Quick and Easy N Scale Model Structure

A U.S. Customs office would be just right for a small waterfront N Scale layout I’m planning.

I thought I’d see how a Model Power plastic kit would work out. It’s a quick and easy addition. I prefer wood or Hydrocal kits but, because N Scale is so small, plastic can sometimes be an option.

I painted some of the parts before taking the photos, using “Majic” rattle can paints.

Wall sections – color is Almond, for the tan color bricks sometimes seen.
Window frames and doors – color is Brown.
Roof panels – color is Grey primer.

Use a sprue cutter to cleanly separate parts from the sprue:

I use a sheet of glass as a platform to assemble structures. It’s a nice flat surface and easier to keep walls aligned. This one is from a discarded flat bed scanner.

Using the bottle’s brush, or another, run a small drip of liquid plastic cement down the inside corner. Be sure the two sides are in contact before applying the cement and it will weep into the joint.

This shows the four wall sections assembled. They are on the base included in the kit, but the base was not used in the final assembly. It seems the building will sit better in the layout without using the base.

Here the wedges are being attached to the sides. These will support the “sawtooth” roof and windows.
The steel strap is to keep the wedges aligned at the same level as the walls.

The roof windows were whitewashed with thinned acrylic paint (Delta Ceramcoat – White – Semi Opaque). When partially dry lightly wipe off some of the paint.

I downloaded the window curtains and blinds from a web site which I do not remember.

For window shades, lay a small piece of celo tape across the back of the glazing material. The upper edge of the tape should be at the height at which you wish the shade to be. Paint the shade color onto the exposed area of the window. When semi dry, remove the tape.

The roof panels were just lightly weathered with chalks, figuring the Customs building would be in fairly good condition. The chimney is painted with a black craft  paint.

This is the assembled building. Mortar lines were done with powders in a blended color just slightly darker than the brick color. A coat of matte laquer secures the mortar.
Weathering was done with chalks and dry brushing, again lightly. A final coat of matte lacquer was sprayed over the entire building.

This is a photo of the Customs building, alongside a previous version I did as a tool and die works.

The U.S. Customs sign was done in MS Word and stuck to the bricks with thinned white glue.
The Tool and Die Works sign, also made in Word, was glued to a small piece of styrene, the edges were colored black using a permanent marker. The back was painted black.