Thanks for all the compliments gang - this has been a really fun project so far, and I'm looking forward to getting it in place on the layout and scenick'd in. John - I'm modelling the El Cajon CA restaurant (on W. Bradley). This one is closest to my folks house and the one that I frequent when back home in CA, and I didn't realize when I started the project that it's an unusual plan. Perhaps because it's on a small footprint/lot? It's also different from most of the other INO's I've seen in that it's reversed, with the main entrance and kitchen being on the opposite side from 'normal'. Here's a proto photo:
I figured out cheap (always the best solution in my book ...) to make the outdoor tables, using Evergreen styrene I-beam, .100x.080 stock, .020 sheet, and a hole punch. Punch the hole in the sheet styrene, draw a circle around it and cut it out. Cut off a piece of the I beam (used to get a flat top and bottom surface), cut 3 pieces of the stock and angle the ends of 2 of them, glue them to the I beam. Trim off some of the top of the I beam so it won't show, then glue the 'donut' ring to the 3 legs. Once it dries, cut out 3 sections of the bench, glue the table top (the circle cut out w/ the hole punch, trim/file the ends of the legs to an angle and you're done! Here's the materials, with some table tops and 'donut' rings', along with a base (I beam in the middle w/ the legs glued on, cut too long intentionally to make it easier to get the angles right. And here's one finished. I'm working on the patio & parking lot now....
so a friend of my wife's in Texas lives in a town that had an In-N-Outopen today...the drive through had a 3 hour wait. Let's see What-a-Burger do that
This has been just a great thread to watch, thanks Dave. I haven't kicked in much advice because you obviously don't need any! The key is is reinforcing the concept that instead of complaining for a decade or more that something isn't commercially made that you want...man, just start cuttin' & gluin'. With computers to help with the graphics, it's not impossible to get the look right, and most modern buildings are just boxes and flat glass anyway. N leads itself to scratchbuilding these very well. The real artistry here in in stuff like those tables. That's really cool. It's taken me like 20 years to do a six-block section of downtown Flagstaff, AZ. But it was sure worth it, eating away at it building-by-building, replacing stand-in plastic kits with the real structures.
Me too, and a double double with xtra spread. Gosh, Now I gotta figure out how to get to so-cal from germany.....DAMN YOU!!!:tb-biggrin:
Alas, I didn't get a chance to eat there when I visited LA, though it was on my list. Although I'll admit I did get to see a lot of other things, being my first time in CA. Someday though! But the model looks great, what I especially love are the details you've come up with, I think I'd need a magnifying glass for constructing some of that, and I'm not even that old! Wondering how many scrap pieces of I beam and what not you have laying around so you can experiment and come up with these cool solutions!
A rainy weekend is a drag, but it gives you an excuse to get some work done in the train room . I've got the patio, parking lot, landscaping and other outdoor details in place. I think this is going to be the railfan hangout on the layout. What could be better, eating a double double w/ grilled onions and watching the action roll by on the SP main line right next door .
Ok...it's time someone complains about something...lol. IMHO...the table umbrellas/poles SEEM to be about a scale 8 feet tall. Maybe cut em down to ohhhhh...about 6 feet ? *Everyone hates a critic huh ROFLMAO !!! Dave...words just can't do your scratchbuilding stuff any justice. My hats off to you sir ! :thumbs_up: .