In the Mood for More

While the kitmingling mock-up iron was hot I decided to strike it once more.  This is a combination of two buildings - Carol's Corner Cafe' from DPM and the Corner Pharmacy from Woodland Scenics; in reality, the same structure, just under different names.  My corner cafe has been serving as a stand-in for the pool hall.  Now that I have a second kit I can create a larger structure more suited to the location.  The photos below illustrate the process.

Walls photocopied then cut apart.

Walls rearranged and glued to cardstock.

The finished mock-up in place.  Box car to prove clearance.

The structures bounded by the tracks, clockwise from top: former blacksmith and livery stable now turned garage (red building), Chero-Cola bottling plant, pool hall, pipe supplier (tan sheet) and freight house.

I selected this structure because of the large windows which will give a nice view of the pool tables inside.  There's enough room on the ground floor for three pool tables, a bar - for root beer, of course - and a staircase leading upstairs.  I'm tempted to use the remaining space between the structure and the tracks to include a little add-on, perhaps a storage room, but that's a decision for later, after I've had time to stare at the mock-up in place.

To my eye the building fills the space well and has enough mass to sit opposite the large bottling plant without seeming dwarfed.  I like including non-rail-served structures in areas adjacent to the tracks.  This, to me, seems more realistic and less "model-railroady".  On a layout this size with curves this tight and a looping track plan I've got to employ every trick in the book to add that true-to-life feeling.

Finally, here are a couple bird's eye views of the structures along Orange Avenue, per Jim's request in the previous post's comments.

Note: I took this shot before I decided to create the mock-up in this post.  Carol's Corner Cafe' can be seen in the upper right corner.

Oh, one last note, if you've made it this far.  S ince both predecessor kits include the word "corner" in their names, I think it's only fitting to call this billiards parlor "The Corner Pocket".  Thanks for reading.