I had a little free time this weekend, and I don't expect to have that much free time again for a very long time, so I decided I should spend some time cutting and bending metal. This is my crude re-interpretation of a tin litho toy building from 1914. The original is smaller than N scale.

I was in a hurry and it shows, but it serves its purpose as a proof of concept.



I still need to cut out the building cornice, but I can (and probably will) use it on the layout as-is until I get around to that. Who says tinplaters can't scratchbuild?

I like it, Dave. Nice approximation of tin litho.

great job! brings back memories

Keep it up! I love looking at scratchbuilt tinplate. Too bad more people aren't giving it a try.

I learned a few things along the way with this one. First, cork-backed rulers are your friend, especially when you have problems drawing straight lines as I do. Second, a decent paint brush gives better control than a paint marker does (the white trim is paint marker). This project would have looked a whole lot better if I'd set it aside a few times for the paint to dry (say, for a day or so), then masked areas off and painted, rather than trying to color within the lines with a brush.

I also wonder what kind of results I might have been able to get if I'd used colored pencils or felt-tip markers instead of paint.

I do plan to build more. The materials for this building cost less than $2. The time is the big commitment. I probably worked 6 hours on it. It might have taken more like 8 to do a really good job on it, but that time commitment probably will go down once I've built a few.

Dave, I love it! You really captured that look, man

I have made several items from tinplate and could show one or two here but don`t know how to add a picture to a message.

Thanks, Brutus. I'm hoping to do more (and better ones next time). I scored some carbon paper this weekend, which will make it a lot easier to do my next one. Remembering what a carpenter's square and a ruler are and why I need them will also help.

Colin, I'm not sure what the easiest way to post an image is, but what I do is upload it elsewhere (I use my own webspace, but something like Shutterfly would probably work), then click the picture icon up top (second from the right) and insert the URL.

Just testing to see if I can upload a picture. If none there just ignore this! Shows a recent project, not scratchbuilt but a conversion of something to represent something else.

No picture, so forget it!

Here you go Colin, you almost had it:

Thanks Rand - I think I omitted to include `jpg` after the photo URL, for some reason copying & pasting would not work. Actually this photo is on my website. Recognise what it is? It is a Hafner loco modified to represent the Hornby loco that was made in the Meccano of America factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1927/28. Then A.C Gilbert bought the factory & production ceased, although the rolling stock continued to be made in England during the 1930s. This so not an exact copy but near enough for my purposes.