How to cut apart mth bank building

Hi David,

 

I build a few of these in the past, and i always  used a Dremel tool and a straight edge clamped to the building. Then i did a lot of filing.

 

What I do in cases like this is go ahead with the dremel, but cut and leave just a little extra of the material you wanted to cut away left.   Then go back with the sanding drum and sand a little at a time to get to the actual cut line you wanted.  

 

I tried kitbashing two MTH Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe buildings with okay success. I wanted to cut the wall corners at a 45 degree angle so that the brick work would align when I re-assembled the building. Using scrap wood, I built a cradle that would hold the different sections at a 45 degree angle so I could cut the plastic from the inside corner. I used several razor saws. (Does this make sense?) Some of the cuts came out very well, but some of them were really butchered. Based on that experience, I've postponed making a station like yours. I've been wondering if a mini table saw with a fine toothed blade would work better - assuming the saw will do bevel cuts. BTW, the plastic is very thick, as is the paint.

Jim:  I would love to see a picture of your attempt!

 

Alex:  Thank you for the suggestions.  With trepidation, I got out the dremel and hacked away.  The hardest part is finding a way to hack through the bracing inside as the dremel just wouldn't quite fit right.  I am doing a simple mod on mine.  I am just going to swing the sides out to the front and then do the mirror opposite on the next one if I can.  The model isn't quite the same on the left side as on the right side.  I haven't ordered a second bank yet so I will have to put this on hold.  My project is less ambitious than the previous ones I have seen by Alex and John Sethian.   They did away with the front and turned one of the sides into another front.  That takes more talent than I have.

 

Here she is as she sits tonight.  I still have to get and cut another bank and then figure out how to put roofs and flooring in as well as a good way to light it. Anyone know a safe way to remove the First City Bank writing an/or a good process for lettering it for a station of my choice?

 

 

Davidbross,  looks good so far.  I've often thought of doing this also.  Maybe someday I'll get the guts to tear one apart.

 

Rick

Option #1

 

 

 

But, I'd probably exercise option #2 and go with the bandsaw,

When your ready for a sign, i can laser engrave one any way or size you'd like. Picture is of the prr signs i make.

I built the original one for MTH,it was also featured in their Crossing Gate club magazine. I  used a dremel and a hacksaw blade to cut the walls. After it was all assembled i used the red automotive spot putty to fill in the seams.          

Alex,

these are great shots of some very nice work. i had this same intention... when i get to that part of my build hopefully with results like yours!

my question is , what dremel attachment did you use to make the cuts?  the wheel?

also , the additional windows, i saw some on ebay..  i believe they were roundhouse windows. can you tell me where you sourced the doors etc and what sizes they were?

 

thanks

David,

 

I used Testors Easy Lift Off to remove the very same lettering from a bank I turned into a station.  I wasn't as ambitious as you and definitely nowhere in Alex's league.  I just cut a whole in the side and used an Ameritowne bank building front to provide acceptable doors.  I cut the building front at each of the floors to get three separate sets of doors.  A little mod to the second floor windows duplicated the doors on the first floor.  Two sets of doors almost covered the whole side.  I borrowed an ides from Alex and used the Frosty Contact paper to cover the large windows on the opposite side. I relocated the existing lights to the second level and changed all four incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs.  I covered the ceiling with metallic aluminum duct used for heating ducts to reflect the light back down.  I cut the raised section of the floor and used a picture of marble tile for the floor, found a suitable picture for ticket windows and even tried to make an information booth ala the one in NYC Grand Central Terminal.

Looks like you are making great progress! These are fun projects.

 

I used a very fine toothed saw blade and a straight edge for the cuts that would be seen. On the inside I used the dremel. For me, dremels and plastic just don't work as good together. 

 

 

Very cool project.  I did something similar when I had an N gauge, but my bandsaw does not have the depth to take an assembled building this big in O.

Quite a project.

Then by all means opt for the chain saw,

When I found out that the BTS kit church was too long proportionally for my layout, right through the band saw and off came ~25% of it. Tack the end back on and then it looked "just right".

 

this thread is great and pretty much hit all my points about doing this project.

while we are talking about the "grand rail palace" terminal buildings which i always found fascinating, my plan is to couple this to a train shed over two platforms / 4 tracks extending from the rear of the building in the style of Hoboken / Jersey city terminals . like bigtruckpete, mine will also be on a second level , and i plan on putting two commuter platforms underneath.

my question is about the trainsheds. i saw the ones offered by bridgeboss, but i believe i can scratchbuild one to suit without the pricetag.

i would love to see any pics of guys that have fabbed up these sheds!