Bakery model start

My next project is a bakery named for my grand daughter who likes to bake.  This structure will be located on the opposite side of the street that I am constructing.  The only interior details will be the stairs to the second floor that appear in the open doorway on the right side of the structure (not visible in these photos but visible when looking at the model), and some bakery products on a shelf inside the large center window.

I will place a sidewalk in front of the structure and the roof will be flat.  Other than the front which was a little complex, this is a fairly simple model.

Below is a photo of some early 1920's bakery bread ovens.

The oven in my bakery is smaller and no brick front but is will not be seen - actually it will not be modeled.

Small house/shack complete

The small shack-like house is now complete.  It will be located at the end of the street adjacent to the victorian house.  It has board & batten siding and a rough shingle roof using the Campbell paper shingles.  I have added some scenery around the house using paper which is now somewhat non-flat but will be flattened out when glued to the layout - I just wanted it to be thin.

After it is installed on the layout more scenery will be added to it but since it will be located some way from the layout edge I decided to do the basic scenery now.

The home owner is sitting on the front porch.

This was a fairly simple model to build but I am happy with the result.  Most of the details around the structure are commercial metal castings.

Now I need to decide what to build next - always a challenge.  It will be another structure on the street - probably some kind of business.

Small house/shack planning

My next project will be a small, dilapidated house or shack.  It will be at the end of the street and will be surrounded by trash and junk.  I think it will be adjacent to the victorian house separated by a fence.  I have made a sketch and built two sides of the house.

This house will have board and batten siding and a shingle roof.  More to come on this.

Now some items of general interest.

Above is a rustic town scene with some interesting structures along a railroad track.

And above we have a complicated track scene circa 1900 or so.  Laying track is one of my least favorite projects although on my previous layout - many years ago - I scratch built several turnouts including one three way turnout.  Now I just use commercial track as part of my scenes.  

Victorian house model complete

I have completed the victorian house model.  It was a complicated model and took longer than I thought to complete.  It will be the largest structure on  my town street.  The roof was made using metal ribbed seam roofing material.

On the left is an attached garage.  I may add a car when I install it on the layout.

I added a bench on the upper deck and a couch on the lower deck.  I will probably add figures at several locations.

Above is a view of the rear of the building.  I added a porch at the back door and a shed.

This model was interesting to build and somewhat challenging.

Now I need to decide what my next model will be.

Victorian house model progress

I have made some progress on my victorian house model.  The front is mostly done and I have added the right side.  The porch area was complicated and I debated for some time on the railings.  The upper part of the front is a metal casting.

Below is a view of the right side.

The windows on the right side are scratch built from wood to match as much as possible the plastic windows on the front.  I did this since I do not have enough matching commercial windows for the model and the right side will likely be next to the tavern separated by a narrow alley.  The left side will have an extension slightly back from the front.  I am still doing planning on where this is going.  
I wanted to do this update to keep the blog fresh.

Deteriorated tank car

I took this photo in 1982 but since I did not add any info I am not sure where it was.

I find deteriorated and weathered models to be interesting.

Victorian house model start

My next structure on the town street will be an old victorian style house.  I did some research and got some ideas and created a sketch that is the basis for this model.  This is only part of the front of the house.

The upper porch will have a railing and a roof with a peaked house roof above that.  The windows and doors are all Grandt Line parts.  The posts are cast metal parts.  I am still debating on some of the features of the house - I just make up this stuff as I go along.  Sometimes that makes for problems but they all seem to work out somehow.  Thankfully there will not be any interior details.

Below is a vintage 1920 or so truck hauling a tower.  There is a trailer at the back to support this fairly tall tower.  I expect getting the tower upright was fun.

I assume the guy standing on the top was only there for the photo.  This would make for an interesting model but I do not think I will build it.

Tank truck model

While planning my next structure, I have assembled a tank truck which is part kit, part scratch. The rear tank part of the truck is a cast metal kit.  It contained no wheels, cab or engine compartment.  I have a lot of truck and auto wheel commercial parts so I used those.  The cab and engine were scratch built from card stock and wood parts.  I used a commercial radiator casting from my parts box which established the size of the front end.

In the process of looking for parts for this model I again spent time sorting some parts boxes - a time consuming process but one which ultimately yields items I had forgotten about.

Below is a photo I took in 1992 during a railman trip - I believe is was in Ohio.

It is an interesting house built from two boxcars.  There is a nice chair on the porch so the occupant can sit and watch the passing road traffic.

Next Model

My next model will be another house for the street I am assembling.  It will be an old victorian style house.  I have done research and sketched the model.  Construction begins tomorrow.