Port Elderley

Now, where was I up to?

Oh yes.  The grade crossing is in.

And the gubbins wot drives it . . .

Here it goes . . .

The flashers seem to be a tad fast, but that's a job for another day.

Very fine work, Max, and your electric installation is clear and accessible!

jp

Thanks JP

This is just a context shot, to see how the proposed boat builder's/sailmaker's building sits in the landscape.

I've had to abandon the lean-to on the front, due to lack of space.

Full marks!

Go to the top of the class young man!

Roo.

Ah, yes! that's perfect! do you make this building according to a real one?

Beautiful tropical garden behind!

These kinds of plants can't grow outside here!!!

jp

Thanks, Roo.

Yes, JP.  I have a couple of photos of it, but I can't post them here.  The copyright owner has refused.

I'll see if I can get the Google link up.

https://www.google.com.au/sear...mgrc=-s9UgKM3KkcmPM:

It's about half way down the first page of images.

There's a better one on the second page, but this one will give you the idea.

It's a large rusty corrugated iron shed.

I've printed them off for reference photos during the build.

I have no idea where the shed is, but I thought that it had character.

The garden behind is the view through the French windows in my train room.  My wife, Wendy is an artist and an avid gardener.  I am lucky.

Hi Max,

I agree with the previous comments that the position works well, you have a great view, and are a very lucky guy! :-).  Just one question/observation.  On the side with the three storeys of windows, the bottom two look larger than the others. At scale, to my armchair modeler's eye (all talk and no action), the sides look at little out of alignment or perhaps that the space between the first and second floors is a tad small.  An artefact of camara angle and lense?

Given your incredible skills and attention to details, I'm sure there's a good reason.  Will you be adding some artful trimmings to the lower windows or are you being true to the original building, which perhaps was built that way by shipwrights?  

I saw some photos that looked like possible prototypes in your link but must confess to having been distracted by a photo of a very large and juicy hamburger placed smack dab in the middle of all those boat houses. Now what was that doing there?  :-}

Tomlinson Run Railroad

P.S. - Great scaffolding, too.

Thanks, TR

In actual fact, there are hardly any two windows alike in the whole building - and they appear to be different sizes on each "floor" from the other floors.

I've had to compromise on the layout of the building, but I can assure you that the model building is perfectly square.  The panels were cut on my compound radial arm saw, and fitted together perfectly.  As you say, it's probably parallax in the photo.

It might make more sense if I tell you that there are actually only two floors.  The shipwright's at the bottom is a double height space, while the sailmaker's is a single at the top.

I'm guessing that the shipwright may have need the headroom for stepping masts on boats where they will fit inside the building.

I've also had to lose the window between the sailmaker's door and the side wall, otherwise I can't fit the stairs in between the upper landing and the roller door at the bottom.

There is another landing about 3/4 of the way down, which has had to go as well.    As has the lean-to on the front.  There simply isn't enough space on the layout.

Top right of the front wall is a pair of closed doors with a gantry rail sticking out of the building.  The bottoms of the doors will line up with the bottom of the sailmaker's access door.

My next job is to build the upper landing and stairway.  It will need to be removable, to allow the cladding to go on.  Thanks for your interest.

Cheers

Thanks for the expanded discussion of your plans, Max.  I hope I didn't come across as insulting your ability to use a straight edge!   It's quite interesting to read of your compromises and decisions.  Having those windows for a double-height first storey now makes sense.  Several of those "googled" photos seem to show lots of large glass windows facing water.  It's both suprising (heating cost, potential for wind damage) and sensible (good light, stellar view).

I dunno that you'll be missing much without the lean-to shed.  It did add some character to the original, but as you say, you've got interest in varied window placement and sizes, stairs, and landings, etc.

Keep those photos coming.

TRRR

Hi there Max, I think your building is right on, but let me ask you this, Have you thought instead of a lean-to, maybe just a little awning over the roll up door and man door just to break up the flat wall? Then you could add some lights! LOL

Not at all, TR.

I reckon that the building is extremely old and dilapidated.  For me, that's often the most difficult kind to model.  Adding the compression challenges makes it even more "interesting."

I need to keep in mind as well, that this row of buildings is serving mainly as a backdrop.  It will be the same on the other side, with a row of shops.  They are not supposed to be too interesting, or they will divert attention from the trains.

That's my story - and I'm stickin' to it. 

mike g. posted:

Hi there Max, I think your building is right on, but let me ask you this, Have you thought instead of a lean-to, maybe just a little awning over the roll up door and man door just to break up the flat wall? Then you could add some lights! LOL

Thanks, Mike.

There is a folding awning which is over the roller door and PA door.  I think the stairs will help to break it up as well.

I bought some tennis court light shades from Scale Scenes.  I'm going to put LEDs in them, but I don't think they will be visible through the roller door.

I might wait until I do a tennis court. 

I'm sure whatever you do it will be just GRAND!

Thanks, Mike.

Max

You did a GREAT job on those signals!! Thanks again for your orders!

Marty

Thanks, Marty. 

