Large Scale Central

McCormick-Saeltzer General Merchandise

Modeling
#1

Hi all, In the figures forum I posted pictures showing Dr. Henery Hurts taking a smoke break. Brian wanted to see pictures of the entire building so here it is. This is one in a series of “flats” that fit along the outside wall of my train shed. McCormick-Saeltzer was a general store that operated in our town from about 1880’s to the 1950’s. They didn’t really have a direct rail connection but I took a little artistic license and added them on line at the back of their building.

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As you can see they are strictly background scenery to break up the shed wall. The material is foam and the primary tool is soldering iron as per Yogi Wallace.

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In this view you can see the “hollow shell” of the foam construction the 2X4 base with the brick pieces are just to give the project a little heft so it won’t be affected by the wind.

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This roofing method I discovered pretty much by accident. It is a ground cork impregnated mastic tape used for insulating pipes. It is self glued to a clear Acrylic under sheet then sprinkled with fine sand. It passes as a fairly creditable mineral felt rolled roofing.

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Anyway, Brian, there it is. I just gotta get that track ballasted! Thanks for your time.
Rick Marty

#2

Thanks Rick. That’s a nifty building. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that insulating tape.

-Brian

#3

Very nice! I’d like to give that pink foam a try sometime, but I haven’t been able to find it locally. Home Despot doesn’t carry it, not sure where else to look.

#4

Hey Ray,

The pink foam is OwensCorning Ridge Insulating Board. It’s a high density insulating foam board for insulating foundations. It comes in different thickness’s and different colors. The pink is usally 1" thick. I’ve used it for tunnel portals and bridge abuttments.

Try a regular lumber yard that supplies contractors, they will have it.

Chuck

#5
Ray Dunakin said:
Very nice! I'd like to give that pink foam a try sometime, but I haven't been able to find it locally. Home Despot doesn't carry it, not sure where else to look.
Ray,

Same density also comes in blue, depends on the mfg. BTW interestingly HD carries “the Pink” up here from 1/2" to 2", but there’s a lot of other stuff you guys mention that they don’t carry. GRRRRRRRR!

#6

Rick,
Your building looks great.
Did you use a soldering iron or a wood burning tool and did you make a voltage control unit to adjust the heat?

All: On the foam used pink or blue the only difference I have found is the pink takes a little less heat to burn in the design.

Take care,
Yogi

#7

Sweet! Have to try a facade with some of the bluefoam I still have.

#8

Hi Yogi,

I used a pencil soldering iron, 40 watt, but as you know that is too hot so I built a voltage control unit using an old lighting dimmer switch which worked really well after a little experimentation to get the temp right. I built several special tips for the iron from steel rod, actually I think I used 16d nails, for the various applications. The one I used the most was a knife blade point with a shoulder, the shoulder rode along a metal straight edge. This kept the horizontial block lines even and also controlled the depth of the burn and once I got used to it the project went pretty fast.

A few months ago a fella did an article in Garden Railways about using the high density foam that is used in the sign industry. The product and his story showed a very fine detail in the foam that is perfect for our use. I checked into his listed brand name and found a local supplier, 200 miles away. As I remember the conversation the cost was $208.00 per sheet (4X8) plus tax plus $150 for shipping. This, at least to me, made the $7 per sheet (2X8) at Lowes look a lot better even if it isn’t as fine a grain or as dense.

Thanks for your time.
Rick Marty

#9

Man thats pretty awesome looking…what sort of paints did you use to acheive the relaistic coloring? Pretty much the only difference I can find in the Pink and Blue is that Pink is Owens Corning and Blue is DOW…at least the stuff I’m using for scenery on my On30 layout…

#10

Great building! That insulating tape looks perfect on the roof.

#11

Swell looking flat. You have a good eye for color too in addition to your modeling skills.

Thanks for the posting and the info.

#12

Nice job. I really like the labeling done on the windows, real nice touch.
Dave

#13

Now this one gows way back, probably a record so far :smiley: