Large Scale Central

Should scale make a difference?

Modeling
#1

I have bought several drawings for structures that I am scratch building, I am cutting my own wood.

Two companies I have purchased are Smith Pond Junction and Garden Texture.

Both sets of drawings say’s 1:24 scale but there is a big difference in buildng sizes.

I have build one Smith Pond structure at 1:24 and then enlarged the drawing to 1:20.3 cut the wood for that structure, it look better at 20.3.

Now I have started a Garden Texture and the 1:24 drawing size looks larger than the enlarged 20.3 Smith Pond structure.

I have enlarged the Garden Texture to 20.3 and it looks very large and i have started building this structure.

What should you actually look at in determining if a building is really 1:24th or 20.3? Is it the windows, doors, floor-to-ceiling height,etc?

BTW: some Office Depots now have the ability to enlarge oversize drawings like the Garden Texture drawing sheet sizes, price is about $4.00 which is resonable. They can enlarge in 1/10% increments in the Office Depot near my house so I used 118.3%.

Your input is needed.

#2

I don’t know anything about these particular plans but it seems to me that the size of the doors could be used to roughly determine the correct scale.

#3

Well just seems to me, that structures come in all shapes and sizes in the real world, and as modelers we are forced to make a few concessions. As long as they look good, and the doors/windows look reasonable with your chosen figgers in front of them, and it makes you happy…Whats to worry?

#4

Dennis, I’ve found that the door height and window placement make the biggest difference, especially if figures are placed close to the building. Secondarily, and especially if the interior is detailed, is wall height.

On the cabinet shop above the doors are Grandtline 1:24 but they are large freight doors used as the structure’s front doorway. The figure is 1:20. Since the door is quite big for 1:24 it does quite well as a more “normal” door for 1:20. A trick to use if you are stuck with a too low 1:24 door that you want to use is to put it up on a step or high threshold to get it a bit higher. As long as a 1:20 figure isn’t placed on the step this is usually fairly unnoticeable. Same with windows. They don’t know what scale they are so a large window in 1:24 can serve just fine as a smaller one in 1:20. The most important thing is the height of the window(s) on the wall. You don’t want a window so low for example that its top would be even with the 1:20 figure’s forehead. The distance of the window to the floor isn’t very important as windows come in all lengths and are often almost to the floor as well as even up to shoulder high. Note the lean-to addition to the building. It is very low compared to the main building but the door and window work because of their height and placement. A separate shed could be built the same way. If a plan seems too large when increased to 1:20.3 try 1:22.5 instead. As long as you have walls that will yield an 8 foot interior height and approx. 10 foot outside height on the main floor and the door heights and window placements are appropriate you’ll have a 1:20 building. Only if you are trying to model a particular structure from a particular prototype is it necessary to keep every dimension exactly. Of course a “purist” would argue that nothing beats being completely in scale in the first place and he would be right. But in the real world of largescale with its relatively limited resources it often is neccessary to compromise unless you have the time, skill and desire to scratchbuild everything.

#5

All good advice! Personally I prefer plans done the old fashioned way, with measurements given in feet and inches. Then you can use a scale ruler to build it to any scale.

#6

I would take a 1/20 scale to the Garden Texture plans and see what key items like doors scale out to, sounds like if the door is close to a reasonable hieght as is, you can use the plans without enlarging them. If it doesnt scale out try the next scale up till you reach what your looking for.

#7

Richard gives a comprehensive reply with a splendid example of what can be achieved .
My only disagreement with what Richard has said is a mild one , and concerns the height of the loading platform . The top of the platform has to come pretty near the same level as the car floors , doesn’t it ?
I see you are still standing there by the door , Richard --waiting for a shipment of timber ? Or watching them laying the track ?
Lovely work as usual .

Mike

#8

Mike,

Indeed the main floor height was in this case determined by the dock height which was determined by boxcar floor height etc. Give a poor ol’ fart a break eh?? hehe!

And the poor fellow on the platform is waiting patiently not for track or lumber but for your reply. :wink: :smiley:

Thanks for your comments sir.

Mike Morgan said:
Richard gives a comprehensive reply with a splendid example of what can be achieved . My only disagreement with what Richard has said is a mild one , and concerns the height of the loading platform . The top of the platform has to come pretty near the same level as the car floors , doesn't it ? I see you are still standing there by the door , Richard --waiting for a shipment of timber ? Or watching them laying the track ? Lovely work as usual .

Mike

#9

Richard ,
I almost didn’t post my mild shake of the head , but we can’t go on saying how nice each other’s work is , people will begin to talk .
Serious point though , I could see that you had taken the loading guage into account and everything else is designed neatly to complement it .
The problem with your excellent work is that those aspects tend to get taken for granted . And you are not the kind of chap to point out what a splendid job you have done .
Modesty becomes you , sir , and sets a standard which others can but strive for .

#10

If you want to see the impossible floor plan that has no chance to ever work, look at Aristocraft’s small freight station. 2 doors on one side are at dock level. The single shipping door on the opposite side is at ground level. The standard entrance door on the side, which is right behind one of the dock side loading doors, is at ground level…:? And this all in a building that’s about 10’ wide.

#11

No problem! It’s just a 10% grade inside! If you go in the lower door, you immediately get on a minature rack drive loco to get to the higher doors! :wink:

Regards, Greg

#12

Closer to 30%, so you best take the elevator…:smiley:

#13

Yer not supposed to look that close. It says so right here…

#14

Oh, darn. I thought my ruler said 10 feet…it said 10 cm…:confused: :lol:

#15

Warren , Greg , Steve—

Perhaps it’s an "Import Only " shed .

Mike