I am trying to create a roof with several of the Walther’s Cornerstone Modulars n scale flat roof sections. This is the first time I have assembled a structure of any kind and I have no clue how to attach the sections together. My LHS has lots of different types of styrene, I was thinking of gluing some to the bottom of the sections. What would work best, a sheet of styrene or strips? And at what thickness? They also have H and I beams, would those work? I am not planning to detail the interior, so I don’t really care how real it looks. The roof might be removable. Thank you for your ideas!
WWtrain
You have lots of choices.
Simple butt joints may work because the Modulars stock is fairly thick.
If you want to reinforce the joints I would suggest using anything from .020 to .040 styrene strips about 3/8" wide. I find it more economical and useful to buy a full sheet that is scribed already and then cutting off suitably sized strips rather than buying precut strips. That gives you a wide range of choices in terms of the width of the strips you use. The sheet material will also come in handy for other projects. The spacing of the scribed lines isn’t too critical. I use .040 or .060 spacing. The scribing makes it really easy to cut straight parallel lines.
Since you suggest that you might like to be able to remove the roofs, why not consider recreating the support structure below the roof. You will have to do some research on the type of construction used in your era. This is where the “I” beams, “H” beams, angles etc can be used. Here is the underside of my paintshop roof:
Hope this has been of some assistance.
Dave
I’ve started using 3/16 inch white foamboard, available at craft stores, for my roof material. I cut it to shape and then spray it with Rustoleum textured speckled black paint from a rattle-can. I glue a strip of balsa wood inside the building, all the way around about a half-inch from the top, and then set the roof piece on top of that. I used to use styrene, but this paint causes the plastic to warp and I end up with a bent roof that requires a lot of glue to stay in place, and still sags in the center.
This picture shows several roof sections in place, and one unfinished section with the balsa wood strips exposed.
Since this is your first time assembling building kits (at least that is the impression I get from your statement) I would start out with some easy kits first. Kits that can be built as intended. That will give you some experience in building plastic kits. Also, the instructions for this type of kit are more complete and will tell you the correct order of assembly, plus tell you how the different parts should fit and be glued together.
The modular kits seem to work better for more experienced modelers because there are different choices that can be made about how to build them.
I’m not trying to turn you off of these kits, but I think you should start with the easy things first. If you don’t, there is a possibility that you could get frustrated and start to hate the hobby.
I realize that now, but I have already finished most of the walls. If I could start again, I would heed your advice.
WWtrain
gandydancer19’s advice is excellent. Starting with simple kits will give you a few things that are very useful. One is obviously experience, and a second is the enjoyment that comes with successfully building something properly. You won’t stay in the hobby long if you are not happy with your work.
When you have successfully built a few buildings from kits you will be able to decide whether or not you want to get into more advanced modeling. Using Cornerstone Modulars is actually a step in that direction so you are already part way there. I have three highrise background buildings made from Modulars.
The roof I showed in the previous post is scratch built from the styrene products you mentioned in your original post. I have scratch built most of the structures for my model railroad for two reasons. First, they were not available as kits, and second because I enjoy scratch building very much!
Make no mistake - I have made a few scratch building mistakes![(-D] That just gives me the chance to do more modeling, and get it right the second time!
Dave