I have been in N scale for about twenty years now and have won various awards for my modeling.  Now I am trying to find a way of networking with modelers like myself and share what I do with other people and hopefully learn a thing or two.

The model pictures that I submitted were of one of my BLOCK structures.  The sub structure or base of the model is a solid block of wood, balsa in this case.  I use the block to form the overall shape of the structure.  Once cut to dimension I than seal the block with primer on all six sides.  Once dried overnight I then pre-stain all the strip wood that I feel will complete the project.  Always staining a little more just in case.  Northeastern Scale Lumber was used for the clapboard siding and wooden coffee stirrers for the lower portion of the walls.  Wooden coffee stirrers have a nice natural texture to them and are easy to cut with THE CHOPPER.  All the siding both upper and lower was all glued in place with Formula 560 Canopy Glue.  I give the glue a few hours to dry and then mark the placements of the windows and doors.

Using a sharp number eleven X-acto blade I slowly cut out the area where the doors and windows were previous marked.  The windows were primed and then painted the desired color.  Formula 560 canopy glue was used again to fill and form the windows.  Once dried the windows and doors were glued in place.  The side door that goes to the basement of the structure was scratch built using old pieces of material from other projects.  The material used for the roof was purchased from Paper Creek Model Works and was glued down using the same glue used on the rest of the model.  The sign was made from a single piece of strip wood and decaled using some old Champ Decals.  The deck on the model was made from old wood stock leftover from old projects.  The workers on the deck are from Prieser and the clutter from Model Tech Studios.  Once everything is in place I weathered it using chalks.  I then applied clear coat over the entire model.  Nice small structure for a rainy weekend.