Where do the structures I build go Pt.2

It is only one picture of one of the structures I built this time. Other two show surrounding area. Very well done scenery I must say.

Project Update: Gugisberg & Sons Machining by Downtown Deco

Long weekend starts just in few hours. I don't know if I will be able to sneak in any modeling time. Perhaps it is better this way because I've been working on models for the past three nights. Some time off doing something else would be useful to prevent burn out. But... I am about one hour away from finishing Gugi. It would be nice to wrap it up and start a new project next week...

Project Update: Mill Housing by Microscale Models

I came across an eBay listing this week where seller said he bought the kits to work on them after he retired but got seriously sick before he was able to get to them. It wasn't the first auction, I have seen quite few like that before. I wouldn't have paid much attention this time like many times before, but coincidentally earlier this week I listened to a Model Railcast Show episode where its host Ryan Andersen announced that he had stage 4 lung cancer. And he is only 47. Sad, but it is life. This is why I don't believe in this whole "I'll do when I retire" thing. It is all possible that even if I reach retirement age, I may be half blind and my hands may shake bad. Therefore, I am making all these models now and I am not waiting until I retire. I suggest you do the same.
Does finishing third kit make me Microscale expert? Maybe not but now I have pretty good idea what their kits are. Before starting McGee's I had no clue and there was so little information on the net so I was a little uneasy. Not anymore. I can take a Microscale kit anytime.
I would like to mention Tichy outhouses that come with the kit. I really like them. They are easy to build, inexpensive and can be added to almost every diorama. I need to get some from my LHS. I only wish Tichy had them in few different styles.

Hurst Boiler and Welding by Bar Mills Pt. 1

As I mentioned earlier I am back to where I started, i.e. building a Bar Mills kit. No, I am not building  Wanda's again. I have built two of them and I don't see myself building yet another. Well, not in the nearest future at least. However, I've got an idea while writing this. Wanda's could be turned into nice waterfront structure on a pier. I like it. I may build yet another one after all.
Since the theme of this post is Bar Mills related, I want to mention their upcoming Christmas kit. It is going to be some kind of monstrosity consisting of 10 structures. The price tag is around $400. This is some serious money! Some older FSM kits demand that much. Also some craftsman kit manufacturers have been inching in that direction for some time but they aren't even close yet. I am wondering if this is going to create a precedent for all of them to take big step and significantly increase their prices. Anyway, I hope I won't like this new kit or I will have to get it.
Let's talk about Hurst kit. This is the first kit I am building that has Bar Mills specialty shingles. FSM Elijah and Roth had them too but they were brown color and may have been upgraded version. The shingles in Elijah kit were individually laser cut while in Hurst kit they are separated by printed lines only. Anyway, in both cases they look way better than traditional Campbell ones. The idea behind it is quite simple. Print shingle texture on a piece of paper and then laser cut. One thing is a mystery though. Why would the instructions tell to paint them? That doesn't make any sense. Why would you want to hide printed texture? Also, as I mentioned earlier these aren't individually cut shingles like the white ones that come with other kits. Painting would hide separation lines and the whole thing wouldn't look right. Let me check the pictures in the manual. Yes, the pilot was built with individually cut shingles. Now it make some sense. It is possible that folks at Bar Mills used white ones for the pilot and the changed their mind later. Anyway, if you are building this kit, ignore this part of the instructions. Don't paint the shingles. However, with all of this said, I still painted them. Perhaps, stained would be better term. I used oil washes of different shade of brown to paint some lines because all gray looked too boring. I didn't try this on some scrap piece. I took a risk, did it and it turned out nice. After I glued the shingles down I dry brushed lightly with gray craft paint to highlight the edges. The keyword here is lightly. I think some people misunderstand the concept of dry brushing. I've seen many models with white paint simply mopped over everything. Take a look at the picture below and decide for yourself whenever I am right or wrong.

Project Update: Tidewater Wharf by Builders in Scale

My second attempt to build lighthouse head turned out way better than the first one. I didn't mess it up this time! The final result is good keeping in mind engineering of it. The hydrocal base has an issue though. Its bottom and to aren't parallel. It seems like bottom may have been sanded off at the angle. I built the lighthouse to be parallel to the top of rock base and only then noticed that it was leaning. I didn't attempt to correct the problem since it can be addressed easier during installation on the layout.
For painting rocks I used technique I found on DVD called Tips for Building Contest Quality Structures with Bob Mitchell by FOS Scale Models. If you don't have this DVD in your collection get one. It is worth the money and probably costs less than a box car.
I am ready to start new project. It should arrive in the mail today. I don't want to reveal what it is yet. All I can say is that I am getting back to familiar grounds.

Project Update: Gugisberg & Sons Machining by Downtown Deco

I have completed two hydrocal Railroadkits.com kits and one partially. The Gugisberg isn't exactly my first Downtown Deco kit but definitely bigger one. The other one is Rosa's Place which is way smaller and it is still waiting for it's turn to be finished. Anyway, I found that Downtown Deco kits are more craftsman, i.e. require more work and skills to build them. For example, left side windows and door needed some extra work to get them fit in. While other window openings go completely through the wall, these three had only indentation. Unfortunately, indentation wasn't deep enough. Well, it was deep enough for plastic part only but not for fully assembled window with glass and shade. I hate when I find this out after walls have been painted and other windows have been installed. Life isn't perfect so I got chisel blade and deepened the cavities. I was surprised how well chisel blade works on hydrocal, better than on wood possibly. I may have to repeat the process on dormers and rooftop shed which seems like they may have the same issue.
If things go as expected, in a week or so I will remove this big Downtown Deco kit box from the shelf and make some room for yet more kits. New South River Model Works kit should fit there perfectly. Maybe there will be enough room also for new FOS limited edition kit codenamed OH. It is very exciting time of year.

Project Update: Mill Housing by Microscale Models

What to do if chimney bottom doesn't exactly match roof slope? In case of mill houses the chimneys have flat bottoms and roofs are sloped. I cut a hole in the roof and glue a piece of pink foam from the inside. After glue dries I cut pink foam to match the chimney and glue it in. Simple. No time consuming sanding and matching is involved.
I thought I was very close to finishing the project but then I found a bag with pieces for three outhouses. Mental note. Keep all parts in one place.

Project Update: Gugisberg & Sons Machining by Downtown Deco

Finally, I don't have hydrocal dust to deal with. All sanding work is done. The walls have been sealed and painted. It should be all fun from this point forward.

Project Update: Tidewater Wharf by Builders in Scale

I am falling behind with my posts again. As of now the boat repair building has already been delivered to the owner. I would be shipping the rest of the kit this week hadn't I messed up lighthouse head glass. I got a spot of Dulcote on it. All attempts to fix it made it worse so I am re-doing the glass. Keep fingers crossed...