What is cheapest way to get buildings?
- Thread starter Mobi
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railwayman198
Registered
If you want your buildings to be permanently in place in the garden they need to be very tough. Not only weatherproof but able to withstand cats and foxes jumping on them. Tougher still if you have dogs. They need to be heavy enough not to get blown away in a storm. Pola and Piko buildings are expensive but do seem remarkably durable - cheaper plastics go brittle when exposed to the elements. I have made some buildings using perspex, thick plasticard and aluminium. The main problem has been finding the best adhesive to hold the things together. Also some issues of different rates of expansion/contraction when using mixed materials. Any painted surfaces will need a fresh coat every few years, particularly the roof. If you don't mind a lower level of detail the concrete buildings that you can buy from the likes of Tuxcraft and Cain Howley look pretty good if painted well.
An impossible question to answer I'm afraid, it all depends on what you're happy with. If it looks right to you, then it is right.Mobi said:
1/16th is a little on the large side. Many people use 1/18th vehicles and there are thousands of 1/24th vehicles available which many of us use too. But I would advise you to just rely on you're own eyes to start with, otherwise you're likely to get REALLY bogged down. Pick up a few things from charity shops etc. for a couple of quid and put them on your railway. Keep what looks good, anything that you don't like, re-donate them to the charity shop. There will be plenty of time as your railway develops to start refining scales etc.
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
The cheapest way is to build your own. There are a few really good threads on this forum showing how people have gone about it. Mostly they are under this heading but sometimes you'll find them under the scratchbuilding heading. Here's a few that I've been able to track down which might give you some ideas.
[*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/The-Cheapest-Shed-I-Could-Build-m280338 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/Ruined-Mine-m272976 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/A-new-cattle-dock-for-the-WGLR-m248182 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/New-engine-shed-for-Aaron-m241709 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/More-buildings-m235024 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=229363
I'm sure there are other threads which other members might point out to add to this list.
I've also described how I made some of my buildings on my blog. Hopefully they might give you a few ideas. The hardest part is getting started. Once you've made your first building then the next one is a lot easier.
[*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-i-constructed-engine-shed.html [*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-i-made-station-building.html [*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-i-cast-two-concrete-overbridges.html
Another source is of course http://www.atlanticpublishers.com/magazines/garden-rail/ < Link To Garden Rail. If you buy an electronic subscription you get access to back issues going back to 2006 which are searchable. Just did a quick search on 'buildings' and got over 200 hits.
Another source is to download articles from the US Garden Railway magazine. They charge for the privilege but the articles are well detailed and the ideas can be adapted for any location.
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modelt...-downloadable-articles-structures-bridge.html < Link To http://www.kalmbachstore....structures-bridge.html
Hope that helps
Rik
[*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/The-Cheapest-Shed-I-Could-Build-m280338 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/Ruined-Mine-m272976 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/A-new-cattle-dock-for-the-WGLR-m248182 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/New-engine-shed-for-Aaron-m241709 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/More-buildings-m235024 [*]http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=229363
I'm sure there are other threads which other members might point out to add to this list.
I've also described how I made some of my buildings on my blog. Hopefully they might give you a few ideas. The hardest part is getting started. Once you've made your first building then the next one is a lot easier.
[*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-i-constructed-engine-shed.html [*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-i-made-station-building.html [*]http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-i-cast-two-concrete-overbridges.html
Another source is of course http://www.atlanticpublishers.com/magazines/garden-rail/ < Link To Garden Rail. If you buy an electronic subscription you get access to back issues going back to 2006 which are searchable. Just did a quick search on 'buildings' and got over 200 hits.
Another source is to download articles from the US Garden Railway magazine. They charge for the privilege but the articles are well detailed and the ideas can be adapted for any location.
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modelt...-downloadable-articles-structures-bridge.html < Link To http://www.kalmbachstore....structures-bridge.html
Hope that helps
Rik
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
My first station was a concrete slab, a couple of bricks and a concrete capping stone shaped like a roof. All stuff I found in the garden when I first moved in. The 'roof' was recently given to my neigbour and now serves its proper purpose.
I don't have many buildings on my railway. Just 2 Jacksons Minatures ones, and a low relief station I may from a house 'For Sale' sign....
I don't have many buildings on my railway. Just 2 Jacksons Minatures ones, and a low relief station I may from a house 'For Sale' sign....
Eaglecliff
Registered
Peter Jones ""Making Model Buildings for Garden Railways." Buy a copy, or get it from your local library. "Practical Garden Railways" by the same author contains his basic ideas which the first-mentioned book deals with in much more detail, but the second is better as an inspirational starter book for beginners, covering a much wider range of topics.
garrymartin
My Family,Railways, Beer and the Seaside
I would say keep the number of buildings to a minimum and use plants to create an suitable environment for your railway to exist in. Keep in mind that to look life like compared to your stock you will need to choose small leaved plants. The money saved could then be used for a few higher quality buildings. Most railways travel for miles without any buildings in close proximity 
Madman
Registered
I must agree with Phillip on buying quality. In the long run it is the "cheapest way to get buildings".
