Building Bower's Brewery by Microscale Models Pt.1

It seems that just last week I was heading to the Fine Scale Model Railroader EXPO in Boston. In fact it was whole month ago and I don't have anymore 18 months left to build my next EXPO contest entry.
The main reason I went to the show this year was that George Sellios F&SM model railroad was open to the attendees. I couldn't miss the opportunity that doesn't come around very often by itself and even more rare when combined with the EXPO and several other model railroads available for viewing.
As far as modeling goes I have been working on the brewery for quite some time. This project is a little more time consuming because of the board by board construction method but that gives the structure more character if properly executed. Hopefully I am doing it right way.

Finishing FOS Canal & Third diorama Pt.2

Last time I mentioned that I made a batch of tufts. Few days ago I watched a video by Luke Towan on YouTube on how to make tufts. Two varieties shown there I have done in the past. The third requires a little more work but has a look of different type of plant. I may try making some when I get my static grass applicator out. The whole static grass thing is a little messy. It gets everywhere.
I have planted third building on the diorama. The next step is the sidewalk. The kit came with some of it but not enough to do what I want. Therefore I spent whole Sunday evening designing the sidewalk and then cutting it out of 1/16 inch basswood sheet. It is all primed and ready for painting. I even may start installing the sidewalks tonight.

Building Duffy's Coal by FSM Pt. 5

Around the same time last year I thought Jordan vehicles were going to disappear from the market. I bought a bunch back then since there is no other manufacturer that covers the 20s. Perhaps it is all just in my mind but I can't imagine later era vehicles along with FSM kits. This year it may be for real though. I don't know if that coincides with passing of the Jordan Products owner but Walthers has all of the remaining vehicles marked as "Discontinued". If the company is going out of business for real I hope someone eventually will acquire the molds. For now I may just go on shopping frenzy and stock up on Jordans.
My build of the third FSM kit has come to the end. It has been packed, shipped, and successfully delivered to its new home.To summarize it all I must say it has been most complex kit I have ever built. It has been fun though except for the handrails.

Freight House by Laserkit Pt.2

Few years back I made a batch of tufts with my static grass applicator. Although I have also commercial ones as well I tend to use home made tufts more often. The other day I wanted to "plant" few of them on Canal & Third diorama but I had nothing left from the first batch. It isn't difficult to make the tufts so I decided to make a new batch. I had two non-stick aluminum foil sheets and without thinking I made few more out of regular aluminum foil. The next day I tried removing the tufts from regular sheets and I couldn't. Only then I realized why did I use non-stick foil in the
first place. Eventually I came up with some kind of solution. I placed a drop of water on the tuft, let it sit for a little, and removed it with a tweezers. However, it wasn't as convenient as just light pull if non-stick foil was used. I'll try to remember that few years down the road.
I finished the freight house one week later than I said I was going. Like always my original estimate was too optimistic. I am late with the post as well. At the time of this writing it has already been sold and it will leave tomorrow for the new home.

Freight House by Laserkit Pt.1

Up until about now I've been ignoring model railroading aspects such as benchwork, track laying, wiring, DCC, locomotives, rolling stock. My focus has been on structures, scenery, and details. Since I may be starting to build my layout soon I've decided to address my lack of knowledge in the mentioned areas. The Trainmasters TV has series on how to build a layout with Miles Hale and also
how to build the Free-mo modules with Trevor Marshall. I found them to be good introductions into benchwork building. I can't say anything about the rest since I haven't seen it yet. Also I somehow have come across Model Railroading University videos on YouTube by Miles Hale. For the most part the videos provide more in depth coverage of the same topics as Trainmasters TV. I was watching some of the episodes past weekend and came to almost shocking discovery. Such prominent figure in model railroading as Miles Hale doesn't have knowledge of how to weather the structures. I suppose everyone has own certain areas of interest within the hobby and the weathering for him isn't one of them.
I am demonstrating my lack of self discipline again. I could have spent my lunch breaks making remaining sub-assemblies for Duffy's and Gibley's but instead I am building the freight house. I felt I needed something quick with no intention of making a diorama. I thought that the Laserkit structure would fit the bill. I have made some good progress and it shouldn't take long time to finish. The goal is to have it ready for eBay by Sunday.

Building Duffy's Coal by FSM Pt. 4

Every day on the way to work and back I pass a tire place that consists of two buildings with number of add-ons. One of the add-ons has flat front with three doors. I was driving past the other day and they were all open. I could see that it was used for the storage. I was curious why would someone put three doors and not one door with couple of windows and why the structure is raised up with a deck in front of it and lattice all around at the bottom. Then I was looking at it in Google maps and saw that something was separating roof into three equal parts. It all started making sense. It isn't one building but three trailers with built up front and the lattice covers the underside. All this makes the place even more interesting. I may make a model of it some day.
Meanwhile I am continuing working on the Duffy's. I am building a lumber shed and at the same time I am adding to the main building the sub-assemblies that I have prebuilt.

Building Gibley's Furniture Co by Bar Mills Pt.2

FSM Westside Auto is sold out. At this point all we can do is patiently wait until July or August and see what George comes up with this time. Or we can chase on eBay those kits that we have missed...
A piece of Gatorfaom for Gibley's is coming this week. I am not ready to glue the building to the base yet though. I still need to have access from the bottom. I cut a hole in the roof for the white metal castings. Then I glue a piece of pink foam from the bottom that I can carve if I need to adjust the angle what is the case most of the time. It is much easier to do that than sanding the bottom of the casting itself. In addition, doing this way makes stronger bond. However, my castings are not quite ready yet. I still have few things left to do before they will start impacting the progress.