Scratchbuilding for Model Railroaders by Bob Walker Craftsman techniques made

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Scratchbuilding for Model Railroaders by Bob Walker Craftsman techniques made simple

Soft Cover

130 pages

Contents

Introduction - Why Scratchbuild?4

Philosophy8

Chapter 1 - What You'll Need12

Tools of the Trade12

Unconventional Tools13

Workbench15

Organizing Your Workbench17

Workbench Improvements18

Creature Comforts20

Safety First21

Scale Drawings22

Adhesives & Chemistry24

Record Keeping/Notes26

Chapter 2 - Materials28

Working with Wood29

More On Lighting121

Moonlight & Street Lights122

Conclusion - The Last Words123

Road Trip124

Travel Kit126

The Tackle Box 127

All the Author130

In this diverse hobby, there are specialty areas that have become hobbies in themselves. Hobbies within hobbies, so to speak. One of the most rewarding of these is in the construction of scale model buildings and structures from raw materials and detail parts. For the sake of this book, we will use the term "scratchbuilt" to embrace this discipline. Scratchbuilding in its purest form is best left to the contest entrants. This book won't be describing how to roll locomotive boilers from tin can stock or how to make rivets with a clock gear mounted on a stick. Instead I will try to inform modelers how to get started, without exploring extreme detail.

Some folks will wonder about investing time in scratchbuilding when there is such a vast selection of kits available. I remember seeing a cartoon showing a dilapidated log cabin with a large sign in front stating, "The only structure in Colorado for which there is no HO kit."

I'll be the first to tell you that manufacturers have provided us with the greatest variety of building kits ever seen. The quality of these offerings is incredible. But, unlike rolling stock and locomotives, there are an infinite number of designs for buildings and bridges. Many of our layouts need a wider selection of models than commercially offered. To build any model from raw materials and a few castings is an acquired skill that takes a commitment of time and a small investment in hand tools.

Scratchbuilding is not for everyone, but it can enhance the distinctive nature of any layout. Each model railroad is unique in as many ways as its creator can make it. That being the case, there are only 2,000 or so structure kits on the market today, being shared by well over 100,000 layouts. This means that there are, a lot of Gruesome Casket Companies on a lot of layouts. There is not much unique here. Kitbashing and paint can only go so far to disguise a mass-market structure kit, and the high priced "super-kits" fare only a little better. Face it, only a select few scratchbuild their rolling stock and fewer still engage in the locomotive builder's art. Other than scenery and individual trackplanning, a layout's buildings serve to set it apart from others.

A scratchbuilt structure, however, is a one-of-a-kind model that contributes to the uniqueness of the railroad and can be pointed to with pride. With the colossal amount of labor and time put into a layout, pride should be reflected in this achievement.

The ideal mix of shake-the-box, super-kits and scratchbuilt structures is determined by a multitude of factors. Time, available finances and skill level all come into play. The time component is in the order stipulated above, as shake-the-box type take the least time and scratchbuilding likely takes the most. Financially, the reverse is true. Scratchbuilt buildings for the most part are the least expensive to construct. Skill level comes with experience, and the folks in this hobby seem to have skill in abundance.

A lot of model railroads have what has become known in the model press as "signature" features. The term was primarily conceived to describe rolling stock. Yet it can be applied as well to scenery, locomotives and important structures. Pennsy's Horseshoe Curve or SP's Tehachapi Loop come to mind as signature locations. Santa Fe's standard depots and C&NW's roundhouses are indeed special.

As students of a favorite road, you soon come to realize the structures that are unique to it. It is a rare layout for which all the necessary structures are available commercially. In a lot of instances, it comes down to scratchbuild or compromise. If that compromise is on a secondary structure, its not too troublesome. However, compromising on a road's centerpiece buildings may not be as believable.

What I would like to do with this book is to afford some insight into the nuts-and-bolts of building structures made from wood, plaster, styrene, card stock, cast resins and "scratch." I hope to delve deeper into methodologies, skills and materials. I may also burst some bubbles and skewer some sacred cows. The old saying, "only wood looks like wood" is rubbish, and I'll show you why. We will cover some topics that are broader in scope than merely scratchbuilding, such as lighting and weathering.

I suppose some of my modeling background is in order. I am 64 years old, and built my first structure at the age of 13. It was abominable! My skills (250 plus buildings later) have improved moderately. In the intervening 51 years, I have built models in G, 0, HO and N scales and used an extensive variety of materials.

My current layout sports 135 buildings, all of which are built from scratch. There are kits that could have been used for some of these buildings, but I have to admit to a little egotism when I state that a scratchbuilt model engenders more pride than a kit built offering would.

I won't be shy about pointing out my mistakes. Mistakes should always be regarded as a path to learning, Unfortunately, I seem to have learned through some truly colossal blunders. We will cover some of these and perhaps help you avoid some real foibles.

I will admit to building some of my structures with detail on only three walls. Since many times the fourth side is never seen, being against a wall or another larger edifice, why detail it? Detail should be seen. If it isn't, it shouldn't be modeled. Contest judges and purists may blanch at this concept, but even they must admit that it is an efficient use of time. Think of a layout as a stage ready for a drama with the trains as actors and structures and scenery as props. It is only logical to put the most detail work in the part of the set that faces the audience. It is my conviction that if the side of the building that faces the wall can never be seen, it is a waste of valuable hobby time and money to detail it. There are some well known modeler/authors who agree with me here, but their names will be withheld to protect the guilty.

We will get into more philosophical areas as well as the technical ones. My only goal is to re-awaken the art and science of scratchbuilding structures to augment the wonderful variety of commercial structures already available. All I ask is that you give one of these projects a try. Like a lot of areas in our hobby, scratchbuilding only sounds hard. Like any other specialty within this great hobby, ease comes with experience, and experience comes with effort.

Some of you will discover that this aspect of the hobby is not for you. Others will find the experience so rewarding they'll become addicted.

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