9 hours in 5 minutes - Scratch building part of a hotel from card - Fast Forward

See every single step I go through when scratch building a part of my low relief Victorian hotel from card. This video compresses a nine-hour card scratch build project into only five minutes. I show the process I follow for all my builds and hopefully show how the individual card elements come together to make a beautiful finished stone building.
I am scratch building a low relief Victorian hotel for my N Scale model railway layout, Chandwell.
The card scratch building techniques I show in this video are not just for N Gauge model railways. The techniques can be used for any kind of building such as wargames or general dioramas.
I also show in this video how I use the Sticky Label technique for making the large ballroom windows.
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[@Chandwell]

What did you think of this format of video? A bit of a change from my usual videos, but I thought I'd never shown the whole process end-to-end before. Was it interesting, or a bit long and boring? Please let me know! Michael

[@moegonck289]

Excellent, Michael, and fun :) but I’m very glad we have all of your other narrated videos to enjoy, too! It’s a pleasure and an inspiration to watch you design and work!

[@chimpalienbaby7312]

The new format is punchy and I liked the arty camera work. I suffer from motion sickness from fast forwarding those arty shots but love them in real time. I very much enjoy your narrating and I’ve learned so much more from you as a result. I prefer your voice to the music! Your cement ball decorations on the roof were excellent! Maybe you could still make your well-explained vids when introducing new techniques that you haven’t mentioned in other vids and try the punchy ones, with your narration, for vids where you’ve explained the process in other videos? Your vids are never boring and thank you for making these!

[@andy_621]

Complements your usual series brilliantly. I learned a significant amount from that vid (couple of ‘penny drop’ moments) that I hadn’t picked up in the others. You’re doing a fantastic job of these Michael and have inspired me to take up scratch-building myself. Keep up the great work!

[@mattiasfagerlund]

I like it! The music really made me feel like I was in a rush to something. I prefer the narrated stuff, but this certainly has its place. On an unrelated note, what actual scale are you building to? I know it's N, but 1:160, 1:148 - or something different?

[@timothyjohnston4083]

Very well done ! An excellent way to put it all together, as it were. But as another commented, your narrated videos are equally good. I cannot wait to see the next steps in your build.

[@linesided]

Stand back, well back - master craftsman at work! 9 mins is about the amount of time before I would throw a fit and quit. Your patience is remarkable! I humbly propose a slo-motion segment featuring your scotch collection next please :) Noticed some very interesting single malts in your collection. A master craftsman deserves a reward after all 😁😎

[@Chandwell]

Ah Jonathan, you are too kind! Thank you. The whisky bottles make an appearance now and then when needed to weigh things down. I will try to get a glimpse of the collection into a future video! Michael

[@wheezypalacemodels7726]

Hi Michael, personally I liked it. I tend to stop watching some channels when they talk for ages!! Great format for me and well put together…👏🏼👏🏼, Chris

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Chris! Michael

[@HemelDownModelRailway]

I quite like the fast forward format it’s interesting to see the whole process 🙂👍🏻well put together video

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Mark! Michael

[@peteshoulders1]

brilliant

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! Michael

[@marktaylor8659]

Wow! I'm beginning to think eating all that Weetabix cereal has given you super modeling capabilities.

[@Chandwell]

Hahah... If that's my secret I'd best get eating more! Michael

[@karegnal]

And this is art. Stunning!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you so much! Michael

[@markknowles6374]

Just loved this, and yet again your skills leave me in awe. Cracking job!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Mark! Michael

[@valentinsn-ostalgiemodellbahn]

I really liked the music, combined with the occasional sound from your building process: Sounds like a new Indie band, "The Chandwell Scratch Builder" or so - just kidding around. The idea is great, it gives a good overview. I don't know if it was possible to connect scenes of this videos with those, the footage was taken from. (I hope you understand, I don't know how to express my idea properly). Anyway: Stay creative and have a good time! - Valentin-

[@Chandwell]

