Note that in step #6 may be done in Photoshop as 'transform' to 26.5 degrees.
In MSPaint you'll have to move it manually.

Ctrl+W

otherwise, you can use MTPaint's iso transform tool.

For pictures of the actual station, check out this link.

That link takes you to a LiveJournal photo gallery of the Fire Department of New York Station 8, home to "8 Truck". The brothers at that station are very easy going and quite often take in visitors to see the "GhostBusters Station".

If you ever want to go visit Station 8 to see the "GhostBuster Station", send me a message. But be prepared to spend some money bringing them dessert, since you're going to be entering their home for the duration of the shift. It's a show of respect, and you'll most likely be invited in to see the whole station and not just the apparatus floor.

The character of that firehouse is amazing. Not to be confused with the characters that work in it!

The door you have is a bit too small. It needs to be 6-8 pixels taller. The bottom floor is about 18' feet tall from what I remember. The other floors above it are both around 14' in height. The door really is about 50% of the base of the width on the ground floor.

Edit: You might like this link as well


Edited by FireMedic - 19 October 2007 at 3:45pm

A new edit, added shadows, rounded the door (made it higher), added some more features on the right side wall and tried to fix the doors.

The big door still looks flat, what is the best way so it gets some depth?


Edited by Club Beuker - 23 October 2007 at 7:35am

Wow, great!

I noticed you also changed the right side red, gives it some more "daylight" feeling.

As usual I will take these tips in concideration and change the piece.

That's odd, because I also saved as a .gif

Still I like it, not sure if I will "copy" it into the piece tho

You see all those little brick details by the windows? You can't keep those on a flat BG and have it look like a plastic building with concrete bricks stuck into it. Show some little brick outlines in a subtly differentiated color on both sides of the walls. Also, I think the palette could use some tweaking; the GIF version looked a lot more vibrant and interesting. The grime you have now is good but spread it around some; are the windows perfectly clean? Do they employ janitors (or rails, eep!) for the roof? Are the to-be-defined bricks immune to dirt?

Hi Club Beuker,

Just dropping in to say that your progress is good.
I like it. Have nothing much to comment because I´m not
really any good with ISO.

When viewing the reference pictures I do see some
bricks, all be it very difficult to see.
The things below the roof (the holding things) could
use a little contrast.

Keep up the good work.

Best regards from

M.E.

Another update, gave some more contrast to the grime, and added lighting and dust/slime to the windows. Any tips? suggestions? wishes?


Edited by Club Beuker - 30 October 2007 at 3:47am

The "red" part of the building is indeed bricks.

The blocks have slightly different grains and color from coming from multiple sources and because of natural variations in how granite and marble are formed.

White brick makes up the interior of the first floor, with a plaster and lathe construction (with some brick) on the floors above.

@ Firemedic: Hmm, you're right. Still it's difficult to put some 'brick' texture in the piece. Then again I already submitted it to the gallery. I might change it if I come up with a smooth way to do the texture.

@Jalonso: yep, but I can always change the pic after submitting right? Or maybe it'll turn into a HQ 2.0 or something.


Edited by Club Beuker - 30 October 2007 at 9:19am

I think that's been suggested.

You might even consider using the darker colors that you've used on each side and just stenciling in the mortar outlines of the bricks, then mix it up a bit and make a few odd ones that stand out.

Could even leave a hole in the side of the building with missing bricks, with a pair of eyes that are looking out.

Perhaps the doors could swing open (they go inwards, or with the garage door up heh) , Slimer could come out of a window and go around the building into another, you could make a few flashes in a window with someone's outline shadow.... all would add a unique touch