This looks handy for something…

[Phred]

…said my wife, pushing a nearly empty box of Post-it notes across the desk toward me.
I looked sceptically at the candy striped box and decided that I had better find a use for it or be deemed ungrateful.

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It didn’t look like anything I could use on a train layout, but when I turned it upside down it sort of resembled the shape of some kind sort of blocky brick structure. I’ve been meaning to have a go at something using brick paper so I’ll have a play around and see what comes out of it.
As usual, no real plan, just roughly 1/76th scale.

First, find a suitable brick on Google images, scale it down and print it out.

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Now I’ll have a think about it until tomorrow.

[heda]

Following this thread in anticipation
Dave

[Lancastrian]

Almost anything can be used to make something, although it may take time work out what. It's surprising some of the things that I have used in the past.

[Bigmet]

…said my wife, pushing a nearly empty box of Post-it notes across the desk toward me...

To avoid future incidences, buy her a handsome receptacle in Burr Walnut or similar.

I'd make it into an abandoned wartime installation, very austere cheap construction, purpose of which long forgotten.

[Mountain]

Coal depot? Lineside hut? Wonder where it will lead!

[aleopardstail]

brick paper on the sides, top painted like concrete, then a hell of a lot of plant growth around it, dirty it up in a corner

for bonus points add some posters made from an old post it note on the side

[Phred]

Thank you for your excellent suggestions, gentlemen! I'm glad I'll have some company along the way.

My fevered imagination was at work last night and I kept coming back to something involving some sort of inside detail since there is quite a large opening at the front.

So I’m thinking about a pump house consisting of six concrete piers supporting a water tank, with the space between the piers infilled with brick.
I used a 50/50 mix of water and PVA glue with a dash of washing up liquid (the same as we use to fix ballast) to attach the paper to the box.

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It sticks OK but the glue has come through in some places. Looks just like something leeching out of damp bricks (efflorescence?) so I’ll leave it. I couldn’t have produced that effect if I tried. Leave it to dry now.

Tomorrow the piers, stumps, whatever they’re called.

[Mountain]

Don't you need a concrete lintel above the door opening? (Is that what you are doing tomorrow?)

Great transformation from a box to a building!

[Bigmet]

Don't you need a concrete lintel above the door opening?

Not necessarily. Steel lintel or wood framed or all cast concrete interior construction either skinned in brick or brick tiled, are just some of the possibilities in quick cheap and nasty constructions. Have seen a few such in my career most 'thrown up' during WWII or the cold war period.

[Phred]

Mountain wrote:
Don't you need a concrete lintel above the door opening?

Ah yes, there will have to be some sort of door framing added as things progress. I'll have to decide that when I work out what sort of doors it will have.

Bigmet wrote:
Steel lintel or wood framed or all cast concrete interior construction either skinned in brick or brick tiled, are just some of the possibilities

Anything could happen - you know what my freestyle builds are like!

Some of the edges of the brick paper didn’t stick all that well, probably due to the shiny surface of the box, but everything should be held in place by the bits of wood representing piers.

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I painted the ‘concrete’ grey but it didn't look right so I’ve slapped on a liberal coat of muck to improve the appearance.
Wrapped a couple of wood strips in brick paper to use as courses at top and bottom so that it all looks a bit more substantial. Repeated on all sides.

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I’m now having a think about adding some steps at the back of the building. A cup of coffee and a Hobnob or two will assist my cogitations.

[Mountain]

Just looked to show you what I mean. Here is a picture put on the internet by "Sanderson Concrete". (Hope it is ok to share the pic I found on the search engine).

https://www.sandersonconcrete.ca/wp-con ... 24x768.jpg

As can be seen in the link, the concrete beam (Which has stressed metal inside the concrete to give it strength) holds the weight of the bricks above it and is usually used above doors and windows.

[Phred]

Thanks for the link, Mountain . That's a jolly fat lintel. I was leaning toward something like a steel lintel but I like that concrete look so I'll maybe make the door frame to look something like reinforced concrete. Time will tell.

In the meantime, some steps fashioned from wood strips, painted, weathered and glued on:

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The back wall looked too plain. I've added a brick column up the middle.

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That looks better.
Needs a door so that the steps have a purpose, so I'll have a think about that.

[Phred]

A layered cardboard door painted an industrial shade of green and weathered. I don't know what the handle is but I have a few of them in the scraps box.

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Tsk, now the steps and landing look too skinny. I’ll have to work out how to widen them without too much effort. Time for a coffee.

[Mountain]

Thanks for the link, Mountain . That's a jolly fat lintel. I was leaning toward something like a steel lintel but I like that concrete look so I'll maybe make the door frame to look something like reinforced concrete. Time will tell.

In the meantime, some steps fashioned from wood strips, painted, weathered and glued on:


104.jpg


The back wall looked too plain. I've added a brick column up the middle.


105.jpg


That looks better.
Needs a door so that the steps have a purpose, so I'll have a think about that.

Does not need to be a thick lintel unless there is a lot of weight above it. A thin one is ample for yours!

[Phred]

Morning all!

Made an identical set of steps and glued it on to the original set. A bit of filler, paint and weathering blends the two together.

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That looks more usable.

Now the inlet pipe on the washing machine is leaking so I've been reassigned to domestic maintenance duties by SWMBO.