Jac's Lines Scratchbuilding Challenge

[Jac's Lines]

Ok, I have done basically no model railroading since October -- busy job, lots going on, but also a general loss of motivation. I think, though, that a challenge might get me back in gear, so I'm going to throw my hat in the ring.

This is a mill of some sort in LeRoy NY, on a spur off the Erie RR from Rochester to Buffalo. I think it's a pretty cool structure, with lots of interesting lines. I think it was for grain storage of some sort (they grow a lot of corn out in these parts). LeRoy is where Jell-O was invented, for all you history buffs. They have a Jell-O Museum in town which, I am sorry to say, I have not ever visited.

The pictures aren't great -- it was cold and snowy today (yes, the 7th of April ). I think picture #4 is what I'm going to try to duplicate for the challenge. More updates (hopefully) as I do some more planning...

[ocalicreek]

Yes yes yes! Now get up and get going! A fascinating structure with loads of character that'll make an eye-catching model for sure! Let us encourage you to begin right away and don't let up until it's done! (and that secondary structure with the faux stone siding is cool too...or is that real masonry? Either way, you don't see that modeled all too often)

[jbaakko]

Oh my, this is gonna be a NICE competition!

[Wabash Banks]

That is going to be an awesome mill to build! Looking foward to seeing this come together.

[Play-Doh]

Wow! What a building!

[Jac's Lines]

I have some updates (someone was fiddling with the resolution setting on my camera, so they're a little blurry -- sorry!)

Basically, I've been working on the main section of the building, trying to get the lines right, windows placed in the right sections, etc. A lot of the preliminary work was in planning and drafting just to get everything to look right -- I think it's coming along pretty well.

Everything is made of wood, and is in HO scale. Windows and doors are Grandt Line castings. The real challenges here have been the roof lines and the silos. For the silos, I soaked scribed sheating in water, and then slowly wrapped it around a bottle of craft paint. This was held in place with rubber bands until it dried, and then was glued to cut sectionbs of a mailing tube. I stained with a mixture of walnut and india ink diluted with alcohol. At first, I was going to do wire bands as in the prototype, but they didn't ever quite look right (the first couple of pictures show this). So, I switched over to metal bands (really just cardstock painted rust colored). I think this looks better, even if not 100% to prototype (banish your critcisms, infernal rivet counters!).

I'm waiting for some more supplies to arrive, then I will work on the composite shingles, concrete block chimney, and the long warehouse at the back of the building. That will bring me up to the requirements for the challenge I think. If time permits, I may work on some loading docks and the grey building up front (it is faux masonry siding).

[ocalicreek]

Fantastic! (HO, right?)

[bigsteel]

WOW,amazing structure!this sratch build challenge will be quite interesting!--josh

[Cannonball]

That is looking awesome.
Can't wait to see it finished and all weathered up!

[ezdays]

Fantastic, that's about all I can say...

[Play-Doh]

Flat out amazing!
You mentioned that it was all wood. Is the clapboard wood as well? Or is it styrene?

[Jac's Lines]

Thanks everyone. That structure just cries out to be modeled, and it's been fun so far.

Ocalicreek -- yes it's HO scale. The building footprint to far is about 9"x7"

Play-Doh -- the clapboard is also wood. I didn't build it board by board, it's 3/32" clapboard siding (the generic stuff from micromark).

[jesso]

Amazing! You have put some great detail into it!

[kitwrecker]

Nice!

[cnw1961]

You are right, this structure cries out to be modeled – and you did a great job .