|
I am a model builder just like you.
I started model railroading on a special Christmas
morning when I received my first train set. I had lots of fun on a sheet of
4 x 8 plywood. I quickly went from plastic kits to wood, and fell in love with
structures. After mastering craftsman kits I began scratch-building my own. As
an adult, in 1983, I began fooling around with Hydrocal, trying to create my own
scale masonry.
My first attempts were rather crude, something akin to
what a drunken mason might do with warped cinder blocks. It was pretty bad. But
I persevered and by applying drafting techniques I learned to carefully control
my efforts and create very precise renditions. My HO scale brick faces
are a scale 3" x 9", just slightly larger than the typical 2-1/4" x 8-1/2"
measurement but add a mortar line and we are right on. I even scribe the header
courses. I believe my hand-scribed brick is truly a work of art! Especially when
you add three more walls, doors and windows, brick arches and other three
dimensional details.
Next I tackled stone. It is a little freer than precise
scale brick but there are still some rules. I borrowed Jack Work's method for
creating Fractured Stone patterns and made all sorts of bridge abutments
and piers with then. I also hand-carved several variations of stone
walls on 4" x 8", 1/4" thick, panels.
After spending up to 24 hours on a single pattern the
next step is to make a rubber mold so we can recreate our hard work.
I use Dow Corning's 3110 RTV Silicone Rubber, a two part
system that cures at room temperature, shrinks very little and will give hundreds,
if not thousands of pulls. This was really a key element in my model
building. It took something that was very precious, that I wouldn't otherwise
dare to even attempt to mess with (try coloring, cut up into something else, or
even touch!) into something that I didn't have to worry about- if I screwed up
I could simply cast another one.
This opened up all sorts of possibilities from
experimenting with coloration to cast-bashing my heart out.
Quickly I was learning how to work with my stock castings and developing my
favorite techniques. Hydrocal really is a dynamic material. Not only is it a
very strong castible material but it is easily cut and shaped. When I cut a
corner (no, not take a shortcut- I mean literally cut the corner of a brick wall),
or cut a window or door opening, I can then scribe the mortar lines around the
corners and make the wall truly three-dimensional. This is far
superior to what you might do with printed or embossed brick, and so far I
have not seen a 3D laser (not that I want to!), they are two-dimensional machines.
Sure, they can do cool things but not this cool!
Since beginning this adventure I have written about two
dozen and counting construction articles that have been published.
To see a list of them click
CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES .
Most have been published in Bob Hundman's Mainline Modeler with
others in The Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette and Model
Railroader. And hopefully there are many more to come.
Occasionally I present slide show clinics at
local and nation train shows. Usually these include my History of Masonry
Construction in North America, at least how I see it and my Fine
Art of Hydrocal Structure Modeling in basic and advanced varieties. If
I plan to present a clinic soon the following link will be active:
NEXT LIVE CLINIC.
Below, you will find a list of modest on line how to
clinics that I am in the process of developing. I hate it when web things
are "under construction", especially, when the site has been up for months,
if not years, and nothing has been added- but I promise, I will be adding more
of these. And improving them so please do check back. At least the basics will
be covered in the beginning. I'm sure you will enjoy them!
|
Home List Top
