My first garage DIO

[rustymodeler]

Hey guys, I have been wanting to do some kind of diorama for along time now and wasnt sure what I wanted to do, so I decided to build a garage. I have never done anything like this before and was not sure where to start so I researched framing garages and found alot od good stuff. It would be completely difficult to frame it just like the professionals do, but I think it turned out pretty good. I am going to try to put balso wood on the sides and find something to use as siding. If anyone has any ideas I could use for the siding please help me out here.

[crazyjim]

Looks pretty realistic. I'll be watching your progress because want/need to build a diorama.

[charlie8575]

Evergreen makes some styrene clapboard that looks pretty good. You might want to try that.

I believe Northeastern and Kappler Scale Lumber also offer individual bass or balsa clapboards.

Grandt Line and Northeastern have windows that will work, or you can scratch them.

Charlie Larkin

[rustymodeler]

Thanks for the kind words Jim, and thank you Charlie for the information much appreciated.

[GTMust]

Looking good Jerred. Don't forget to add a 3' x 7' door somewhere. Also increase the size of the header over the garage door (scale double 2" x 8") and add the studs above it.

Great start!

Tony

[Johnny K]

Very nice start - looking forward to seeing what you decide on for the siding.

[rustymodeler]

Ok, heres what I have done so far. I got some sheets of balsa wood to act as plywood and glued to the side. And than I got some smaller strip1/16 x 1/4 balsa wood and I am going to glue to the plywood and stack to look like siding. That will be a project I will have to tackle tomorrow.I am not happy with the door, but it will probably change once I get everything else taken care of.

[Johnny K]

, , . And than I got some smaller strip1/16 x 1/4 balsa wood and I am going to glue to the plywood and stack to look like siding , , ,

That works pretty well - makes for scale 1 1/2" thick by 6" siding. Balsa sheets look like they make for good sheathing.

[rustymodeler]

Ok I have been puting alot of time into this and this is what I have came up with. I use 1/16 x 1/4 strips of balsa wood for the siding. I really glues up nicely and turned out alot better than I thought it would. I also started on the roof and am pretty happy with it so far too. If I would have known this was going to be this fun I would have started doing it along time ago.

[vaughn]

Looks good Jerred.

[crazyjim]

One strip of wood at a time? What a pain. Looks good.

[rustymodeler]

Thanks guys. I really thought putting one strip at a time would be a pain also, but its not really that bad. I am using Gorilla wood glue which sets up really fast so it makes for pretty fast results. If anyone has any ideas how to make a roll up garage door please let me know. I know it sounds difficult, but there has to be a way.

[rustymodeler]

[crazyjim]

Looking really good - the garage and the truck.

[Brian_B]

.................... If anyone has any ideas how to make a roll up garage door please let me know. I know it sounds difficult, but there has to be a way.

The roll top desks have some sort of heavy material backing and strips of wood fastened to it. I have not seen one apart to know how they wind up...but maybe you could adapt that idea to yours?

[GTMust]

Roll top desks use a couple of thin canvas strips glued to the back of the wood strips ans slide up in a groove cut into the side panels of the desk. These type of doors aren't really suitable for model garage doors but the basic principle might work at a pinch?

I suggest you check out http://www.modeljunkyard.com and subscribe to their blog. Their latest posts include an article on how to make realistic panelled overhead garage doors. It's a great blog and it's free!

Tony

Edited September 9, 2012 by GTMust

[Brian_B]

Wow,,,amazing videos....they make the whole door, hinges, tracks. Takes talent and patience.

Edited September 9, 2012 by Brian_B

[Johnny K]

I've been considering a building similar, in that I was planning the same type siding application, so I was quite anxious to see how yours turned out. Looks good, but I'm wondering about the width-size slats (6" scale). They lend themselves quite well to either a vintage building that used the more narrow slats or a contemporary garage - would look fantastic whether weathered or painted. Still, did you at any point wonder if you should have gone a bit wider?

Really nice job.

[rustymodeler]

Thanks guys for all the information on garage door and helpful hints. I ran into a little problem though. I am starting to run out od balsa stripping and I bought Hobby Lobby out of that size I need. I may have to make an hour trip to the other nearest Hobby Lobby.

[GTMust]

You could buy the 1/16 x 4" x 36" sheets and cut the strips yourself. That's what I did for my Thomasville hardware store and the rural gas stop and it works out a lot cheaper than buying the strips (Check out my threads on this board. Mine were 1/32 scale so I used 1/32" sheets instead.)

Hope this helps.

Tony

[rustymodeler]

I finally got the front and rear of the peak up and put siding on. I have alot to do to get rid of all the gaps in the siding. I am also going to extend the front and rear of the roof out more and add soffet and facia (not sure if thats how you spell it, but oh well). I had also added 2 more windows on second photo. My ferret (Willy) convinced me that I really need to get a garage door on to keep the varments out.

[rustymodeler]

I've been considering a building similar, in that I was planning the same type siding application, so I was quite anxious to see how yours turned out. Looks good, but I'm wondering about the width-size slats (6" scale). They lend themselves quite well to either a vintage building that used the more narrow slats or a contemporary garage - would look fantastic whether weathered or painted. Still, did you at any point wonder if you should have gone a bit wider?

Really nice job.

Yes I do wonder if I should have gone wider, and I also wonder if I should have gone a little smaller in size, and if I should have made my peak shorter and I am still kicking myself in the butt for not putting a side door on. This is my first diorama ever, and as fun as this one is I will be definately be building another one more up to scale and planning ahead a little better than I did this one. This build was kind of just off the top of my head winging it kind of project.

[rustymodeler]

I decided to put an entry door in the rear. Let me know what you think.

[crazyjim]

Well yeah. I garage should have a side door. Looks good. Do you have plans for the floor yet?

[Shardik]

Wow, that looks great so far. You need to put some fire blocks between those studs though, or the building inspector's gonna shut you down.

By the way, I like your friend.