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

The biggest news of the past week is that Model Power is closing the shop. Apparently the business model they have been relying on for about 50 years is no longer working. Really sad news. They have been my source of inexpensive HO scale vehicles and unpainted figures. They also made very nice detailed flex track. I don't know if it was good and reliable but looked very good on dioramas. Only hope I have that someone picks up their molds and restarts production at least of some of the Model Power products.
Last night I watched a movie called "Get Low". The movie setting is in 30s. I was interested not only in its plot but also in the period it depicts. I am sure set designers use some amount artistic license but I didn't see a single vehicle painted in other color than black. That matches my impression of the era but then some manufacturers like Athearn sell or used to sell HO scale vehicles painted in a range of colors. Is it historically accurate or just marketing trick? I am sure some people must buy one of each color, others don't want all of their vehicles to be black so there is greater chance to sell more by offering variety of colors. I am split between historical accuracy and what makes diorama look better. I want to find out the truth though.
E.Roth diorama isn't moving forward at a pace I would like it to. Every task I do takes more time than I think it should. Last night I expected to done be done "planting" within 30 minutes. Instead, it took me nearly 2 hours and it isn't done yet. I still have to apply one type of scenic material which I have skipped this time around since sidewalks haven't been weathered yet. I am not that much in the rush but on the other hand anything that doesn't get finished before summer has lower chance of being done during it...

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

Here I am again. This time I am very serious about finishing it. The lighting is built in. The issues caused by Envirotex have been corrected. Almost all sub-assemblies have been built so the rest pretty much is straight forward. I need 1 or 2 vehicles to put on diorama though. The ones I had built for Houligan's have been sold so I have to make new ones. I think I'll do 4 Jordans this time around. This way I'll waste less time cleaning my airbrush. Other than that I don't have much to report. The pictures should tell the rest.

Project Update: The Magic Shop by FOS Scale Models

I haven't abandoned Magic Shop completely. Actually, when you look at it there is not so much left to do. One good night session should do it. And then, of course, I still need to make diorama. I have been sketching some ideas for it in my head but I am not seeing whole picture yet. Perhaps I need a good hike in the woods to finalize it...

Project Update: Tidewater Wharf by Builders in Scale

Recently amazing work of Emmanuel Nouaillier has been brought to my attention. You can see it for yourself here http://www.009.cd2.com/members/how_to/nouaillier_a.htm. Emmanuel quite regularly publishes his how-to articles in Continental Modeller magazine. Three month digital subscription to the magazine for around $16 gives you access to the back issues starting from 2011. Besides Nouaillier's work there is plenty of info on layouts from all over the world. Should I event mention that I am on board? I have three months to digest all of it and decide if I want to continue my subscription.
The another piece of news is that apparently Preiser has re-released its unpainted figure sets. It has been very hard to get them over the past few years and now I am seeing big influx on eBay. It is good news to those who like painting their own figures. I particularly like the ability to customize them. By customization I mean not only painting but changing figure features. Yes, I perform surgery on them!
Talking about main the feature of this post I am still in chaos. I am still shuttling parts and sub-assemblies of Tidewater home and back. Some of them have been sitting on my workbench for days if not weeks. I am focused on other projects when modeling at home. I really need to finish two or three projects within next few months. After this goal is achieved I will be more flexible but by then I should be done with Tidewater
as well...