Ok, I am issuing an official challenge to all Model Railroaders to construct a small watchman style shanty from scratch. Here are the rules:
Can be any scale you decide or model in.
Must be no larger than a scale 8ft square (64 square feet) and have at least one door and one window
The only authorized materials are 3x5 index cards and aluminum can, plus glue and paint.
Store-bought material except for paint and glue is forbidden. This includes door and window castings, Evergreen styrene or brass shapes.
Post the photo of your completed structure by 20 Jan on this forum.
After 20 January put the structure on your layout and brag about it.
I’ll have my entry done, will you? Let’s see who is up to the challenge. There are no prizes, so build to the best of your ability and don’t worry what anybody thinks.
Oh yes, Bob Bordreau is automatically not eligible- he’s got nothing to prove.
A challenge huh? Does it matter how bad it looks T-jack? I’ll try and get it done to the rules, but this is not my cup of tea, but I will give it a shot!
WHOA! I’m not claiming to judge anybody, perhaps my wording was not taken as I meant it to be, always a problem in print. I was trying to spark a good natured challenge, something simple to break the winter blues. If anyone does not participate, then I for one will not label them as anything derogatory.
No, it dosen’t matter how bad it looks! The idea is to challenge your creativity, not your skills.
Politics? Hmmm, not a bad idea, but I did just edit the challenge and I do issue an apology for it’s original wording. I think I became a victim of the “think before you post syndrome”
So, with that misfire cleared, I bet mine is the worst entry of all! I know I sure can’t scratchbuild for poop, but it would be fun to try on a little building.
What are we allowed for bracing as soon as you paint it its going to warp. 8 Square feet??? thats 2 ft X4 ft. little cramped don’t you think? Most out houses I know are bigger.
In the end, This isn’t challenging eneugh. I can have what you propose finished in half an hour.
OK now that I go back and read it says 8 foot square. Yes that is a bit more manageble on the size. Still pretty easy. And can still have it done in a half hour.
THen if I took time to to cut out trim and stuff. Still have it done with in a Day.
I may just have to give this a try! It sounds like a great challenge. If we het enough participents maybe Model Railroader will pick it up and put it in the mag a few months down the road!
Hmmmmm…Boy…I kinda wish Bob hadn’t put that photo out there. That’s a good lookin’ shanty. Now I can’t think of any other shape but that one…maybe I’ll go two storied…
No, I guess not. If everyone agrees it’s ok with me. I’m just trying to keep it as much in the creativity realm as I can, you know, trying to separate what can be store bought from what real talent and imagination can produce. What’s in your head? That’s what this is about. You got a bunch of index cards and an aluminum can- make a shanty, zero budget, everyone equal.
I suck at scratchbuilding too, but if we never pu***he envelope, then we never know how far we can go.
One quiestion really quick. I have no way to post a picture and I am not about to sign up for one of those photo bucket things. Can I just email them to you and have you post them?
FYI the shanty model in my photo was made ages ago, was mounted on a diorama then recycled into my latest pair of modules. It was scratchbuilt using plans in a Model Railroader softcover book that came out decades ago, I don’t recall the title and I’ve got so many books it would take me some time to find it.
