Building a G Scale (1/2" = 1 foot) Building from Foam

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One of the iconic things you see in old Italian villages are these buildings with passageways that lead to other streets.  Building a scale model of a building with a passageway gave me the opportunity to try out mirrors on my model railway.  Mirrors have been used by some of the more famous model railroaders to create the illusion that your train layout go beyond the confines of the tabletop.  I wanted to try it to see if I could fool viewers that my train is bigger than it really is.  

Building the Building

As always I start my buildings with full scale mock ups made from foam core.  I put them on the model railroad to see how they fit, I often cut parts off or add things until I like the mass of it.  As I get close to starting the project I look on the internet for more ideas to inspire my to create a unique model.  I usually visualize the finished model in my mind and try to build towards it.  

I then cut a piece of blue foam to size with a utility knife.  Then I measured and cut the window and archway openings.  After that I use a t-square to cut a gazillion bricks about 2mm high by 8mm wide.  Using a piece of plastic or metal blades I widen the slices so the bricks take a slight rounded  shape.  I do not carve brick under the plaster that will later be shaped to simulate decaying stucco.  Watch the video.

Cobblestones

Part 2 video shows how I used the same hand carving techniques using blue foam to make cobblestones. I have been asked why I just use a Greenstuff roller.  While it is a really good option, I like hand carving because the carving creates deeper impressions and more random effects. but the rollers is a good option. Well I put on music and made coffee and over an hour of time I had all the cobblestones I needed.    it came out really well but I goofed up when I used Tamiya putty to fill small gaps.  What I didn't realize until it was too late, the putty instead of filling gaps it opened big gaps by melting the blue foam, obliterating a 1/2 inch of my hand carved stones.  Luckily I acted quick enough to scoop out the paste to minimize the damage. 

I added little details like a rain gutter with vegetation growing out of the gutter.   Next time I will add a Front Surface Mirror to see if I can create the illusion that the passage way goes on for a good distance.  

Other details on the agenda is a small amount of interior detail, doors for the balcony, railings for the balcony and maybe laundry hanging from the balcony.  And people in the doorway and a possible dog relieving himself.  

5/28/22: I continued working on my building project by adding interior details like a bed,achest of drawers and wallpaper. I added to green doors made of plastic with plastic strips glued over them in several layers.  

I start the doors by cutting clear plastic from a DVD jewel case that I have laying around in the hundreds. The case is thick and is a good base to start making the door in layers.  I cut Evergreen styrene strips to size and glue them on in layers until the door looks realistic from a distance.  After construction the doors the next step is painting them. I paint them by using regular house paint. I the go back and dry brush the weathering.