Master Builder - Structures Certificate and Lessons learned

In November 2006, after sending all documentation together with a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) to my AP chair, I received my first certificate in the Achievement Programm of the NMRA. In three years I had built the twelve required structures and submitted them for judging at either a convention or NMRA sponsored event.

In my previous posts I listed the structures which earned a Merit Award first and followed by those not getting the minimum score. I must admit that the models were not judged in this order. As I tried out various techniques, some were more sophisticated than others and thus made the difference between Merit Award or not. This is also the reason why I submitted them all to the judges.

Twelve structures are quite a lot and it pays to plan ahead either by choosing the right model and the different construction steps. It is not necessarily the most complicated model that makes it. Even very simple or kitbashed models may earn at least 87.5 points. It depends on how much care is given to construction, detail and finish. If you are not sure, (like I was) try to scratchbuilt all of your models. This places you immediately in a higher level in the judging matrix and therefore to better chances in reaching the score.

Some points to consider:

Choose a structure of your favorite prototype. Chances are that you have a good knowledge about your prototype so that you don't have to research everything anew. Recreating the model following the prototype, with accurate look (prototype plans), paint, letterings etc, you almost get the maximum points in that category. Don't forget to include as much documentation like photos (color if possible) and plans as possible.

Don't assume that the judges know the prototype as well as you do!  

Construction usually is the category with the most available points. There are some specific but often overlooked points, that are normally checked first by the judges.

- Is the model square?
 Out of angle corners or leaning walls make you loose points.

- Are the windows square and in line?
This is probably the toughest thing to achieve.Although there are several ways to model window- and door openings, I always tried to make them a bit smaller so that I could file them square before inserting the window (I always used Grandt Line window and door castings) You may model these also from scratch to earn you more points.

- Are the seams tight?

Try to get a tight fit when joining the walls at the corners. If you include a floor or glue the structure to a base, avoid gaps between the walls and the base. Check if the roof sits tight on the outside walls.

- No glue spots?  

Apply glue very sparingly to avoid that the excess is oozing out.

Details, details, details ....  If possible add an interior to your structure. There are many interior details available, ranging from furniture to workshop installations. But of course you may also build them from scratch.
Take a close look at the prototype or the pictures. There are power meters, gutters, downspouts, antennae, lights (usually over doors) and don't forget the door knobs. 

Also take care of the finish. I usually use an airbrush to paint my models because it gives a thinner and more even coat than with a simple brush. This might work better on wooden structures than on styrene where the brush tends to leave paint streaks.
Finally give your model at least a subtle weathering. The structures we model are usually a couple of decades old, so at least the parts that are exposed to the elements must be weathered i.e roof, chimney, walls near the ground (rain splashes against the wall)
On wooden structures, the boards are normally nailed or screwed to their supports. So inculding the nail holes adds you points. There are punching wheels with different spacing of the spikes for easy punching along a straight edge. But you may as well use a fine tipped pen or a needle to punch the holes. Always use a ruler or straight edge to keep in line with the support underneath.

Good luck and have fun building your next structure.

Structure Models 8 - 12

The following models did not win a Merit Award, but they were essential for the diversity in models that are required. Some were also build to go on my home layout or on modules. On some I also tried new techniques like cnc- and lasercutting.

ATSF Concrete Bunkhouse in Summit, California (Cajon Pass)

Styrene construction with Grandt Line Doors and windows, no interior. (78 points)

***

ATSF Mission style depot in San Juan Capistrano, California

This depot was my first attempt in lasercutting. I laminated brick sheet to the plain wood walls.
I shaped the cupola from a chunk of balsa wood, and also created the decals myself.

I did not weather the model and that cost me some point in the finish category. (79 points)
The depot will be placed on my homelayout depicting the Santa Fe Surf Line from LA to San Diego.

ATSF Freight House San Juan Capistrano, California

The prototype still stands, together with the depot, and is part of Sarducci's restaurant today.

Straight forward construction from wood sheet and strip wood. I applied a light weathering.

This is a relatively simple model, so it received the lowest score. (58 points)


ATSF Depot in Hermosa Beach, California

 Unfortunately this depot was demolished in 1968 and today there are no tracks any more.

This was my second try at lasercutting. An interior will be installed later

I've build the porch from bits of stripwood and cardstock covered with spanish tile plastic sheet.

The platform was scratchbuild using strip wood. I covered the depot walls with putty to simulate stucco.

This relatively simple depot will be the centerpiece of my Hermosa Beach module.

It scored only 67 points.

ATSF Standard Section House

This tiny shed was completely build up using Evergreen styrene, as you can see.

I even included an interior with workbench and tool racks

and placed it on a diorama base with handcar and track workers.

Nevertheless it scored only with 79 points.

These models were build in between of the first 7 that earned Merit Awards. They are listed here to document the different types of structures I have build to meet the requirements.

Although YOU don't have to get ALL models judged, I did it. I had to write model descriptions anyway, so why not present them to the judges. At least I learned what made the actual scores and tried to improve the next models using the advice given by the judges.

Structure Model 7 - Country Road Bridge

With 6 models receiving Merit Awards and scores of at least 87.5 points the requirements were fulfilled except for one structure - a bridge.


You must construct twelve scale structures:

1.      At least six different types of structures must be represented in the total.

2.      One of the six types must be a bridge or trestle.

3.      At least six of the models must be scratch built.

I browsed my Kalmbach book "Bridges and Trestles" and nearly at the end I found what I wanted to build - another very tiny structure - a small country road A-frame bridge.

