F I N E H Y D R O C A L C A S T I N G S B Y C. C. C R O W
P. O. B O X 1 4 2 7 M U K I L T E O, W A 9 8 2 7 5 U S A

Builders In Scale

CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES
BY C. C. CROW

hand tools for working with Hydrocal include hobby knife, scribing
tool, small machists square and metal straight-edge.

Listed below are my published construction articles

No wonder it takes me so long! Most of my modeling projects are photographed as I produce the master patterns and build the pilot models. I then share my techniques and experiences with you, my fellow model builders, by writing construction articles for the hobby press. In them I discuss in depth, pattern building, mold making and cast as well as describing my assembly and finishing techniques. I hope you will enjoy them.

I have also edited serveral issues of the Northern Pacific Railroad Historical Association's quarterly publication, The Mainstreeter where my emphasis has been, of course, on structures.

PUBLISHED CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES by C. C. Crow
La Grange Stone Ave. Depot (drawings)	proto	MM	Feb.	1984
La Grange Stone Ave. Depot	pt 1	MM	July	1984
La Grange Stone Ave. Depot	pt 2	MM	Aug.	1984
Dixon's Hollow Bridge		MM	Dec.	1984
NP 70 ft. Brick Roundhouse	pt 1	MM	Aug.	1985
NP 70 ft. Brick Roundhouse	pt 2	MM	Sept	1985
NP 70 ft. Brick Roundhouse	pt 3	MM	Dec.	1985
NP 70 ft. Brick Roundhouse	pt 4	MM	Jan.	1986
Dental Wax Casting		MM	July	1986
Minden Flour Milling Co.	pt 1	MM	Oct.	1988
Minden Flour Milling Co.	pt 2	MM	Nov.	1988
Minden Flour Milling Co.	pt 3	MM	Dec.	1988
Minden Flour Milling Co.	pt 4	MM	Jan.	1989
Baraboo R. Bridge Stonework		MM	Dec.	1990
Modeling Stone Culverts		MM	Sept	1991
Stone Shingle Mill	pt 1	GAZ	M/A	1992
Stone Shingle Mill	pt 2	GAZ	M/J	1992
Stone Shingle Mill	pt 3	GAZ	J/A	1992
Concrete Retaining Walls		MM	Sept	1992
Concrete Highway Bridge		MM	Nov.	1992
Just Plain Brick		GAZ	N/D	1992
White Stone Church		MM	Dec.	1992
Stained Glass Windows		MM	Jan.	1993
Casting Live Kittens and other small pets		CCC	Apr.	1993
Concrete Tunnel Portals		MM	Apr.	1993
Backdrop Painting		MM	July	1993
Coloring Concrete		MM	Aug.	1993
Concrete Bridge Abutments, Piers and Footings		MM	Oct.	1993
Girder Deck bridge (prototype)		MM	Nov.	1993
Girder Deck bridge (model)		MM	Dec.	1993
Pile Trestle		MM	Feb.	1996
Orbisonia Firehouse		MR	Nov.	2000

CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES IN PROGRESS
Coloring Brick		GAZ	future
NP 90 ft. BRICK ROUND HOUSE		MR?	future
100 ft. STONE ENGINE HOUSE		??	future
SILVER PLUME PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSE		??	future
APPLE STORE HOUSES		MM	future
APPLE VALLEY RR MODULE		??	future

C. C. CROW PRODUCT REVIEWS
GN Passenger Depot	RMC	Mar.	1988	pg.107
Scratch-Building Panels	RMC	June	1990	pg.89
Roundhouse, SO Ry. Freight, Firehouse	MR	Nov.	1990	pg.58
Minden Flour Milling Co.	RMC	Sept	1992	pg.100
White Stone Church	MR	Apr.	1993	pg.58
Farmhouse and Barn	RMC	Apr.	1993	pg.
RGS Brick Office Building	MR	Jan.	1998	pg.43
Apple Store House	MR	Apr.	2000	pg.28

Listed below are my On-Line clinics. Just quick ones about my favorite techniques. They should answer many of your questions.

C. C. CROW's
HOW TO CLINICS

Fixing BROKEN Castings
Hydrocal is great stuff. It's one weak spot is it will break. It is possible to fix broken pieces, often without it even being noticed. At least you can give it a try.

Cut and Chop HYDROCAL
Basic How To work with Hydrocal castings tips including the drops of water softening secret, cutting, filing and assembly, recomended glues.

Coloring BRICK
My favorite techniques for coloring brick. You will want to try my water putty mortaring. I'm told it looks pretty good!

Coloring STONE
My favorite techniques for coloring stone. But what are we going to do now that Testors/Floquil has dropped their Flo-Stains?

Coloring CONCRETE
Coloring concrete is really simple.
Check out how I do it.

Coloring CORRUGATED METAL
Coloring corrugated metal is simple too. Check out how I do it.

Coloring CEDAR SHAKE ROOFS
Really the same as coloring concrete, it is simple. Check out how I do it.

PATTERN MAKING
An overview of my pattern making techniques. This is the heart of my work.

Make Your Own RUBBER MOLDS
Now that we have our patterns let's make some molds. This is how I do it.

Cast Your Own HYDROCAL
Some simple do's and don't to help you avoid problems. Like bubbles, I hate bubbles!

The TRUE ART of BRASS
I am doing my own white metal and lost wax brass casting. Follow my journey to discovering these secrets.

LOST WAX CASTING
Here's a step by step overview of the lost wax brass investment casting process.

WHITE METAL CASTING
Here's how all those great parts are made.

The HYDROCAL Business
Now that I have told you how to do everything you too can start your own model railroad structure kit business. Right?

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR MODELS
Not that I am a know-it-all but here are some helpful tips on photographing your models- at least the way I do it.

MODEL RAILROADING SCALES
Non-model railroaders often ask me questions about scale. Here's a quick overview.

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STICKS IN THE CROW'S NEST

Builders In Scale

HO On-Line Kits

Limited Run Kits

Northern Pacific Kits

Other RR's Kits

Fruit Industry Kits

Concrete Series

Fractured Stone

Prototype Reference

HO Stock Panels

Reference Photos

Postcard Albums

Crow's Web Nest

Counter

Sept. 17, 2004

revised - CCC
June 22, 2009

C. C. CROW P. O. BOX 1427 MUKILTEO, WA 98275 USA