Prototype Structures: Measurements to Models Kevin Looff Rick Watson November 8, 2008

Site Measurements - Take a friend to help. - Make sure you take lots of photos and notes at the site. - Measure everything! Big and small, you’ll need the info. Use a tape measure, a measuring stick, and anything else that will help you get measurements. - Note the construction materials used.

Tools for the Drawings Pencil and paper or computer with drawing program Pencil and paper or computer with drawing program We will show this using paper and pencil as everyone has access to these and should know how to use them. We will show this using paper and pencil as everyone has access to these and should know how to use them. We tend to use the computer as we are both familiar with various drawing programs. We tend to use the computer as we are both familiar with various drawing programs. Paper can be graph paper or plain, even white butcher paper can be used for larger drawings. Paper can be graph paper or plain, even white butcher paper can be used for larger drawings. There is a web site, where you can set the grid to whatever size you want and print a sheet of graph paper with a grid to match your modeling scale. There is a web site, where you can set the grid to whatever size you want and print a sheet of graph paper with a grid to match your modeling scale. A sharp pencil or mechanical pencil. A sharp pencil or mechanical pencil. A good, large eraser. You will NEED this. A good, large eraser. You will NEED this. Straight edge and if available, a triangle to make perpendicular lines. Straight edge and if available, a triangle to make perpendicular lines. If you have access to a drafting table, it will make your life a bit easier. If you have access to a drafting table, it will make your life a bit easier. Scale ruler for your scale. Scale ruler for your scale. Post-It notepad or painters tape to hold down the paper. Post-It notepad or painters tape to hold down the paper. Calculator, not necessary, but very handy. Calculator, not necessary, but very handy. A good open drawing surface. A good open drawing surface.

Preparation Gather notes, supplies, site drawings, maps, photos of the prototype and your field measurements.

Start with the Floor Plan You will use the floor plan as a starting point. Use your field measurements and photos to design the floor plan. The floor plan is the keystone: All elevations will be built from the floor plan.

Drawing the Freight End View Pick one side of the building to start the drawing. Project lines from the edges of all features. It is recommended to start with a less complex side. In this case, the freight end of the depot is a good starting point.

Drawing the Freight End View Starting by projecting guide lines from the end of the floor plan. The two outside lines represent the edges of the building. The two inside lines represent the freight door opening.

Drawing the Freight End View Draw the base of the building perpendicular to the guide lines Start far enough away from the floor plan to fit the entire side on the sheet or use a separate sheet of paper.

Drawing the Freight End View Add the line representing the roof of the depot. Use your field measurements to determine the proper distance between the roof and the base of structure.

Drawing the Freight End View Connect the base and roof lines to form the walls.

Drawing the Freight End View Add the line representing top of the platform.

Drawing the Freight End View Next is to add the freight door opening The guide lines provide the two vertical sides and the bottom of the doorway is the top of the platform. Add the height of the freight door opening from the field measurements.

Drawing the Freight End View Draw the sides of the freight door opening using the guide lines. This establishes the minimum representation of the depot’s end.

Drawing the Freight End View Details can now be added as desired. In this drawing the door details have been added.

Drawing the Freight End View Next the station name is added to the drawing.

Completing the Freight End View This building has multiple roof heights. Further back, toward the center of the depot, there is another roofline. This is added to complete the freight end elevation view.

Drawing a Second Side The freight end is now complete. In order to form the building, another side will have to be drawn. Next will be the trackside elevation. This is much more complicated than the freight end.

Drawing the Track Side View Position the floor plan so that the projection lines for the walls go down. Draw the guidelines for the walls only. Freight End

Drawing the Track Side View Draw the base for the building perpendicular to the guild lines and far enough away from the floor plan to ensure the highest roof point will not overlap the floor plan.

Drawing the Track Side View Refer to field measurements and photos to add the roof line for each section of the building.

Drawing the Track Side View Next add the vertical lines for the walls.

Drawing the Track Side View Add the guide lines for the doors and windows. **The guide lines for the walls are removed for clarity in the presentation.

Drawing the Track Side View When multiple door and/or windows have openings at the same heights, horizontal guide lines can be useful for drawing the openings.

Drawing the Track Side View Note all the openings on the prototype in the photos.

Drawing the Track Side View Draw the outlines for all the doors and window using the guide lines and field measurements. Refer to photos for reference. Note the different styles of windows and doors used. At this point, we have the minimum needed to build a model.

Drawing the Track Side View The door and window detail can be added if desired.

Drawing the Track Side View Additional details added include the building trim, platform steps, deco trim, and station name. Refer to your notes, photos, and field measurements.

Completing the Track Side View Finally, the patio details were added based on photos, notes and field measurements.

Track Side Views

Completing the Four Elevations Once this process is completed for each of the four sides, you will have a scale representation of your building. This can be used for construction of a model or as a mock up that can be positioned on your layout to check for available real estate!

Get the Measurements Now! In July of 2007, measurements and detail photos of a Pacific Motor Trucking (PMT) transfer shed in Oxnard, CA were captured. I hadn’t planned on doing it, so I ran to Walmart, bought a spiral notebook and an inexpensive tape measure. I went to the site and took photos and detailed measurements. This past September, I was told that the PMT shed was demolished by UP for it’s scrap value!

Questions?