Page 135 - 2010 - AOUT
P. 135
he cutting room was usually in the basement, or the upper floors and certainly out of eyesight of
one’s clients. Cutting room assistants were the `go between` in the transportation of the said suit,
and Sir would be doubly checked for comfort of fit before final hand stitching of the finer details.
The tailors would have an enviable list of high profile clients that would return again and again as
fashions dictated, or the pomp and circumstance of military engagements. Those that were/are able
to display the royal warrants, a sign of trust in faith of quality workmanship to the royal household,
would be and still are, the envy of many.
And so to our Gentlemen’s Emporium. This two part feature is the diary of the build of one such
establishment, reduced in size to 1/12th scale. The building is on three floors and compounded into a
space that would be too small in real life, but we as artisans, have the use of `modelers' licence`, a
very useful tool indeed. Inspiration is drawn from a building on Elvet Bridge in the beautiful city of
Durham in my beloved Northeast of England.
The main structure of this build is from our trusty friend, MDF. Not to everyone’s taste including mine
now and then, but it has its uses and this is one of them. Although very absorbent due to its
constructive nature (wood flour), it does stay flat if protected on both surfaces. Like any other
material, it will warp if laminated on one side only. Don’t forget, MDF is hazardous, so cut outdoors
and wear a mask. (NB. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions)
The base on which it stands is
26x19” and as per usual, I wish it
were a little bigger. Trouble is with
1/12th scale, it takes up too much
room. The main inspiration for this
build is the old bank in the photo‐
graph opposite, now divided into
different uses. It has all the qualities
of a gentleman’s emporium I feel,
and with a few adjustments here
and there, will suit our purposes
entirely. No pun intended.
I wanted this to have the
opportunity of butting up to another
building, so the left hand wall is left
blank with no base overhang. It
would be nice to have more
footpath area at the front, but I have
already trimmed a little off here as it
was a bit tight getting it into the car.
one’s clients. Cutting room assistants were the `go between` in the transportation of the said suit,
and Sir would be doubly checked for comfort of fit before final hand stitching of the finer details.
The tailors would have an enviable list of high profile clients that would return again and again as
fashions dictated, or the pomp and circumstance of military engagements. Those that were/are able
to display the royal warrants, a sign of trust in faith of quality workmanship to the royal household,
would be and still are, the envy of many.
And so to our Gentlemen’s Emporium. This two part feature is the diary of the build of one such
establishment, reduced in size to 1/12th scale. The building is on three floors and compounded into a
space that would be too small in real life, but we as artisans, have the use of `modelers' licence`, a
very useful tool indeed. Inspiration is drawn from a building on Elvet Bridge in the beautiful city of
Durham in my beloved Northeast of England.
The main structure of this build is from our trusty friend, MDF. Not to everyone’s taste including mine
now and then, but it has its uses and this is one of them. Although very absorbent due to its
constructive nature (wood flour), it does stay flat if protected on both surfaces. Like any other
material, it will warp if laminated on one side only. Don’t forget, MDF is hazardous, so cut outdoors
and wear a mask. (NB. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions)
The base on which it stands is
26x19” and as per usual, I wish it
were a little bigger. Trouble is with
1/12th scale, it takes up too much
room. The main inspiration for this
build is the old bank in the photo‐
graph opposite, now divided into
different uses. It has all the qualities
of a gentleman’s emporium I feel,
and with a few adjustments here
and there, will suit our purposes
entirely. No pun intended.
I wanted this to have the
opportunity of butting up to another
building, so the left hand wall is left
blank with no base overhang. It
would be nice to have more
footpath area at the front, but I have
already trimmed a little off here as it
was a bit tight getting it into the car.
