Upgrading a building on Sweethome Chicago

[jongrant4472]

When I first built Sweethome Chicago in 2005, I was modelling to an exhibition deadline, so had to make the buildings quickly. This meant that a lot of the detailling had to be left out.

I have now revisited one of the first buildings 'Val's Country Kitchen', which sits right at the front of the layout in the most photographed area, and am finally adding some detailling




I've pulled the building off the layout, pushed out all the windows, hacked off the roof, and scraped off any uneven paint to get it ready for a make-over.

The first job was to build an interior, which was done with cardstock. I have attached some cut-out interior photos (resized) from Railroad Graphics larcproducts.com and added a light bulb - no point in doing an interior if you can't see the darn thing.

Here's the progress so far








I am still trying to find some photos for the store window displays and will post some pics when I get them done.

Jon

[Randy Earle]

You are a sick puppy Jon, I love it! ;D

[deez]

Very nice!!!!

[icghogger]

Judging by the number of bottles on the shelves (and there are a LOT of bottles on the shelves) it looks like "Val's Country Kitchen" serves a lot of "hydraulic" meals. ;D

[jongrant4472]

Dec 6, 2010 0:39:35 GMT -5 sdp45 said:

Awesome. Do you have any pictures of the complete "Sweethome Chicago"?

No problem, but I keep adding and modifying things, so the layout's far from finished.

Heres some to get you started.

www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/829

Jon

[jongrant4472]

I have been doing some further work on the interior insert.

The basic walls are made from 1.5mm card, with the photographic interiors stuck on.

I trawled the internet for 1930s window displays. Naturally, the best ones I found were in black and white, so I coloured them in after cutting out the parts I wanted and making a collage.

The store itself looks like it will be a general goods, jewellery, candy and drug store - something of everything (is the phrase bric-a-brac common in the US?)










Next task is to repaint the window frames and add the glazing.

Jon

[jongrant4472]

I added the glazing after painting the windows and woodwork in 2 shades of green - the blue looked a bit garish next to the colourful window displays.










I will be redoing some of the green, as these photos show up some areas of blue. I'll also be adding some lighting above the displays and some white writing on the windows, before fabricating a couple of awnings and working on the upstairs.


Jon

[jongrant4472]

I started to repaint the bricks and redid the green woodwork, before adding lighting to the window displays.










Now for the upstairs, complicated a bit by the wiring for the lights


Jon

[liquidfantasy]

Hey John, good job!
We did do something similar by adding down sized real pictures of store fronts to our models. It is the best you can do to get a "real" impression. However, we didn't go that far like you, that we added lights to it and also saved us the extra work with the 3D interior. Just added the down sized pictures about half an inch behind the windows or even directly behind it.

[jongrant4472]

Dec 9, 2010 16:15:01 GMT -5 sdp45 said:

I found it very difficult to get an actual size of the layout because it did not seem to have an end to it. I have to know what are the actual dimensions?

This video, taken at Manchester(UK) exhibition in October shows the 24ft scenic area quite well and how the 2 fiddle yards fit into the scheme of things



I have a bit of a thing for SP red/grey and have plans to do a small switching layout, possibly in the LA area

Jon

[jongrant4472]

I have finally added the curtain detail upstairs and finished off the store window detailling, with the addition of the white writing.













The next task is to make the awnings and give the store a name.


Jon

[kcs1967]

John, yes Bric-a-Brac is used in the US, I think the proper name for this Drugstore, would be simple, this is Chicago after all, "Anthony's Apothecary", pronounced ANTneez, lol. great work, but I see nothing but amazing work from your hands, keep it up.

[jongrant4472]

I've added a couple of awnings by making a couple of brass wire frames and covering them in a paper-like fabric, which I found at the back of a drawer. I also fitted a pole in front of the door to support the upper storey, and within minutes someone had come along and fly-posted on it.












Only the name boards and fitting left to do, hopefully tomorrow.


Jon

[jongrant4472]

I finished off the signage for the building last night and replanted it on the layout this afternoon.

The scene was finished off with the addition of a few figures and detailling parts. I also had to repaint most of the paths and roadway (after several vehicles were moved around)














And now for something completely different...


Jon

[jongrant4472]

A few sepia photos to finish off with














Jon

[icghogger]

That is an Absolutely Spectacular Piece of Work (and the sepia photos are especially nice)!!

Thanks for sharing, Jon!!

[captkilljoy]

That is one nice looking building.