Sources for larger building components to hide basement column

Paul, What I would do in your situation is to scratch build a structure. This may sound like an impossible task to you but I assure you it is not all that difficult to accomplish.

I would design a building with faces that entended beyond the column at least on the right and back side by several inches. I would select a height so that the top of the walls were several inches above a persons eye sight. This would mean the column would logically extend from the top of the roof and there would be some roof area to place large roof details, eg air conditioners, vents , chimneys, etc around the column which I would paint place in that area and light blue above that to the ceiling.

I would select the style of windows I wanted and the building facing such as brick, stucco, stone block etc.  The covering will significantly determine the window spacing.  Create a mock up using carton card board to give you a sense of how such a building will appear. You can even play around with windows using a marker.

For actual building material I would select 1/8" poly stryene sheets for the walls. By fact this building will become a significant object on your layout so rather than trying to mask it make it significant. I would do this by cutting out the window openings on the sides that extend out from the columns and select a few windows to add dimension and lighting behind them. If this is going to be an office building add some figures behind desks, some filing cabinates etc. Give the building a purpose. You dont have to spend a lot of time or money on detailing but definately top the wall with a large cornice and add window sills and headers to add some dimension to the face.

If this is a commercial building add a significant sign on top.

By scratch building I think for the cost and time you will be ahead of the game compared to kit bashing.m One other thing construct the building in two parts that attach with velcro at the corners so that you can easily place and remove the building from around the column while you are constructing the layout. On other words no part for the building should be attached to the column.

Hope this gives you some thoughts to consider. You may also want to check out my website www.westportmodelworks.com for details you can use.

Best wishes Les Lewis

Les has some very good thoughts there. another way to go might be to get one of the clever model discs (clevermodels.com) and print out multiples of an industrial wall. (they used to sell them already printed out but I think they've switched over to CDs). they have some very realistic brick wall sections. if you mount these on large foam board you can easily make buildings as large as you need. to add to the realism, I've cut out the window sections and inserted grandtline or tichy windows, added signs and billboards and with a narrow roof section, some roof details like water tanks, chimneys, etc. l've also used some chalks to lightly weather the walls which adds to the 3-D effect. Avery easy way to get some large structures and totally flexible to your needs. 

jerrman

Thank you Jerrman and Les for the additional ideas. I am a terrible modeler, and my skill is limited to applying brick mortar to Railking buildings. Railking is ideal for me because they come apart with screws for the most part. I like the idea of creating a unique building, and one that would stand out, but it might be beyond my skills.

Les: I recall your excellent traction layout featured in OSR years ago, at least two separate articles if memory serves. I only keep the issues that have inspiring layouts, many are 2-rail, and yours are among them. I remember your New England city was oustanding with very realistic buildings, streets and trolley lines.

Paul

Paul, Don't sell your self short. Take a look at my modular cardstock drawings. If you can cut and paste you will be able to create somthing unique. My impression of your photo is that the column will be at the edge of an isle or water way that slices through the layout.

If you just wrap the column it will only highlight the column. Just a thought.

www.westportmodelworks.com

les

Paul, I had a column in the middle of my layout and Alan Graziao of the forum designed and built a "Pole Building" for me. In the pictures below you can see I made a paper model to see if it would clear items in a tight area.

Popsrr,

Very effective!   I love the lighting.

Thank you very much. I also love the night shots with the lighting set to about medium brightness. Thanks again.

Pops, that is an excellent job. Thanks for sharing photos.

Paul,

There are some very good ideas in this thread! 

Believe it or not, scratchbuilding a structure is a LOT easier than it sounds.  You could use plastic sheets (Evergreen or Plastruct) and windows (Tichy, Grandt Line).  I've built some very large structures using foamcore boards.  The building below is Plastruct and Evergreen sheets over foamcore with a wooden skeleton.  It was my very first scratch-built structure.

Yours should be much easier.  It would be square and tall.  The only thing tricky would be laying out the windows correctly. 

Give it a try!

George

scratch building is a blast! at times frustrating but very rewarding in the end! from conception/design to final building it is great! I love the research aspect of it! I have so many plans drawn up of buildings I want to model! I love it...(but that may be because I am a CivEng lol!)

Paul you are welcome. Alan Graziano built the "POLE BUILDING " for us. It REALLY did enhance the layout by getting rid of an eye sore. Alan was very cleaver about building it to slip around the pole and blend in with the rest of the Oil Refinery.