Pine Creek General Store

Subsequent copies of the General Store represented slightly less weather-worn buildings that still had most of their paint intact, though here and there the paint has started to blister and the signs have started to fade. The building sits a little taller and has additional trim detailing. A new storefront window/door unit was created from Grandt Line pieces and Evergreen styrene.

CreativeWorks basswood shingles have the correct prototype taper and can be weathered to represent that nice silver-tone that real cedar shingles have. A brick chimney was added with appropriate flashing detail.

The model is fully lit, with both interior and exterior light fixtures. The removable roof shows off the interior, which is fully detailed with counters, shelves and typical General Store clutter. The details are mostly Berkshire Valley metal castings.

The coloured signs are available from CreativeWorks. The store name signage can be individualized for your layout.

This free-lanced General Store was initially created for my "Cooper & Sawyer" On30 Show Layout. Many layout viewers wanted to buy the building right off the layout, but unfortunately, it was permanently glued in place. Instead, I offered to build copies for them, which resulted in a slightly more detailed and refined model.

Built to a scale of 1/4" =1'0" , the original model depicted an unpainted store, with a plain single windowed storefront and a panelled entry door.
I used real cedar for the shingles, but found I could not realistically stain them to represent the silver-tone real cedar shingles take on after years of weathering. As I started this model about a week before displaying at a local model train show, I rushed a little and ommitted a few details.

Here, the rear view shows the addition at the back that houses a little Bait & Tackle shop, with steps down to the creekside dock.

The addition features board & batten siding and tarpaper roofing.

Note the missing boards on the back of the false-front, and the peeling paint on the window trim.

Another view of the rear of the Store. Note the intricate detail of the fascia and gable returns, features not often modelled. If you look closely, you can see the nail holes and edges of the clapboard siding. The vintage fishing equipment signs are trimmed with wood frames. The Bait shop sits on a built-up foundation of weathered wood timbers and joists.

This view shows how the vintage signs are virtually painted onto the wood siding and weathered to appear as if they've been there a few years.
The small drain pipe in the foundation is actually a switch to turn the battery powered lighting on and off. The store lifts off its foundation to reveal the battery compartment which takes one "C" cell to power the 1.5 volt microlamps.

In this shot of the interior you can see the counter with cash register, scale, candy jars and paper roll. The wood shelves that line the walls are stocked with period merchandise. The window displays show off some featured product. There's also an old wood stove for heat and a pickle barrel full of shovels and brooms.