This thread inspired me to try this out, so I did! I quickly made some brick walls on Paint and some windows, and a sign, and... tada! The first structure for my N-Scale layout! Storm Bros. Ice Cream is the name. I still need to work on the edges, but I just taped it together real quick and stuck it on the layout for it's first picture. I plan on putting some brick corner pieces on each corner to cover up the seam, as well as work on some of those lines from the different pieces of paper. But.. for now....
this is a cool thread...BUT there are too many era specific buildings. I model the 1980's, and Polly Gas was dead by then, and on the wrong coast! I would LOVE to see an Arazonian metal cotton gin (I really need one) and onebuilding that I need is a unique bar....http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldgliderguy/5563377160/
Then make one! That's the great thing about paper or cardstock structures. I use Paint.NET, which is similar to Photoshop, but a free version. You can probably google it. Anyways, my structure (above) although not complete, was completely made by myself and what I could find on google images (or on some of these great threads!). That picture of your sign, not only could you reproduce one from that image, but you could even make one yourself (the photo may not be very good for a sign.) I did my best on the sign, but it was a tricky shape. I'd recommend going around it with an X-ACTO knife before placing it on your layout. Best of luck! Alex View attachment 42671
Hey, if you like a building, but the signage is wrong...locate an image of a more appropriate sign, size it to cover the inappropriate billboard, print, cut and glue ! This can be done w/o "fancy" graphics programs...just needs a little time and effort for "Custom" results at an affordable price ! By printing an extra copy or two of a given sheet, a little "kit-bash" can be done to add texture / dimension, or allow "removal" / replacement of doors, windows, signs - almost any feature. Aren't "Clever Models" and several others putting out models / kits based on this methodology (some really nice stuff, too!). Thanks, Tomkat - for all the raw material...it's up to each of us to find our own best way to utilize these bits. Bob C.
"if you like a building, but the signage is wrong...locate an image of a more appropriate sign" Here is the link to my sign tread. You can cover over, add to as you wish. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?114404-More-Signs-for-Your-Layout
Here are some more pictures of how I am using some of these building fronts (or backs) from Tomkat. (I might say that they are easier to print when there aren't so many of them uploaded together.) I worked a little today on the hump yard area...adding another track (where you see the grain hoppers) and adding some flats to the background sky board.
