I decided on the width of the model and I took the old photo I have and sized it proportionally in CAD, then I decided to experiment with making the sides “torn” so I could get a better idea the effect. I think with the right amount of “tear” texture it will be just what I had in mind. Maybe adding about 50% more raggedness and rounding/curving the tear here and there on the clay model will do it, the CAD version is just a real quick/easy use of polygon hiding. Oh and if anyone is wondering about the street name “Desbrosses” street and how it might be pronounced, this…

I scaled off a large format B&W .tif image obtained from the Library of Congress’ historic American building survey to find the dimensions. The technique is easy with this photo since not only is it a straight-on shot with no distorsion, but I have one known measurement to use to calculate the scale of the objects in the photo with. Using the ruler in an image editor I found the measurement of one of the medallions I own (not shown in the view) which is 18″ to come up with a pixel measurement of the section where the yellow line is. I found that yellow line compared to the size…

I think I want to do some kind of model of one of the historic West Side Highway street/pier markers, these were extremely heavy cast-iron and as far as I know only one was saved when the highway was demolished in the 70s/80s, the rest were scrapped. The designs were made by renowned sculptor Rene Chambelain and I have seen photos of his original plaster mockups or models for these in his studio. I’m thinking of doing a “section” of this elevated highway side, not just the sculptures but to include the interesting riveted background and the partially pierced railing section above too. The smaller “eagle” on top was made…

NEW: hand made, solid steel fire alarm box HAMMER Those who collect both “local” and municipal fire alarm boxes such as the older Gamewell models which used a small piece of glass covering the activator lever, hook, or key will usually lack the little steel or cast-iron hammers most of the boxes had originally. This includes Faraday, ADT, Edwards and a number of other makes. Back in the 70s and 80s when I had a collection of of over 100 local fire alarm boxes salvaged from numerous buildings in NYC, a few of them still had their “break glass” hammers attached with a chain. These hammers were often stolen or…

With the completed mold here’s the first cast.