OK here is my first scratch build using Cleaver Models mateirials. White clapboard siding and windows form the Parts Collection Vol1 and some weathered wood and raised seam roofing. Its the station at Cedar Mountain on my On30 Railroad

http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_16/Cedar%20Mtn%20Railroad/depot109.jpg

Great job Bart. A really terrific first scratch project. Care to tell us a little about how you went about. We've had some questions from folks who wanted to try scratch building, but were just unable to figure out how to get started. Any insight you can share will be greatly appreciated. It's one thing when "I" tell someone how to do it, but it means a lot more from someone whose gone through it for the first time.

Well done, Bart!

Sure be happy to share. Honestly I took a lot of cues from how y'alls models are put together. Basically I laid out the walls first making a side and an end wall on one sheet of paper. I print the textur sheet and then mark the locations of the doors and windows on the reverse side using a small square and ruler. I made sure to leave tabs that can be used for glueing at appropriate points. the structure is reinforced just theway your kits are with a stiffener with tabs all around at the top and bottom....so essentially the walls of the station make a rectangular box.

The roof was a little more difficult, I cut a rectangle as large as I wanted the over hang and used a little trial and error to cut polygons that fit the roofline and joined them together with glue tabs. then covered the roof with the roofing materieal.

I cheated on the platform and made a base out of black foam core. I applied textures over it for the foundation and the platform deck. The brick pillars are actually from the Hotel Bruce kit. I cobbled up the chimney by making a square tube from brick texture then building up the countours with strips of bricks.

Those are the high points... Anyone got any questions? I can do a SBS next time I build one.....

Bart
I'm so glad you took the time to share. What you have done is just the way to do it. I hope everyone who reads you comments will get the courage to do what you have. We learn by doing. You observed what we do and copied it. Good job. Oh and when you said you cheated with the foamcore, I don't think you did. We have always said, IT IS YOUR MODEL. DO IT YOUR WAY. All materials are fair game. I am not a rigid "Its got to be paper or it's no good." That attitude helps no one. We want everyone to have fun. If out kits inspire someones' creativity, we are overjoyed.
Thanks so much. Well done!

There's no such thing as cheating in model building. If it looks good, it is good.

And your model looks good.