Hello Valentin - thank you for your kind comments. I think the band "The Chandwell Scratch Builders" sounds brilliant. I will have to put a poster for them in the layout somewhere! The clips in this video was all recorded just for this video, so it wasn't possible to link to other videos of the buildings, but I think the idea of a fast-forward video which links to others in the series is a really good idea. I may use that one day. Thanks again for watching! Michael

[@valentinsn-ostalgiemodellbahn]

@@Chandwell Would be interesting to see such a poster. I am very impressed by the time tables you have made for the station, the touristic posters etc. As Chandwell for sure had been a place of hard working toilers back in 1979 (the year, my layout will be set around), there will be a poster at the club house, saying "We great Chandwell, heart of the British working class!" ("my" people love to use big terms). - Valentin -

[@Chandwell]

I love that!!!

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

That was brilliant really enjoyed that one. I just wish that I could build something as half as good as this. You have really done a great job on this building.- Nicholas.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Nicholas - much appreciated! Michael

[@SimonWitt]

Well, I followed the 'eat cheesecake' instruction well enough but a new hotel has so far failed to materialise on my layout. Maybe I need to watch it again to see what I'm missing. Top video

[@Chandwell]

Oh no! Maybe keep trying...? Michael

[@alant3970]

Sorry to spoil the party, but to me it was just a meaningless jumble which I was unable to follow at all.

[@Chandwell]

No problem, Alan. There's many more model channels to look at. Try Steven at Elvenhome, or Alan at Stockton... they may be more up your street. This one was a one-off; it was a part of a longer series where I was building the hotel over a number of months, so I accept it probably didn't make much sense out of context. Thank you for your feedback though - it's always nice to hear from viewers.

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

5 minutes is just too short... I wait all week for my fix of Chandwell, and its over far to quick :) - I like the format, and it made a change for you having to repeat what you have described in previous videos on the hotel... but I wouldn't want every video to follow the same format.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Malcolm! Yes, this was a one-off format to get me through a fairly dull part of the building. Next video is back to normal format, and it's about the octagonal tower and the cupola. I really enjoyed making this part! Michael

[@timfairweather7568]

Very helpful addition to your normal format.

[@Chandwell]

I think it worked well! Thanks Tim! Michael

[@deansburytownmodelrailway5056]

I really enjoyed that change of format, crammed a huge amount into a short video, lots going on but the fast pace meant it didn’t take too long! Great idea! Works really well with that part of the building which is quite similar to other parts so little need to add a lot of narrative over the top. Food for thought! Was the editing any more time consuming? Cheers, Liam

[@Chandwell]

Thanks Liam! I chose this format because I coulnd't think during the build what I was going to focus on because as you noticed, it's largely a repeat of other techniques. However, the editing of this 5 minute video took more time than a standard narrated one. I had 110 different video clips, most of less than 10 seconds. The longer ones, I sped up and some I slowed down. I then had to make about 130 cuts and try to time them all to the beats in the music. Then the words... all had to be added and then timed to the music. It took a lot longer than I was expecting! I'll send you a screenshot of the project file to show what I mean... Michael

[@paulstuhlfelder9819]

Amazing modelling skills as usual, quick question- why have you got all those Italian cookbooks when you clearly live on Weetabix and cheesecake, looking forward to your next show😊.

[@Chandwell]

You see Italian cook books. I see weights for keeping parts of models flat! :) Michael

[@HOTRAINUNIVERSEANDDIORAMAS]

I always love to watch your tutorials...... Learned a lot from you.....

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! Michael

[@NgaugeShelfLayouts]

I like your right angled desk jig for glueing 90 degree angles....I just realised I should have got something like that a long time ago!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you - this is really useful. It's quite cheap, and is from Scale Model Scenery. Michael

[@timfairweather7568]

Anyone in the US having trouble finding Weetabix can substitute Cheerios boxes.

