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Model railroading is an area where a lot of different techniques and materials come into play and a collection of tips can be a real help. | ||
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Putting Up A New Front; Customize With Awning. | ||
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You can customize (and add depth) to almost any wall surface by providing windows with overhanging awnings, air conditioning units and fans. The traditional canvas awnings on ground floor windows sheltered sidewalk produce and merchandise racks, and shaded storefront windows - a welcome relief in hot weather.
Today, modern, fixed-frame awnings are more for style than for function. But just like you can use a computer to produce wall materials for such buildings, the same computer and printer will help you "sew" up your own miniature sets of awnings. Making traditional canvas awnings is easy using a computer with a painting/drawing application and a printer.
Typically, they had alternating wide color stripes (usually off-white and another color). They can be printed on regular thin paper and cut to fit. Leave the edges straight or add scalloped or pointed edges using pinking shears or scissors that cut patterns (available at craft and scrapbooking stores) for extra detail. Cement them to the front of your buildings by edge-gluing them, or leave a small gluing tab underneath.
Canvas awnings usually extend 5-10 feet from the wall. Making fixed-frame awnings is a little trickier. If they're angular, print them on cardstock or laminate printed graphics to thin sheet styrene, this way they'll hold their shape. Cut them out and fold the ends. Leave gluing tabs or edge-glue them to your building wall. Umbrella (rounded) awnings can be made out of painted, vacuum-formed plastic spheres sized just larger than the width of your window. In some scales they’re also available as castings that can be attached to building walls.
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