Foam core pilasters, how did you cover the sides?

Woww, looks fantastic.

How did you cover the sides of the concrete pilasters? As these are made of foam core as well (I assume), you had to cover the foam core there as well. Did you use styrene strips? Or cardboard?

They definitely give the whole structure the necessary no nonsense industrial look. Great! And thanks for sharing.

Well done.

I agree with Mike. Building looks perfect. Boring, practical, concrete and awesome. Please show us your technique for covering up the exposed foam. 

Thank you guys

nothing hi tech, literally "painted" the exposed edges with PVA (white glue) before spraying the whole model with acrylic white undercoat.

thank you again, stay safe everyone.

Beautiful

Great looking structure, Lyndon.  I’ve used foamcore as the base for structures before, but not a finished facade.  It really fits the LA setting.

One of a kind

Nice job at a "one of a kind' project.

You can't beat scratch-building on your layout to speak,  "one of a kind layout".

One reason years ago I decided to always kit-bash all my buildings.  Saw the same building many times on train show layouts.

Boudreaux,  B.C.E.  R.R.

The eyes have it,  the ears know it!

Lyndon

That looks very impressive - nice job!

Question:  how did you fabricate the canopy supports (those angled braces from the building down to the canopy's outer edge)?  Every time I try to do that, using wire, mine never turn out as straight as yours appear.

Thanks,

Al Carter, Mount Vernon, WA

Very well done

Hi Lyndon,

This building looks fantastic ! A lot of 'caracter' - indeed 'one of a kind'.

Thanks for sharing and the additional info on the building details.

Greetings & happy model railroading.

Filip

Al Carter, see page 85 in Dec. 2020 issue of MRH.

There is a YouTube video of a method to use to straighten music wire that I think is just what you need.

As always

Lyndon.......you've got the "touch"

Thanks again guys

@ Al Carter: had no problem with the wire stays, I used straight wire to begin with. i.e. K&S #8160 brass rod.

Next job: finish the Supermarket. Hey Rick Sutton: probably will be an Alpha Beta or a Ralphs. What do you think?

The Dude says

Ralphs!

First store in Westwood.

@Rick, Russ, Lyndon

Rick, now, that would be a challenge to build!  Well, for most of us mere mortals, anyway.  But for you?  Just a cakewalk!

Russ, thanks for the tip - I had seen that article, but never connected it to making these supports (I had been trying to use floral wire, which is easily bent, not so easily straightened).

Lyndon, brass rod - of course!  It takes a lot more effort to bend it than the floral wire.  How do you affix the rods to the wall and the canopy?  Just surface glue, or do they penetrate the surfaces, so they actually help support the canopy?

Al Carter, Mount Vernon, WA

I'm partial to Alpha Beta.

My grand father came over from Greece around 1900.  He had a produce cart in Oakland in 1910, and then later moved to So Cal where he bought a bunch of property in Norco and planted vinyards and fruit trees.  He sold the fruit in grocery stores around L.A.  He met a fellow Greek who had translated his Greek name to White and had a fish market.  My grandfather talked him into taking some produce to see how it sold.  The produce sold better than the fish, and he decided to open a second store.  He asked my grandfather to be a partner and run the second store for him.  My grandfather said I'm a farmer and produce seller, I don't know anything about running a store.

That fish market became Alpha Beta!

"Affixing the rods"?

Al, the rod actually does penetrate the wall and it and the "steel anchor plate" (Evergreen styrene strip) is glued in the wall with Weldbond universal adhesive. It is not glued into the canopy as the canopy itself was glued onto the wall and is self supporting.

As per the Supermarket naming, one vote for Alpha Beta and one for Ralph's? . . . Decisions, decisions! I do like Russ Bellinis's story though.

PVA and white glue

Wow. Covering the visible foam core with but those two materials to create such a smooth surface, respect! I will give that method a try. As fitting lots of small cardboard or styrene strips to the sides is nothing I would like to spend my time with. Thanks again for sharing. All the best, mike.

@mike41

just to clarify. Here in Australia, "white glue" is often marketed as "PVA". So, it is not two different types of glue. I am guessing in the USA it could be the same as Elmers? Anyway, I just simply "painted" the exposed edges with the white glue. Left the glue to dry overnight. I did try painting a scrap section of foamcore with Rustoleum and got a horrible result, so that is why I undercoated the whole finished structure with acrylic based paint. Weathering was done with both artists acrylics and pastels. Door frames and roof trim are cardboard. Doors are styrene. Roof was finished with black EVA foam.

Update

Updated my National Ice structure. Wasn't happy with the corrugated metal sheeting on the awnings and removed and replaced some panels. Also, added some lighting. Warm white LEDs under the awnings and cool white interior. Makes it look cold inside. Also did some landscaping, added a Walthers bumper and ballasted the siding. Still to do the other side of the tracks, so will hold off ballasting the main line until that is done.

Happy New Year everyone and stay safe by keeping model railroading!

Great Job!

Love this building. Workmanship is outstanding. 

Fantastic work!!!

Congratulations Lyndon for the work you ve done! It really looks great, and lighting makes it even more picturesque.

AB  (Alpha Beta) is indeed one of the major (one of the biggest) of Greek supermarket firms (Russ i did not know you had Greek heritage).

Cold on the inside

Darn Tootin'

 As a youngster I have many memories of the insides of packing houses, particularly Sunkist citrus facilities. The very first thing that hits you when you enter is the thick cold damp air absolutely loaded with the fragrance of freshly picked oranges. It's not subtle.

 You never forget it.

Your model really brings back good memories.

A work of Art.

Also as a nighttime lighting fan I love your light addition especially the cracked open door.

Most people think my name is Italian.

Italian would be Bellini as in the drink.  Most Greek names end in "s".  My Grandfather on my father's side came over from Greece sometime around the turn of the 20th century.