feedback on scratch built small mine

Chad

New Member
I had some spare time this weekend and built a shack and a winch tower. I think it looks "okay" but the shack is missing a chimney. It's supposed to be 16x16 scale feet, it just looks too big to me. :rolleyes:

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stripes

Member
scratch build

They look good in the pictures, a great start! Details really make a structure stand out!
I belive a shack would have had a pot belly stove with a smoke jack rather than a chimney
such as this,
smokejacks.gif


Just my opinion :D

David
 

randythawkins

New Member
I think you are running into the same problem I've recently come to realize - the wood is not scaled correctly. This past weekend I was at Hobby Town to get some scaled wood for a N Scale fence I want to build. I want the fence boards to be about {scale} 6" wide (and 3/4" thick). The smallest basswood strips I could find were scaled to be 4" by 4"...and they are tiny tiny tiny. I'll end up using them but it is the same as building a fence in your backyard and using 4"x4" post as the fence boards themselves. I think part of what is making it look too big is that the roof boards are too thick. Its hard to tell by the photo but I'd guess the scale to be about 12". That would be like having a shed with roof boards 1 foot thick. Get an N scale ruler and check it out if you can (http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/ctt/ctt9160.htm) and see what it scales out to be.

Randy
 

Chad

New Member
Yeah all the beams are about 2mm thick, so that's about a foot, ok for the beams but not the roof. Maybe I should use posterboard or cerial box cardboard?

How do people simulate a tin roof?
 

randythawkins

New Member
well, I'm kinda new to this scratchbuilding stuff so I've been doing a lot of lurking here and other places so take what I say with that knowledge...I've seen cereal box used. You could cut it to the correct size. The downside is that the box, itself, does not look like wood so using it by itself may not result in a completed wood-like look.

I've seen roofs made by using paper bag or aluminium foil - both with very nice results.

Randy
 

berraf

Member
Chad said:
I had some spare time this weekend and built a shack and a winch tower. I think it looks "okay" but the shack is missing a chimney.
Looks good and it seems that you've done the best of your spare time.
It's always fun to make something from scratch :)
As said in previous answers, I also believe the size of the timber is a little bit to wide.
 

RC BOAT

New Member
Chad;
I would try using thinner material such as carboard for the roofs, then for a tar paper look, buy a sheet of wet/dry sandpaper (black) in a fine grade (1200 to 2000 grit from auto parts store) cut to size and glue it to cardboard, then weather it.
For a corrogated material wrap tin foil around the threads of a bolt, carefully flatten out and cut to look like panels, glue to card board and weather. You can tear a corner, bend a corner, punch a hole in it to look rustic. You can also soak tin foil in vinegar for a few days to seriously etch it and eat away at the edges. After weathering either of these give it a shoot of Testor's Dull Cote to take any shine off.
George
 

Chad

New Member
Great tips! Thanks a ton! I know NOTHING about how to weather something other than leave it out in the yard LOL
 

randythawkins

New Member
RC BOAT said:
For a corrogated material wrap tin foil around the threads of a bolt, carefully flatten out and cut to look like panels, glue to card board and weather. You can tear a corner, bend a corner, punch a hole in it to look rustic. You can also soak tin foil in vinegar for a few days to seriously etch it and eat away at the edges.
George

Question - I been soaking some foil (reynolds aluminum foil) in vinegar for several days now and all I have is wet foil. What could I be doing different (wrong) from your comment above?

Thanks,
Randy
 

RC BOAT

New Member
Randy;
It worked for me, try setting it in the sun to warm it up, just don't let it dry out. The acid in the vinegar should react with it.
George
 

randythawkins

New Member
RC BOAT said:
Randy;
It worked for me, try setting it in the sun to warm it up, just don't let it dry out. The acid in the vinegar should react with it.
George

Thanks George. I'll try the sun. I've already put a lid on the container because the wife and kids were complaining about the smell in the kitchen.

Randy
 
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