O Gauge Building wish list

I agree Andrew. I scratch built this interpretation of a feed and grain mill. It fits an odd spot in a corner and is serviced by a spur. They sell AG supplies, sell and service Jon Deere tractors, the adjoining building houses the local grange office and this spot is a favorite for locals to gather and chew the fat for a while before heading back home to their farms.

Bob

Very nice, Bob.

I appreciate it Fred...thanks!

Bob

I don't need real fancy buildings.I'm one of those close enough is good enough guys.I don't weather anything.I have been very pleased with the Ameritowne Buildings.They are easy to alter and to build for someone with my limited abilities.
I would like for more detail parts to be available from the specific maker of the kits that might be listed with an inclusion in the kit.Some of the Walthers buildings came with several different sets of signs.Possibly different "packages" of detail parts would be available.

quote:

Originally posted by flanger:
I think Jerrman is offering some excellent advice for those who have found a kit they want to try building a representation of in O scale.

I want to add the notion of also using your imagination to come up with a design of your own. Totally freelanced using pictures of building you've seen for ideas perhaps or just memories of structure which might have existed in your hometown or elsewhere. Take scrap paper and cut it up and tape it together to make it fit the exact spot you want the finished building to be located. This basic pattern will assure the final structure will fit properly. Build something using the dimensions of that simple footprint...the satisfaction of doing so will far exceed building a kit I assure you. Develope this skill over time and it will reward you many fold. Try it and good luck.

Bob

Those are excellent points. I, too, have gotten past the point where I will limit myself to just commercially available buildings or even kits. There just aren't that many of the generic ones that I really want. I have specific areas (usually of strange or oddball sizes) that I need to fill. And my skills, although modest, have gotten to the point where I'll try most things.

The two mills in this photo (left to right: Blooming Mill, Open Hearth) are actually 3-D backdrops with a soon-to-be-hidden yard lead running underneath and a highway overpass running between them. Sorry, this isn't the best photo of them. It took some time to figure out how to construct the buildings, but it isn't as difficult as it might appear. In fact I did an NMRA clinic based on constructing the Blooming Mill at the last Model Railroad Jamboree in Pittsburgh (April 2011).



If I were to put my wish list together, it would be for a more diverse set of buildings, but it would also ask for much more industrial building details and components. I hope that people like Les Lewis (Westport Models) continue to expand their selection of such parts and details. And I fervently hope that business model is valid in today's O gauge model railroading world.

George

Sirt, I've been looking for glass insulators like your power station has for a long time. Do you know of a suppler that sells them?
This thread is really helping me planning my new layout. Thanks everyone. Don

Seems to me there's so much opportunity in scratch building either through your own imagination or by using HO scale designs for ideas. I think Flanger's examples of the background building or the grain and feed building are really great examples of using structure designs that have relatively simple lines. That makes the scratch building much easier, particularly when you're starting out. They may look really complicated but if you look closely and dissect the building into its major pieces, you can see how it can be done and not have it seem overwhelming. When you add the details, signs, etc. it takes on the look of a true craftsman type building kit. Before long you may be scratch building like SIRT or Vulcan (well, maybe not but we can hope). The pictures below were all done off HO designs. When I looked at the HO pictures from different angles, they all seem to have relatively simple lines that can be copied. I changed a few things along the way, due to availability or choice. There are way easier building to start with, like small cabins, freight houses, etc. all online that could provide inspiration.

I too wish there were more O scale buildings out there, particularly hi-rise city type buildings that are plentiful in HO. But, in the meantime, for originality and creative pleasure, scratch building is the way to go.

Jerrman

Jerrman, wow real fine models...Brian Boot Co in particular! It has great character and finish and best of all no one has one like it.

Bob

Good thread

quote:

Sirt, I've been looking for glass insulators like your power station has for a long time. Do you know of a suppler that sells them?

George, Hobby Lobby or any crafts store has tons of glass beads and other things. Try Wal-mart craft section also.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Jerrman:
Seems to me there's so much opportunity in scratch building either through your own imagination or by using HO scale designs for ideas. I think Flanger's examples of the background building or the grain and feed building are really great examples of using structure designs that have relatively simple lines.
....
The pictures below were all done off HO designs. When I looked at the HO pictures from different angles, they all seem to have relatively simple lines that can be copied. I changed a few things along the way, due to availability or choice. There are way easier building to start with, like small cabins, freight houses, etc. all online that could provide inspiration.

Jerrman,
I love all three of those buildings, and I couldn't agree more with the above statement. They have that hard-to-describe uniqueness that you just can't buy. I agree that a big part of getting started in scratchbuilding involves "picking your battles" -- finding the right buildings to attempt and finding existing work to act as inspiration. HO kits are definitely great, but so are other people's scratch projects. That doesn't mean you have to end up with anything that anybody would call a "copy". I often find two or three buildings of the kind I am working on and pick elements from each. That's what I did in the shed I just finished. It has elements inspired by an O-guage copy of an HO model that I found on another forum and also some from a shed that Vulcan did a while ago (I'm sure he recognized the parts that I ripped off ) The rest is all mine. IMO, there is nothing like knowing that a piece can't be found on anybody else's layout, even if the results aren't as refined as a pre-made item. Of course, kit bashing and plain-old accessorizing can be just as satisfying if you are just getting started or are short on time.

One thing that I always do when I start a project is to do a google image search to look for similar projects that other people have done. It is amazing how easy it is to find relevant ideas that way.

The only immediate solution is to take as many photos as possible of the classic buildings you like the most that are still existing.

Take those images and print the images on thick photo paper.

Build temporary paper models with the prints.

Andrew.

Some really nice buildings pictured above. Thanks to all who posted.

quote:

Sirt, I've been looking for glass insulators like your power station has for a long time. Do you know of a suppler that sells them

San Juan makes some small "glass" insulators.

This is a fantastic thread! Thank you!

I understand the basic concept of scratch building and I can build the basic shapes using basswood etc..

However..How tall should a building be so that it is scale height and length?

Where I get hung up is on the detailing part and finding where to get the different types of sidings/windows/lights/railings/steps

All of that is what makes it a great model but where can one find these various supplies?

My next project is a trackside brick warehouse with a RR loading dock and I understand how to build the structure but where do I go from there?

here is an example of what I want to create:



Thanks!

Will...check these two websites...they will be very informative. Also if you do not own an O scale ruler you should get one. I will help you determine sizes in the 1/4" scale world...invaluable item for any scratch builder.

http://www.grandtline.com/

http://www.tichytraingroup.com/

Bob

Will, in addition to Flanger' suggestions regarding windows/doors, here's some other places you might check out for your scratch building supplies:

Clapboard wood wall sections: Northeastern Scale Models, Mt. Albert, Micro-mark (I like Northeastern as they offer 3" wide wall sections as well as 3 1/2". If you figure the 3" section is 12' in prototype then it's a realistic height for each floor. They offer different types of wood sections so take your pick and preference). Rustystumps.com also has a great selection of wall sections including brick and stone in 1/4" scale.

For building details, I'd check Rustystumps again for stairway sections, roofing and other castings. Also, definitely look over the tons of castings that Modeltechstudions.com has. Barmillsmodels.com has roofing materials and a nice line-up of detail castings as well. I could go on and on as there are many other great manufacturers that have what you're looking for. For an overview, try ValleyModelTrains. com who has kits and details from most of the major sellers. Barring that, just Google any specific part you're looking for and someone will undoubtedly be making it.

Jerrman

Thank you both for the fantastic tips I really appreciate it those are great sites...I knew about tichy train because I bought windows there for my coal mine! The other ones are fantastic!