And also with Gary. Keep your buildings to a minimum. That way you won't spend a fortune on too many structures. And depending on you outlook, you won't clutter the garden with too many toys.
I've been at this hobby for over twenty years and both of the above mentioned points were learned through personal experience.
And also with Gary. Keep your buildings to a minimum. That way you won't spend a fortune on too many structures. And depending on you outlook, you won't clutter the garden with too many toys.
I've been at this hobby for over twenty years and both of the above mentioned points were learned through personal experience.
Well, it depends on your definition of 'cheap'. If you mean inexpensive then no ready made building from a kit manufacturer will suit you. If you mean cheap as in really really cheap then you get what you pay for.
The best value dollar for dollar are the excellent range of Aristo-Craft outdoor buildings. I am referring to the early range with their solid thick plastic mouldings, not the later flimsy light vinyl film rubbish.
The Aristo buildings (the early ones, like the station and freight depot and two storey dwelling are indestructible. Mine have been outside for years with minimal deterioration such as slight colour fading. You would need an axe if you wanted to disassemble these buildings. These early buildings are the best value ready made structures available.
Remember you get what you pay for. My $100.00 station and freight depot buildings have been outside nigh on ten years and are almost as good as when purchased. Work that out on a daily basis and they are a bargain.
For other than 'American' outline then that is when the wallet will need to be emptied.
The best value dollar for dollar are the excellent range of Aristo-Craft outdoor buildings. I am referring to the early range with their solid thick plastic mouldings, not the later flimsy light vinyl film rubbish.
The Aristo buildings (the early ones, like the station and freight depot and two storey dwelling are indestructible. Mine have been outside for years with minimal deterioration such as slight colour fading. You would need an axe if you wanted to disassemble these buildings. These early buildings are the best value ready made structures available.
Remember you get what you pay for. My $100.00 station and freight depot buildings have been outside nigh on ten years and are almost as good as when purchased. Work that out on a daily basis and they are a bargain.
For other than 'American' outline then that is when the wallet will need to be emptied.
playmofire
Registered
I'd go so far as to say that apart from station buildings (and keep those to a minimum too) don't bother with buildings at all. The great advantage of large scale railways is that in the garden nature/the gardener provides the scenery. Indoors, the size of the loco and rolling stock is impressive, so again station buildings and maybe a few low relief items as a backdrop is all that's needed.
gregh
electronics, computers and scratchbuilding
A good cheap material for building your own is Corroflute - the corrugated plastic stuff used for election signs or house for sale signs.
Here's an article on how I used it to make a service station.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=80207&high=lilyvale < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...0207&high=lilyvale
Here's an article on how I used it to make a service station.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=80207&high=lilyvale < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...0207&high=lilyvale
viaEstrecha
Spanish metre gauge in G scale (on the cheap)
If you fancy having a go at self-build, another good product is 'Forex' Classic, which comes in sheet form at 5mm and 10mm thickness and is stable outside. It is fairly easy to cut with a Stanley knife, sticks together with 'Uhu' and takes oil-based, acrylic and masonry paints, and is happy to be scored and roughed up with a wire brush for more realistic surfaces. My designs are freelance but vaguely authentic and I tend to adopt a scale of 1:24 to keep the maths simple! Here's an example - my branch station 'El Boixar':
Good idea Gregh
400Parker
Registered
A few years ago Jackson's Miniatures introduced a range of affordable British outline building kits because there seemed to be a gap in the market. Since then a greater range of buildings has become available, including some in concrete. Quite a few members of this forum have bought our building kits, and some, like Ian Sharples, have adapted them into prize winning designs. The basic buildings use moisture proof mdf which, when treated properly, is quite suitable for outdoor use. We also do plans for buildings and sell the doors and windows separately. The doors are a little small to scale, but by being clever they can appear to be the correct (scale) height. Quite a few scratch builders use our doors and windows, and also the textured plastic sheets we sell, to produce some very attractive buildings. The benefit of using our doors, and especially our windows, rather than making your own, is that they will last, and the glazing bars are extremely fine. The design is also unique in that the frame and glazing bars are separate pieces, which makes painting easy, and there is a rear insert to hold a piece of glazing in place. I've had many compliments about the windows, which is a good endorsement.
Have a look at www.jacksonsminiatures.com/bottomrailway.html for the garden railway buildings
www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_003.html for the doors and windows (and www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_002.html as well), and
www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_004A.html for the textured sheets.
I hope they give you some inspiration.
Steve
Have a look at www.jacksonsminiatures.com/bottomrailway.html for the garden railway buildings
www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_003.html for the doors and windows (and www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_002.html as well), and
www.jacksonsminiatures.com/24_004A.html for the textured sheets.
I hope they give you some inspiration.
Steve
