grahame Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 And here's my 4th test image with the recent card and styrene buildings. I seem to be getting the hang of image stacking, but it certainly highlights the poor modelling . . . . G. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 And here's my 4th test image with the recent card and styrene buildings. I seem to be getting the hang of image stacking, but it certainly highlights the poor modelling . . . . Stack test 4.jpg G. Good job I don't do image stacking then! (Theres not much thats poor in these pics). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlw Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 And here's my 4th test image with the recent card and styrene buildings. I seem to be getting the hang of image stacking, but it certainly highlights the poor modelling . . . . Stack test 4.jpg G. If that's poor modelling then I dread to think what you must think of some of mine. Yours is up there as some of the best I have seen. Carl 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) If that's poor modelling then I dread to think what you must think of some of mine. Yours is up there as some of the best I have seen. Thanks for that, although I think it's easy to be self critical as you can see areas that you'd like to improve or wish you had done better. For example, on the near building the horizontal ridge tiles need sticking down in one area and the nearest corner is not particularly sharp with the two faces not forming a neat right angle. And there are other issues I can see. But hopefully I'll get away with it - real buildings are never drop dead perfectly square and neatly formed with everything exactly vertical and horizontal. Nonetheless, here's the next test focus/image stacking result. It's the same row but from the other end to include two more buildings. They look a bit wobbly as they haven't been anchored in place and have just been plonked down on a surface that isn't particularly flat as it needed to accommodate the sub-basements of some buildings and is just some sheets of card balancing on boxes: If you click on the image it should enlarge to a higher resolution version. G. Edited November 11, 2017 by grahame 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 Here's how that row looks front on to give an idea of the length: G 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Lawn Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 I hope I'm not hijacking Grahame's thread here, but I thought I'd show the build of my N-gauge signal box for Charwelton. It's not as awesome as Grahame's efforts above but please remember that this is 2mm/ft scale and the footprint of the box is a mere 63mm x 28mm!First up was the brick base, this was made from 1mm card using Scalescenes brick paper. The windows are from Brassmasters.On top of this I built an upper frame using Evergreen plasticard sheet:Window frames in and "weatherboarding" attached:Upper section now painted and windows installed. The windows were taken from the Metcalfe signal box kit.Interior installed. This was a ratio kit. The floorboarding was just a google image shrunk down to size:...and the lever frame:Roof on using Scalescenes tiling and bargeboards attached:The finished article!and here it is sitting on the layout:Unfortunately I can't show the reference photo's I've used for the build as they're copyrighted but they are available to view on the Disused Stations Charwelton site. Grahame, I've taken the thread title to mean that anyone can display their scratchbuilt card/styrene structures but if you'd prefer me to open a separate thread then please let me know.Hector 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 Neat. I like the complex rainwater down pipes at the end of the box. They add a little quirky character that's redolent of real life. G. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Lawn Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Thanks Grahame. Those downpipes were particularly troublesome as I tried forming the bends by heating the plastic rod in hot water but I couldn't get the sharp bends I was after so then I tried heating the rod over a heat source (a candle), but the heat source proved to be too wide and just as I formed a nice bend at one end the previous bend would then go out of shape! Very difficult to get the bends in the right places and angles too, so in the end I resorted to cutting the rod into small pieces to form the bends which meant cutting at the correct angles with some pieces being only a couple of millimetres long. However, the final effect was a lot better. At least I'm learning from the experience!Hector Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Grahame, I really admire your work and it's inspired me to have a go at a small low relief building. Have you got any tips or advice on cutting out the window apertures so they are all square etc or is it just a matter of practice? They look ok until I put a window frame in then I can see how un-square they are! Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Have you got any tips or advice on cutting out the window apertures so they are all square etc or is it just a matter of practice? They look ok until I put a window frame in then I can see how un-square they are! Apart from the usual advise of taking care and your time, use a fresh new sharp fine bladed knife (so that it doesn't wander and change the blade regularly) and cut along/against a straight steel edge, I'd suggest: Marking up all the windows on one wall/elevation before any cutting. Most in a row are at the same level and height so use a rule to mark up all the horizontal edges as one long line (following brick courses as a guide) and then all the vertical edges in a column of windows. Measure and check the distance between the lines in case the brick courses aren't level. Then first cut all the bottom edges in a row and then the top edges while holding the steel straight edge (rule) in place. Then cut all the vertical edges in a column with the straight edge in place. Then once all four sides to each window have been cut, pop them all out. However, I'm not so sure that all my window and door apertures are square but fortunately, often in real like, nothing is absolutely true and square on buildings. HTH. G 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Ok, thanks for that Grahame. If you use brick paper to cover card how do you line the brick courses up, is just a case of measuring accurately? Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 If you use brick paper to cover card how do you line the brick courses up, is just a case of measuring accurately? Yep. I guess so. G. