Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.5

For the most part new technology is exciting but sometimes it can be a real pain. Few months ago I bought new 64-bit computer with Windows 10 on it. It is great improvement over slow 9 year old machine that I had. However, with everything new also come new challenges. I have already solved several of them one or another way. The latest one surfaced few days ago. I use TurboCAD v7 for making window "glass" templates. For that I load scans of the backs of the windows and then load scans in TurboCAD and trace over the pictures. It so happens that TurboCAD v7 on Windows 10 doesn't open the pictures. It adds picture icons but not the pictures themselves. I needed to do the job that night and I didn't want to spend $50-$100 for the new version so I installed the cad on my trusted Windows XP virtual machine. I was able to make the templates the same night but I will check to see if it is worth upgrading my version of TurboCAD.
It has been some time since the last update on the shoppes. It didn't take me so long to actually finish them. I shipped them almost immediately after the last post but couldn't get around updating my blog. Here it is.

Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.4

That's it. The very last FSM kit is out. I wish George would keep going, going, and going but there is an end to everything. Happy retirement!
I have finished the shoppes. Now it is time to take them home and build the dioramas. I think I will do more urban setting this time i.e. asphalt and concrete only. No dirt.

Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.3

So far it has been very unexciting fall season. FOS Scale Models released their mega kit early. The South River Modelworks owner retired last year. It looks like George Sellios is coming up with his new and possibly last kit this year but he has missed his regular release date. It is yet a little bit early for Bar Mills big kit. Surely it makes easier on the wallet but takes away all the joy of anticipation.
The pictures of the shoppes are slightly outdated. I have progressed a little further and I am getting close to the point when this stops being lunch break project. No worries though. I have another already in the pipeline.

Where do the structures I build go Pt.5

I have returned from my little tour of New England. I barely skimmed the surface but I saw several very interesting buildings. Interesting from the architectural point of view as well as weathering. I only imagine what I could have found had I been able to spend more time there. I'll leave all of it to the kit manufacturers that live in the area though since I always get distracted while trying to scratch build something.
It has been awhile since I had any new pictures of the layout featuring some of the structures I have built. Now I have. Here they are.

Building Graves Elevators by Bar Mills Pt.1

I am not supposed to work on this yet. The plan was to paint and assemble several fork lifts and send them along with the Gibley's first and then start the Graves Elevators. What can I say? I am small and weak man...
So far I have assembled the shell of the larger building. The shell later will get an application of the "stucco". The original idea was to apply it right away but then if there was some fit issue with upper clapboard walls it would not be easy to address it. Therefore, I decided to wait until I get upper part done and check the fit.

Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.2

I have been thinking if I should ask my bosses to let me work from home one day per week. That would allow me to save at least two hours of driving which I could use on building models. Or get more sleep what is another very tempting option. The downside is that the refrigerator would be within easy reach...
The shoppes are moving along. Slow but steady. I only have 45 minutes of the break left after I eat my lunch. That still is probably more than some other modelers spend per week.

Building Concord Street Houses by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.2

Well... I am not very good at keeping my promises. At least when it comes to keeping this blog up to date. I have been having writer's block over the past few months. Or perhaps the life itself has become too dull. In any case, here are the photos.