Under Construction - Birmingham UK

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

A bit more progress today. The upper floor is now essentially done excepting a few minor details, tidying up and weathering. I included my generic interiors to give a hint of something inside. Need to get the 24mm high window cleaners in though!

Overview of progress so far.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Very impressive looking building so far. Assuming this is modeled after a real building, was a modern second story added to an older existing building?

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Jim

Indeed it is, prototype pic attached.

Regards

Jim

 

[OldGettysk]

Wow looks good !

 

[suprduc]

It's looking great Jim, keep it up.

 

[UP2CSX]

Jim, I kind of thought it had that look. Those braces in the prototype picture are weird. I wonder why there are so many on the left side and so few on the right? Almost looks like some engineer miscalculated the load and they had to add extra bracing.

 

[yamahammer]

It looks to me like the far end has a much larger overhang and then narrows as it gets closer but its hard to tell for sure.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Ken

There is a slight angle difference yes. As most of the braces lower brackets are mounted into the arches that are above the windows I havent done them yet. The pattern for these will be etched out of brass as will the window frames.

Regards

Jim

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Someone kindly posted the following link to RMweb

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...47059&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1[/quote]

Which puts this building a little more into context. The building behind still isn't one of the really big ones on the layout! If you scroll right you will see the long office block that makes a very convenient backscene! To give a sense of scale scroll further right and there is the rotunda which in 4mm scale is 420mm diameter. The post office building (as you originally linked to) is the biggest change to the scenery since the 80's. Its a lot more attractive now! The footbridge was introduced in the early 90's and the giant warehouse at proof house junction (8ft+ in 4mm scale) is now no more. Finally theres the loss of the cement plant at proof house.

Cheers

Jim

The Bull ring development is the wrong side of layout anyway

 

[jim smith-wright]

HI all

Work progresses on my pavements (sidewalks). The pavement is 1mm card overlayed with 40thou plasticard and scribed, Not having the faintest idea about how to lay slabs some useful diagrams and info was sought out on the internet first. The dropped sections are 20thou plasticard. All of the kerbstones are added individually as I decided it easier to chop 80 x80thou microstrip up rather than scribe it.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Jim, the sidewalks and curbs look really good. The curb sections never look quite right on the ready made sidewalk kits I've see but yours look just right.

 

[MilesWestern]

Finally! A realistic looking street with accurately scaled sidewalks, it's a pleasure to see.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Miles.

(where have you been?)

I dont know what its like over there but over here the tendancy is to make streets far too small.

I dont think people quite aware just how bit the average street actually is

Regards

Jim

 

[MilesWestern]

Hey Jim,

I've been mainly just writing articles for my blog, which you can check out by clicking on my signature. As such it kinda removed the need for me to post stuff on forums.

I still follow your layout and a handful of others with great interest.

Most US modelers build horribly inadequate roads, It's nice to see such attention to detail.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Progress has been slow due to being knocked about by a fever last week. However the pavements are all done and given an initial coat of paint - plasticote suede texture to start followed by blacks and greys. Much more to do yet to get it looking like a real road.

Ford escort for scale!

Also been progressing on the large girders that appear on Navigation Street and Hill Street.

Regards

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Sorry about the fever, Jim. That's the first time I've heard of using a texture paint for roads. Looks good though.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Attention has returned to the platform 1 staff building. There are 5 large vents, a smaller vent and a small hut like structure on the roof. So getting busy with the plasticard and my NWSL chopper and these are the results.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Those look neat, Jim. I have to make 12 A/C units for a church model I'm building and I'm debating scratchbuilding them or ordering them. In HO, from the distance, they will be seen, I think they will look OK as a taller version of the last one before the hut. This thing is already going to cost me an arm and a leg for detail parts I have to order so I think scratchbuilding some of the smaller stuff will be worth it.

 

[balsaman]

Your car is on the wrong side of the road!!!! Just kidding, looks great!!!

 

[Trucklover]

Those roads look great!! I like the girders on either side of the road too, that looks cool!! Im exited to see more work on that