What's in the box: Elliott & Sons Supply by BTS

This is one of my Oops eBay purchases. I had brain freeze and clearly set my bid too high. I got it for about half of the list price still. I had it on my list anyway only timing wasn't very good. New FSM kit is coming out soon and Southriver... I need cash!

Project Update: Oakleaf Shipping & Storage by Bar Mills

Perhaps I should have waited until I finish it and then done final update but I had camera out... I didn't use signs that came with the kit. They would have been nice if they had more color. They were pretty much B/W. Therefore, I replaced them with my own. I have encountered a little issue in this kit as well. Those tiny legs that hold platform weren't same length. I noticed that after I already squized out some canopy glue and was about to glue buildings on. The adjustment procedure was a bit more complicated than could have been had I noticed that before gluing legs to the platform.
The roofs are in the process of being weathered. One of the steps involves applying some white oil paint. That white will get adjusted later.

Project Update: Raglan Road by Bar Mills

I have put all walls together. I had some sanding to do. The wall height varied quite a bit. I also ran into an issue where I had to dis-join two walls make adjustments to make sure they perpendicular and later remove part of one wall to make it flush with the other one. Again contributor to the problem were wrong part dimensions which as I mentioned in previous post most likely were caused by different expansion/contraction rate of original and replacement parts. Anyway, worst is over and the rest can be adjusted to fit if needed without much sweat.

Project Update: Hooper's Fresh Oysters by FOS Scale Models

Last night I finished structure part of the kit. The base and the pilings will go on after I figure out dimensions of the diorama. I also touched up the skiff and did some initial weathering. More yet to be done but perhaps after I put a captain in the cabin because only then I can glue the roof on. The captain is still yet to be recruited from a number of unpainted Preiser figures. By the way, unpainted Preiser figures have become hard to find. I got couple of boxes off eBay last month. One of them came from Portugal. Few days ago I found one box at local train store. It is one that I already have but I am still tempted. I like unpainted figures more because it is so easy to adapt to the requirements. I can twist arms, legs, heads and then paint. Technically, it is possible to do same thing with painted figures and repaint them after modification but I would be paying premium for paint job I would paint over later. Just doesn't make sense.
Talking about figures wasn't my original intention. Actually, I wanted to mention Rembrandt brand soft pastel chalks. In particular Burnt Umber one. I bought this color and few others for detail casting weathering after reading a thread on railroad line forums. Then I thought I would try using chalks to dirty up some windows. It worked. Now I use them signs as well. Yesterday just before going to bed I decided to stop by and take one more look at Hooper's. It occurred to me that lamp shade was too bright so I grabbed a paintbrush and brushed some chalk on it. That toned it down and made it look dusty.
In previous post I said I didn't have good idea how I wanted my diorama look like. Now the picture is much clearer. I even went shopping for some details at Michael's but didn't find what I was looking for. Hobby Lobby had what I needed. However, I found it in different section I was passing by after deciding that HL didn't have it as well. By the way, it should have been very peculiar picture seeing a guy digging through the beads... In addition to some beads I may find use for few resistors I have two full bags off. I  grabbed them from a dumpster when our department was moving to a different office. They are precision 100k through hole resistors which I really have no use for. The best place for them is a dumpster but hoarder in me just wouldn't let them go. Previously I thought really hard about what they could represent but with no success. Only when I didn't find what I was looking for at Michael's I started thinking about alternatives. Then it just poped up. Hey, I can use the resistors I have!
Here are some pictures to end this post. Yes, I took them before dusting up that lamp shade.

Project Update: Raglan Road by Bar Mills

Finally I can do an update on Raglan Road progress. I received the parts I needed sometime in the middle of June. However, I had to repeat same process of sanding, priming, painting to get to the point I was before I discovered the problem with the walls.
Everything is coming together quite well. I have run into two issues that I would like to mention. I am not sure if there still is an error in template for parts or the fact that different wood parts had to go through different environments and because of that they have expanded/contracted at different rate but I have ended up with a quite big gap on the front right side. However, I am not worried much since tower will go there and will cover the gap. Other gap is in the back. In my opinion that narrow piece of the wall is a too narrow. This gap is a bit more problematic because nothing is going to cover it naturally. Therefore, I'll glue piece 2x2 there and no one will be able to say that it doesn't belong there. Alternatively water spout could go there as well. It all could have been my mistakes but this is exactly reason I am not a big fan of such kind of internal structure this kit has. I agree it makes model very sturdy but it is very hard to make adjustments. Usually problem occurs when other parts are already in place and sanding no longer is an option. Anyway, I think I am in a good shape and will get everything fixed.

What's in the box: A.R.Gilmore Grain & Feed by Laser Modeling 3

Ever wondered what is in Laser Modeling 3 kit boxes? Wonder no more. Here is content of A.R.Gilmore Grain & Feed kit.

What's in the box: The Brick Freight House by Monster Model & Laserworks

I have something unusual this time. It is laser cut brick building kit. Jimmy isn't the first who has attempted laser cut bricks. Number of manufacturers come to mind. However, I haven't seen such good representation of real bricks anywhere else. In addition it seems that Jimmy has found some magic formula to make it commercially viable. Take a look at what you get if you order this kit.

Project Update: Oakleaf Shipping & Storage by Bar Mills

I've come very close to finishing Oakleaf. If the stars align correctly I may be able to complete it this weekend and ship it next week. It will be my 10th Bar Mills kit not counting duplicates.

Project Update: Hooper's Fresh Oysters by FOS Scale Models

My post backlog is getting bigger. Therefore, I have decided to do double feature today. Since last update I have installed and "rusted" the roof and almost completed the skiff. The skiff needs a bit of touching up and weathering. As it stands today I will proceed to making diorama right away. I don't have good idea for what I want to do yet. I haven't had any walks in the park lately for the reason that my son is in between of soccer seasons and I don't have to take him to his practices. Those several hours to think every week has been major idea source for my projects. All I know at this point that I don't want to copy what Doug has done.

Project Update: Truck Stop kitbash based on EF13B by RailroadKits.com

I have made some progress but not as good as I would like. There is a number of reasons. Some are serious and some are more like excuses. Among serious are past vacation in Chicago and that I haven't received yet laser cut parts from Jimmy. Not so serious is past heat wave contributing to the fact that I haven't made canopy supports yet. I don't have other ventilation option for styrene welding liquid than open window. With over 100 degrees outside keeping window open isn't the best idea.
What I have managed to do since previous post is to paint and install windows, install "glass", build canopy, cut out and paint walls for the restaurant addition, and to paint about a half of castings.

Project Update: Oakleaf Shipping & Storage by Bar Mills

If someone said I have too many toys in my sand box I would have to agree. Here is one more. It is Oakleaf Shipping & Storage by Bar Mills. It looks like one of the simpler Bar Mills kits. Time will tell if I am right.

What's in the box: Baker's Country Store by Railroadkits.com

I am getting back into the rhythm after vacation and I haven't done anything worth posting. Therefore, I have yet another WITB - Baker's Country Store by Railroadkits.com