Hudson Life Building: The Cornice
Better late than never I guess, if you follow us on Twitter you knew I was having issues and that they were resolved. It has been yet another busy week and just about everything done in this update was done yesterday and today so this will be a short update. So lets not waste anymore time and get to the point.
Construction
This week I worked heavily on the cornice of the building. Doing so caps off the building and all basic structural work is complete.
Details & Problems
At the base of the cornice, just before it begins to jut out from the structure, is a fairly simple detail. With my success’s of using the digital craft cutter on some of the other details, I thought this would be a breeze. The first issues were expected, such as I knew I wouldn’t get the sizing on my first go around correct, I was close. The major problems were I tried to do too much detail for the size and they came out awful. Then the craft cutter started throwing fits and was skewing the sheet it was cutting, so I would have crooked cuts. I was able to remedy this by skimping on some of the details, but still I was weary of the results. I tested it with a quick wash of india ink/alcohol and all was well. I had to test a few areas as well just so I could see if I was on the right track.
Problematic details
Testing the details out.
Moving Up
I now had to start pulling away from the building and it began with a simple .010x .040″ layer, then a .010x .030″ layer. All of the layers were cut into 1/4″ long strips so as to simulate cut stone. After the two smaller layers I had to add a .040″ square core to then add a .040″ quarter round, this is where it begins to grow.
Dentil Work
Next the cornice makes a dramatic leap from the building and it is built upon a large dentil feature. To begin with (this will get confusing and if I had more time I would do a cross section) I added a strip of .030x .060″ and then some .060x 080″ to get me a core that was .110″ thick. On top of that I added some .060x .250″ strip, now I could add my dentil. To simplify construction I did this with the building upside down. Starting at the corners, I placed square tiles of .040x .188″ strip. I then worked in towards the center point by spacing the tiles .030″ apart. For every part of of the dentil this worked perfect except the front, I some how got off a little and so my center tile is a little big.
Starting the dentil
Close up of dentil
Finished dentil.
Blocks
On top of the dentil I added .060x .080″ strip cut into blocks. The second layer was done in the same manor but I used .060x .100″ and it is pushed out .010″ from the first row of blocks. On top of this I added some .020x .250″ to begin closing in the top of the cornice, I still have a little more to complete. I then added more .040″ quarter round to the face of this and the last row of blocks. I still need to add a .010x .080″ cap on to this but that will be done later.
Looks like a building now.
Cornice close-up.
Looking up at the cornice.
Conclusion
I am sorry for the hurried update but I needed to get something up. This next week I have a crazy amount of free time, so the last little bits of the cornice will get done and then it is back to bottom where I will start framing in the store fronts.
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