Thanks for showing us all this experimentation. Very helpful!
Jon,
I really like the use of photos for the background scene even in and out of the shop. I would have never thought of that. And I like the idea of this being an elevated track. All unique ideas to make a very cool scene.
I think your execution is coming along nicely
Jon, the backdrops totally change the scene. The inside photo really brings it all to life. And as Jim stated, thanks for sharing your experimentations with everyone. I’m watching and learning.
To me, sharing it what it’s all about. Glad you are enjoying. It was pretty late last night when I was doing the photo dump and I forgot this close up of the brick making experiment…
My first plan was to beat the foam up some with a wire brush for texture, but this particular density of foam is looking pretty good with no help at all.
I have a mini-router attachment for my Dremel, but it’s at work locked in my toolbox - I keep forgetting to bring it home to try cutting the big detail lines with it. I can’t remember the smallest bit I have and the dust produced by cutting this stuff is awful - but I still want to see what I can do with it.
I was going to build my facade building from Coroplast, but now you have me thinking about getting a sheet of this to build with. I really like the way this is turning out and Rick Marty’s picture shows this stuff can live outside. Has anyone tried using a mortar mix on the outsided to give it a little more protection? Thanks Jon, great build. Now to find some off time to think about starting.
Pete Lassen said:
I was going to build my facade building from Coroplast, but now you have me thinking about getting a sheet of this to build with. I really like the way this is turning out and Rick Martu’s picture shows this stuff can live outside. Has anyone tried using a mortar mix on the outsided to give it a little more protection? Thanks Jon, great build. Now to find some off time to think about starting.
Pete, I am curious how a mortar mix over the foam would weather. I’ve actually built quite a bit of structures out the foam and covered it with a non-sanded grout mixed with some paint but they are inside in my son’s bearded dragon terrarium. It has held up well to constant little feet traffic but I have no idea if would last outside in the elements.
The foam I am using is called SignFoam. It is a closed cell high density urethane foam. Website: http://www.signfoam.com/ It is much more dense than the insulation board you buy at the big box stores. I’ve used that too, but this stuff is designed for carving or machining and since we tend to have “drop” pieces at work that would usually go in teh dumpster I grab a pieces when I have a need.
Jon Radder said:
That print came home with me and was mounted on some plastic scrap. It will set the background scene. I think the door into to McGuillicuddy’s will now be above grade - second floor maybe, and the track leading in a bridge or a trestle. Scene is really coming together in my head. Now if I can just execute…
That could be a most visually interesting scene with its various layers.
This is really cool!
With this pic … the building behind the box car is saying that you need to have raised pieces … like that building …
Window sill … the arches that go from window to window… And the freight … entrance/ door needs some thing spectacular …
Were is Ray when you need him …(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)
Sean - If you are saying the front should not be flat; I completely agree. The sills will stick out, and maybe the ‘keystone’ piece above the freight door will be raised as well. The bottom will now extend down even with the bottom of the roadbed on a block or stone foundation. I drew block, but am thinking of changing it to leaning toward cut stone.
The arches; if executed properly will give the illusion of depth with very little relief. I have been working all day on the drawing/cut template. It has gotten a lot better with larger brick and more pronounced detail lines. No pic until it’s one. Maybe Sunday night. Now I need sleep.
Jon I am guessing one sheet would bust my $30.00 budget, maybe the only way for me to get a hold of some would be dumpster diving at a sign shop, so back to the coroplast design.
Pete Lassen said:
Jon I am guessing one sheet would bust my $30.00 budget, maybe the only way for me to get a hold of some would be dumpster diving at a sign shop, so back to the coroplast design.
I’m sure it would. Having first pick of what gets tossed is definitely an unfair advantage. I’ll forfeit 10 points to y’all 
Worked on the drawing until 2AM. There is not enough coffee on the planet for me to go back to it this morning!
I can no longer focus my eyes. All I see is random black and white rectangles. I think I need a break! Probably 6 hours staring at this making everything symmetrical and getting all the brick drawn up. Lots of copy and paste, but man there is a carpload of brick!!!
Still undecided on the foundation and fascia - but brick detail is done…
I have some of the foam that is already shaped like a corbel - I’m going to try slicing a few from that piece today. Staying off the computer for the rest of the day.
The photo background looks great!
If you have time you could put a sidewalk in front of the building by attaching a 2-3" piece of wood along the front and then add a few trash barrels pallets, a news stand? shoe shine? or if your building is in a seedy section of town a hobo or 2 passed out drunk.
Just to make Sean happy, I started seriously thinking about protruding details. I had this “drop” from work. It is the outside of a CNC router cut for a sign shape…
We made that sign a few months ago. I knew that shape would be good for something (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)Now is when I wish my band saw wasn’t broken…
Trying to slice this stuff with the razor saw was none too accurate as the blade tends to wander. Hopefully I can power sand the resulting pieces flat. I’m thinking I need to open up the center - how I’m still working on. The idea in my head is some type of decorative stone cornice held up by stone or wood corbels. And, since I am now extending below RR grade I have room for a door. The original structure had a plain man door on this face. The ornate main entrance was around the corner…
I need to see if I can work something like that in with maybe a few parking spaces for die cast cars. The road could duck under the track with a low-clearance opening. There is no way I am going to carve anything as ornate as the corbels on that entry, but I could do a little simpler - this done with a Dremel and sandpaper as a test…
That test was made using several tools before bringing out the Dremel. The Dremel alone would have been a smoother cut more like the one on the right.
David Marconi,FOGCH said:
Dan I wasn’t going too fr as the prices were the $4,000.00 - $5,000.00 type.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
I think you a little bit low. Perhaps add about another 10k onto that and then you are talking.
I said I was staying away from the computer, didn’t I? I lied…
Still working on how the door will look - this is just a size test / placeholder.