After a visit to Rhyolite and much work on Cadrail, it looks like my new model railroad will depict Rhyolite Nevada about 1910. The most important feature there is the depot, which is an national historical landmark and is still pretty intact compared th the other buildings there. The depot would be the centerpiece of the layout.
To build this depot, how would you go about it? There is an abundance of photos but no drawings that I am aware of. I am thinking about using foam core and them applying some kind of brick paper to it. Any other ways people would go about doing it? I’ve done a lot of scratch building but nothing that resembles this stone structure. Let me know your thoughts. - Nevin
Looks like it’s time to visit the site & get the dimensions & make your own drawings. When you get there, make your intentions known to whoever is in charge. Since it’s a designated historical structure, it’s possible that somebody has beaten you to it and has already documented the building. If not, you’ll need to get dimensions of the footprint, including doors. DON’T DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT PERMISSION. Then get dimensions of the reachable windows. Take photos of all sides. You may not be able to reach the first floor ceiling or roof; and if there is a second story, you won’t be able to reach it. But once you have the basic layout of the first floor, the measurements of higher floors or the roof can be estimated pretty accurately. I’m not familiar with the structure, so I can’t say too much more. It can be done. Just be methodical about it. Exploring and doing primary research like this can be one of the greatest joys and sources of pride & satisfaction that this hobby has to offer. Besides, it gets you out of the house for some fresh air.
While getting exact dimensions can be useful, and even fun, my view is that getting general proportions correct and being plausibly to scale is usually the most important thing. It is often possible to come very close on a guesstimated basis using things such as door sizes as a guide.
In this particular case, I think my first inclination would be to attempt a bit of a kitbash. The structure is mission style and Walthers had a mission style depot in its catalog for a few years, deleted now but very possibly on a dealer’s shelf somewhere particularly once you get farther away from the areas that used mission style locally.
The building also has a vague European/Flemish look to it (as of course mission style does as well) and it might be that the European structure portions of the Walthers catalog that most of us thumb through quickly to get to the American stuff might hold out some hope. I am not necessarily saying European depots, but European town halls and other such buildings might yield usable parts for a kitbash.
I plan on going back to the depot in a few weeks to really get some pictures and measurements. It is fenced in and under the observation of the NPS these days. A pretty extensive search suggests that no one has ever published plans.
I found pictures of the Walther’s depot and there is a definite family resemblance. I’m going to hunt for a couple of those as there are clearly parts and detailing that look similar to the LV&T depot. It is time to finally get this done. Thanks - Nevin
Cool building…I would make some preliminary drawings first so that you are clear on what you need when you go back to get more info. I would opt for styrene shell (not crazy about foamcore) and some sort of stone paper covering like you describe. Should make an interesting model.
The block height looks to be pretty close to the prototype but the length of the blocks in the picture seem to be longer so I’m not sure if the styrene sheets would meet your specifications or not. Worth considering. Obviously that means that I support the previously stated use of styrene for the structure.
Personally I am not a fan of printed surface details because I am put off by the lack of actual texture. I think the printed sheets make the model look like exactly that - a toy model, not the real thing. I can hear the clatter now from all of those out there who will disagree! You stated that you want to make the station the centerpiece of your layout so why fudge the wall texture?
If the pre-made concrete block sheets don’t appeal to you then you could make your own textured walls exactly to scale by scribing styrene sheets using the back of a #11 blade.
The biggest challenge for you might be replicating the caps on the curved tops of the walls. I would try some .100" thick styrene strip gently persuaded into the right curves with perhaps a little heat.
Please keep us posted on how you decide to proceed and what the results are.
A lot depends on tie particular texture. Some do look better than three dimensional sheets.
Advanced paper modelers may use textured paper to give three dimensional effect (eapecially for brick or stone). It is also possible to scribe three dimensional detail into some textures and I have seen some fantastic board by board models of wood structures where the individual boards are paper with doors and windows buil-up from layered paper. .
An experienced skilled modeler can construct foreground models out of paper in HO, O and larger scales that rival models built from other materials and there are also a some who manage to do it in smaller scales such as N…
Many paper modelers are purist, building everthing out of paper, but there is no reason other materials can’t be used where appropriate.
Foreground paper models are not for everyone, but many model railroads could be enhanced by paper models as background and fill-in structures.
This truck is a paper model built by a Russian modeler:
That truck is simply amazing! I wonder how many hours that took. I’m sure that if the same multi layer methods were used for structures that you could achieve similar results.
The point I was trying to make was that the OP was considering using a printed sheet over foam core. That is a much simpler method but unless the sheet is embossed it results in a smooth surface. That is what I personally find distracting. I have nothing at all against those who model with paper. I use paper to simulate rolled roofing in HO. As has often been said, its your railroad…do what you want. I apologise if I painted with too broad a brush.
I agree. I just wished to point out that there are some textures that are usuable as normally printed and most of the textires can be enhanced using special papers and/or with some additional work.
Many, perhaps most, paper model building kits are low quality, but the products of Clever Models (USA), Scale Scenes (England), Scale Model Kits (Canada) and 3DK (Canada), and some others (all pdf sownloads) are high quality and can be made into great foreground models. There are even some high quality free kits available.
A major advantage of paper model kits is that they can be kitbashed using a computer. I use Paint Shop Pro. A very capable free program is GIMP.
There are also many free textures available on-line. CG Textires is a good source, but textures can also be made up from photos of products at big box stores, flooring and carpet stores, drapery stores, roofing companies, and some manufactures sites.
