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Some thoughts on Crafting and why I like it! Journals/Blogs
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New member 24 posts OzarkBelt New member 24 posts
OzarkBelt

What is it about making something that is so intriguing? Is it worth spending more time to make something yourself? 

Join me as I discuss crafting/scratchbuilding here. Also, feel free to chime in here or on my blog- what is it about scratch building that appeals to you, or scares you away? 
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IrishRover Prolific poster 1,660 posts
IrishRover

Scratch building

To me, scratch-building is several things.  I enjoy scratch-building, when it also accomplishes something.  I won't scratch-build if I can get a good kit or an RTR unit without breaking the bank.  Some things, thought, just need to be scratch-built.

It is a challenge, and gets me something affordable, like $12 wooden truss rod flat cars, for example.  But, for most buildings, a kit or kitbashing is just fine.
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tommypelley Regular poster 226 posts
tommypelley

my thoughts

I enjoy scratch building because I wind up with a one of a kind model. Doing small layouts affords me the time and resources to scratch build almost everything from structure s to scenery items like trees and shrubs. On my current project only my track and materials have been store bought. Ballast is local dyed sand and scenery is the old paper and plaster method with trees being made from caspia. There's no better feeling than someone seeing your layout and asking where you got a certain model or item and being able to reply with " oh, I made that from scratch."
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musgrovejb Prolific poster 1,716 posts
musgrovejb

Lack of Time

Have a lot of respect for hobbyist who scratch build!  

In this stage of my life I don't have a lot of time to devote to model railroading so prefer building kits.  Although I do perform minor additions and changes to most of the kits I build.  

 

Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENIMVXBDQCrKbhMvsed6kBC8p40GwtxQ

 
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BruceNscale Regular poster 493 posts
BruceNscale

Build to Fit

Hi Ozarkbelt,

Most of my buildings are kits, but I usually scratch build one per city block to exactly fill the space available.

The easiest way is to fit it between two other buildings.  Then you only have to build the front, rear and roof, using the plain side walls of the other buildings.

The real differences for me are in the painting, weathering, signage and animated/lighting effects. 

If you leave off some of the European trim on Pola and Heljen kits, you get a more Americanized appearance.

ignature.jpg 

Happy Modeling, Bruce
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