Large Scale Central

Doug's 2014 Build Challenge -- 2014 -- Undertaker

Modeling
#1

The research is over – time to build the Undertaker Furniture Store for Silver Onyx.

And where does this come from? Bodie, Calif., is a great place to visit.

Gold was discovered in 1859, ten years after the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Creek.

By 1869 the population of Bodie was 10,000. I read once that the death rate was at least 1 person a day. Enough to keep undertakers busy!

Today it’s part of the state park system with few full-time residents. A very cold place in the winter that is inaccessible!

A great place to find ideas.

#2

I had to start this over, Undertaker was misspelled in the title!

#3

I sorted lumber today. Lots of cutting and gluing tomorrow!

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/doug_arnold/_forumfiles/Undertaker.jpg)

#4

So here we are, Doug. I’m a great fan of ghost towns and I have a huge book on them, which I love to look through. I also cruise the web for ghost town pix, so Bodie is no stranger to me, although I’m so far away. A couple of my buildings are based on the pics, too.
I hope you will be able to finish your challenge this year, now you’ve got a bit more time for it, and I wish you luck. I’ll be following your build with interest!

#5

Doug Arnold said:

I had to start this over, Undertaker was misspelled in the title!

I liked INdertaker better!!!

#6

Well, they did put them IN coffins!

#7

I wish you well with the project Doug.

There are few, if any ghost towns over here, those villages that existed were after the Black Death in the 14th. century and are now just foundations beneath the ground, Usable stones etc. were reused elsewhere.

There are ghost tows I believe in Scotland: left over from the Clearances as they were called. There are ghost villages not far from here which were vacated in order for American serviceman to train, rather heavily actually, for D-Day.

However due to Superstores, on-line shopping and the rest most UK shopping centres are looking like ghost towns.

#8

"Goodbye God, I’m going to Bodie!’

From the diary of an 11 year old girl who’s family moved to Bodie during the boom and bespeaks the fearsome reputation the town had to the outside world.

Sound like a good project Doug. PS I still prefer “Indertaker”

#9

The frame for the Undertaker’s is finished and the floor is nearly finished. The opening at the right is for the walkway in front of the building.

#10

Nice start Doug.

#11

I just couldn’t stop working on the building! The floor is done and I dug around and got all the windows together.

#12

Looking good. Those deceased will be going out in STYLE.

Doc Tom

#13

The back wall and door are framed. After much debate with myself I decided that the undertaker will get real redwood board and batten siding. Hopefully it won’t kill me or the undertaker will get another customer!

#14

Framing on the Undertaker’s is moving forward. The floor is done the four basic walls are assembled.

The openings for doors and windows are complete. This is how the front of the building will look.

Next is to complete the framing and the board and batten siding. Lastly the roof. Plenty of decisions to be made.

There is a long ways to go but there’s real progress.

#15

Doug, wow, where did you get those super windows and that great door?

#16

Doug’s scrap box is the envy of all… :slight_smile:

#17

I bought the two windows and the door from Grandt Line last year. They are online. I’ve never seen Victorian doors and windows and it fits in with my layout perfectly.

#18

Dear All,

Here’s my story and I’m gonna stick with it.

In Bodie, there was a lack of buildings available, and with the increase in deaths, the new undertaker had to rent space at the local inn.

Someone shot at adjacent signs, knocking off the last “n” of the first sign, and the first “U” and “n” of the second sign.

The proprietors of the two businesses looked at the damage and were angry, but decided not to fix the two signs,

which now read “In - dertaker”.

A new advertising slogan was adopted:

“Welcome to the In-dertaker, where your rest is assured”.

Amateur Historian Joe Satnik

Edit: Added a carriage return.

#19

Wow! you must be Special!
The door Dave sent me is a lot Plain - er.

I hope it helps… high desert humor.

John

#20