutures: Do you simply copy – using no plans – railroad structures such as factories, houses, apartments, etc, shown in railroad publications?
Do you prefer wood – balsa over bassword – or card stock? Or plastic?
I’m appreciate feedback.
GGB
There have been a couple “books” (soft cover, glorified magazines) published over the last 30 years with nothing but articles on building buildings or bridges.
Yes, MR has really declined in the drawing area.
One suggestion is to take photos at right angles to a building you like, measure one dimension and then use a phot editing program to resize it to scale, the measure from the photo to building the building.
I use styrene almost exculsively now. another cool material is Strathmore board. Its a heavy drawing paper that is available in several “plys” or thicknesses. It was a common material for model construction before styrene became popular.
Dave H.
I use… Bosa (i think thats how you spell it) wood in large sheets, I Draw my building to scale and then lay it out on a pattern and transfer it to bosa wood, where i cut it out and put it together!!!
Thank you Dave H. and Dock_661. Perhaps I’ll try the Strathmore Bristol paper for a few structures and balsa wood for others.
As someone noted in a response to a similar query in annother message, photographing buildings can be helpful in constructing a building.
GGB