Project Update: Finescale Miniatures JS-13 Elijah Roth & Sons

I started Finescale Miniatures same time in February on impulse after seeing someone else building it on Railroad Line forums. I had my hands full anyway so I didn't progress far. I built the base and then set it aside. After that I would come back occasionally do one step or two and set aside again. I hope I am serious this time. Although I am working on other projects as well but they don't require a lot of commitment.

So... I have base made of pink foam. Mr. Sellios suggested using plywood but I thought base would be too heavy. It may bite me back later but right now I don't see anything wrong with using foam.

I have painted and weathered walls and installed windows. I still have to install window glass and shades.

I have also painted and rusted white metal doors.

 Stay tuned for updates on this project.

Flashback: Grumman F6F Hellcat in 1/33 scale by Halinski

While going over the pictures on my computer I came across few of Grumman F6F Hellcat. It is scale paper model published by Halinski.
I have been involved in scale paper models since 1995. However, I haven't done any paper modeling for about a year now. While Halinski kits look nice when finished it takes me about 4-5 months to do one and I don't have this kind of patience.

Project Update: Fat Jimmy's BBQ

Sometime last year I purchased off eBay number of River Dam Modelworks kits at very low price. Most of the structures aren't that interesting but provide nice opportunity for kitbashing.

First up is Lee Roys Cycle Shop. Here is its box or I should say bag art.

I spent about a year on and off creating drawings until I came up with BBQ joint which has been expanded several times.

One of the criteria for the design was not to throw away any of the wall parts. It would become scratchbuilding instead of kitbashing if I did. Biggest challenge was to find  suitable replacement  for the front window. The number of choices was very limited and I ended up picking Tichy Group triple window which was different design than the windows and doors that came with the kit. Therefore, I replaced those to. Unlike the walls windows and doors can be used for other projects.
So far I have completed main structure with two side additions. The back addition is still in the works.

The pictures show also preliminary roof vent arrangement. The ones in red will be replaced with different ones made of beads. I am using airgun pellets for the rest. My thanks for the tip goes to Kitforums.com member rpdylan.
Also I would like to thank Dave Frary for the name of the joint. He suggested naming it Fat Jimmy's in the honor of Kitforums.com owner Jimmy Deignan. Although Jimmy has couple of  kits  named after him already I agreed. As we say in Lithuania there is no such thing as too much butter in mashed potatoes.

Review: Joe Fugate's DVDs Scenery & Bridges parts 1 & 2

I have been collecting all sorts of MR videos from MRH, YouTube, MR magazine for quite some time. I also bought Joe Fugate's downloadable scenery videos when he had them for $10 or so for entire scenery set. However, I never got to watch any until few months ago we bought iPad. I have been catching up since then while waiting for oil change to be done or at doctor's office. Today I had couple of hours while my son and his friends watched a movie at a theater. I had just enough time to finish watching entire Joe's set.
Joe covers a lot in these two DVDs. Making landforms, creek, grass, static grass applicator, trees, bushes, carving rocks, etc. Also, building a trestle and a tunnel portal which I don't care much about at his point. However, that may become handy if I decide to build my own model railroad. I was aware of some methods and techniques presented in the videos but seeing them actually used was something different. For example, making bottle brush trees. I have tried making them in the past by reading and looking at the pictures and I have failed miserably. Now I am sure I really now how to do it properly. There is as well a number of techniques presented that I didn't known about before. Also, videos include section on rock carving. This is the third one I have seen. One is by Doug Foscale, second by Bob Van Gelder. All three are quite different in technique and materials used.
What is different about this series from other videos I have seen is that Joe shows how to make scenery at lower cost but at the same achieve the same level realism as using more expensive products and materials. I love inexpensive.

Tip: scan the parts

Before you start building laser cut structure scan all the parts you can. If later on you mess up one trace the scan over in CAD or photo editing software, print a template, and cut out new part. Or simply just print the scan if such software isn't available.
Copy machine may be an option. However, rumors are that they are set to distort a copy so that people don't start copying money. Check yours before you copy whole batch.
In a worst case just trace biggest parts over on a piece of paper. It is always better than nothing.

Review: FOS Scale Model Railoroad Masters vol. 1 DVD

Couple of days ago I received FOS Scale Model Railoroad Masters vol. 1 DVD titled John's Elwood's Olympic & Puget Sound Railway in a mail. Got home after work, watched it, and... I am left with mixed feelings. John has built very nice layout and this DVD is great for those who are looking for inspiration for their own layouts. However, my reason for buying it was unique scratchbuilt structures which I thought I would copy. John has scratchbuilt a number of them but many are copies of FSM structures that have been released as kits. To my disappointment there aren't enough unique.

Prologue

When I think of Prologue 1981 album titled Time by Electric Light Orchestra comes to mind. It isn't related to this blog in any way other than it came out when I was  heavily involved in number of hobbies as teenager. I used to run my cassette player all the time back then. And if I liked some album very much I would nearly wear out holes in the tape. One of the such albums was the Time. Check out ELO Wiki page for more info.

Although I intend to dedicate this blog to scale modeling and only, something like previous paragraph may pop up occasionally. I even may post something politics related. However, I will try keeping it to the minimum. Otherwise this blog may become "Day with Vilius" or similar.

OK. Lets get serious. My current passion is craftsman structures. I model in HO but keep my eye on some of O scale stuff. At first, I thought of  doing strictly craftsman structure blog but then I would have to have separate blog for other modeling interests. To make my life easier I have decided to do just one. In addition, I believe that the hobbies interweave so a tip or idea used in one hobby can find application in the other too.

Background... I wanted to do quite extensive explanation how I got where I am right know but then I thought who wants to know... Skipping it. I'll throw in some "historical" facts as I go.