My current building project- Row of stores

Les,  That looks awesome!  Having spent my youth haunting that neighborhood, it's even cooler for me to see modeled.  I'm old enough to remember when it was not so upscale and the main draw was the SoNo cinema.  Really neat to see.  Thanks!

Nick

That is cool.  You did all the bricks yourself, one by one?

Very nice, Les !

Les really nice. 

Two of the cardstock kits purchased long ago I finally got around to building. fun projects and I used them for building flats.

Les

You selling at YORK in Oct, or any other shows for that matter

Steve

Very nice. Can you still get the kits to build

Contact Les Lewis, see the first thread on this post

Steve, Thank you for you kind comments. Unforturnately I will not be able to participate in York this fall. Your models look amazing. Do you mind if I copy the photos to put on my web site? I particularly like the way you demonstrate how layering the card stock buildings canadd dimension to the background. Keep it up.

Les

PS all the cardstock buildings are still available through my website www.westportmodelworks.com

Lee,

Thany you for your kind comments. When I started modeling I used brick paper. One day while at a business meeting in Chicago the Hilton had a display of their new Hotel. I thought the brickwork the model builder used was incredable. I called the architect who told me about Holgate and Reynolds. I called them and found out that I could buy large sheets so that I did not have to make horizontal seams. And thus began a decade of using H&R and Gandt Line windows. As my skils improved over time my interest leaned to modeling actual building. This required odd size windows that were not available from other sources. So I began to create my own using Evergreen plastic strips. I have to be honest they are not a fine case as Gandts moulded one but collectively better define the building I am making. I started making my own bricks to replicate the placement of bricks on the prototype. Sheet bricks are so uniform they don't IMO give the model character, and I think the square edges and deep morter line add to the buildings character.

Yes, its takes more time but once you get the hang of it, the process is not that difficult. Give it a try you wil probably become a believer.

Les

Nobody in their right mind would try to make their own bricks, one at a time !

Your point being...???     

My point !?!

My point ??

I forget............

Vulcan,

I'll let you in on another secret.  In my modular building drawings, they are not photoshopped but drawn on the computer one brick and line at a time. Thus I was able to color each brick individually. The effect was better years ago with earlier printers than today. Now I have a colored printer with 8 different ink cartridges that sprays finer droplets of an alochol based ink.  Its harder to control the shadowing of each droplet so they do not blend with each other.

I perfer to think of myself as someone who enjoys creating original structures as opposed to assembling creations of others. I would be crazy if I believed for an instant that my models were superior to those created and produced by manufacturers using high tech equipment and processes.

I appreciate your comments.

Les

Les, If this is going to be another one of your terrific kits, sign me in. I still haven't built that wonderful firehouse I bought from you. It's slated to be constructed sometime later this year. I'm still working like crazy to finish the basic infrastructure of the layout before I can start the urban areas.

thanks.  I realize it makes for a better model.  I used to scratch build models of sailing warships, and put the copper plates on the hull one at a time. I guess that's about the same as bricks.  You get a much different look. 

Still, I think I'll stick with store bought for now!

Fantastic stuff you build. 

I think it depends on the building.  If you are building a nice, modern, engineered brick facade, then the pre-made stuff is ok.  But for old, character-rich structures you gotta do it yourself.

Note that there is a compromise choice:  Score your bricks onto a piece of bristol-board and paint.  Much easier than brick-by-brick but still avoids the "machine made" look.

Hi again, I just want to mention that I have completed the interior details for the first of four stores and posted the narative and photos on my web site www.westportmodelworks.com under my 'current project' tab. I envite you all to view it and would appreciate your comments. Namely, Have the details modeled convience you as a viewer of the functionality of the store?

Les Lewis

Beautiful work.

I admire your patience in building brick by brick.  An alternative would be the old brick sheets from monster model works. The sheets are 3D textured laser cut wood.  They also have lintels, cornices, and columns in brick.

Website is:

http://monstermodelworks.com/O-Scale/

Bob

I'd never heard of Monster Model Works until your post. They make a nice O'scale product, but it could break the bank. I'm designing a 36" long, 3-bay straight engine house. If I were to use their products (walls, corners, lintels and cornices) it could cost a fortune. I'm seriously thinking about getting into my own resin casting so if I create one wall panel, I can reproduce a dozen more. I've saved it as a bookmark and downloaded their instruction sheets.

Trainman2001

I understand your frustration with the price of castings but I would urge you to work out a business case before you jump in. A few years ago I decided to create modular building castings in resin. Notice I no longer offer those kind items today.

Mold material cost $145 for a 10 pound kit. But first you need to create a master which for each mold type. An 6" x 12"x1/8" stryene sheet cost several $ and that is only for the master base. Add on the cost of materials to make the master itself plus the time to make it. The resin cost $125 for a 1 gallon kit. So your first cast panel will cost you easily 300$+ to make + your investment in time.

When your master and mold are completed I can tell you from years of experence that It will take several attempts and master reworking to get a satisfactory wall panel. One little air bubble will negate your sucess

If you need six panels for you engine house, each panel would be easily $50. Compare it with the cost of a modular building drawing at $6.00 each or whatever someone is selling a wood or resin panel for and I think you will find buying to be a less expensive and time saving solution.

Les Lewis

That certainly makes sense... I have to build a 36" long structure to accommodate many of my long engines with 3 bays... in other words, big. No matter what approach I take it's going to cost $$$. I've been thinking about resin for general model building reasons anyway, but the points you make certainly are things to think about. So when are you going to offer that row of stores to accompany my wonderful Les Lewis fire house?