Armilia Junction

[Occam]

Hello everyone - I just found this wonderful forum and look forward to both learning a lot and contributing.

In this thread, I would like to share the progress of my old west town of Armilia Junction, set around the 1870's. The town is in 28mm scale, and I plan to incorporate a functioning model railroad on the edge of the town - more about that later...



The first building is one of the great kits from Dead's Man Hand, that I made into a hardware store.



I was inspired by a photo of the town of Corinne, Utah from 1869, that featured a hardware store with a sign into the street with what seemed to be a bucket on top.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinne,_Utah#/media/File:Street_view_in_Corinne._Box_Elder_County,_Utah,_1869_-_NARA_-_517300.jpg

I love inspiration from old photos of the real world, so I decided to copy that. They usually contain a wealth of details different from movie sets, games and more.



To make the sign stable, I added a base of 3mm plywood. I also changed the roof a bit and added a chimney so the store would be comfortable in the cold winter days on the prairie!

If you like to see more details, I made a video about the construction and painting on my YouTube channel here:


More to come... :-)

[OSHIROmodels]

Nicely done 

[FifteensAway]

Well, welcome to the forum.  And from the looks of your models - and what is in the background - you'll be showing off some nice work.  Love the added details to your hardware store, the saw and the sickle.  Nicely painted figures as well.  And looks like a nice wheelbarrow behind the man.

I really like the way you based the building - similar to something I've given thought to.  I'm considering basing my buildings - mostly - in groups of three to facilitate setup and takedown but also to add those extra bits of detail and, perhaps, the roadway.  Three buildings works for me since I'm working in 15 mm so perhaps a bit more workable than 28 mm.

[CapnJim]

Nice job on that hardware store.  It sure looks the part.

[Occam]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!



The next building is well underway, namely the Commercial Hotel. As you can see, it is another Dead Man's Hand-building, but I cut the false front down for a more realistic look, and added a wood base to raise the whole building a bit. I also added some cornices and a simple interior on the upper floor.

A video is on its way after the building gets some more details, sign and weathering.



Inspiration for the name and details comes from this building in Miles City in 1880. So many details are in this image if you look closely. The photographer is likely L.A. Huffman.

[Occam]

One of my favorite parts of modelling is photographing the final models. For that purpose it is very helpful to have number of props and background models to help set the stage. This was one of the reason why I built a small diorama of several HO scale western buildings, I had lying around. These are the buildings seen in the background of the first photos.

I made a video about the first part of Armilia here:


Most of them are old West German Kibri kits that are somewhat underscale, so I figure they would be useful for people playing in 15mm scale as well.

[Occam]

The Commercial Hotel is now open for business in the expanding town of Armilia Junction!

Two rumours circulating in town are especially promising, namely that gold be have been found in the mountains to the north, and another that the railroad might soon come to Armilia.

The rumours were enough for the industrious Mr. Christianson to dare build a new hotel for the possible boom times ahead. Let us hope the rumours are more than just that!

The Commercial Hotel is in 28mm scale, and the name and some of the details come from a real 1880's hotel in Miles City, Montana.

[sepoy1857]

I like those! Very well done. I like that you use original photos of real buildings as a guide; it really gives them some credibility.

[bluewillow]

Lovely work

[Occam]

Thank you!

It somehow feels easier building after a historical photo - then I don't have to invent stuff or think too much, instead I just build what I see :-)