[@Chandwell]

Thanks Tim! Michael

[@davidcadwallader240]

Loved the format yet again a brilliant detailed video on how to take an idea and have the skill and knowledge to go on and build it I’m in the process of following your 3 steps on how to build the terminus station for my new layout however I’m struggling with Inkscape to understand all the details ( being 70 years plus it’s not easy learning a new skill ) Have you ever thought of making your brilliant designs available for downloading as I would be and Im sure others would be very willing to donate/pay you for such a service Is it something we could discuss David

[@Chandwell]

Hi David. Thank you for your kind words and stick with Inkscape. It has a really steep learning curve if you've never used anything like it before, but there are some good tutorials on KZbin. I do sometimes wonder about making my work available for download, but there are a few things that put me off... My work is quite messy and ad-hoc and in one giant file. To make them downloadable I would have to label each part, and provide instructions. This would be a massive job. There would then be the requirement to possibly make them available in OO scale as well as N, and test their building. And finally, I use Scalescenes textures in the main. I have bought these myself and do not have a licence to re-sell them, so anything I made available would be without textures. I think that this would be a lot of work for me, and would have little appeal to others. If you can think of any workable alternatives, then please do feel free to drop me an email at [e-mail] and I'm more than happy to discuss! Michael

[@jvanamb]

As those of us who have been with you for the entire ride I believe this could be useful for situations of repeating techniques. However, to increase your viewership and new subscribers, a voiceover narrative would be helpful. I am waiting to see what you have planned for disguising the adjacent electrical switch. Jim

[@Chandwell]

Back to normal format this week Jim, complete with my Northern voiceovers! :) You should see on Friday that the socket is now half-hidden, but in truth I've not decided how to do the other half yet! Michael

[@madmania5080]

I tried this technique and it worked out pretty well... "paper wrapping" textures offers very interesting results.

[@Chandwell]

Wonderful! Michael

[@davestrains6816]

Very nice video, thanks for sharing. Dave

[@Chandwell]

Many thanks! :)

[@royfearn4345]

The one most important lesson I took from this recap vid is the need to use a right-angle jig or set of jigs for this kind of work.

[@Chandwell]

They are invaluable!

[@james-hall-art]

That was an excellent video, thought it was well done, fast paced and really interesting :)

[@Chandwell]

Hello Mr. Hall! Nice to hear from you. Thank you... I enjoyed making this one because I didn't have to speak! :) Michael

[@philkirk4571]

Really enjoyed this summary! You might need to stock up on cereals though what with supply shortages at the supermarkets! We can’t risk delays to construction!

[@Chandwell]

Don't worry Phil. The reason there is a national cereal shortage is because the entire nation's supply is folded up in my "modelling materials in" cupboard! :) Michael

[@haltonwarrenoo9]

Great format, good music to, really fitted the video

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Mark! Michael

[@peterstecks7660]

Is there a building material shortage? The National Association of Home Builders reports that material shortages are now more widespread than at any time since it began tracking the issue in the 90's. Overall, more than 90% of builders report shortages of appliances, framing lumber, Weetabix Packets, Glue Sticks, A4 Sticky Labels, scalpel blades and OSB. So the question is... Can the Lidl and Aldi's own brand cereal packets beat the nation's most beloved cereal brand packet - Weetabix!!!! Answers on the back of a Weetabix packet please - to Michael. 🎦 And the answer to your question Michael. However you wish. A mix of both? Please keep them coming. A real treat.

[@Chandwell]

I always smile when I see a comment from Mr. Stecks. When I finish the octagonal tower, I am going to name the top penthouse room the "Stecks Suite" in your honour. Michael

[@peterstecks7660]

@@Chandwell an honour indeed.

[@rjrotermund]

very nice job. Hate the music!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you for your feedback. I like the music!

