Jump to content
 

Scratch-built card and styrene structures (based on real buildings around London Bridge)


grahame
 Share

Recommended Posts

That car could be the humble Morris Marina coupe, or possibly the Opal Cadet coupe.

 

 

Sunbeam Rapier possibly ?

 

What is telling is that the car is the only road vehicle in the whole scene - in what is now a very busy road. And just how good a condition the road surface is in.

 

G

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Grahame,

 

In this old Pathe news clip from the 1970's starting about 6 mins in there are shots of Tooley Street, not knowing the exact area I think it is taken from the London Bridge road junction looking towards Tower Bridge. I couldn't spot your missing building but you may and it may also help on other buildings. Hope this is of some help.

 

 

Martin

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Great video - the cars, Escorts, Cortinas and Morrises, and the Courage tanker lorry with the gold cockerel model on the cab roof on it's way to Horsleydown brewery. I note that St Olafs House still has the gold 'Hays Wharf Head Office' lettering. Some of the dockside is very run down.

 

G,

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've made a start on the card framework on to which I'll hang the walls and add the roofs. Although I've no details of the Duke of Clarence pub it doesn't matter at this stage as it's only external detailing that won't get added until I start on the various wall sections. At least I can get on with the buildings at the right hand end of the row:

 

post-33-0-76040300-1517847917_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

I've now cut the basic front walls of two of the buildings from plasticard although they need to have a lot of details layered on:

 

post-33-0-21733400-1517860758_thumb.jpg

 

But I think that will do for today. Back to some more structure modelling tomorrow.

 

G.

 

 

 

  • Like 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

I add relief and details simply cut from various thicknesses of plasticard (and/or pre-cut styrene strip) and glued in place. Still to add are the raised window edging and top cornice detailing on this example:

 

post-33-0-50573300-1517909821_thumb.jpg

 

By keeping the walls separate and flat (not attached to the building framework) it is easier to work on them. Once completed, and painted and glazed, they can be glued in place 

 

G.

Edited by grahame
  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

A little more cutting and gluing, although there is still plenty to do. However, the wall panel relief is starting to take shape:

 

post-33-0-94319200-1517915285_thumb.jpg

 

I need to go out now so I'll take a break. It's always worthwhile taking breaks from intense modelling, especially for a decent cup of tea, as you come back to the project refreshed with renewed enthusiasm and it gives time to think through any issues and work out how to tackle future stages.

 

G.

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

And a little more progress on the warehouse front. The wall panels are just resting against the structure framework.

 

post-33-0-59307600-1517924832_thumb.jpg

 

It looks very fresh and newly built at this state. The challenge will be to paint it so that it looks old and distressed. Which brings me on to one thing I was thinking about. As the photo that the row is based on is black & white what colours are the buildings? The tiling on the 'clarksair' outlet look like it is coloured and there is painted areas on the warehouse, although I think I can assume that the ground floor of the building with the arched entrance to English Ground is white (or at least off-white).

 

G

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

I think I've got all the front external details added - other things like the crane and windows will be added after painting - so the wall panels have been given a quick coat of grey primer. That helps spot any issues to be addressed as well as a base for painting. Here's the row up against Battlebridge House:

 

post-33-0-40920800-1517939450_thumb.jpg

 

The Duke of Clarence has still yet to be made. If no pics of it come to light I'll have to design the pub myself, or at least base it on a real local one. At least I've an idea of the footprint from the old OS maps and know that it is a street corner Bass boozer. Also there are the roofs and chimneys to be made and added.

 

G.

 

  • Like 9
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

And a little more progress on the warehouse front. The wall panels are just resting against the structure framework.

 

attachicon.gifDSC_4804.JPG

 

It looks very fresh and newly built at this state. The challenge will be to paint it so that it looks old and distressed. Which brings me on to one thing I was thinking about. As the photo that the row is based on is black & white what colours are the buildings? The tiling on the 'clarksair' outlet look like it is coloured and there is painted areas on the warehouse, although I think I can assume that the ground floor of the building with the arched entrance to English Ground is white (or at least off-white).

