Cardstock Model: Avalon Building

 

I had designed a model of the Avalon building a while ago.  At the time, I didn't know of its history.  I put "Elysian Music" on the side since I wasn't sure if "Avalon Music" was the name of a current business.  

Anyway, I had no idea at the time that this once was the historic Avalon Hotel (see link):

As the only hotel in the area which welcomed African Americans before desegregation, its guests included Duke Ellington and boxer Henry Armstrong. It housed the Avalon Café, one of two restaurants in the city which served people of color. It became a local focus of the Civil Rights Movement and opposition to it; both a march for racial equality and a cross burning occurred at the property on August 23, 1963.

I'll have to change the model a little and make it into the historical Avalon Hotel and share the PDF to make it.   In the meantime you can find more information here.

Cardstock Model: Train Station in Rome, NY

The train station in Rome, NY is of a neoclassical design.  It was built between 1912 and 1914 by the New York Central Railroad on the south side of Rome to replace the one downtown.  It is currently used by Amtrak.  This model is the most complex one I've designed so far, having 3 separate structures that get glued together.  

The finished model

To build it:

1. Download each of these 4 PDF files:
1. Rome_NY_Martin_St_6599_TrainStation_page_1_of_4.pdf
2. Rome_NY_Martin_St_6599_TrainStation_page_2_of_4.pdf
3. Rome_NY_Martin_St_6599_TrainStation_page_3_of_4.pdf
4. Rome_NY_Martin_St_6599_TrainStation_page_4_of_4.pdf
2. Print out each PDF on 8"x11.5" cardstock using a color laser printer.  (You can do that through a print service from OfficeMax for example.  It costs me about 50 cents per sheet printed).
3. Using a ruler and a utility knife, gently score the folding edges where the tabs, roof, and building corners will need to be folded.  That will give you sharp lines.  
4. Using Elmer's glue and a toothpick, gently apply a small amount of glue to the tabs, and glue the building together.

Image of station from Google Maps

 

Assembling the station

Comparing finished station to prototype

Cardstock Model: Godzilla Visits MedCity

 My N-scale efforts have focused on making simple card-stock models of Rochester, MN (which is where the Mayo Clinic is based). Imagine my surprise when Godzilla showed up for some medical attention (from the clinic) for wounds he incurred making his new movie coming out. 

Note:  No civilians, buildings, or mega-monsters were injured in making this photo.

300 block of S Broadway in #PaperRohester

Google Maps of the real 300 block of S Broadway

Cardstock Model: Bike Shop

 When we first moved to Rochester many years ago, we bought bikes from a shop in SE Rochester, MN.  Over the years, we made more purchases from there and were always happy with the service.  Recently the store has closed down.  This was the first cardstock model I made of buildings in Rochester, MN.  I'm sharing it here.  I changed store and brand names to avoid any issues.

To build it:

1. Down load the file from this link.
2. Print out the PDF on 8"x11.5" cardstock using a color laser printer.  (You can do that through a print service from OfficeMax for example.  It costs me about 50 cents per sheet printed).
3. Using a ruler and a utility knife, gently score the folding edges where the tabs, roof, and building corners will need to be folded.  That will give you sharp lines.  
4. Using Elmer's glue and a toothpick, gently apply a small amount of glue to the tabs, and glue the building together.

Completed Model

Photo from Google Maps

The Inkscape project that I export to a PDF

Cardstock Model: Transfiguration School from Rome, NY

Transfiguration school was offered K-12 education until about 2003 when it was merged into other schols in the city of Rome, NY.  The building was subsequently demolished.  

This is a simple facade model of the school as it faced South James street.  The actual building was at least as deep as it was wide on the front that you see.

To build this N scale (Japanese 1/150) model:

1. Download the PDF from this link
2. Print out the PDF on 8"x11.5" cardstock using a color laser printer.  (You can do that through a print service from OfficeMax for example.  It costs me about 50 cents per sheet printed).
3. Using a ruler and a utility knife, gently score the folding edges where the tabs, roof, and building corners will need to be folded.  That will give you sharp lines.  
4. Using Elmer's glue and a toothpick, gently apply a small amount of glue to the tabs, and glue the building together.