[@wollibar5263]

Good idea. Nice new format summing it all up. Allways meant to ask you on how you did the brick crescents (or whatever the right term to use is) above the windows? If I have not missed it and it is not allready there I wonder if that would not make a nice little inkscape-tutorial ? Anyway great fun to watch. Keep safe. rgds

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Wolli. I am pleased you enjoyed this format. The arches above the windows are actually part of the texture sheet that I bought from Scalescenes in their "Scratch Builders Yard". They come with lots of different sized arches and I sometimes import them into Inkscape and resize them. It would make a good tutorial. I will add it to my list of video ideas. Michael

[@wollibar5263]

@@Chandwell Thank you for your kind reply Michael, a tutorial woul be very nice and usefull. Regards Wolli

[@Chris-BognorRegis]

That was bloody brilliant Michael, loved it. So different from how you have shown it before and you would only be going over your methods again. So this for me was a great way of showing the progression of the hotel build. Please keep them coming. Where did you get the jig from to build this section of the building? Regards Chris

[@Chandwell]

Hi Chris! Thank you - I am pleased that this format was not an immediate flop. I did wonder how it would be received. The jig is really useful, and it was cheap too. You get a big one and a small one in the same packet. It is a "SCALE MODEL SCENERY SX002" Type that into Google and you will find it £3.99 for the pair - bargain! Michael

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Always good stuff Michael. Are there more buildings going in next to the hotel?

[@Chandwell]

Thanks John! Yeah, there will be another building next to the hotel (once the hotel has its domed hexagonal tower) and then there will be the trackbed to the old goods facilities. Then after that, I have sooooooo many more buildings to make. I think it will be at least 8 more years before I have got everything in place!! Thank you for your comment John - always a pleasure! Michael

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

@@Chandwell lol, I know the feeling, Ive got months of work ahead JUST on Piccadilly station. Lol

[@Chandwell]

That station is incredible. You’ll never finish as you keep going finer and finer every episode!

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Ha ha ha I must finish it even if it’s my last ever act lol

[@slwilliams75]

Brilliant 👌🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! Michael

[@roystudds1944]

Excellent video Michael. Great for recapping methods shown previously at length, but would still like the longer video format as well. Thanks for sharing. Roy.

[@Chandwell]

Thanks Roy! Normal service will resume with the next video. This was a good way to rush through a fairly bog-standard part of the hotel build. Michael

[@folkloreofbeing]

That was awesome.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you!

[@John-mz8rj]

Where did you get the brick texture from?

[@Chandwell]

I buy the downloads from Scalescenes dot com.

[@John-mz8rj]

@@Chandwell cheers.

[@jameschurch3037]

Fantastic! I have thoroughly enjoyed following along with the build, and your creative approach to the videos has truly added another dimension.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you James! Michael

[@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge]

Definitely buying shares in the company that makes Weetabix 😅😅😅😅 Entertaining as always Michael - short and snappy videos - some of the best on KZbin. Cheers Euan

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Euan - that's really kind! I am glad you liked this format. Michael

[@manofthehour6856]

Love it, Michael, thank you! I enjoy going to your archived videos for the tutorials....its a masterclass in railroad modeling (and on a budget!). Thank you as always!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you!

[@exehavenharbour]

Great presentation Michael, put together really well, but to be honest whatever you put together I would watch as it’s such a good build, cheers for now mate, John

[@Chandwell]

You're too kind, John!! :) Michael

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

Absolutely the best building, fantastic job Michael.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Chris! I appreciate it. I'm nearly finished at last. Two more weeks should do it. I've added the octagonal tower now, and that will be in Friday's video. Michael

[@smallscenesh0]

Man: you are an absolute genius! You can take the card craft into a totally different level! It's funny to realise that you use the same principles as I do, but on a quite higher stage of detail and quality! BIG 👍👍👍 AMAZING!🤩

[@Chandwell]

Wow, thanks! That is very kind of you to say! Michael.

[@adrianhayes6146]

Fantastic to watch, looking forward already to the next episode and many more as it is going to be a long cold winter. Take care.

[@Chandwell]

Thanks, you too! Michael

[@barryturner2916]

Loved watching this build, well done Mr Weetabix (lol), please keep them coming looking forward to the next update on your build..