I've started dressing the front of the building.  So  I need a landing and a set of stairs.

In this not very good photo, the stairs are beginning to take shape.

I always try to work on a sheet of 1/4" plate glass.

I made the treads 2'6" wide, but they look a bit over scale to me.  They are only tacked on, so I can change them once I've thought about it some more.

The parallax is evident again.  The landing is actually below the level of the upstairs windows.

Yeah that parallax effect is wild.  With regard to your stairs, I wonder if they seem a bit out of scale to you due to the bright color?  In other words, with the right weathering and your siding in place, you might have a whole different look. Another thought is that the width looks fine but it is an awfully long set of steps with no room for a landing because of the large door on the right.  Again, it could be a trick of the camera lens.  Your building is reminding me of a tall three-storey boat yard building near Portland, Maine that has steps that are broken up by long porch-like sections.  

I just got an idea:  something like fire escape stairs that turn back on themselves might break up the length by dividing it into two sections but would fit with your windows and doors.   So, you have your current landing but the top stair section is half the current length. It meets another landing a bit above your square window on the left. The second half of the stairs could start at the corner near the window (but that would block the window), or it could be offset on the opposite front corner -- if that makes any sense without pictures.  In other words, via a landing you break up the length of the stairs and give the hardworking sailors a physical and visual resting place through a landing that goes back on itself like a fire escape.  It would require a nice railing. Probably too complicated for a building that as you said is intended for background scenery ...

What does your foreman in the orange safety vest have to say?  Has he gone over to stand near them?

Your winch is great, Max.  I don't know how I could have missed that before.  Perhaps the boat was in front of it?

As usual you are making great progress and its fun to see your various jigs for cutting and aligning your stairs.

Tomlinson Run RR

Thanks, TR

I've had a look at the fire escape idea, but the intermediate landing needs to be twice the width of the top one to accommodate both sets of stairs.  Once again, I'm cramped for room.

If you can see the prototype photo, there is an intermediate landing in line with the top of the lean-to, with stairs coming out at right angles to the building.  Same problem; only more so.

I appreciate your thoughts.

The winch is made from bits out of the scrap box.  I'm glad that you like it.  

I'll try to remember to get someone to stand there for the next photo. 

Ah, yes, I knew the landing would have to be double the width, which would also overshadow your window, but I didn't realize it would affect your available space so much.

Out of curiosity, I'll check out the prototype again (when I'm not in the middle of marinating scallops in the middle of night.)

Meanwhile, I'll look forward to Orange Safety Vest Guy's next cameo appearance, LOL.    

TRRR

Hi Max, it's hard to tell from the picture, but I think the stairs look fine.  Just a thought, have you given and thought about changing the angle of the stairs and have the go over the roll up door and wrap around the corner of the building down past the windows? I know it would be a lot more work. Just throwing ideas out there.

I think that that kind of long, linear stairway on a building is always striking, and adds interest  to any layout. I think we make a mistake when we only model "typical" and "perfect" architecture. Real life isn't that way at all. I agree that once painted and weathered by your fine hand, it will be great.

As already said, once painted it will look fine; I have got the same feeling when I built my signal bridge.

jp

Thanks, Chaps.

An interesting idea, Mike.

OK  Here we go . . .

I've moved the schooner Agelis (Google it.  It's an interesting story).

She was in the way of the building for photo purposes.

Now.  Here's TR's orange safety vest guy (his name is Ralph, TR), inspecting the building.

Oh!  And what's this?

Well . . .  butter me - on both sides!  

Well look at the Electrician Showed up to finish putting the lights in. Now you have to get the interior going! LOL

I'll tell you, that Ralph is a miracle worker!  Not only did his spritz of paint help the stairs but he got rid of the paralax as well.  The photo with the lights on "highlights" the proximity of your new building to your railroad crossing and flashers.  What a nice little corner.

Now, go buy Ralph a cup of coffee, he's earned it. 

Thanks for humouring me, Max. The chuckle made my morning.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Ralph don't move and he turns on the light! is he a magician or has he a remote control in the hand? 

This area is wonderful! 

jp

Thanks, all.

It's nice how we can get some fun out of this trivia. 

A bit more progress.

You would think that they would at least use new iron in the build.

Cheapskates! 

So, it's a new old building?

The man on his scaffolding seems to be perplexed...

Very accurate rusty color! 

jp

I've found another shot of the same building in the free download section.

Amazing!  Now you can see where I'm going with it.

It's a different angle, but definitely the same building, taken after some time has expired.

Hopefully it will help explain.

Hi Max, It sure looks like your in the right direction, But I think your going to need more then the one worker you have up there right now. I will be watching as you do such great work, and can't wait to see it as you go along.

Thanks, Mike.

Neither can I. 

Max,

The building looks awesome.

Alan Graziano

Thanks, Alan.

And now for some decoupage to simulate repair patches to the iron cladding.

The stairs, landing and doors are just tacked in place.  They will have to come off when I fit the windows.

Wonderful work, Max! this building is really WOW!!!!

jp