Thanks Matt and agreed on the wall tabs, specifically on the corner edges. Although I must say, I have had some success with kits that have corner edge tabs if both walls are brick. A little crafty painting and you can get lucky in some cases. Now, as Scott noted as well, lower tabs to the base and then to the roof would be more viable, and may be considered for a future project or a re-cut of this kit. But agreed as well, I also prefer to use plastic sprue/Evergreen strip/anything that is square on the lower edges and inside corners to secure up the walls. I think some of that is evident in the pics above. OH, and the material being used is relatively thin Polybak (laserboard) in .60MM, and thus far no "major" warpage to speak of, although smaller short pieces like these walls and base are less likely to warp. Although one does have to be cognizant of using acrylic. Thanks Scott, and noted on the glass. I probably would not go to this much trouble on a structure that cannot be "peered" into from multiple sides. This cafe' has alot of windows that would show any inconsistencies in the way the glass was mounted. As for this era, indeed there are so many many many prospects for fun buildings, but so little time.... And I can't build as fast as Robert Ray either. It takes me longer to butter a piece of toast, than it does him to whip out a complete building with lights and all......
Phil, Ummmm just as soon as they become available in Z-scale.... Acutally, my laser cutter is not commercial grade. I'm just using a low dollar ORTUR desktop 15W unit, with several upgrades. Although, I may move up to what the "big boys" use sooner than later if I keep designing and cutting. And if they do become available in N-scale, you'll be the first to know! Lance
Dang, I feel like a teller at SILICON VALLEY BANK, and I am experiencing a run.....well in this case a run on production requests that is..... Once I complete this build, it will give me a clear indication of what volume my laser is capable of kicking out. Again, it's basic, but capable. Plus, I will need to work out those little quirks and ensure assembly is simple and repeatable every time for others.
Finally, finding the time to post some follow on build pics of “our” CLUB CAFE. INTERIOR The postcard for this café states that it has a western theme, so I’m trying to create one as best I can from that era, primarily using color. Starting off is the creation of the booths. I used pieces of H beam combined to create the booths and then laser cut tops for each one to look more like wood by using unpainted laserboard/Polybak. In this photo, you see the standard styrene H beam at the lower apart of the pic, and then the trimmed pieces near the top. As you can see, I just trimmed on side off, leaving a little material for gluing. Nothing precise or exact here mind you, just cut a little material off. Next, I glued the cut pieces to the center of the non-cut H-beam piece. These look more like Star Wars, X-Wing fighter’s than a booth, but when you glue five together, now you have a row of booths for a restaurant. And below, a nice shot of what unpainted the booths look like through the front window. Booth configuration was then painted tan, with top installed. …..a few of the interior walls laser cut and striped (etched) using the laser. The idea here was to represent some form of wall paper of the era. And the below, shows the interior coming together, complete with entrance counter/cash register stand, curtains on the windows behind it, and then the back of the dining room where the food is prepared and served out the. “counter window”. More to follow…..
Sometimes, one bites off more than they can chew. In this case, the interior of this cafe' build has become all consuming with maybe too much detail. I will let you decide. Here are some pics showing the employment of the laser cutter to make tables and chairs. I did a simple seat back design, cut multiples of them, and also used the same table tops I used for the booths. Gluing these together was the challenge, as the positioning and height of each chair would need to be exact, or the table would have a lean to it. I had an idea for a jig to assemble these, but simply resorted to just assembling them ASAP in order to make time. Added paint dots to represent plates and servings of the tables, where the soon to be installed patrons will be sitting. Not sure I am completely happy with these paint dots, but maybe will be once the figures are installed. SIDE NOTE: You will notice I did not spend alot of time triming every seatback, as I figured these were only to provide a simulation of a table, and I am getting anxious to see this build finished. Hi-rez pics obviously bring out a few imperfections here and there. Final assembly will negate most of these minor issues. On another note, for the back of the dining room area where the food prep area in front of the counter window, I simply laser cut two wall panel partitions and jazzed them up with a little trim. Plus added what partially represents a refrig or cooler in the right cornder. I won't go any further with details there. Once the roof is installed, you can barely seem much back there. It's just for the "allusion".
....and one more post showing a "mock-up" of the interior and front wall as well, in order to see if the visual from the exterior is what I intend it to be. Granted, once the roof panels drop on, some, if not much of this extra attention to detail vanishes. So the question remains, is it too much to go to this level once with a buildings interior? Next comes in the final install of the interior, the figures and then begins the next challenge, the drop down ceiling lighting.
Lance, Pretty damn cool! I like your approach, just enough to suggest, but not too much to drive you insane. I like your solutions for the booths and the tables. Scott
I agree with Scott. Very cool. You're doing some really nice work. This is going to look great when completed.........but where are the napkin and menu holders? Loren
Thanks Scott, Thanks Loren. And Loren, in regards to your request for menu holders and napkins, would you settle for knives, forks, and spoons instead??? I’ll see if I can make that happen. Rob, I know you’ve done some crazy cool things with the interiors on your recent builds as well. So you know as well as I do it’s like going down a rabbit hole. Once you start putting in one interior detail, you realize you need this and that and it just snowballs. Oh, and nobody warned me about painting PREISER people!!! EGADS!!! I thought building the tables was a headache.
Well Lance, if you're going to go whole hog, then you gotta consider some salt and pepper shakers. But knowing how some of you guys can do the impossible, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see some tooth picks too........pointed on both ends.
“ Sir, unfortunately “whole hog” is out of season. But today’s your lucky day because we have tunafish sandwiches on special…….” The toothpicks are definitely on the table Loren. You just can’t see them in the pics. Trust me, they’re there.
Trust you?....with the world so messed up I don't even trust myself. Now that is getting real bad, but I along with others who are watching your progress are really looking forward to the finished product, no-one more than Robert Ray, one of the very best out there. You guys keep up the great work and when you go to a train show......if you do, then tease the HO scale guys by telling them. "if you want a challenge, then try Z scale".....anything larger is sand box.
Of course the original cafe photos are from NM..the wind is blowing the hanging signs sideways..and the flag!
