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.

Project Update: Texaco Gas Station by Micro-scale Models

Not so much progress here. I have been painting castings and I am still wrestling some of them. After painting canopy posts from detail set I have learned that they are too short. That has brought my motivation level way down. As a result I basically force myself to do one or two little tasks each day just to get moving while devoting majority of my time to Gritty's. I have figured how to extend posts preserving their visual quality though. I bought some styrene rod for that purpose. However, I had figured the diameter I needed but at a store it looked like it was too small so I changed my mind and bought one step larger. That was a mistake. Now I need to go back and exchange for the correct one. I really hope all this is worth the effort.