(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/The%20General/011211005.jpg)
That is really doing nicely. Did you use clear glass in those overhead windows?
Well I have decided to add a few more months work to the project.I was originally planning to save a little time by just weathering the exterior of this car but because nothing looks as good as the real thing,wood, I now plan to board it up instead.I have also opened up all the doors both interior and exterior for better camera angle shots of the interior.I will retain the red framed windows and stain the siding about the same green.
On the roof it is presently what looks like a fine sandpaper type surface.Does anyone here know what may have been used on the real thing ? A tar paper or canvas material ?
I could use a cloth backed sandpaper of appropriate grit and just paint it .Any ideas ?
Doug Arnold said:Thanks Doug ! actually that is one area that I haven't yet decided what to do. any ideas?
That is really doing nicely. Did you use clear glass in those overhead windows?
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/G%20scale%20trains/Gscale091-1.jpg)
From previous research I was able to determine what the boards look like under the finishing material.I have also seen tin used in a kind of sheet and batten arrangement.What I am confused about is what would have been used when this car was built around 1860 ?
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/G%20scale%20trains/Gscaletrains018-2.jpg)
Old weather beaten ceiling from inside with a wood frame underneath and another layer of boards on top to create the roof.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/G%20scale%20trains/Gscale094.jpg)
Here is a little example that I did on the movie making side of the old station car.There just is no comparison between the plastic and real wood and it really isn’t hard to do on the outside of the car.Morton’s car will be dark green however.
I’ve been thinking about the windows. For my little trolley I will use glass but in the movie car would they really put windows?
For the overhead windows they might be fun to work with. I haven’t looked yet but many years ago I bought a clear “paint” that would color the glass. It was made for “stained” glass windows.
John Reid said:You've got that right. Looks wonderful!
.There just is no comparison between the plastic and real wood and it really isn't hard to do on the outside of the car.
Wow thats looking great. Gives me ideas about faceing more of my stuff with wood. Looks awsome.
Please note:
I have moved all the pictures in my photobucket taken up until now ,from the General Album to the G Scale Trains Album.Moving pics will cause them to delete in the General thread but they are still available on my G scale album for those who may be interested.
Bending stripwood:
Bending wood is simple for a rectangular roof such as this,shipbuilding is another story.I just use plain old warm tap water and soak the area that I want to bend for a few minutes in this case.(The thicker the wood ,the longer the soak) .I then take an old stick type hair curler and put it in a holding devise,I use a clamp. I then let it warm up to hair curling temperature which seems to be just perfect for bending thin strip wood like this.I hold the dry end in one hand and with the other wet end I use a pencil with an eraser on the end and apply increasing amounts of pressure with the eraser until I get what I am looking for.
Why the eraser end ,well it helps as a tool for bending instead of your fingers and tends not to slip on the wet surface.Keep checking that you are getting the proper bend and re-soak and do it again if necessary.You will want to slightly over bend it as there is a certain amount of spring back when the pressure is remove.If the piece of wood you are working with keeps breaking turn it over and try to bend it the other way.Use only straight grained wood running lengthwise on the strip as cross grain simply won’t work without breaking.Most hobby woods bend without any problems.I used the thin long type coffee stir stiks used to stir the extra large double doubles.Your local coffee shop manager may sell you a box for a few bucks especially when you tell him what your using them for.He probably built models too in his younger days !
Most stiks and tongue depressors are birch wood ,which is in the hardwood category. So depending on the thickness they will require more soaking time in hotter water than say basswood , popular or pine.Have fun and good luck !
The above is in answer to a question I got from a another modeler.
Doug Arnold said:
I've been thinking about the windows. For my little trolley I will use glass but in the movie car would they really put windows?For the overhead windows they might be fun to work with. I haven’t looked yet but many years ago I bought a clear “paint” that would color the glass. It was made for “stained” glass windows.
Hi Doug ! I think that would be up to the movie director and what he is trying to do but for my purposes I won’t be putting glass because I will be taking pics through these windows and don’t want to be hassled with reflection.Cheers!
Thanks guys for your kind comments on the woodwork.I will have more on this in the future.