Storefront Construction - WIP

[dlmos]

Well after a long "forced" break I'm finally able to start working on some terrain again! I'm working on 1920's era storefront and am needing opinions an the scale of the building and it's doors/windows. I've taken a pic of the current sketch next to a couple of 28mm figs and one of my older buildings:



Couple of notes:
1.) On the old buildings i cast up panels that where then assembled into floors, the new ones will be pre-cast as a single floor.
2.) On the new buildings the windows/doors will be fixed and most likely be filled (but that could change if I can work out the molding issues).
3.) The bricks on the new building will be more to scale, 1/16th x 1/8th.
4.) Between the large windows is a set of french doors into the shop, on the right side is a single door(slightly wider) to access the stairwell.
5.) Lastly, the top floor and roof are the width the buildings would be if I don't include the stairwell access.

Some deminsions:
Ground floor = 5 1/2 inches wide (or 4 1/2 inches without the stairwell) by 3 inches tall
Upper floors = 2 inches tall
Roof = 1 inch tall
Total height = 8 inches (3 stories and roof access) with the option of adding extra floors
The building depth is still being worked out, but it'll either be 4 inches or 6 if I include interior stairwells.

Any opinions would be much appreciated, thanks again!
Dave

[Burgundavia]

Umm, wow. The scale looks pretty good. a few comments:

What exactly are you casting the walls out of? Are you using Hirst stuff?
For colour, I would probably have chosen a slightly darker red and then dry brushed the crap out of it.
I would also make my buildings either the same base size or some fraction (1/2, 1 1/2, 2x, etc) to make it easy to fit around other scenery pieces (roads, sidewalks, etc)

Otherwise, can I kidnap you for our gaming group?

[odd duck]

It looks like you've got almost everything figured out ,I've got quite a few buildings that are 5 1/2"s wide and 2 1/4" per storey and they look right with my figures and cars. Love the round top windows you're planning on the top floor been meaning to do some on my models but I don't think I could do the decorative stone work right,rectangles are so much easier look forward to seeing you finished project

[dlmos]

Burgundavia - Thanks    The walls are cast out of Merlins Magic plaster, but the new ones will be resin.  I carved the masters myself, but will be carving smaller bricks on the new buildings (1/16th by 1/8th).  I plan on making the depth of the buildings uniform,  either 4 inches deep or 6, and the frontages will vary by one inch increments.  On a side note, the old building is stil a WIP, but will be on hold till I finish the new building molds.

odd duck - Thanks as well!  I thought the round windows added something to an other wise boring fascade.  I do plan to spice it up a bit by adding some decorative patterns when I carve the bricks as well.

Thanks again,
Dave

[Burgundavia]

So let me get this straight: you are casting a flat slab of plaster and then carving out the doors/windows and then carving the bricks? You are crazy and I salute you for it.

[odd duck]

a word of caution! this miniature architecture thing can be quite addictive, I put my first building project on hold when I got a great idea for another building and did the same with that building and so on and so on. Now I've got 15 buildings on the go and none of them more than 70% completed.granted I have little self discipline, but this happened without using molds  and the possability of mass production . I look forward to seeing how your project turns out good luck

[odd duck]

I noticed on tmp that you were interested in finding some ref.photos. This site has some great pic,s of  New york from the 30's 
www.mcny.org/collections/abbott.htm

[odd duck]

OOPS!!! missed part of it try this
www.mcny.org/collections/abbott/abbott.htm

[dlmos]

Burgindavia -  Actually I'm only casting the brick areas in plaster, then carving those into the appropriate patterns.  Everything else will be built up in sections then assembled to make the master. 

Odd duck - LOL, yes miniature architecture is my biggest vice, but I'm going to see this one through to the finish.  BTW, thanks for the link, it was very helpfull (now in the inspiration folder )

WIP update:
I've finished doing some minor tweaks to the design, increased the floor height to 2 1/4 inches tall on the upper floors to allow for more detailing and better looking windows.  I thought the best way to make the windows would be to make masters the cast them up as needed.  The arched window was a total pain and took about 9 attempts to make without the arch snapping (although i'm very new to plasticard).  But after a couple hours work heres a quick shot of the window masters for the upper floors:



More to come,
- Dave

[DFlynSqrl]

Looking good Dave.  Look forward to seeing it finished.  (we're in the same gaming group!  )

[odd duck]

NICE WINDOWS!! Now I'm really  looking forward to seeing the finished project.Great work!

[WillieB]

Really nice and I'm very interested in the way you made those windows.
Might be the only way to save my Spanish village project after I was let down so gruesomely by Grandt Line.

[dlmos]

Just a quick update, I've made a small test panel for carving the brick work:



The brick only got carved on the left side cause the plaster, Merlins Magic, was too hard to carve easily (going to redo it in plaster of paris tonight).  I think if I carve the grout line a bit deeper then they'll take the wash/drybrushing much better.  My main concern is that they'll blend in on the tabletop and won't give the full effect, but I think with a better paintjob they'll be better defined.  Does the scale look ok?

WillieB - These are actually the first windows I've ever made, and if I can do it anyone can    I've got to make some more frames before molding them though, so I'll try and get some step by step pics for you.

Thanks,
- Dave

[archangel1]

OOPS!!! missed part of it try this
www.mcny.org/collections/abbott/abbott.htm

Nice site.  Too bad the pictures aren't bigger.

[odd duck]

I'd like to see those step by step pic.s too windows or lack of them have slowed down my projects.
Oh and Archangel1 there are some larger photos on this site
www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=343008
lots of skyline shots  but also streetlevel shots with lots of period detail but it's large thread on a urban study forum 47 pages of NYC photos from the late 1800's to 1950's if you're interested in the subject you can get lost in there!