Henry's Drive-In

Henry's Drive In


Note: This is not a 'How To', but a display of a completed 'Scratchbuilt Project' showing what can be done with some materials and time. It does not have to have been judged for AP Points.


 

 

Click on the smaller image for the full image

If you're modeling the 50's, you just have to have hot rods, a Drive In and girls on skates. So, get your wheels, and come on down to "Henry's Drive In."

I was working on the next town, "Berkling, W.Va." on my SRNRR layout and looking for ideas when I came upon a book "Fifties Flashback : A Nostalgic Trip!" by Albert Drake. The front cover shows a drawing of a drive in with a girl on skates and I knew what was now going to be the center of attraction on 1st and Vine.

As in the picture, it had to be round. The perfect form came from the bathroom. Really, it was a commercial toilet paper roll center. It became the main body of the building. A smaller tube finished off the top. Matte board was used to form the carport and stripwood made up the supports. I covered the building with "DAP Concrete Patch" to simulate stucco. The doors I made from thin cardboard, and the screens came from an old gas tank filter. The signs were copied from the same book that gave me this great idea.

The building came together really quite fast. The reworked cars and people, and I DO mean reworked, took three times as long. By the way, the ponytail on the girl on skates by the black Model 'A' truck is real. It's my own hair and I really can't afford to give up much more.

I hope that you try scratchbuilding soon. It's real kool Daddy-O.

Have fun!
Matt Hewitt

 

Matt's layout will be on the 'Indy After Tour' of the 2005 NMRA Convention in Cincinnati
To see more of Matt's work, visit his Shadowton Ridge North RR. Click Here.

 


If you wish to submit a photo for consideration, send the photo (no larger than 800x600 please) to TJ Klevar along with a description of how you built it, techniques you used, and any special tips you wish pass along.