 

Completed model

The model was designed using Inkscape and exported to PDF

Front of school facing south James Street circa 1973

Transfiguration school assembly hall circa 1973

Cardstock Model: Old City Hall of Rochester MN

 

This city hall of Rochester, MN was built in 1932 and was used for that role 67 years.  It is now used as a living space (see here).  I made a stylized model of it (the building is quite large) and I had to omit the back end so it would fit on my fireplace mantle. 

To build it you just need to:

1. Down load the three (3) PDFs from these links:
1. Rochester_MN_SW_1_Ave_224_OldCityHall_page_1_of_3.pdf
2. Rochester_MN_SW_1_Ave_224_OldCityHall_page_2_of_3.pdf
3. Rochester_MN_SW_1_Ave_224_OldCityHall_page_3_of_3.pdf
2. Send them to Officemax or a similar print service.   Choose 8.5"x11" size and 100-lbs cardstock.  And color.  
3. Assemble tools/materials:  scissors, a utility knife to score edges, and Elmer's glue.  Oh, and a toothpick to spread the glue on the tabs.

Assembled card stock model of old City Hall

Photo from Google Maps

From an old postcard

The 1/150th Japanese N-scale model being made in Inkscape

Cardstock Model: Mantorville Opera House

 

A short ride from Rochester, MN is the Mantorville Opera House.  There the Mantorville Theater Company puts on plays and melodramas.  I made models of some of the Opera House and some of the buildings near it.  This blog entry makes the Opera House PDF model available.  

To build it you just need to:

1. Download the pdf from this link
2. Send it to Officemax or a similar print service.   Choose 8.5"x11" size and cardstock.  And color.  
3. Assemble tools/materials:  scissors, a utility knife to score edges, and Elmer's glue.  Oh, and a toothpick to spread the glue on the tabs.

Image from Google Maps

Cardstock Model: Office Building Shared by Mayo Brothers and Father

 

Rochester, MN is home to the Mayo Clinic.  Started by brothers Charles and William Mayo, they shared an office with their physician father early in their careers.  It was in the "Cook Block" building.  It no longer exists, but I made an N-scale (1/150th Japanese scale) card stock model of it.  Feel free to download and build it.  Just print the two pages on 8.5"x11" card stock (I send them to Officemax for a really nice print job).

The two PDF files for the building can be downloaded here:

1. Rochester_MN_CookBlock_OriginalMayoOfficeBuilding.page_1_of_2.pdf
2. Rochester_MN_CookBlock_OriginalMayoOfficeBuilding.page_2_of_2.pdf

Photo of assembled card stock building

Cook Block photo from Wikimedia.org

Two Inkscape Projects to create two PDFs...

Cardstock Model: Office Building Westby, Wisconsin

 

Back in 2004 my wife and I stayed at a B&B in Westby, Wisconsin.  On the main street was a small office building that caught my eye.  I took a snap with the thought of making a card-stock model of it.  Sixteen later, here it is.  Someday I'll update it with textures for color printing.  I left photos the PDF file of the building itself and the steps I took to create the model.  The N-scale PDF file can be found here.

Cardstock Model: House I grew Up In

 Most have fond memories of the house they grew up in.  My house was warm, loving, and always there.  I made a very rough model of my house from some photos and memories...somewhat stylized.  It's simple and will someday make a better one.

You can download a PDF of the model here.  

Old Chateau Theater of Rochester MN to SVG - Part III

Using a photograph of one of the window dormers as a guide, I created a vector image of the window detail.  I didn't want to add too much detail, as in N-scale things are pretty tiny as it is.  Though I may go back and try adding detail.

I also started tinkering with the medallion (see yellow below), but I did that freehand sort of (without referencing a photo).  I'll see if I can somehow take the actual pattern of the medallion from a photo.  My SVG front of the building is still pretty rough.  But it's fun to tinker with (and learn how to use) Inkscape.

And for reference what I'm trying to model...

My House In Rochester

Here is a link to my first attempt at building a paper house...my house. I am using Inkscape SVG software and exported it as a PDF. It should print out in N scale. Print it out using card stock paper.

Here is a PDF of an early version of my house.