Firehouse model

Well, the new firehouse is mostly complete.  I am still working on the weathering and some details, but since this has taken so long I thought I would get something posted.  It is an improvement on the old, temporary firehouse (photo at the end of this posting).  It is wider than the previous model but not quite as deep, consequently the fire engine in the old firehouse does not fit in here.  Not a problem as I have several other engines, some in need of repair and improvement so will work on that next.

The structure is almost entirely built of styrene, except the wood covered rear entrance.  The walls are made from a fairly thick sheet of styrene covered by Holgate & Reynolds brick sheeting.  I do not believe this brick sheeting is any longer available but I bought a supply years ago.  The decorative top on the front is built up from styrene strips of various size and width with four decorative plastic vertical pieces from some long forgotten kit on top.  The UFD (Uniontown Fire Department) letters are raised letters from a Slaters alphabet set (Slaters is a British firm).  The sign over the door was made from styrene strip with the lettered part being something I printed on my computer and glued to the styrene.  I  coated the printed sign with clear spray.  All windows and doors are made from styrene strip.  The bell tower on top was salvaged from the old firehouse as I thought it looked OK and not worth my time to build another.  The drain pipe on the right wall is made from heavy wire with a styrene collection box on top.

The stack is a piece of brass tube.  There is an access hatch on the back part of the roof.  Just inside of the main doors on the right is an enclosed staircase to the second floor.  My wife insisted I should have a fire pole inside but I declined as I do no think it would be visible with the fire trucks inside.  That said I did make there fireman's coats and hats hanging on the back wall.

Here you can see the coats hanging on the wall of the office at the rear of the building.  The coats were made from facial tissue wadded up and painted black.  The hats were made by rounding the end of a small dowel then cutting it off and gluing it to a small circle of paper - then painting the hat yellow.  Stuck an axe (made from card stock) on the wall over the coats.   The brown trash can by the office door is a section of small soda straw.

Here you can see the rear of the building with the enclosed wood entrance.  Originally I was going to leave the rear wall blank as it faces away from view but I decided to put on the rear entrance even though it will not be seen when the structure is placed on the layout.  I may put an open shed on the left wall for doing work on the engines.  

Above is the crappy old firehouse on the layout.  It has since been removed and stripped, to be thrown away.  

I will be doing some finish work on the new firehouse before it goes on the layout.  I keep busy.