My first scratch built passenger station

[mclarenf119]

This is my first post on this forum, so please let me know if I need to do anything differently.

Here is the beginning of my passenger station build which is part of my n scale diorama/programming-track-to-be (still working on the dcc base station). The progress to date is up on imgur currently, here is the link if you want to see all the pics: https://imgur.com/gallery/K3NosiU. After I posted to reddit, someone said I should join here so I will be continuing my build log here.

Some build pics below:

Initial layout with reference drawing.


Various stages of painting items.


All panels painted/weathered and windows/doors attached.


My station in its place on the diorama.


Please let me know what you think, I am looking forward to feedback!

[nthusiast]

Looks like you are off to a great start. Thanks for sharing your work.

[garethashenden]

This looks great. Is it card or plastic?

[mclarenf119]

This looks great. Is it card or plastic?

Thanks! I probably should have added more details about the materials used.

The structure is mostly plain styrene, then the pillars are plastruct n scale stone pattern and the windows/doors are from Tichy train group.

[mmagliaro]

I like the look of the concrete walls and the washes to bring out the stone relief.

Does this station have any counterpart in real life, or is it just something you made up?

[Hyperion]

Glad to see you made it over here, Eric.

Like I said on reddit, you'll find the guys here more than willing to share very honest feedback.  But, it, as they call it, "Better Modeling through Peer Pressure".

I don't see a ton of scratch-building in N-scale in general, even less on reddit, and knew that if you were tackling a project like that right out of the gate and doing so at a pretty high degree of execution, this would be the place to hang out at.

Keep posting more, especially if it's BN stuff

[peteski]

I like the look of the concrete walls and the washes to bring out the stone relief.

Does this station have any counterpart in real life, or is it just something you made up?

That was going to be my question too. BTW, you are doing some nice scratchbuilding Eric.
But I'm also curious as to the architectural design.  I have never seen any 1:1 station that looked like that.   To me personally it looks a bit gloomy and stark (more like a prison building than a train station), but  that is just a personal observation. For all I know, there could be a prototype for it.

[mclarenf119]

I like the look of the concrete walls and the washes to bring out the stone relief.

Does this station have any counterpart in real life, or is it just something you made up?

Thanks, there isn't a real life counterpart, I am pretty much making it up as I go along.

Glad to see you made it over here, Eric.

Like I said on reddit, you'll find the guys here more than willing to share very honest feedback.  But, it, as they call it, "Better Modeling through Peer Pressure".

I don't see a ton of scratch-building in N-scale in general, even less on reddit, and knew that if you were tackling a project like that right out of the gate and doing so at a pretty high degree of execution, this would be the place to hang out at.

Keep posting more, especially if it's BN stuff

Thank you so much for the kind words and the recommendation! The little time I have spent here, it definitely seems like the projects are being done at a very high level, and I really feel like my skills will grow by spending time learning from everyone in the forum.

Definitely planning to post more stuff!

[mclarenf119]

That was going to be my question too. BTW, you are doing some nice scratchbuilding Eric.
But I'm also curious as to the architectural design.  I have never seen any 1:1 station that looked like that.   To me personally it looks a bit gloomy and stark (more like a prison building than a train station), but  that is just a personal observation. For all I know, there could be a prototype for it.

Thanks for the feedback! My wife said the same thing about it looking quite gloomy and I am starting to agree. There is no prototype as I replied to the other comment, but I am still planning on adding a roof and will try to add some embellished eaves or something like that to make it seem more like a station than a stark building. I am also planning to add some benches and some signage to liven it up a bit. 

[peteski]

Well, that answers my questions Eric.
That is why when I try to scratchbuild things like buildings I usually try to base them on, or even just get ideas, from some prototype structures. That will make the models look more realistic to the viewer, just just because it will make them look similar to buildings we see in real life.  When trying to freelance a structure, it is also good to understand the basics of building construction. Again, if the model properly depicts something that would actually work in real life, it will also look "right"as a model.

EDIT: As others have mentioned, your weathering techniques are very good.

[randgust]

Your painting/washes on the stone surfacing is excellent, particularly for a first shot.    Right materials, great finish.   

You're not stating the era, so it's rather unfair to decide if darker and gloomy is 'wrong'.   Might be wrong for 1870, might be too good for 1970!

I'm noticing two things.    First, on stone/masonry, you may or may not have windows with exterior wood fascia - many times the windows are inset straight into the thick wall block.  For modeling, that means you insert the windows from the back, or even have to build up depth and insert from the back.   On wood frame construction it's normal practice to have the windows the way you have.   Again, as Pete says, it helps to follow a prototype, or at least a railroad, getting a feel for what they did in given situations.

Second.... again very much depending on prototype practice, the windows look 'high' in comparison to the doors.   There's always exceptions, like steps on the inside, but usually that means a foundation block pattern around the base showing that the floor is raised inside and there would be a 'step up' just inside the doors.   Given what you've already done (and done well) it may be the easy way out if you see it this way.

But overall, the applause sign is on for any scratchbuilding of structures at all.   Since the internet and Google Earth and Streetview, and with the de-keystoning tool on Photoshop, doing scratchbuilt structures like you are starting out is way easier.   It took me 10 years, but I scratchbuilt every structure along Santa Fe Ave. in Flagstaff, as it appeared in 1972 - eight feet worth in N.   It takes a lot of time to accumulate materials, but after you get the hang of it, it's nowhere near as difficult as some people like to portray it as.   

[mmagliaro]

It's never fun to throw a "wet rag" on somebody's project, especially when what you have executed is done well.
But the thing is, railroad depots tend to be ornate "pretty" structures, even the simple rural ones.  That means arches, curves, elegant hip roofs, and so on.  I think what you've built there looks more like a factory, which is why it's getting the "gloomy" description.

Station windows wouldn't have so many dividing panes, which make those look more like security bars (read "gloomy").  They would have more open glass.  The door would be more inviting, instead of industrial looking.

I don't know how hard it would be to separate the windows and doors from the walls, but my suggestion would be to find some more open windows and a door that is more ornate, perhaps has a curved/arched top, and has a more substantial frame around it so that it looks like an "entryway" and not just a "door".  If you changed those out, the whole look of the structure could be more "depot like".

Here's a shot of the Santa Rosa depot.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/old-train-depot-at-historic-railroad-square-santa-rosa-california-5d25869-wingsdomain-art-and-photography.html

 I chose it somewhat at random, but it does have gray stone walls (not smooth concrete, but the closest thing I could find).  Note how open the windows are - lots of glass and few dividers.  And the doorway is very large - a door with a big glass panel above it that give it a "floor to ceiling" look.

[peteski]

It's never fun to throw a "wet rag" on somebody's project, especially when what you have executed is done well.
But the thing is, railroad depots tend to be ornate "pretty" structures, even the simple rural ones.  That means arches, curves, elegant hip roofs, and so on.  I think what you've built there looks more like a factory, which is why it's getting the "gloomy" description.

Station windows wouldn't have so many dividing panes, which make those look more like security bars (read "gloomy").  They would have more open glass.  The door would be more inviting, instead of industrial looking.

Yes, that's why it is a good idea to study the architecture of the existing 1:1 buildings of the type we want to model (even if we freelance it in the end).

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Why but turn this into a mill? This looks a lot like the stone mills you would see in  Fall River or New Bedford.

[johnb]

I am very impressed, your technique is impressive