Building a Structure

I would start by making a mockup of the building using construction paper or light cardstock. Print out the picture and take some measurements. You have to establish a scale. I usually do this by measuring a door and assuming that it is 7 feet high. You can use this to estimate other lengths. You have a nice straight-on photo, so this will be pretty easy. If you have computer drawing skills, it makes this process easier.

Cut out the major pieces in 1/4" to the foot scale, and glue them together. You will then have a bill of materials of surfaces you will have to simulate.  Next step will be choosing a modeling material for different surfaces. That is a longer story...

Thanks Pete, you make sound pretty easy.  I do have reasonable computer skills with both Mac and Windows.  I will breakout the cad and give it a go.  Been using a couple on railroad apps on my iMac and VMware windows machine.

Welcome to the Forum, Jack. There are companies that will build you a custom structure but they are not inexpensive.

There are also many companies that supply scratch building kits and structure kits from which you can make your desired building.

Below is a link to the "Scenery Source List" on the Forum. It's not limited to just scenery, but has many of the suppliers you might want to contact in order to build your structure and is an excellent resource. I would suggest you look through the list and visit the manufacturer's websites and see what fits your needs - good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

https://ogrforum.com/...c/scenery-sourcelist

One method I use in scratch building is after deciding the size of the building's footprint is to make a base out of 1" pine to which I can attach the walls which I often make from cardstock (Strathmore Board - sometimes covered with appropriate siding from Plastruct or Evergreen).  The station is uncovered Strathmore Board. The freight building is Strathmore covered in plastic brick. It's really pretty easy.

One neat thing is that the forum gets to see a structure identified with an Atlas reefer, for Bootes.  Seems an unusual building, too.

It was my grandfather’s business started back in the thirty’s 

I can remember parts of it while growing up which is why I’m trying to build the layout for my grandson.

i have MTH reefers and a couple of the Atlas collector versions as well

How close to the original does it have to be?  Kit bashing is another method that can be used.  Get a structure kit or a completed structure, cut it up and glue parts of it together to construct the building that you want.  Here’s one that could be kit bashed into something that would approximate the Boote’s Hatchery.

 https://www.menards.com/main/g...12146904-c-13318.htm

I want to thank everyone for the fantastic response and great ideas.  It’s going to take me a bit to digest all of this and I’m sure I will have additional questions and I will be spending a few hours perusing the forum.  You guys are a goldmine of information.

Glad my daughter n law suggested Jonathan needed an electric train when she saw my Atlas O Boote’s reefer car on the credenza.  Spent many hours, in the early fifty’s, every Christmas season in the Firestone store on main street in Worthington MN watching the Lionel display.  Now my Lionel will get a new home.

Jack B,

Welcome.  There are various methods out there that you could attempt at all price levels.  Some will obviously look better than others, however you have to gauge it based on 3 things in my opinion.

How much time do you want to invest in building and do you like building?

How realistic or scale do you want it?

How much money do you want to spend?

I always enjoy the thread "Sunday Scenic Showcase".  Alan starts a new thread every Sunday and you can get get a good idea on some of the talents people have and the materials they use.

To further elaborate, here are some ideas.

1) Low cost, low time, least scale (potentially) - Computer printed material mounted on foam board from the dollar store.  Computer print your building based on photos from the internet and mount it on foam board. 

Here was my very first try some years ago.  Very simple, print, glue and place on layout.  I did this in an afternoon.  I named the building after a former forum member who inspired me.

My next try was a little more complex because I wanted some depth and 3 dimensional looks.  Here is an early build of mine I made for my Daughter and her aquarium cars.

2) Next is also Low cost, medium time, and is scale as you want it to be based on the investment of time.  I made this bus station out of dollar store foam board based on a real bus station.

3) Higher lost, more time investment can be as scale as you like.  What was suggested earlier is kitbashing.  Find some buildings that have elements or resemble what you want and cut it all up and reassemble how you like.  Last Winter I took the MTH Bank (three of them), cut them up and made this Station.  

4)  Then there is the class of skilled builders that just take a pile of wood, foam and plastic and make some masterpieces.  Those folks have some true talent.  I can only guess that is the most expensive and the greatest time investment.

Bottom line... Try something... Anything.  You don't have to be married to it forever.  I know I could do that bus station better now after some experience.  Some day I may give it another try and replace it.

Have Fun!

Ron

Ron045 posted:

however you have to gauge it based on 3 things in my opinion.

How much time do you want to invest in building and do you like building?

How realistic or scale do you want it?

How much money do you want to spend?

Ah yes:

  "Fast, Cheap, Good... Pick two".  

I would construct the building by kit bashing using Ameritown buildings. The material is easy to cut and glue and would be an inexpensive way to introduce yourself to model building.  You can continue to improve your skills and eventually scratch build the structure more exactly using evergreen and plastruct sheet materials.

Ameritown parts       Some of my Ameritown buildings/fronts.  

Jack:

If you want to get close to what the photo shows you could also contact Korber Models and see if they would sell you individual panels from a kit such as 1132. You can put the brick on top and the windows on the bottom. The individual window panes can be cut leaving only what you want.

