Scenery
:
Buildings
Recycled, Restored -- Saved from Extinction
Oct 20, 2004
By Elaine Haggenbottom |
Author
Bio
I've come across two "building" collections this summer from people getting out of the "G" scale hobby.
|
For anyone who knows me, my mind works in a very peculiar way. When I see tired THINGS, it says: can it be "recycled, restored, or saved from extinction?". This article works on that very concept. I've come across two "building" collections this summer from people getting out of the "G" scale hobby. Sad, but true.. My first "make-over" is a Freight Station 
(Front, natural state) 
Originally made as a kit by Model Power in Germany a bunch of years ago. After several ownership's, it became a warehouse OR a freight station.. First order of business was to completely wash it, inside and out, with warm water and dish detergent. (Need I suggest you do this in a safe place, as small things have a tendency to fall off in this process.) As soon as it was dry, I started with checking all of the openings, repairing if necessary, and then painting doors, and window trim, if desired. 
Note that I use satin or gloss paint for all of my improvements (Bob and some other people can do the weathering. My thinking is: the outdoor elements will weather everything soon enough, so I start out with "gloss")
The paints either come in small bottles from Wal-Mart, called "outdoor gloss", or from the "oops" 5-gallon exterior house paint from your local Home Depot. I have a large supply to pick from, as I pick colors I like whenever I happen to be there. Upon deciding on the colors, I began painting the siding. Since many of the signs were still attached, I merely went around them, but removed any that I could. As soon as the siding was completed, usually it takes two applications, depending on the color used and the color you are covering, I did the trim around all windows and doorways. Next, I added some "new" touches to any of the signage, with a small tipped permanent Sharpie marker... Last thing I do is "decorate" the windows by either painting the top portions of the glass, like the transoms, OR adding cloth or paper shades. Most times I use yellow paint to create the illusion of a "warm glow" within. Next the "roof."  This was the biggest challenge, as it did not even come together at the peak. I turned this job over to my husband, Warren. After a lot of "heat and persuasion with a small torch, he managed to pull it together. A scrap strip of wood across the entire top was added to keep it aligned and then all was glued together with Marine Goop. Over the years, this building had lost it's chimney so a new one was created from a small block of scrap pine, angle-cut to fit the roof line's indenture, made by the manufacturer.
I again used "Gatorman's" technique for adding small river rock to the sides, mixing a thick paste of ceramic tile "thinset" with a small percentage of Acryllic mortar Admix.  The last pictures show the completed building. Rejuvenated and ready to live again on another railroad. 
(Front) 
(Back) This endeavor is so much fun for me and I have LOTS more buildings waiting in the wings. Future articles from Elaine???
| Comments |
| Wow Jon, Thanks so much for pulling it out of the archives, I don't even remember writing it, as I tend to forget things I've done in the past... And you should send me a picture of the building I created for you, cause that too, is gone from the old memory bank. It was always such fun to contribute to this forum, and again I must Say "it will be hard to open up my computer and find the blank site... God Bless you All.. Thanks for the memories... Elaine |
| Elaine Haggenbottom - 12/12/2013 - 07:06 |
Top of Page
|
