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Filling in a big gap with a large kitbashed building flat Journals/Blogs
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Active Member 86 posts kengoudsward Active Member 86 posts
kengoudsward

Downtown Freemantle has a pretty big gap in the scenic backdrop. We need to fill it up somehow, and what better way than a kitbashed building flat?!

So here's the "before" picture:

tkitbash.jpg 

As you can clearly see, we have propped up several sections of a variety of building kits, which are now destined to become our new backdrop.  The idea for this area was inspired by an old section of Vancouver where the train yard has expanded into the space behind the historic "Gastown" neighborhood. The building flats will represent the rear of these old buildings, so for most of the sections we have selected more plain sections without a lot of fancy decoration and with doors and windows that would look at home in an alley rather than a street front.  Most of the panels are actually the sides or back of the building from the original kit. The exception to this rule is the section near the far right, which is the front panel from a DPM "Goodfellows Hall" kit. I envision this as the back entrance to a historic hotel which would have an even fancier front facade on the main street side.

Drop by later to see how the project progresses! 
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Muskoka Steve Active Member 64 posts
Muskoka Steve

Try Radical Flats?

 

I just mounted some backdrops that I purchased from Radical Flats (from Kingmill.com).  I mounted them on foam core.  I think they look really good and if you are just putting the buildings right against the wall, they are a good option.  If you were going to set them out an inch or so, and light them from behind, then the actual structures could look more realistic.  With a few of my flats, I've added docks and canopies, and this really enhances the 3D effect.

 

In this picture there is a Radical Flat building in the foreground, then a kitbashed structure, and then some more Radical Flats.  They come as individual buildings that you can use as singles or mount in a series.

Regards,

Steve

Steve J

Muskoka Central RR

Cambridge, ON

crossing.jpg 
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kengoudsward Active Member 86 posts
kengoudsward

Radical indeed!

Steve, those radical flats look great - I will check that out for future projects. Thanks for the tip

- Ken
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Benny MRH Author 7,125 posts
Benny

Ken, I would not use the

Ken, I would not use the building piece that is the street side piece, not here at least.  It's simply inappropriate for the scene.  The rest would work, and it would work even more if you put a fence along in fornt of them so we can't see their yards.

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits
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doc-in-ct Regular poster 268 posts
doc-in-ct

scenic detailing the flats

The following pictures are from Stafford Springs, CT.  The track is still in use.
The track side area is surprisingly clean and uncluttered.

Alan

IMG_1174.jpg 

IMG_1178.jpg 

Alan T.
Co-Owner of the CT River Valley RR - a contemporary HO scale layout of Western & Northern CT, and Western Mass.  In the design stage; Waterbury CT.
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kengoudsward Active Member 86 posts
kengoudsward

front?

Benny - you are right! however I like the look of it and so the story is that it's the back of an aging hotel built 100 years ago when everything was real fancy (the front of the building being even MORE fancy, AND the hotel caters in large part to the railroad crews, so they keep up an inviting appearance even on the back, because that's where the rail crew enters.

Yeah, I know it's a bit of a stretch, but whatever

Alan - nice pictures, thanks! That area would be prime for some head on photos for use as photo flats!

btw - part 2 coming soon, maybe tonight

 
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Benny MRH Author 7,125 posts
Benny

...

Even if that hotel was built in a fancy era, the back would still not be anywhere near that fancy.

Best save it for where you have a street front that only allows a thin backdrop.

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits
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kengoudsward Active Member 86 posts
kengoudsward

i agree with you Benny - but

i agree with you Benny - but i'm using it anyway

and now I 'm naming the hotel lounge after you

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