Joe Fauty posted:

Jack:

If you want to get close to what the photo shows you could also contact Korber Models and see if they would sell you individual panels from a kit such as 1132. You can put the brick on top and the windows on the bottom. The individual window panes can be cut leaving only what you want.

Thanks Joe, I look at the building you suggested and I can now see the resemblance (when standing on my head).  I'm going to take a few measurements from the photo and give them a call/email see what the options they can offer.

Your welcome - I have Advil if you need it.

Joe

That looks like a very unique but relatively easy to build structure. I've built dozens and dozens of scratch built structures and they are the most fun and rewarding. You could easily start with task board (super easy to cut and assemble with Aileen's tacky glue). Then add brick facade either from places like Plastruct or Evergreen or get paper brick from Scenic Express (there's some other resources for paper brick, too and they all look quite good and are easy to work with).  Windows and doors are readily available from Grantline but, for those big showroom doors you can scratch build as you go, using basswood strip wood. Then just add the "glass" using clear styrene. I never measure prototypically or use computer programs. I just eyeball it to whatever looks right. Your building seems to have one very high floor, so I'd guess around 16 scale feet or 4" high would work. Length can be anything that you'd like without looking out of proportion. The letters are a key for your building and you can find some people on eBay that will make you any words in any font out of wood. I found one (can't recall the name right now) in the U.K. that was very reasonably priced and made me a "See America" in script for a bus station. Good luck and have fun!

Jerrman posted:

That looks like a very unique but relatively easy to build structure. I've built dozens and dozens of scratch built structures and they are the most fun and rewarding. You could easily start with task board (super easy to cut and assemble with Aileen's tacky glue). Then add brick facade either from places like Plastruct or Evergreen or get paper brick from Scenic Express (there's some other resources for paper brick, too and they all look quite good and are easy to work with).  Windows and doors are readily available from Grantline but, for those big showroom doors you can scratch build as you go, using basswood strip wood. Then just add the "glass" using clear styrene. I never measure prototypically or use computer programs. I just eyeball it to whatever looks right. Your building seems to have one very high floor, so I'd guess around 16 scale feet or 4" high would work. Length can be anything that you'd like without looking out of proportion. The letters are a key for your building and you can find some people on eBay that will make you any words in any font out of wood. I found one (can't recall the name right now) in the U.K. that was very reasonably priced and made me a "See America" in script for a bus station. Good luck and have fun!

JERRMAN, thanks for the input.  I have some task board on order and also some brick 1/8" square tubing from scenic express..

The building is a one story, high ceiling, sitting on a slab for the most part, the front is about 22 feet tall by 140 feet wide by 140 depth, the roof does not go as high as the front facade. The big windows are about 9'h by 8'w.  I wasn't thinking on making the whole building just the middle third of so, probably about 12-18"w by 5-5.5"h with the signage being the primary goal.  If you come across your source for a signmaker please let me know.  I have been looking around without much success.  The sign is actually a billboard frame with the letters attached and the center area of the letters are illuminated with neon tubing.  

Jack B posted:

Jerrman posted:

That looks like a very unique but relatively easy to build structure. I've built dozens and dozens of scratch built structures and they are the most fun and rewarding. You could easily start with task board (super easy to cut and assemble with Aileen's tacky glue). Then add brick facade either from places like Plastruct or Evergreen or get paper brick from Scenic Express (there's some other resources for paper brick, too and they all look quite good and are easy to work with).  Windows and doors are readily available from Grantline but, for those big showroom doors you can scratch build as you go, using basswood strip wood. Then just add the "glass" using clear styrene. I never measure prototypically or use computer programs. I just eyeball it to whatever looks right. Your building seems to have one very high floor, so I'd guess around 16 scale feet or 4" high would work. Length can be anything that you'd like without looking out of proportion. The letters are a key for your building and you can find some people on eBay that will make you any words in any font out of wood. I found one (can't recall the name right now) in the U.K. that was very reasonably priced and made me a "See America" in script for a bus station. Good luck and have fun!

JERRMAN, thanks for the input.  I have some task board on order and also some brick 1/8" square tubing from scenic express..

The building is a one story, high ceiling, sitting on a slab for the most part, the front is about 22 feet tall by 140 feet wide by 140 depth, the roof does not go as high as the front facade. The big windows are about 9'h by 8'w.  I wasn't thinking on making the whole building just the middle third of so, probably about 12-18"w by 5-5.5"h with the signage being the primary goal.  If you come across your source for a signmaker please let me know.  I have been looking around without much success.  The sign is actually a billboard frame with the letters attached and the center area of the letters are illuminated with neon tubing.  

Jack, the eBay seller is kraftdepot in the U.K. Lots of options. What they did for me was the "See America" script part of the bus station sign. The rest of the sign I did. Very reasonable and pretty quick. 

You guy’s rock!!  What I’m trying to accomplish is a model train layout for my grandson with the additional benefit of adding some family history.  His dad doesn’t even know the depth of some of this so it will be a learning experience for all.

Thanks for all of the advice it is much appreciated.  Hopefully my computer and software skills will be up to the task.  This forum is really a goldmine for a railroader who’s been out of the hobby for the past fifty plus years.