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MichaelWinicki
USA
568 Posts |
 Posted - 11/02/2009 : 19:51:49
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OK, I've completed two N-scale houses, the Branchline "Avon House" and the Atlas "Kate's Colonial Home". One was laser-cut wood and the other plastic.
The Atlas kit was a little easier in my opinion, but was certainly no "gimmee". I about burst into laughter when it came to attaching the eves to the house.
For the number of buildings I've done so far, the N-scale houses have been the most challenging.
The wood kit looks better from a texture standpoint, but the wide trim used to cover the jigsaw-puzzle like tabs is problematic.
The plastic kit looks more finished, but it's going to need weathering in order to make it less "plasticy" looking.
It never occurred to me why there are so many built-ups in N-scale when it comes to housing... Now I know. Working with structures this small and detailed is a challenge.
What's your experience with building N-scale homes? Any tips you want to share?
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TiVoPrince
311 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2009 : 20:02:48
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Nscale
houses seldom meet building codes, I would try to keep the inspector away. I'm still hoping for a line of reasonable mini-mansion kits that will help me develop a nice NIMBY community next to my tracks... |
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pnolan48
574 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2009 : 20:17:14
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| I've scratchbuilt a model of every home I've ever lived in, and some that I'd like to live in. I use styrene or matte board. With a computer and a basic drafting program, it's not hard to print out the floor, walls and roofs. It's a lot of fun to build your own rather than building a kit. |
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rslaserkits
USA
144 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2009 : 21:31:04
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MichaelWinicki
Posted - 11/02/2009 : 19:51:49
The wood kit looks better from a texture standpoint, but the wide trim used to cover the jigsaw-puzzle like tabs is problematic.
Your right Mike about the corners. Most use 1/16th inch stock as they do in HO for the walls. The problem is that's a ten inches in N scale and way out of scale, with the corners being even larger.. They do this because it is faster a then engraving the siding and you can't get pressed wood siding in anything thinner. I have tried to get them to make some. N scale walls should be cut from 1/32 inch stock and that's all I will use (plywood in most cases).That way the corners can be more to scale , I use 3/64th inch angles so you don't have to mess with the small corner boards. houses can be fun and I have to do more of them.
Plus nothing looks more like wood then wood. |
rich
www.rslaserkits.com
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.
But I repeat myself.
--Mark Twain |
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leikec
1091 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 02:29:59
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I'm not building houses, but I do need to work on my main industry for the Rutland jct scene.
I'm constructing a picture of the Howe scale building in photoshop, and I intend to use the completed picture as the basis for a wall section of the actual model.
Here's what I have so far (shown oversize):
This represents the wall section of one of the Howe-Richardson Scale Co. buildings facing the Green Mountain-Vermont Rwy junction:
I agree with Michael; small buildings are a challenge to model, especially with my limited skills--and that's prompted me to try this technique.
Lance Mindheim made a convincing argument for using photos for wall sections in N scale. The lack of 3d detail on this wall section won't be that big of a deal to me, and there will be a 3d (modeled with styrene)awning over the loading and entry doors.
There will also be a modeled staircase leading up to the entry door--and when I figure out how to build them, there will be all of those modeled roof windows/vents on the roof of the building.
If nothing else, this technique will help me build a convincing mock-up of the structure that can serve until I learn to scratchbuild a model of the building.
Jeff C |
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jmarley
USA
242 Posts |
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wm3798
USA
3732 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 08:34:18
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Not a house, but a small milk platform I scratched out of Evergreen stock with a basswood platform.
MY Tower at Maryland Junction. Scratched with Plastruct brick sheet to simulate Insulbrick siding.
Vindex company store, scratched from Evergreen parts and siding.
Gloor Craft house kits modified to represent company town housing.
Shaw Train Order office, scratched from Plastruct and Evergreen.
I like workin' small!
How about a storage shed for out behind that Atlas house?
Lee |
Fireballs and Black Diamonds
www.wmrywesternlines.net |
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skipgear
1350 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 10:12:14
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Even an inexpensive LifeLike kit can look decent with a little work.
I really don't have a favorite style of building. I've had good and bad in both plastic and laser. It really depends on what it represents as to which the best medium.
The most surprising kit I have built (sorry it's HO) was the the Rix One Story House. I initially looked at the package and wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I'm very happy with it and wish they would do this kit in N.
I added a chimney out of platruct and some left over porch column parts. I also made some flower boxes out of scrap and stuck a laser cut one car garage next to it. The kit comes with extra wall and roof sections so you can place the porch where you want. Between the two versions with a porch available you can make probably 4-6 different variations of the house depending on how you build the kit. |
Tony H
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/ppuser/4676/cat/500 |
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leikec
1091 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 18:19:25
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Quote - "I enjoy assembling the wooden kits more... just got through with a mobile home."
So far that love has eluded me...and I had several frustrating experiences with laser-cut wood kits when I was playing around with On30 a few years ago. Styrene is a more comfortable medium for me, but I'm going to try to mix actual scratchbuilding with computer-generated printed paper building sides when I feel that the technique will work; I have a lot of buildings to model, and the paper wall mockups look pretty good so far--especially when 3d details are added.
How's the weather in sunny Buffalo?
Jeff C
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sd90ns
2526 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 18:38:20
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Originally posted by MichaelWinicki
“The plastic kit looks more finished, but it's going to need weathering in order to make it less "plasticy" looking.”
Plasticy? Have you been watching too much “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” lately?
Noting looks quite as good for wood, as wood.
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leikec
1091 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 18:47:12
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Quote - "Noting looks quite as good for wood, as wood."
Those are great looking buildings! Five different people could probably use five different materials to build models--and the final result would always be based on the skill level of the modeler, and each persons individual comfort level with the selected building material.
I live by the words of Bob Hayden; "when it's all said and done, what you see is paint."
Jeff C
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peteski
USA
709 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 22:51:34
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| To me in N scale natural woodgrain (and wood fuzz) is way out of scale. Yes it looks like wood but it doesn't look right. I haven't found a real wood with grain that is fine enough for N scale. Heck, in N scale regular woodgrain wouldn't not really be visible at all. We run into similar issue with brick walls. Most N scale brick walls have way oversized mortar lines and most bricks are also too large. |
Peteski |
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leikec
1091 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 00:22:34
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Quote - "To me in N scale natural woodgrain (and wood fuzz) is way out of scale. Yes it looks like wood but it doesn't look right. I haven't found a real wood with grain that is fine enough for N scale. Heck, in N scale regular woodgrain wouldn't not really be visible at all. We run into similar issue with brick walls. Most N scale brick walls have way oversized mortar lines and most bricks are also too large."
I understand what you're saying, and it is often the catch-22 of N scale modeling. All kinds of detail has to be over-sized to look good, but the detail can disappear (especially under a coat of paint) when modeled in scale.
But the problem can be minimized; one look at the structures on this page tells me that quality modeling is possible in N scale--regardless of the choice of modeling material....
Jeff C
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GimpLizard
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 07:25:18
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quote:
Originally posted by skipgear
The most surprising kit I have built ... was the the Rix One Story House. ...wish they would do this kit in N.
I'll second that motion. |
"They don't call it the GREAT Northern for nothing." |
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Building N-scale houses— What's your experience?