 

I stained my strip wood pieces with a mix of black india ink and isopropyl alcohol.

 

Assembled everything, punched nail holes with my punch wheel and added the trusses.

In this view the separately stained boards are shown.

Again I build a small diorama for the bridge.

At the BR convention in Kegworth, the bridge received 90 points and another Merit Award.

Construction: 28/40
Detail: 11/20
Conformity: 23/25
Finish: 15/25
Scratchbuilding: 13/15

Structure Model 6 - D&RGW Ore Loading Platform

Nothing looks like wood than wood! That is my belief and therefore I decided on my next structure model to be a very tiny ore loading ramp that once stood in Colorado, or maybe there are still some rotting remains of it today.

The plan was published in Model Railroader Magazine.

I could not build this ramp as a stand-alone structure because I could not figure out how to keep all the posts and crossbraces from falling apart before the glue had set. So I drilled appropriate holes in a plywood base and planted the upright posts in place. Then I added the cross braces and the planks.

 This time I stained the planks before gluing them in place.

 I also made the ramp moveable.

The ramp was lowered on the railroad car (omitted here) and a truck backed onto the ramp and dumped their cargo into the ore car.

A wood beam is fixed at the edge of the ramp to keep the trucks from rolling off the ramp.

This probably was my masterpiece because it earned me 105 points out of 125.

Construction: 38/40
Detail: 15/20
Conformity: 21/25
Finish: 18/25
Scratchbuilding: 13/15

You see, the smallest structure earned me the highest score.

Structure Model 5 - Saloon ca. 1880

After the success with a wooden structure I wanted to build a house board-by-board.

I used the plan of one of my Alpine Models cardboard kits for the dimensions of the building and decided on a false front saloon ca. 1880.

First I constructed a frame from strip wood

Than I glued stripwood onto the frame each board overlapping the other

Then I assembled the 4 walls, roof and porch

Painted, weathered and applied dry transfers

To show how I had build up the walls, the structure had to be removable, but then it lacked an interior. So I decided to include a counter and some tables, stove, chimney etc.

The saloon scored 93 points

Construction: 30/40
Detail: 18/20
Conformity: 13/25
Finish: 20/25
Scratchbuilding: 12/15

Structure Model 4 - ATSF Automobile Unloading Ramp

After all this building with styrene, I wanted to try my hand on a totally scratchbuild structure. I also wanted to use strip wood instead of styrene. To find a suitable structure I browsed my Santa Fe plans and decided on a Standard Automobile Unloading Platform.

These ramps were completely build up with wood planks. That's what I did. I literally build it up board-by-board using the standard plan. As every board that I cut counted toward 1 scratchbuild part, I cannot tell how many I've glued to that ramp.

I painted the sideboards Colonial Yellow and weathered the planks with a mix of black india ink and isopropyl alcohol. I also punched nailholes where the planks touched the frame timbers.

The platform is used with 2 tracks. Both are for head-end unloading and one for side unloading.

The track bumpers are incorporated into the platform.

 
Although this is not a very fancy structure, it brought me the highest score until then, 97 points

Construction: 35/40
Detail: 12/20 (there is not much to it)
Conformity: 22/25
Finish: 13/25 (OK I did not stain the planks before I installed them)
Scratchbuilding: 15/15 (there were no commercial parts)

Structure Model 3 - ATSF Depot in Newton, Kansas

My third model was also a Santa Fe depot. The first wood frame depot in Newton Kansas from 1871.

I used the drawings and construction article from Lloyd Giebner that was published in a 1956 Modelrailroader magazine. Back then all structures were build from cardboard or strip wood. I used Evergreen styrene again.

Construction was very straight forward. The walls and roof are build from styrene and for the freight platforms I used wood strips

 

Unfortunately I did not include an interior, and guess what ? again it only took 77 points in judging.

I reworked the interior and added acouple of signs and figures

A year later the judges rewarded my additional efforts and kicked it to 88 points

Construction: 18/40
Detail: 14/20
Conformity: 22/25
Finish: 20/25
Scratchbuild: 14/15

Lessons learned:

It is always worth reworking a model and by doing so, you usually get the needed 87.5 or 88 points. But it sometimes also shows that many details are hard to add later. Its better to plan them in right from the beginning. The score shows the defficiencies. You cannot change much to the score in construction, because the main structure cannot be altered later. When building from a prototype it is easier to provide good documentation, and getting a good score in conformity. The same counts for the finish, if you take prototype pictures and try to get as close as possible with the paint and weathering.

 

Structure Model 2 - ATSF Sanding Tower in San Bernardino, California

Almost the same time as the Protection depot I started another structure, which I could not take with my on my carry on baggage to the US, so I presented it also at the British Region convention in Kegworth.

The Santa Fe Sandhouse that ones stood in San Bernardino is a very impressive structure with a large sandbin and sanding tracks along both sides of it.

To build it I used the plans from Peter Youngbloods book "Modeling Cajon Pass"

Like on most of my structures I used Evergreen Sheet Styrene.

The Sandhouse received 96 points in the AP judging and took 1st place in the contest.

Here's the score:

Construction: 32/40
Detail: 17/20
Conformity: 20/25
Finish: 16/25
Scratchbuilding: 11/15