Large Scale Central

Mik 2019: McGillicuddy's Building Supply - Jon R.

The MIK - Annual Build Challenge
#1

This year I’ll build another “portal” for a dead end track but this will be different. McGillicuddy’s Candlewood Valley Building Supply will be housed in an early 20th Century Art-Deco manufacturing plant represented by a false-front carved from 1.5" thick Sign Foam. Inspiration and Art-Deco details will be taken from the WWII Anti-Aircraft Gun factory in Hamilton, Ontario, which later became the Canadian manufacturing facility for Studebaker automobiles. The building face will either be brick, block or stone depending on how some test carvings go.

I’m plumb out of napkins, so this crumpled paper will have to do for a basic idea sketch…

One of many photos of the inspiration building that I have stolen from the internet…

File name in the above photo has some spaces. Let me know if you don’t see it and I’ll repair.

And the space the front will cover and turn into a model railroad scene…

#2

That will fix that spot right up, John. Maybe you should name it McGillicuddy’s Candlewood Valley “Portal” Supply. Your getting plenty of experience with these things, may as well make a little profit from them. I will be following intently.

#3

WOW … he even spelled it right this time… I’m honored …

That’s going to be a big sign … You may not see much of the building… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#4

Sean said:

WOW … he even spelled it right this time…

One of the reasons it took several days to prepare this post was finding the correct spelling. Thank you Google (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#5

If you had viewed my profile …it’s there …

Real Name Sean McGillicuddy

#6

That will be an interesting build and the perfect spot for it.

#7

Sean said:

If you had viewed my profile …it’s there …

Real Name Sean McGillicuddy

NOPE - That information is private between you and BD. But Google found an old post with a quote from when you used to display it.

#8

Todd Haskins said:

That will be an interesting build and the perfect spot for it.

Thanks Todd. The spot scales out to about 30 feet wide x 30 feet tall and room for 3-4 feet of detailed depth inside the opening(s). I probably will do two stories to the right of the dock, and maybe a parapet at the top to fill. I might be able to jam in 3 stories, but I’d rather have a little blank space above it before the crappy paneling starts so I can frame pictures. I also need room for a really long sign!

Tonight I need to get serious about finishing the Stair Box so I will know exactly what space I have to work with.

#9

Jon Radder said:

Sean said:

If you had viewed my profile …it’s there …

Real Name Sean McGillicuddy

NOPE - That information is private between you and BD. But Google found an old post with a quote from when you used to display it.

Image result for playing a violinIf I remember right you also went under the radar … I’ll fix it just for you jon… I love the new look … Sean McGillicud

#10

17 hours in and I have done little except calculate the scale size of brick courses and consider a method to scribe them in the foam. I did get the ‘stair box’ finished and this is my clean slate to begin my build on…

#11

Well, that closed up quite nicely, Jon. The portal will add a nice finishing touch.

#12

Still working out details, but I think the major stuff has been worked out on the computer…

#13

And from that drawing, a full size paper mock-up…

I’m still undecided as to the masonry. I really like what brick does to enhance the detail, but carving thousands of individual bricks is not something I look forward to. Perhaps a sandstone block with the same orientation changes; just lots less of them…

#14

Jon, that looks great and since I’m not the one doing the work, I vote for brick (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif).

#15

Jon, love that photo effect of the shop crew on the inside, looks great.

Brick is not that hard. I use a special tip, that I made, on my soldering iron and hook the soldering iron to a plug that is controlled by a dimmer switch so I can control the heat better. Then just slide the special tip along a metal straight line and you have the horizontal courses. The vertical courses and special rows, ya a little more time consuming.

Though not closeups both of these buildings are made from pink insulation foam using the soldering iron method, on the left is obviously a stone structure and the one to the right is the brick. I thought they turned out OK.

#16

Thanks Rick. The material I plan on using is a very dense foam used for carved signs. I have yet to test, but I think I can emboss the horizontal courses with a wheel or a stylus. Worst case I could V-Cut them with an Exacto. My game plan is to print the entire elevation on self adhesive paper as a carving guide. I still have lots of computer time to put in to get to where I can execute that plan.

Just so I know, I’ll play with the soldering iron on some scrap to see how it reacts to heat. Thanks for that idea.

#17

John,

I don’t have a photo of it but I have “scribed” the lines for brick with a razor saw. Makes a thin line, is cut fast and would tackle that dense foam

#18

Image result for v blade carving toolWood carvers tool? /th?id=OP.odkxIingcQ4WMg300C300&pid=21.1another thought

#19

I have a set similar to that and my wife has a full set of ceramic carving tools. Tools I’m not short on. Motivation to finish drawing each individual brick and then carve them has been lacking.

#20

Have you thought this way Jon,

https://www.michaelskids.com/americana-mixed-media-stencil-brick-wall/10329838.html

Above are just a couple idea pics not the same manufacturer

there are other brands and places to buy but I figured you might have a Michael’s close by. I have used a two inch wide roll of tape on a doll house build that I believe you can get from them in the dollhouse section. The tape with a bit of plaster should fill your needs. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)