Lazy building

Firemangrumpy

Firemangrumpy

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As I don't want to be continually taking my buildings in and out I wanted a robust and cheap solution. Also having a new interest in the secondary railways of France (tram systems) I wanted something that resembled the typical architecture of the region.
So I bought an aeriated (Thermalite) block...
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It was easy to cut with an old saw...
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Smooth with a belt sander and old chisel...
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Crudely carved a door and detail with a smaller chisel, screwdriver and dremel tool type thing...
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Craved roof tiles in...
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And gave it a coat of paint...
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I think it kind of replicates the typical CDHV railway buildings...

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Nice!!!
 
thanks guys.
The downside I found was the mess (oh the mess...!) and it's difficult to get fine detail. It's a bit 'crumbly'.
But I'm building a small shed (a pretend one, it wont actually be hollow) and I'm going to try cutting with a dremel and razor saw.
Maybe that will give me finer cuts?
 
An old wood saw will cut the blocks easily and neatly. It will blunt the saw so use an old one.
 
Firemangrumpy said:
That's what I used to shape the roof.
Click to expand...
A broken off piece of a Junior Hackwas blade held in some Coffee Stirers by Gaffa Tape make a good detail tool for such works. Also very handy for cutting in tricky areas if not a blunt one.
 
Very impressive.
 
Very interesting build and lovely result.
Looking forward to more 'lazy-buildings'!

But how does the Thermalite hold up in the weather (rain, frost etc)?
I know cellular concrete often becomes brittle when placed outside and brake easily. it need to be sealed but even than it is not always guaranteed moist and frost do their evil work...
Did you used some sort of sealer? Or is that not necessary with Thermalite?
 
I have used Thermalite (or even Celcon) Blocks for sundry small Viaducts, I have even used them for Track Bed as does Kent Keith. While they are not the strongest kids on the block I have not had any problems with them breaking up with weather, though I would think a good old sealing when the blocks are good and dry with 50/50 Water and External PVA could do no harm. If done after Painting would likely help preserve that as well somewhat. My current Viaduct has an alarming Crack in one of the Viaduct Arches but that was down to too enthusiastic tamping into the Concrete Base!
249607If you blow up the pic a lot you can see the crack in the Right Hand Arch. This Viaduct was put in place around 5 years ago and has still not been sealed!
 
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Paulus said:
Very interesting build and lovely result.
Looking forward to more 'lazy-buildings'!

But how does the Thermalite hold up in the weather (rain, frost etc)?
I know cellular concrete often becomes brittle when placed outside and brake easily. it need to be sealed but even than it is not always guaranteed moist and frost do their evil work...
Did you used some sort of sealer? Or is that not necessary with Thermalite?
Click to expand...
Well so far so good.
Its been through storms, minus 12 temperatures, heavy rain, snow and not a sign of any damage.
No sealer, nothing fancy. Just indoor emulsion paint and plonked in the garden.
 
I have just finished a 'Hotel' building too and plonked that out.
The plan is to build a typical old french village centre. Using a couple of buff coloured slabs for the base, gravel, sand etc.
I'd put a picture up if I'd remembered to take one...
 
Paulus said:
Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Hurricane Gazza?
Click to expand...
In the UK, the weather forecasting service names all stormy weather fronts, and the latest was Storm Gareth....


www.metoffice.gov.uk

UK weather warnings

Met Office UK weather warnings for rain, wind, snow, ice, fog, thunderstorm, lightning and extreme heat.
www.metoffice.gov.uk www.metoffice.gov.uk
 
Making progress at last with French village. Needs a water fountain maybe? Benches? Small outbuildings?
 

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