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 Thanks Grahame, I'll keep practising Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brylonscamel Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 (edited) Thanks Grahame, I'll keep practising Steve. Hi Steve - just to pitch in with some ideas that might give you some options. I have built some signal boxes and have a method for the glazed part of the structure. It's quite simple and can come in useful when you have a largely glass structure to reproduce. As you know, cutting fine apertures can be tricky, so going at it from the other way and adding windows to the glazing can save a lot of pain! It involves using sheet glazing and then building up the windows by gluing frames and glazing bars to the clear styrene sheet. I've added some photos which might help illustrate this ... Edited November 29, 2017 by brylonscamel 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium acg5324 Posted November 29, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 29, 2017 Using Grahames work as inspiration I’ve made a start on my first all card building. I usually build in plasticard but this is a big building even as low relief. The link will take you to progress on the former TWA terminal in Kensington High St. It is now the Hilton Hotel. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75679-kensington-olympia-in-n-scale/?p=2920541 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDots Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Where's Grahame gone? Can't survive without his updates. Regards, Daisy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share Posted December 12, 2017 Where's Grahame gone? Still here. But I've been working on other modelling projects (other than buildings) including editing and producing the NGS Journal. I will be getting back to some more structures, probably in the new year, and including producing resin castings for them where there are lots of repetitive detail. G 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDots Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Still here. But I've been working on other modelling projects (other than buildings) including editing and producing the NGS Journal. I will be getting back to some more structures, probably in the new year, and including producing resin castings for them where there are lots of repetitive detail. G Thanks for reply. Look forward to your return. Have a good Christmas. Regards, Chris. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBS Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 Grahame, I have spent several happy hours going through your posts in this thread over the last few days. Wonderful work!! I agree absolutely with your approach - look at the actual buildings (if you can), compress and edit where necessary and get on with it. Sometimes, it becomes a problem when the demolition people get there first, as we found out several times on Copenhagen Fields, but relevant historic photos are usually discoverable. Best wishes, I look forward to more posts soon. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branwell Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 Hi Steve - just to pitch in with some ideas that might give you some options. I have built some signal boxes and have a method for the glazed part of the structure. It's quite simple and can come in useful when you have a largely glass structure to reproduce. As you know, cutting fine apertures can be tricky, so going at it from the other way and adding windows to the glazing can save a lot of pain! It involves using sheet glazing and then building up the windows by gluing frames and glazing bars to the clear styrene sheet. I've added some photos which might help illustrate this ... Some very nice modelling there. Can I ask what you use to stick the window frames and the glazing bars to the clear styrene - there doesn't seem to be any fogging of the glazing at all? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 27, 2017 Author Share Posted December 27, 2017 Christmas is over and I'm starting to think about the next building in the series. I've in mind to do the east wing end of Southwark Cathedral - it needs to be low relief and is behind the viaduct and below the level of Borough High Street which passes in front so doesn't have to be massively complex as it won't be easily seen. I'll probably do the tall bell tower (with clock on) as a flat rendition, the choir section of the nave (that finishes with the end wall with a circular window and flanked by two witches hat turrets) very much compressed in length, and with the Lady Chapel extension (with the four peaked sections and small tower on the right hand corner at the end wall) also compressed in length but a little longer. There's not much room to fit it in so that will dictate the total depth of the low relief: I've sketched up a rough drawing full size to work from: Now I've got to think about the build sequence and how to represent some of the complex architectural features and, in particular, the windows. I've been checking so see what 'church' windows are available commercially but nothing has caught my eye as being acceptable (although it doesn't have to be drop dead accurate). G 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 27, 2017 Author Share Posted December 27, 2017 And here's a rough sketch of how I envisage the low relief working and the 3D model dovetailing in to a 2D back-scene. By staging the low relief in zones hopefully it will give an impression of more depth than there is and I'll be able to get in the flying buttresses (albeit thin ones)! I might add a cursory thickness to the main tower to give it some prominence. Tomorrow and Friday I'll give it a bit more thought before starting to cut card. G. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 Just a quick knock up of the various layers/zones. That's as much depth as I can get - in reality the tower would be located far behind the back-scene but as an iconic and dominating structure for the area it ought to be included. After all Southwark cathedral is often quoted as one of London's premier gothic architectural gems. So, will my plans work? G. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37038 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Judging by your previous work, I would reckon on your plan working! Especially if you detail the front section, as the viewers eye will be drawn to that automatically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted December 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2017 A lot will depend on the angle that part of the layout will be viewed from. From street level the tower isn't so prominent, but come up to track level and you would see a lot more. As always I shall watch with interest, having spent much time in the area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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