One of the most famous WWII plywood boats were the more than 20,000 LCV/P, Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel built by, or under license to Higgins Industries in New Orleans, LA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP Higgins also built 199 PT Boats, also all from plywood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrol_torpedo_boat
Hi Candy, while my attempt is nowhere perfect the black rectangles represent sheets of plywood I use the height of the Ladies room door to estimate the size needed. Many doors are 80 inches tall Gary
Candy: My dad was a sign painter back in the 40's and 50's. He would take me with him once in a while. I recall the building surfaces he painted on were normally 'lapboard' ... much as the lower portions of your building show, or older buildings simply had vertical planks on the facade. I agree, plywood was not used in those years. I don't even know if it had been invented then.
It was my understanding that 'Plywood' was developed by Hughes for his 'Spruce Goose' aircraft in WWII. Until then, there was no plywood industry. As for painting signs, they would have been painted right on the wood surface rather than being on paper. This was supposed to be a permanent sign, thus paint on wood rather than paper.
Love the work you have done Candy, makes me miss my O High Rail layout. Don't forget metal either. American Pickers is always finding metal gas station signs from the 1930 -1950's. Porclien (sp) was used mainly for the main sign, Good Year, Texaco, ect. For your building I would be more inclined to simulate boards rather than plywood. Even though plywood was around then, it might have been pricey. A lot of the old buildings I saw in New Hampshire when I was growing up, used boards for their signs. A building like this would have also had a professional sign painter to ad all those names and logos unlike the modern times where everything is mass produced. In the end, it's your project and you can make it anyway you want Jim
Candy, As already pointed out, the signs would have painted directly on the wooden surface. I believe permanent billboards were the same.
Wow Candy, I think your doing a fantastic job on this project; And I love the interior of the front store and the maintenance bay. BRAVO!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Plywood as we know it today came from WWII. However, use of laminated wood veneers goes way, way back in time. Boxcab E50
I must take pictures of the truck repair building. It's a separate building but made to look like it was one long building. Coming soon Thanks to all for your posts. I've read them all...THANK YOU !!!!!
progress Doing gas pumps has been the hardest thing I done so far. Getting the hose and nozzle on was insane! I almost gave up, but I didn't, and I think it came out okay. I still have to do the hose on the blue pump. Pumps are just placed for photography.
They look very good! :thumbs_up: It's the hard ones that give the most satisfaction once you're done with them.
Woodland Scenics has a set of "Auto Mechanics" figures. Something to think about if this is going to be the busy place I think it is.
