221 replies to this topic

[Repstock]

Tom, you asked me to re-post these pictures and now you have them. Bring back memories of your days at Clark Mike? My station never got robbed but it was hard keeping a night shift employee.

Thank you for posting these. I now see some of my guesses were wrong, but I see plenty of things I can still get right because of these. Thanks again!

[MikeMc]

Tom, you asked me to re-post these pictures and now you have them. Bring back memories of your days at Clark Mike? My station never got robbed but it was hard keeping a night shift employee.

It was those oil cans..........

Our stations had a barred window straight thru the door, over the built in desk. We had an up right compressor next to the door and our "bell" was over the door....it would wake you up at times......

[Repstock]

The damage to the station has been repaired, time to move on. I appreciate all the help I've gotten from this board, and would like to thank two people in particular. My66S55 for the pictures I requested, and Mike the Maniac for answering endless questions through E-mail. Mike is a very patient man, apparently.

More pics when there's something to show.

[Repstock]

Clark was big into oil sales, so I spent some time with the razor saw and sanding stick. I'll need to build these and the shelves that hold them at the same time, so I decided to get the drudgery over with and cut some rod into what you see before you. Next I will make some decals for various grades of oils, and decorate the cans. More pics when progress warrants it.

[disabled modeler]

I like the sign! Been trying to figure out tracer lights myself but I'm too dumb I guess ? Would be a cool addition to it though ....glad the repairs can be made ok, I am keeping an eye on this one.

[MikeMc]

I'm not sure how I forgot your detailing when oil cans came up....like the soda machine in your last Dio !!

These oil cans will make this a slam dunk!!!

[Kris Morgan]

Tom, Lookin good. Glad the damage was repairable.

[novadose71]

This looks great so far Tom. Have fun with those oil cans .

[Eshaver]

I'm glad Tom has shared pictures of the oil cans as I too have spent hours just doing the same thing . The fun starts when you're sitting there with a couple of Paint markers trying to duplicate a decal in scale ................... Ed Shaver

[Dominik]

thats a really cool built you're making! Great job till yet. i will take a look over your shoulder.

[Repstock]

I've got the cans for the showroom wall pretty much done except for finishing the painting of the shelves. Can decals were made on an inkjet printer. Many more cans needed for stockroom. I may add an oil display rack or two to the showroom as well. These are the only two oil grades for which I could verify the oil can design.

[my66s55]

I don't know if they changed between the time I had my station in 67 and your dio circa 1977, but in my time, the cheap cans of oil were black and white. We stocked the show room shelves with the middle grade silver and white for obvious money reason, and the premium cans of gold and white 10w30's were stacked in a pyramid just behind the two front windows. There were black and white one gallon cans of cheap oil also.

[Futurabat]

Here's one of the reference pics I have. There has been some obvious updating, but the basic station and '70s appearance is intact. This is what I'm going to build, minus the updates.

Man! That looks REALLY familiar!

I'm lovin this build. I just got around to checking out the dioramas section. You've got some serious patience to carve out that brick pattern.

[MikeMc]

I've got the cans for the showroom wall pretty much done except for finishing the painting of the shelves. Can decals were made on an inkjet printer. Many more cans needed for stockroom. I may add an oil display rack or two to the showroom as well. These are the only two oil grades for which I could verify the oil can design.

I don't see price tags......Otherwise those have to be real.....WOWSER TOM!!!

[Johnny]

There is an old Clark Station across the street from us but the building was changed when it went from Clark to a Deep Rock. They squared it up and flattened the roof!
It actually closed as a Deep Rock and was reopened again as a Clark but with the modern signage! It is now a Shell.

All those cans bring back memories of working at the stations as a youngster.
I still have my spout for oil cans in my tool box!

Can't wait to see it done!

[Repstock]

Here's one of the reasons I chose Clark. Here is the Clark station compared to a Texaco station.

Not only are the Clark repairs complete, you can see the progress I've made when I haven't been working on oil cans. My sources gave differing accounts of the floor surface (I'm sure every station wasn't IDENTICAL). I chose the black and white diamond pattern to liven up the place. The showroom glass is plexiglas with plastruct bracing. When I measured the Clark station near my home, I was glared at by the owners of a taco stand who had taken over the lot. (the building was in the process of being sold). They had no legal claim to the building, so I measured it, and took pictures anyway. I don't know how long the building will be there, so I got my numbers while I could.

The Texaco station was started years ago. There was a Texaco station that had been modified to a used car lot a few miles from my home. The building had all the exterior panels intact. I was able to produce accurate drawings as I spent a day measuring everything to the amusement of the owners. The bathrooms were unchanged from the Texaco days, all materials and colors were intact and unaltered. I took quite a few pictures of everything inside and outside. Who knows, someday I may finish it, but it has rather a large footprint for the room I have.

I've also drawn up a Phillip's 66 station (also a large model footprint, even larger than the Texaco), but I haven't been granted permission to photograph the structure inside. Hopefully I can get that done before it's gone. There was a cool Shell station, too, but I waited too long on that one, it's gone.

Both structures are 1/25 scale.

[Eshaver]

I must say Tom , you certainly could give me a run for the money. Looking at both the Texaco and the Clark, both seem very well constructed and realistic . I hope you don't suffer the problem as I have in storage of these dioramas . I build mine to "Break down ". as I travel with mine in different cities . Hauling such a structure in hallways , elevator cars and bustling through some narrow aisles would have destroyed any of my service stations years ago. Ed Shaver

[my66s55]

Tom, your showroom frame looks right on. Great job.

[Repstock]

I must say Tom , you certainly could give me a run for the money. Looking at both the Texaco and the Clark, both seem very well constructed and realistic . I hope you don't suffer the problem as I have in storage of these dioramas . I build mine to "Break down ". as I travel with mine in different cities . Hauling such a structure in hallways , elevator cars and bustling through some narrow aisles would have destroyed any of my service stations years ago. Ed Shaver

I would very much like to see your stations. Is there a site where I can see them? One of the reasons I spend time on this board is to see models, especially buildings, that AREN'T MINE! I see my stuff all the time, no big thrill there!

[Swifster]

Tom, this is a great build and brings back a lot of memories. Growing up in the northern Detroit suburbs, we had quite a few of these stations. I got my license in 1980 and barely remember the 'stripped down' look before everyone went to a convenience store. I think I still have my can funnel in the garage somewhere as well.