Tall Buildings Tuesday

It looks like I have a 4 story zoning restriction............T

Both on the home and modular layouts.......

Looking forward to seeing “taller” buildings.....

Peter

I really appreciate your layout, Skip.

I always wanted to build a city complete with tall buildings...as a young man I'd ride by bike through downtown Philly on my way to school and to work - riding through man-made canyons. That, and riding the subway and suburban trains through underground tunnels influenced me in some way.

To date I've only been able to kit-bash mostly Railking buildings, taking them apart, applying mortar effect, and detailing the lobbies, and then stacking two or more buildings together. Very time-consuming and many I've done at night in hotels while away on business trips. Someday, I'd like to be able to get the custom buildings like Skip has...the Chrysler Building is my all-time favorite. I wish MTH or Lionel would come out with unique tall buildings made out of plastic, even if it was a couple hundred bucks it'd be a winner IMO. Maybe even a Lego-type building system, where a hobbyist could use components to build a variety of structures.

We need Alan Arnold to post some photos. Alan ?????

All my tall buildings are grain elevators ("prairie sentinels"), and stamp mills...

Paul Kallus posted:

I really appreciate your layout, Skip.

I always wanted to build a city complete with tall buildings...as a young man I'd ride by bike through downtown Philly on my way to school and to work - riding through man-made canyons. That, and riding the subway and suburban trains through underground tunnels influenced me in some way.

To date I've only been able to kit-bash mostly Railking buildings, taking them apart, applying mortar effect, and detailing the lobbies, and then stacking two or more buildings together. Very time-consuming and many I've done at night in hotels while away on business trips. Someday, I'd like to be able to get the custom buildings like Skip has...the Chrysler Building is my all-time favorite. I wish MTH or Lionel would come out with unique tall buildings made out of plastic, even if it was a couple hundred bucks it'd be a winner IMO. Maybe even a Lego-type building system, where a hobbyist could use components to build a variety of structures.

 

 

 

Paul, my Birthday Buddy, your layout looks fantastic! I would like to add that entire section to my layout if I could find the real estate! Really nice!!!!

WOW...WOW...WOW.....a topic I just can't resist!  Love the pictures guys!  Keep em coming...

How about this one that my friend did a little background photo shopping...

Here is a view of the main downtown area with quite a few over 6 foot tall skyscrapers: if you right click on the picture and then choose "open link in new window" you will get a full page view...

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Here is a view of the main downtown area with quite a few over 6 foot tall skyscrapers

Very impressive!

Another view of downtown:

Custom built   MetLife,   South Fork Railroad headquarters,  large office complex buildings  & York Hotel etc. on the “SOUTH FORK RAILROAD” layout.

NYC Fan posted:

Anyone else who has tall buildings on their layout, I love to see them!

 

Here's an overview of the Manhattan part of my layout.

I think I've seen this before, yet every time is like the first viewing of it. Stunning!

All great pics here so far.

W&W posted:

Custom built   MetLife,   South Fork Railroad headquarters,  large office complex buildings  & York Hotel etc. on the “SOUTH FORK RAILROAD” layout.

 

Very nice. Great Met Life Building. I see you measured twice 

Here's what the scene looked like before 1960 when they built the Pan Am Building, now Met Life. That's the New York Central Building.

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Another view of downtown:

Alan, 

You continue to be an inspiration to us urban modelers. I love the videos on youtube! 

NYC Fan posted:

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Another view of downtown:

Alan, 

You continue to be an inspiration to us urban modelers. I love the videos on youtube! 

Thanks Skip!  The pictures I posted above are a year or two old now so things have changed and new high rises have gone up...the "Golden Tower" is one example:

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Here is a view of the main downtown area with quite a few over 6 foot tall skyscrapers: if you right click on the picture and then choose "open link in new window" you will get a full page view...

Alan, is the middle area here a walkway/access? It looks very narrow, about how big/small is the gap(22")?

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Here is a view of the main downtown area with quite a few over 6 foot tall skyscrapers: if you right click on the picture and then choose "open link in new window" you will get a full page view...

Alan, is the middle area here a walkway/access? It looks very narrow, about how big/small is the gap(22")?

Dave...it is 30 inches.  To help judge the dimensions, the train shed is 4 feet wide by 8 feet long...

NYC Fan posted:

Anyone else who has tall buildings on their layout, I love to see them!

 

Here's an overview of the Manhattan part of my layout.

 

This is the view of Macy's Department Store on 34th St. from the top of the Empire State Building.

 

Before the Pan Am Building (now Met Life) was built in 1960, the New York Central Building was what one would see directly behind Grand Central Terminal when looking north from Park Avenue.

Beautiful and original. Did you scratch build these or did a custom builder do them? Really outstanding. 

I use a semi quick and dirty way to do large buildings.  I start with 1/8th in plastic sheets, glued together to make a box.  I have a vinyl cutter like a Cricut and cut vinyl sheets for things like window openings, doors etc.  I take the ENTIRE sheet and stick to the building box.  I then do the rattle can bit to get some color.  Last thing I do is peel out the window panes (after allowing the paint to completely dry).  Russ

Here's a quickie write-up for those that are interested.  I love tall buildings too!  Sure makes the trains look better when the structures are actually BIGGER than the trains!    Russ