Scratch build

My first serious scratch build. Any comments good or bad are welcome:mrgreen:
 

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Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Looks good! How did you make the roof shingles? They're great! For constructive criticism: Are the window and doors their original color? Having seen such castings I react to them as if they were right out of the package. Maybe a little paint to give them character? I think a hint of a foundation underneath the structure would make it sit even more believably on your ground. Other than that I'm impressed and wouldn't mind such a structure near my freight yard! :thumb:
Ralph
 

Herc Driver

Active Member
Those roof shingles look great! The siding looks very good. Overall, nice job. Depending on what the purpose of the building is, I'd add window shutters, maybe a hip roof over the entrance way to keep the weather off, and a concrete block crawl space/foundation.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I really like it :thumb: :thumb: The shingles look great!! and i like the 2 tone color :mrgreen: :thumb:
 

cidchase

Active Member
rr, you can just send me that old thing if you want to get rid of it and build yourself a new one :mrgreen::mrgreen:
 
N

nachoman

:thumb:You did it the right way: You made your first scratchbuild something simple and achievable, and it looks great! I am hoping there will be many more to come:twisted:
 
Ralph: Yes the windows and doors are origanil colors. Shingles were bought from a dealer and ill get the name for you. The station is just in a rough space untill i get the ground work in.

Herc Driver: Its going to be a station and the shutters are cool idea.

Nachoman: Thanks and i have a grain mill on the drawing board.

To the rest thanks for the comments and ideas. As for the building took me a 1hr to do:rolleyes: If i have the extra supplys sure you guys can get one.
 

nkp174

Active Member
Yep, paint them next time...they look too much like Cliff Grandt built them, and detract (slightly) from your fine paint job. You might also want to glaze them.

Congrats on you first scratch build! It looks fine! You can certainly put it in a place of honor, for you did a good job!
 

TrainGuyRom

New Member
You should put some posters on it, perhaps a small platform. I like it... it just seems like it's walls are too empty. Maybe some grafiti, or some advertisments, a town sign telling passengers what town this is. but this is way better than my first scratch building proect (of coarse my fist was a cardboard box with no paint. just markers, although i was like six)
really like it.
:steamtrain:
 
This is a great start on scratch building. I agree with the comments on the windows and door need painted and some kind of glaze for the glass. If you wanted them frosted you can spray the plastic with dulecoat and they will look good and you don't need to model the inside of the building. A light is a nice touch near the door if you add a roof over the door. Keep doing fine work like this and you'll be a model master in no time. The one thing I would have done different next time is add a corner trim to the walls. This will give you support and it will make the corners more square.
I can't wait to see the grain mill. Also you can check out Prints & Photographs Online Catalog Home Page - Search and Collections List for reference on the mill and other prototypes.
Dave
 

sumpter250

multiscale modelbuilder
That beats the heck out of my first "serious" scratchbuild.....the top caboose in this pic:
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It was built from balsa, hand scribed, hand cut strip, more than a few years ago.
The middle, built in 1968 using scribed basswood, and basswood strip.
The bottom, built in 1998, using scribed styrene, and styrene shapes/strips.
 

BigBadgers2001

New Member
Can I ask, How is a model classed as a scratch build if the doors, the windows and the shingles are bought? Ain't that really a kit bash?
 

nkp174

Active Member
Can I ask, How is a model classed as a scratch build if the doors, the windows and the shingles are bought? Ain't that really a kit bash?

There really isn't a fine line between what is scratch, what is kitbashed, and what is just kit built.

Technically, you could make the case that neither my models nor Bernards are scratch built...even though I make my own trucks and hardware...only NBW castings, couplers, brake wheels, and wheelsets are commercially produced.

The NMRA has a guideline...I don't recall, perhaps 25% with commercial castings such as windows and doors acceptable. I prefer to make my own windows so that they are spot on for the prototype.

Generally, it seems that scratch is when you assemble loose materials on your own, find or create your own plans, and produce a model. It seems that the windows can't be part of a commercially produced wall section, or then it is kitbashing. You are creating your own rather than modifying something commercially produced.

His building would be considered scratchbuilt by most people. It is also a nice start, for it has built his confidence, shown him the satisfaction of creating it, and taught enough lessons that he'll be able to tackle larger and more complicated projects. Additionally, unlike my first attempt which involved producing my own windows from styrene strips, his won't being going on the trash heap any time soon.
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
Great looking scratchbuild, Harry. Painting the windows and adding glazing will make it even better. While I have scratchbuilt windows, it's not my favourite task, and I usually prefer to use commercially-available ones. I also prefer working in styrene, mainly 'cause assembly is faster than with wood. Unless you're planning on entering a contest, I wouldn't worry too much about how much is actually scratchbuilt and how much is store-bought: if you enjoy pure scratchbuilding, plant a tree and make your own lumber. :rolleyes:;):-D Otherwise use the methods and materials which best suit your modelling tastes and abilities.
Personally, if it's not available commercially, or if I can make better than what is available commercially, then I'll make my own. Otherwise, I'll use what I feel is best to accomplish the task.

Wayne
 

nkp174

Active Member
Personally, if it's not available commercially, or if I can make better than what is available commercially, then I'll make my own.

In my book, cheaper and time are components in better. It isn't worth it to scratch build 200 NBWs for a stockcar...yet building it from scratch can be cheaper than buying a resin kit.

Wayne's advice is top notch, as usual!
 

nkp174

Active Member
But I was just wonderin thats all. Plus it's nice to have a friendly debate.lol

It is a good question. It is rather funny on the nmra contest page where it talks about how they consider a model to be scratch built if XX% is from scratch...but understandable, since most of us don't have the time (or ability) to plant a tree, let it grow, harvest it, turn it into scale lumber, and then build our model.
 
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