This is a model of Mom and Dad's house in Port Vue, PA, where I grew up.

This was the very first attempt of mine to scratchbuild anything. This was about 10 years ago maybe, probably longer. Believe me, I knew just about nothing relative to what kind of supplies were available, good techniques, etc. I didn't even know at the time that you could buy supplies somewhere besides a hobby shop! Talk about naive!

I was making stuff up as I went along!

I built this using 2 photographs, my memory, and 4 measurements. I guessed about a lot of things.

BTW: these images are digital pictures that I took of film prints, so the quality is lacking at times. Sorry about that but after taking each picture many times, these are the best that I could do.

The goal:


Bracing:


Bracing:


fitting the roof:


the front, no porch yet:


chimney base:


The "brick" is actually clapboard sideing that I tried to make look like brick - that's how very little I knew about available materials!!!


Porch roof supports. Each post is 3 separate pieces glued together.


The sidewalk. Terrible picture.


Softening the styrene to form downspouts. I read of this technique in Model RR. Use a candle and form a cone from a tin can. Worked well.










I have a few others that I will post later. Didn't want to bore you too much all at once!

- walt

This message has been edited. Last edited by: walt rapp,

Absolutely awesome. You just have a natural talent and a remarkable eye. Excellent work.

Fabulous job!

That looks Great! Thanks for sharing!
Kurt

Great looking Walt! And I think that it is so cool that you have the house that you grew up in on your layout.

Walt, it looks superb!

You do have a special talent.

Keep showing us your projects cause I love seeing them.

Lyle

Walt, that is fabulous! Your work really inspires me. After seeing your work and CSX Al's of scratch building real homes, I can't wait to get started myself. This is what makes this forum so great in my opinion. I can do without all the complaining about York and bashing of Lionel or MTH and just compare notes about how to make better models.

I had not considered making a model of the home I grew up in, but I definitely will now. My boyhood home is a perfect one to model as it is all wood construction and small. I can even model the big Elm tree that was in the front yard before the Dutch Elm disease eliminated it. And the "spite fence" that my Dad erected between our house and the neighbors.

Thank you so much for this posting and the inspiration that it gives me!



Art

Very nice work. For someone who doesn't know what he's doing you put out some great stuff.

Gene Anstine

Thanks for those kind words

I just thought of something: the picture of the actual house was taken about 6 or 7 years AFTER I built the model. The shingles were black at the time I made the model.

Also, my daugther, who would have been around 12 or 13 at the time, spent 3 weeks getting the correct shade of green figured out!

Here's the final batch. My home-made case for it and where I display it when it's not on the layout:









Our street was Monroe Avenue




The gold plaque showing the address was a gift from my son


I had trainsformations make models of each of my family members, spouses, and kids. The Nash was the car that Dad owned when they first bought the house. It took me a LONG time to find an 'O' scale version! $112 as I recall but worth it.


- walt

WALT WOW! that is fantastic work!!

GREAT STUFF! still raising the bar walt ... didnt think it could get any better after that last build you posted, but you've done it again! thanks for posting your wonderful work.

Very impressive!

Rand

Great, Walt!! Keep boring us, I could use more boredom like this!

Beautifully done, Walt! What a great way to keep memories alive!

I'm kinda humbled by your (well appreciated) comments because of the amazing work that I've seen of yours.

in the next whatever timeframe, I have some other things that I made of personal importance that I will share - with better in-progress pictures and descriptions than included with this project. Here are 3:

This one is a 1/2" scale model of the gazebo that my son got married in. I was extremely honored to make this one because my then to be daughter in law asked it I could make a model of it so that they could use it as their wedding cake topper. GOD - I glowed when I saw it at the wedding!!!! I know I'm sorta bragging, but I was so proud and honered.

I like this picture because of the placement of images of my son and his wife. I took a picture of them from the correct distance and used it to take this picture. It, to me, makes it look so real!


This is my little house. I have it modeled outside and inside and humbly state that it's my best model. When I was building it I constantly ran outside to take new measurements. Every part of this model is dead on. I'll show the inside too, modeled furniture and all, when I post it:


This is the model I made of my brother's house. I could say it's my best model relative to the complexity of building it. I have many in progress shots of it too:


I've made a few other things too and want to share them with you.

- walt

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......Wow, you put a lot of time into these houses Walt. You should be proud of them. They look GREAT!

Walt,

Your talent for this is amazing! This might be a profitable second job for you!

I am sure people who are not even into trains would like to have their memories preserved like this.

Keep up the great work!

Mark

Mark,

Kind words for sure. Thanks.

I see you're from PGH, as I am. If you live in the North Hills, or have been to North Park, here's a model of Grant Grove that I made for myself. Maybe you recognize the style:



Except for a barn that I made, everythign that I've made so far has had a personal connection. This grove did too.

- walt

All I can say is "I wish I had a portion of the talent, and the patience required to reproduce models of this quality". Absolutely a true gift.

Revitupfaster

quote:

Originally posted by walt rapp:
This is the model I made of my brother's house. I could say it's my best model relative to the complexity of building it. I have many in progress shots of it too:

Come on, Walt, 'fess up!! That's a real house, not a model!

In all seriousness Walt, if I had your talent, I wouldn't be wasting my time and money on MTH buildings and other "pre-made" fronts and structures. Your patience, skills, and resourcefulness are remarkable. Thanks for sharing.

Walt, That version of your brother's house is fantastic. I would really be interested in seeing some more of that as I'm about to embark on scratch building a brick building.

Gene Anstine

springoflife: Thanks. But the dead give away ALL of the time is the shrubbery. I try but just can't hide that it's not real bushes and trees. BTW: I've never bought an MTH building or a commercial flat.

Gene: Thanks - I'll do a thread on my brother's house next. I was going to do the gazebo but it doesn't matter to me.

The delay comes in that I only have film prints. I have to take digital photos of them and they don't always come out well on the 1st 2nd 3rd.... try

I have so many in progress ones that I might have to create 2 threads

- walt

Walt,

I have seen this before and you have done a remarkable job with it!

I live in the South Hills area (Brentwood), but have been to North Park

a number of times.

Thanks for the photos,

Mark

Great stuff Walt. You talent shows in your work.