The challenge of flat roofs

With first street just about to ship, I want to say a few words about flat roofs.  They have always been a bit troublesome.  One might think, what could be easier, it’s flat.  However, paper has a few things to keep in mind.

Here’s the problem.  The walls are paper thin we have to create the thickness of the brick by folding over the wall top.  This is met with the edge of the roof being folded up to meet it creating the illusion of wall thickness.  We then had a U shaped cap that would help lock the whole thing together.  In newer kits we have added more overlap from the roof to allow for more gluing surface.

In earlier kits we would include a stiffener with lines marked that would help to align the roof and also give it some extra stiffness.  Well, it didn’t add enough stiffness for one but a bigger problem was how to give some information on how deep it should be glued to the outer wall.

Admittedly more photos of this would help. we are working on that.

The best all around advice I have is to carefully test fit the roof after it is folded and before the walls are joined.  Assuming the roof fits, (I know they do) you might glue it up and use it as a template for folding or attaching the walls.  What I do is work with two attached or folded walls with one brace in place. This should leave you with a good guide to attach the roofs overlapping tabs.  This will set the proper offset depth of the roof. (in general the back edge of the roof is flush with the back wall)  If carefully done it will make attaching the other walls very easy and accurate.  I do think that adding additional bracing is a very good idea.  You can use scrap paper to build thickness, foam core or strip wood.

More later and pix I promise.

Thom

first street update

Just a quick update on first street delivery.  Still looks good for later this month.  We did find some problems with the White Castle model.  My brother completed the test build successfully but determined it was hard to understand, so I’m doing some modifications that will make the folding of the front wall simpler by making the tall pilasters seperate objects.

Habbaker’s build is about half way there, I know there are no problems because I built one in HO for my layout.

Harvy’s hobbys is still waiting to be built but is very similar to the western store so I don’t anticipate any trouble there.

The bonus kit hasn’t been built but with the exception of the sign and front door display it’s the same as “Hoosier Mama’s” and that works fine.

A bit buried

Not just by snow.  Just making sure that all the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed.

I was just about to send out the bonus kit when I thought I might make one little addition.  It will be on it’s way.  The O scale kit is about 10 pages.  I’m wondering if it needs some special instructions for the front display window.  Think I’ll send it out and then do the directions and post them here.

Thom

SNOW DAY DECLARED (snow week?)

Just wanted to let everyone know that when we returned from the West Springfield show, we ended up getting 24” of snow in Chicago.  This has slowed us down in catching up on orders.  We ask you all to please be patient and we will get your orders filled as soon as we can.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Thom & Dave