May 13, 2026
Description
HO scale model of a 1930's-era garage and apartment that used to stand in an alley in Parkersburg, WV, featuring rusticated concrete block, steel casement windows, and an interesting set of steel stairs.
Rusticated concrete block is concrete block with a decorative outside face cast to resemble rough or worked stone. This style of block appeared in the late 19th century and was used for homes, utility buildings, and commercial buildings. This model is inspired by a building that used to stand in the alley north of 16th Street, between St Mary's Avenue and Lynn Street:
Google Maps Street View: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oRDNHiD5nKFj5exg8
An excellent view on flickr from photographer Tim Kiser: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timboduke/49361285443
Parts are separated for easy painting or for printing in different colours.
Print at 0.1mm layers with 0.2mm extruder
Print 1 of each unless otherwise noted. Apply supports as noted.
Print at 0.1mm layers with 0.4mm extruder
Print 1 of each unless otherwise noted. Print with brim as noted.
Print at 0.2mm layers with 0.4mm extruder
Print 1. Requires generous brim to prevent corner lifting. You may want to add ears at the corners. Paint manual supports in window and door openings. The walls for my sample model took 13 hours to print on my Ender 3 Pro.
Window and door openings and the windows and doors will require a bit of light sanding. The window and door parts should fit closely without being forced. Insert the frames into the openings from the inside; this creates interior window and door frames. Insert the windows and doors from the outside, seating the windows and doors against the interior frames.
The floor_second_ledge.stl parts fit into slots on the walls to support the floor_second_framing.stl part. Note that floor_second_ledge.stl is rectangular; glue it into the slot with the wide side of the rectangle against the wall.
The roof_ledge.stl fits into the slot at the top of the walls. Note that roof_ledge.stl has a sloped edge; glue this part into the slot with the wide side of the slope against the wall and the slope facing up.
Use the garage_door_frame.stl and garage_door_door_only.stl parts to model an open garage door. In my sample model, the garage door is folded slightly at one of its panel seams and just held in the frame with friction.
Insert step.stl parts into one of the stair_steps_jig.stl parts, making sure that the plank detail on each step is facing up. Sandwich the steps between the second stair_steps_jig.stl part and tape the two jig parts together. Push the steps flush with one side of the assembled jig.
Push stair_frame_left.stl into the recess on stair_jig_left.stl. The part should hold in place, but a thin strip of tape across the top stair_frame_left.stl will help hold it in place.
Apply a spot of glue to the underside of each step. Bring the jigs together so that the steps fit into the L-shaped brackets on the stair lattice. Nudge the steps into place with a hobby knife and ensure that the steps are seated against the frames and in the brackets. After the glue dries, repeat the process for the other side. After the glue dries, remove the steps from the jigs.
Glue landing_frame.stl to the underside of landing_floor.stl with the frame flush with the rear and the sides of the floor. Glue the landing_brace.stl parts into the slots in the landing_frame.stl, with the vertical backs of the braces flush with the rear of the frame. Glue landing_lattice.stl to the floor and frame, with the lattice flush with the front of the floor.
Glue the assembled porch to the top step of the assembled stairs. Glue railing_front.stl to the assembled stairs and landing, aligning the railing to the stair lattice and the landing lattice. Glue railing_side.stl to the side of the landing and to the attached front railing.
License:
Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial — Share Alike
Jonathan Piasecki