 

G

Most of the warehouse buildings in that area are grimy yellow London brick, which appears as various shades from khaki to dark brown. The smokeless zones only came in around 1965 and the older working buildings rarely, if ever, got washed down.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've now made the roof tents (except for the pub) for the two buildings with pitched roofs. These are just basic card structures. They will be covered with Redutex tile sheet and details added like finishing the chimney stacks and adding pots:

 

post-33-0-04236100-1517993586_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

With the walls roughly and temporarily tacked in place, the row is starting to take shape - just a shame about the pub at the end. I've not been able to find any pics and nothing has been forthcoming from various appeals.
 

post-33-0-62491700-1517994389_thumb.jpg

 

I'll see what I can uncover today on the Duke of Clarence and if nothing then I'll start to design the pub frontage myself.

 

G,

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the recent 'likes'.

 

However, what I'm not liking is thinking ahead and the thought of making Emblem House (formerly Colonial House) and the attached/adjacent Denmark House in Tooley Street. All those windows, chimney pots, sculptural tracery, massive broken pediments, columns and so on. It's an impressive and imposing structure. Here's a pic I took of it last year - it's at the back of my list of buildings to make and will, no doubt, need some simplification:

 

post-33-0-25060000-1517997832_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Have you come across these film stills before? Captures 6 & 7 may be of your stretch of Tooley Street.

http://www.reelstreets.com/films/pool-of-london/

 

Excellent find and spot - thanks.

 

You can just see the pub, shame it's in shade, blurry and at a very oblique angle, in pic 7. And in pic 4&5 the character has just walked past the pub. I wonder if the film is on YouTube. 

 

G.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Excellent find and spot - thanks.

 

You can just see the pub, shame it's in shade, blurry and at a very oblique angle, in pic 7. And in pic 4&5 the character has just walked past the pub. I wonder if the film is on YouTube. 

 

G.

There are a couple of versions on YouTube - I skimmed through one - it's two hours long - and there is a shot where the Sally Army band is playing at the entrance to Battle Bridge Lane (I am fairly sure it is there) At 1hr 42min you get just the very corner of the pub.

  • Friendly/supportive 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Thanks for all the recent 'likes'.

 

However, what I'm not liking is thinking ahead and the thought of making Emblem House (formerly Colonial House) and the attached/adjacent Denmark House in Tooley Street. All those windows, chimney pots, sculptural tracery, massive broken pediments, columns and so on. It's an impressive and imposing structure. Here's a pic I took of it last year - it's at the back of my list of buildings to make and will, no doubt, need some simplification:

 

attachicon.gifP1090707.JPG

 

G.

From my collection of public artworks in Southwark, I have this detailed view of the decoration on the top of the western end of Denmark House

post-14351-0-52302300-1518002527_thumb.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

From my collection of public artworks in Southwark, I have this detailed view of the decoration on the top of the western end of Denmark House

attachicon.gifDenmark House 15 Tooley St.jpg

Certainly a challenge modelling that detail, but a lovely contrast alongside the modern buildings created by Graeme. Edited by Marly51
Link to post
Share on other sites

Just a little progress this morning on the row. I've added the pub roof structure (ready for covering with redutex), wall cappings, chimney stack toppings and warehouse doors. Plus I've started thinking about the pub design:

 

post-33-0-24695100-1518088411_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

And, after a little hacking and chopping, a start has been made on the front facing pub wall - there is the angled section and longer side wall to also be modelled. Plus of course there is still plenty to do on this wall section. However, with the row and pub at the back of the layout and somewhat hidden behind the taller SER offices 'flat iron' building, fine details are probably not too essential:

 

post-33-0-50169300-1518097356_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

With some more cutting and gluing the main basic structure of the pub takes shape, although, obviously, there still more details to add (like the cornice, window pediments, doors and decorative signage):

 

post-33-0-02608300-1518109259_thumb.jpg 

 

G.

 

 

  • Like 8
Link to post
Share on other sites

You can have any colour you like, so long as it's grey . . . . . . 

 

I've quickly added the pub cornice details and given it a coat of grey primer. Still lots to do, but I think that'll do for today:

 

post-33-0-33122900-1518115473_thumb.jpg

 

G.

 

 

  • Like 10
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...