Project Update: K.W.Murphy Engineering Works aka Flour Mill by Laser Art

I have big plans for long Thanksgiving weekend. One of them is to finish this project. I am quite close. Another 2 or 3 hours and I am done. I am shooting for FSMsque look. One component to achieve that is to use several different roofing materials. I used tarpaper that was included in the kit. It is too thick but when I used it on Marilyn's I got nice cracking effect. I am hoping to achieve it here as well. Also I used some leftover Campbell shingles from Houligan's Alley kit on part of the roof. Little loading add-on is covered with corrugated metal like paper I bought at Michael's. It looks a little shallower than Campbell like but for the price I paid it may be an excellent alternative. This paper has flat bottom so it is good in places where it isn't visible. Most of the time it is the case anyway.
When building loading add-on I realized that I had made one of the "painted" signs too big and placed too low. I could have soaked it with water and pealed away. That would have produced nice ghost sign but that isn't what I am after. I will cover area with mounted on plywood and framed sign instead.

Project Update: Houligan's Alley by FSM

I work on models in two week cycles. I work for three nights in a row, then I have two off followed by three nights of modeling and then I have a break for six days. There is nothing worse than something going wrong right before that long break. It happened to me about 10 days ago. I was installing power lines using nylon thread but things didn't go well. Nylon isn't easy to shape, everything got tangled up. I ripped all power lines off and decided have my diorama without them. George Sellios himself mentions in the instructions that he doesn't install power lines. Why would I do it? It was too hard to accept the defeat though. That kept me bugging during long break and after it was over I went in with the new plan. This time I used regular thread from the kit and I succeeded.
With this behind and Jordan vehicles built the rest was a piece of cake. I can proudly say now that I have completed my first FSM kit.
What is waiting for me in post Houligan's Alley era? I would really like to finish few older projects that are laying around in various stages of completion and collecting dust. I have few kits that I have prepared for painting and assembling during few extra hours of modeling I came up with this fall. I may throw these new kits into a mix. Perhaps I may do another FSM kit. Although Skinner's Row is my all time favorite I don't think I want to do anything of that caliber at the moment.

Project Update: Gritty McDuff's by Bar Mills

Phew! Work on installing rafter ends is done. The Main Building has quite a number of them. Some of them like upper back ones were hard to install. The roof is steep and there is very little room. I broke couple of rafter ends at first trying to squeeze them in. I couldn't figure out why the front ones went much easier. Then I realized that their ends were cut at an angle. The rafter ends for the back were rectangular. I cut the ends that go into opening in the building at an angle and work went much smoother from that point. With this out of the way I don't have much left to do before I need to install the signs and roof vents which aren't ready yet. The Lumber Store is near completion as well. I may dive into detail painting next week and disappear from the radar for awhile or start the third building in the kit the Wood Shop what is far more exiting that details. Time will tell if I have enough will and self discipline in me or I will succumb to temptation. If I were to bet I would put my money on latter...

Project Update: Gritty McDuff's by Bar Mills

I have been assembling the Main Building for the past several days. It is coming together more less all right. So far I have encountered couple of issues. Bottom floor wall that faces inside was about 1/16" too long. Also markings for upper rear shed on roof card are incorrect. I covered the card with roofing material before building the shed itself and now have about 1/16" gap between shed and roofing. I'll have to get creative here and come up with some solution.
I have been working a little on the Lumber Store as well. I intended to paint its walls with Floquil Rust but when picked up the bottle I found out that the paint inside had dried up. That couldn't  have happened at worse time. Testors is not producing Floquil anymore and my local train store has sold out all Rust. Luckily I am not picky about what paint I use, its shade, or tone. For me if it says Floquil Rust it doesn't mean it is carved in stone. I checked my collection of craft paints and found that Raw Sienna was really close match. Actually I was quite glad I didn't have to use solvent based paint.

Project Update: Houligan's Alley by FSM

Based on my plans this project should have been done long time ago. It is something about those last steps. They are so hard to make. I have been spending time on McDuff's or Murphy's projects just to push further building of three Jordan vehicles. Recently I acquired few of Athearn of the same era and Jordans don't really need to be built but I would hate myself for cutting corners. Therefore, I am procrastinating most of the time. However, this little voice inside sometime gets me so I do this and that. I have made a tree using some China made cheap tree armature, fish tank filter material, and scenic foam. I have installed power poles, stree lights, have glued down some pigeons, cardboard boxes, tufts and other scenic material. I also finished painting my diorama crew last night. Not all little people will make it though. I paint more than I actually need. To finish it up I still need to add more scenic material, finally install power lines, build Jordan vehicles which I have already started. I am hoping the next update will be the final.

Project Update: K.W.Murphy Engineering Works aka Flour Mill by Laser Art

While I intend to build most of the kits I own into diorama there are few that I have no interest in investing too much time in. Possibly I could auction them off but I have paid too much and most likely I would not break even if I did so. Therefore, I am going to build and then auction them off in a hope that I will recover my investment. Someone may argue that I would invest even more if I built a kit but monetary value of my time isn't important if I am having fun.
I am starting with my first red headed stepchild. It is Flour Mill by Laser Art. I acquired it before I built my first kit of theirs, before I knew of challenges awaiting, before the list of kits I would like to build shrunk eliminating not only certain kits but eliminating certain manufacturers as well. One of them is Laser Art. I can't say anything bad about them. I just don't find them appealing any longer. There is a number of way more interesting kits. Therefore, it is my last kit by Laser Art unless someone asks me to build one or I need some building for my layout which I don't have and don't plan on building one in the nearest future.
Some of the kits are complete package. They are so well designed that it is hard to change or add anything without ruining them. Even painting in colors other than of pilot model is quite a challenge. Others just ask to be modified. I find this kit to be one of them. Perhaps because of its simplicity. I am not going to change shape of the structure but I will change some of the materials used, add more details, change purpose. Speaking of which it will become K.W.Murphy Engineering Works named after my boss who retired about a month ago. He has been my boss for past 15 years and this is my little tribute.
To start with I have cut off all tabs where corner post go. I hate those plywood strips that are supposed to cover tab joints. They are always too narrow. Plus they have unsightly laser burnt edge which needs to be painted what is always pain in the area of body we don't speak off. The tabs have been replaced with 5/64" basswood. So far none of other modifications have been done yet but they are coming.

Project Update: Gritty McDuff's by Bar Mills

McDuff's is moving full steam ahead. Those few extra hours are paying dividends. Almost all castings have been cleaned up. Remaining need some 10-15 minutes of Dremel time. All but one building walls have been painted and nail holes put in.
The main building is almost ready to be glued together. All it needs are shades and curtains. I think I have found more efficient way to glue window "glass" in. I use Future acrylic gloss medium. It not only acts as gluing agent but makes acetate reflect light like real glass. I used to throw pieces of acetate into rubbing alcohol to wash finger prints and whatever is on them. Then I would dry them off with lens cleaning tissue. Although the tissue is supposed to be lint free but after cleaning few pieces of acetate it starts shedding. Dust particles get attracted by static and they stay on "glass" even after dunking them in Future creating unsightly spots after it dries. I think I have got a solution. Instead of drying off alcohol I touch edge of acetate to paper towel to drain excess and then I dunk acetate in Future. No static, no dust specks. Plus it eliminates one step and therefore it is faster.