Gilmore Shell

I started this project a short time ago and backed off when I started having my eye problems. When my pal Larry asked how I was coming on it last weekend, I realized my eye problems were not a valid excuse for letting up on it, Just would make it a bit more difficult. So, I'm starting back on it.
Gilmore's iconic Shell station. Gilmore Car Museum was voted Michigan's top attraction last year. Ever since I saw it in the foto Larry sent me of his Willys, I had a hankering to model it.



A few years ago, a friend sent me a set of cast  vintage gas pumps. These were the basis of encouragement for me to even think about this project.



Larry sent me a couple of reference photos when I asked him to.



This will not be a rivet counter replica. I will loosely try to capture the essence of it. There will be some selective compression to keep the size manageable, but still keep it relatively compatible with a 1/25 scale model.

Very very cool Clay....I like it. I had a huge 60s gas station diorama about 1/2 way done till a storm took it away...bummer. I cant wait to see how this goes....

Front wall has been finalized and some of the trim added. Now I know how long to make the back wall. Eyeballs let me booger up one of the windows. I'll have to finish that one after the repair sets.
Sure glad only the lower half will have to have the bricks scored and embossed !

....Very nice Clay...!

Awesome! Love the look of the building - it would make a fine 'down the block a ways' addition to Geezer's Garage. Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Well, I have the tedious scoring and embossing of the back wall bricks done !

BTW this, and the major portions of the building will be done on mat board and card stock.

Starting on the side walls. More selective compression, but still able to fit a 1/24 scale Model A in there.

If anybody can do it, eye problems or not, it's you Clay. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Looking good, Clay. I'm surprised the scoring of the card stock didn't come out appearing fuzzy at the cut lines.

Nice job.

RetiredMike wrote:Looking good, Clay.  I'm surprised the scoring of the card stock didn't come out appearing fuzzy at the cut lines.

Nice job.

I use mat board (as used in framing pictures) It cuts extremely clean.

Excellent! The mat board bricks look great, can't wait to see them painted.

Katz, I used this technique on an old derelict gas station build a few years ago. Really comes out nice, This whole building was made with paper materials.

Wow, that derelict station looks awesome. I especially like the broken glass shards and random planks on the front door.

Awesome work.

Thanks, Guys, It was a fun project !

Mock up on base material  20"x 20" 1' thick building foam.

Lookin' good!

Great stuff right there Clay

Awesome work Clay..! I wish I had 1/2 your diorama talents with scratch building.

I have been detailing the corner posts.


As I just related to Katz on his amazing steanpunk Harley build, my mind is too ambitious for my body. There is a lot to do, and a lot to figure out how to do, and yet, I'm thinking ahead on how to rework those cast metal pumps, the outlying details I want to incorporate, etc.
I guess if we love what we are doing, we'll just keep plodding along and hope things will work themselves out i

Looking great Clay, very interesting build.

Cutting out these window mullions was by far the most difficult thing I have had to do ! It is definitely not a first class job. But it is what it is !
I have made a roof base, even not knowing what kind of roof the station has.

The windows look great to me, would they have been perfect back then?
Looking great Clay.