Tim Purcell’s Plaza Hotel
A few months ago N Scale Limited author Chris Brimley wrote an article on other uses for DPM modular walls. In that article we showed a “work in progress” of Tim Purcell’s Plaza Hotel that was partially inspired by the Steven’s Hotel built by Chris. Today N Scale Limited is pleased to share Tim’s completed Hotel.
The Building
Using primarily the two story window modular walls from DPM (Woodland Scenics) to build his hotel, this created a good amount of initial detail. Beyond that, the rest of the building is largely scratch built. On the floor beneath the steep pitched hip roof are the same modular walls but flipped so the back is facing out. On this face of the wall Tim added strips of styrene cut to simulate individual blocks of stone.
The hip roof was built from sheets of styrene with strips glued on in a vertical pattern. Tim also scratch built the dormers and he says that they were one of his greatest challenges he had. The chimney was built from blocks of styrene that he had sanded the sharp corners down so it would look closer to real cut stone. Just bellow the roof is a cornice that was made from doll house crown moulding.
On the bottom floor, Tim again reversed the modular walls and gave it the same treatment as the top floor. The entrance was another section of the building that Tim had to scratch build as well. For the doors he used some scrap ones from an old kit he had on hand. Over the rest of the building he used a mixture of strip styrene and jewelry that he found at a local Hobby Lobby store. For example the gargoyles are actually little angel charms, to make them work all he had to do was cut off the little loop on top.
Lessons Learned
Prior to this building, Tim had primarily worked with kits and scratch built with balsa wood. This was basically his first time working with styrene on a large scale and he did a great job. We asked Tim to share with us a few things that he learned from this building and this is what he said, “I think the thing that really surprised me most about this project is that it took on a life of its own in short order. It was suppose to be something quick. A couple weeks, I thought, to keep me from going crazy over another project I am working on that had me burned out. Ha ha, the joke is on me. This thing took 6 months.” He also goes on to say, “You can never plan too much. I am the kind of guy who just sits down and thinks, ‘hey lets give this a try’, with little or no fore thought. Big mistake. I ran into some sink holes, I like to call them.”
Thank You
We at N Scale Limited would like to thank Tim with sharing these photos and experiences so we could pass them on to you, so now you may enjoy them and use them for inspiration. We greatly look forward to seeing what Tim comes up with next.
Please enjoy these photos that Tim provided to us.
Other articles you may be interested in:
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Tim, it’s not a hotel it’s a monument over what is possible to do in N-scale!
Awesome work you’ve done!
Applause to you :)
You guys are making me want to go out and get some modular walls. Good job, Tim.
fantastic Tim…..worth all the effort……SO WELL DONE TO YOU…..
Tim as said, great job! You must feel proud of you accomplishment! A fantastic model!
Cheers, Bob.
Oh and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
all the best,
Bob
Tim, how many modular walls is that in total? Looks like 69 if I’m counting that right.
Hey gang…thanks for all the kind words. I had a lot of fun doing this thing actually. Funny thing is I am so used to seeing this thing on one end of my kitchen table ( that’s where I build)…. it looks almost naked now that there is no building there lol.
Frank I used actually 47 wall sections. They come as a pair, two panels together. I am thinking that if you could find the right size window a person could actually cut out the three small windows to make one big industrial type window or a huge multi-pained bay window if that makes sense… I know I just got Chris’s mind going there he could probably bang out a hundred or so custom built windows in no time at all..lol..anyway the next project is “The Monster” I will keep you updated soo don’t touch that dial. Tim
For Tim or Chris….quick question. I have an idea for these modulars, but I’m wondering if you can share some sizes in scale feel on these?
I’m specifically interested in:
1.) The height and width of the windows
2.) The spacing between the windows (horizontally)
3.) The height between floors (ie. bottom of a window to bottom of a window)
Frank,
If you go to DPM site, you can actually down load a template with all the pieces on it. You can then print them out for whatever needs, they also have the exact dimensions as well. Click HERE to go there.
Tim, that really is a great looking building. Looks like all that time hanging around the jewelry counter paid off. Seriously, I wouldn’t have known that you used DPM walls if you hadn’t said it.
Jimmi
Tim,
I saw this building today in Newark, NJ right off of the North East Corridor and just had to show you:
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/9594588@N08/3796194721/sizes/l/in/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/9594588@N08/3797011670/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Hey Frank….thanks for the pics…. looks familiar doesn’t it?…lol… Tim
Chris and I rode by that and immediately both said….”Hey, it’s Tim’s hotel!” I knew you just had to see that!
I agree — it’s gorgeous. So take this as curiosity, not a criticism, but why are the windows on the back “stepped” rather than more akin to the front windows? A while ago, I bought a warehouse on Ebay (not nearly as well done, but more thn just okay for a background building) where the builder did the same thing and it kept bothering me so much that I didn’t use the building — and it was a warehouse.
I guess that maybe I’m asking so I can use the one I bought (or use similar modulars, albeit Walthers’ modulars) rather than sell it to someone who isn’t as curious and then trying to remember how to pack the monster up. I love the “heft” and the weathering on mine, I just can’t explain the windows….
Help…. :)
Mike,
The stepped windows you mention is the window pattern on the back of Tim’s building I assume? A almost random pattern of windows was quite common on the backs & even sides of buildings of this era. While many did have full rows of windows on the backs & sides, primarily for air flow and light, many did not. Usually when you have a large block of buildings you just don’t need them also many of the fire codes of today didn’t exist then.
Also it was common to use a cheaper brick, for cost savings on the back & sides, thus creating a variation of color from the front facade. Generally you only see the same facade and window pattern on all four sides are exposed, such as a very tall structure or one that stands alone.
Also, on many buildings, it is common to run all of the mechanical items, elevator shafts and stair wells inside the building along the back. Doing so would make windows impractical.