Another for the Hit Parade

This was a great article Tom, Thanks for the insperation and step by step tutorial.

In My opinion a model and a scene for that mater isn't finished until the little detail parts are added that help bring the total area to life. This series on Details on the roof, in the back yard and what's up coming that most modelers just don't take the time to add simply because they don't think of them,is doing great things for our hobby and taking the modelers one more step forward.

From forum photos that follow your examples and instructions, many modelers are starting to add these details giving their RR's a little more of a lived in look by filling in the empty spaces around their structures with a better sense of realism. I'll be looking forward to your next installment.

Rio Grande Dan

Wonderful article Tom!

Tom,

I love the article and the wonderful work.  I'll certainly be using your techniques on my railroad.

Rick

Great article

You did it again, Tom:  another great article.   I see those things that you point out all the time, but don't really notice.  Thanks for sharpening my detail vision.

Another good article

More great information from Tom. His knowledge of the types of vents and other utility items is a great resource. It certainly helps to have information like this handy when placing details. It lets you place details where they belong, rather than randomly applying them. Good stuff.

I agree with the others

Great article Tom, you have given me a few things to think about that hadn't occured to me, and I have been trying to consider the small details you only notice when they're not there.

Great follow up series to your article on roof details.

One other hting that I would add is that the back of a business will tend to be kept a bit neater or at least picked up enough that there are no tripping hazards where employees will be working if you are modeling post OSHA.  On the other hand many homeowners keep the front yard neat, but let the back yard go.  I suspect that is even more true when dealing with the folks living very close to the right of way.  It is also more true of a family with small children to have a messy back yard verses a couple of empty nesters or a young couple with no children.

perfect mix

Awesome article! It had the perfect mix of prototype and model photos. Love it.

More good stuff

Tom's articles provide a wealth of inspiration for detailing structures.

Bax o' Buildings

I only gave this 5 starts....because you don't have 6 or 7. Well done! Bring more!

Nice Article

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  Great modeling work.

Great article and great

Great article and great video.

The building detail is fabulous! Meticulous and well weathered. However, I thought the backdrop tended to spoil the illusion, not just because of the shadows, but it was so green I have a lot of trouble believing there is a street on the other side. Perhaps some photos of other buildings in scale on the backdrop would help? (also, they did look too close together in spots, particularly when you see the ladder going up the side- I would hate to have to climb that!) Not trying to be picky here, as there is such incredible superdetailing! It just needs a little tweaking.

Still, I look forward to part2!

Top Notch!

Great article Tom.  Sometimes, we see a building & we don't really "see it".  Then, we wonder why our models don't look 'exactly like the prototype'.  The details make the difference.  Thanks for sharing.

R/,

Norm

Excellent Work

Great job on the detailing! I worked in the Loading Dock and Overhead Door business for twelve years. I have visited all types of facilites, and usually arrived in the back of the building. The amount of junk in the rear of buildings is astounding! Someone else mentioned that OSHA would make them clean it, but from what I have seen, that's not true. Especially supermarkets and Walmarts. Some stores would even have intermodal containers in the back for storage. Stacks of milk crates, bent and damaged shopping carts, discarded store displays, shelves, gondolas, retired signs, broken pallet jacks, disabled forklifts, cages with propane tanks.... I always thought about modeling these details, but now that you have put everything into a nice article, I am inspired! I have been trying to find a way to model the dock seals around the door and the dock leveler (That's the industry name for the cushions around the door and that green unloading plate.) Actually, that style of dock plate is called an edge-of-dock leveler, and since it's green, it's a Kelley dock. I am thinking now of modeling a scene behind a supermarket with a crew repairing or replacing a dock leveler or overhead door to pay hommage to my former career. Another really cool scene could be a crew replacing an overhead air conditioning system with the aid of an overhead crane. I once saw an refer unit being installed on a huge warehouse with a helicopter.....

Another really cool part of the dock business and rear of buildings is material lifts. Often stores such as Walgreens and CVS will not have a bay to back into, so the use a hydraulic lift. The rear of stores is a flurry of activity. You'll find the bread delivery, potato chip delivery, soda and beer delivery, UPS, FedEx, etc. A great opportunity to use some of the neat truck models out there, with guys using hand trucks.

If anyone is interested in checking out some of the truck unloading equipment such as dock levelers, check out this website for prototype information.

http://kelley.4frontes.com/Products.aspx

That sounds like a good idea.

That sounds like a good idea. I thought about using black plastic ties from Atlas flex track, with the wood grain side to the wall. I guess properly sized styrene painted black would work.

DETAILING BACKS OF BUILDINGS

This is the kind of articles i love the site and mag for !!!!!!!.  I have been so insipred to get the detail on some of my main buildings done and have told as many as i can about it.  I may be banned or condemed for saying this but it's not always about the trains details.  The structures are what brings it all togther.  Please more like this !!!!!!!!

detailing backs of buildings

Tom,

 You did a wonderful job. This article has inspired my sister and I to take on a project of detailing the backs of some 1940's tenament buildings. I was asked to ask you if you ever stopped into Dana's Railroad supplies in Spring Hill Fl.?

AGain thank you for this article

Gloria Wells

Homosassa, Fl.

Tom, my address

Tom,

Please send the building to me and I'll put it on my layout.   It is SOOO nice - thanks for sharing!

Rick

Can't blame a guy for trying....

Tom,

Oh well, you can't blame a guy for trying!

Rick

Great subject that..

Great subject that mates perfectly with the article describing the roof top details. I have found both inspiring.

Looking forward to some more. Bring it on.

Just the kind of article that

Just the kind of article that I look out for, since living 8000 miles away from the prototype makes it difficult to get the little details right.

More pictures and ideas for back of buldings

  I wrote the article in 2011, I have never stopped getting information and pictures ,so I am updating or adding information onto the article. This picture is at the extreme end of modeling a prototype, but I really like the look. Tar paper, Corrigated metal, It looks like a old door. More to come.

Roof Details, More

Having lived in Fl. for the last 38 years I had not seen these before. Even living in PA. never saw these. As we where traveling across the country by rail I saw these on a roof of a station out west. I thought what a great detail to put on a roof. From what I found out it keeps the ice from coming down in a sheet and hitting you.Thought it was neat. 

Similar devices are common on

Similar devices are common on raised seam sheet  metal roofs here in Ohio, particularly on businesses. 

Thanks for information, Today building

Todays building or idea is front of the buildingor could be the back. The awning above the 1st floor gives it a unique look. Look at the crawl space and  the type of block. You do not see that very often. Also if you live in the south ventilation blocks for air movement.This would make a neat looking building.