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Barry! Friday's video should be a good one... I've managed to finish the octagonal tower and its cupola roof! Michael

[@simod]

Straight up wow. Such an inspirational video. Makes me want a go at scratch building.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! Michael

[@davidrauger]

Just got round to watching this - was away at the weekend staying in a Toad brake van. Like the Milliput bit - can't remember seeing you do that before. It was a good overview and reminded me of other things you have shown before and things I might like to try - one day!

[@Chandwell]

Staying in a Toad brake van! Sounds excellent! I think you're the first to mention the Milliput bit. That was new, but I just snuck it in without comment. The stone balls have worked out really well and I am really pleased with them! Michael

[@omeaga27]

Amazing as always I learn so much from you as all my dioramas as scratch builds too . When I get back into it again interiors will be the next challenge and you just showed me how to solve my window problems . Many thanks Stephen .

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Stephen! I am glad you found something useful here. If you search for "Sticky Label Window" on KZbin, you will see a more in-depth walk through the window technique that I made a few months ago. Thanks for watching, and have fun when you get back into your building! Michael

[@JAFKARNAT]

Amazing work for nine hours, well done.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@roncarter5532]

Different approach to the video, and I like it. Excellent scratch building again and attention to detail. Ron.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Ron! Michael

[@philcorrin1035]

This would make excellent marketing material for when you start your model scenery business. I have faith!

[@Chandwell]

Hahah... One day perhaps. I'm too busy making this hotel to think of that! :) Michael

[@Warpy75]

Loved it. You make it look so easy. It’s the little details as well which make it stand out - the little stone balls as an example. And now I need to eat cheesecake!

[@Chandwell]

Thank you! I was really pleased by how well the little stone balls ended up working out!! Michael

[@patasnegras2807]

Hey Micheal, I really admire your channel and your model making and I think you are making a really wonderful layout. I most admire all these little back stories which you create which adds character to the place. The psychogeography of Chandwell !! Watching Chandwell, a once grand Victorian station now a little reduced having now lost it´s through lines, it makes me think of Stirling Station in the same era. It too was a once grand station somewhat reduced. Which makes me think, …, even though Stirling lost it´s freight and yards and MPD, it still had a station pilot in the 80´s and early 90´s. It never moved much, but it was always ticking-over, just sitting there. So, … , will Chandwell have a station pilot sitting in the headshunt, and if so what is it´s name? oh, and another thing. Will Chandwell have colour lights or semaphores ?

[@Chandwell]

Hello! Thank you for your kind comments. I really enjoy making the little back-story elements of my videos. Watch out for a special video in a few weeks... I think you will enjoy that one. I have a little Graham Farish Class 08 shunter that I have had since my 15th birthday back when 1993 was "the future", so that's a great idea just leaving it idling in the headshunt. It's not a great runner so having it stationary would be good use for it. Watch out in Friday's video... I will try to get it into a couple of shots. As for its name... Hmmm... It would have to be something "very Chandwell"... I think Chandwell will have colour light signals, although it may be fun to model semaphores just before the viaduct... I will have to think on that! Michael

[@patasnegras2807]

@@Chandwell For something "very Chandwell" the 08 would have to be called `Stanley´ !

[@Vman7757]

Wow!. That was amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@Chandwell]

Thank you Vincent! Michael

[@JamesPetts]

"Eat cheesecake" is the best model making instruction ever.

[@rachelharris9797]

Totally agree!

[@Chandwell]

I am glad you appreciated that part! Of course, I was referring to the acetate that wraps single-portion Marks and Spencer cheesecake because that's the best glazing material I've yet found. But as a general model-making tip, I found it worked just as well! :) Michael

[@normanrowe2831]

That was great. Thanks.

[@Chandwell]

Glad you enjoyed it! Michael

[@andrewretallick4614]

Awesome (in a word!) Andrew🙂

[@Chandwell]

You're not usually a man of so few words Andrew! Thanks for watching as ever! Michael

[@SC68]

Hi Michael, Very Cool Video! Like the production of the video with the compressed time build! Gives a great illustration of the skills, time and effort that go into producing your models!! 👌Cheers Gary

[@Chandwell]

Thank you very much Gary! Michael