Large Scale Central

Groceries

Modeling
#1

Some time ago, I ran across this old picture on Shorpy:

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. “F.G. Lindsay store front, Anacostia, 2215 Nichols Avenue.” Exterior of the grocery seen here.

Well, I was hooked. A “local” store, my time frame - this calls out for a model!

I looked through my scrap box and found enough pieces to make it. I cut two walls out of 1/8" acrylic. A base, back wall and storefront sign out of some foamed PVC.

Well, first oops. I love working with acrylic, but I just wasn’t thinking ahead. I want a few windows on one side, and it would be much better to use a hunk of PVC to make that wall. It’s much easier to set the windows back in a 1/4" thick wall…

OK, the windows aren’t even close, but they are ones I had ready to go - a big plus!

I also found a window for the back wall. Have to make a door, but that’s about the easiest thing to scratch build. Openings cut for both and I’ve taped the walls together to get an ideal of how it will look.

And I’ve started building up the storefront sign. The clamps left too strong of an impression, so I’ve filled the holes with Bondo glazing compound. Much cheaper than the hobby stuff, and doesn’t dry out in the tube nearly as fast!

Dental work done in styrene…

A fairly simple building, but the front is going to take a lot of work to get right.

ARTICLE: A Master Index for the J&B RR
#2

That’s a neat prototype Bruce. You going to contact Stan for the signage?

#3

Boomer, I always build 1:20. :wink:

Richard, Stan is quicker than ever. I already have the signage and it looks great. Of course the names were changed to protect the innocent.

#4

Dang it, Bruce! You are just too ambitious for lazy-ass me. Ciriusly, a great idea that’s moving along to another great conclusion. Now, if you excuse me, I’ll be takin’ that nap.

#5

You’re supposed to do that kind of stuff during the winter and run trains in the summer…:wink:

#6

Ken Brunt said:

You’re supposed to do that kind of stuff during the winter and run trains in the summer…:wink:

Eh…summer showed up this week and it’s too hot to play outside… :slight_smile:

#7

I primed the top piece just to see how it looks; it needs a bit more Bondo glazing before I put the final coat on it.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2167.JPG)

I also started piecing the brick sheets in place. Plastruct sheets are apparently sized so that no scale building side can be done with just one sheet.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2170.JPG)

And I started trying to figure out how I’m going to do the store front display area. Still a lot of work to be done, although the basic box is done; you can see I also added some blocks to help keep the walls square.

#8

Bruce Chandler said:

I primed the top piece just to see how it looks; it needs a bit more Bondo glazing before I put the final coat on it.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2167.JPG)

I also started piecing the brick sheets in place. Plastruct sheets are apparently sized so that no scale building side can be done with just one sheet.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2170.JPG)

And I started trying to figure out how I’m going to do the store front display area. Still a lot of work to be done, although the basic box is done; you can see I also added some blocks to help keep the walls square.

But, Bruce, that is not prototypical. No building is plumb and square.

Still, you continue to amaze! How big of a footprint will that building have?

#9

Looking good Bruce. I’m waiting on the recessed windows on the front

#10

Great prototype and off to a really good start. I’m sure your model will end up looking better than the original!

#11

Love that prototype! Shorpy is such a terrific reference resource, especially since the images are usually very large and sharp, so you can zoom in on every little detail.

Looks like you’ve off to a good start.

#12

Thanks, guys. It is going to be pretty neat looking when done; I hope so, anyway. :wink:

Ray, you are so right about Shorpy - it’s given me a lot of good ideas and they have a pretty decent search engine so I can always find inspiration.

Steve Featherkile said:

But, Bruce, that is not prototypical. No building is plumb and square.

Still, you continue to amaze! How big of a footprint will that building have?

Steve, the base is 12" x 18". The building itself is 10.5" wide x 13.5" deep x 11" high.

Mine probably won’t be real square either…

#13

Coming along so very nicely, Bruce…

Wonderfully, great craftsmanship… :slight_smile:

#14

Bruce, why are you using Plastruct? Precision are bigger (15 x 15) I believe, and the brickwork, etc looks identical. Just askin.’ Great job.

#15

Joe Rusz said:

Bruce, why are you using Plastruct? Precision are bigger (15 x 15) I believe, and the brickwork, etc looks identical. Just askin.’ Great job.

A great question. The main reason is that I had a bunch of the Plastruct sheets on hand, so I didn’t have to order anything to get this project underway.

The Plastruct seems a bit more even, whereas it is sometimes difficult to match one end of a sheet to another on the “Precision” sheets. I feel like it’s also easier to bend the corners with the Plastruct.

The Precision sheets have a bit more depth to them, but you probably only get 14.5" our of each sheet as you have to trim away stuff at each end. Trimming is also necessary with the Plastruct sheets, but it’s a bit easier and of course they are much smaller to start with.

#16

I finished up the siding pieces. Basically 4 per side. I should have started at one end and gone all the way around; instead, the pieces meet in the back. Oh well, once it’s painted it should be a lot less noticeable, but I sure wonder what I was thinking.

Also got the door built and cut all of the openings in the brick for the windows and door. Cut a piece of clear acrylic for the roof.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2171.JPG)

I’m leaving the protective coating on the store front acrylic until I get a bit further along.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2173.JPG)

#17

Awesome construction skills, following with interest!

#18

Bruce, marvelous workmanship… :slight_smile:

#19

Thanks.

Today I worked on getting a bit more of the storefront detail. Still a bit more to go.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Structures/Strong&Son/IMG_2175.JPG)

#20

dang, that’s looking good, Bruce