Building The Waterfront by Bulders in Scale Pt.1

I have been working on The Waterfront for quite some time but only now I have some pictures to share. It has take me so long due to materials used and old style engineering and kit manufacturing. The kit is from pre-laser era, so I had to cut out openings for windows and doors. Most of them were marked but not all. I found out this after I painted and weathered the walls of the first structure. Therefore, while preparing the second I consulted the drawing to make sure I didn't leave any openings out. Unlike The Tidewater Wharf manual, The Waterfront manual doesn't have little tables with a list of all stripwood pieces with their dimensions and what they are used for. Therefore, I spent a little more time sorting all pre-cut stripwood pieces. I figure, it must have been very labor intensive job to produce such kits. Imagine cutting all that stripwood to size. Most of the time that doesn't even help modeler. The ends aren't cleanly cut. The pieces are longer than needed, so they have to be trimmed anyway. Why can't manual simply say "You need so many inches of n by m for this purpose"? If it is to be used for trim, then you go and paint it. If it is for unpainted shed, then you stain it. And it shouldn't be buried in the text. There should be material list section before every major step. That would be a real time saver. Any kit manufacturers reading this post? Some may argue it would take fun away. Well... If I want to exercise my brain, I can get a jig saw puzzle. When I am building a model I want to relax. There is nothing more frustrating than finding out that I have missed a one inch piece of wood and I have to set project aside until I am done preparing, painting, weathering it.

Building Clothespin and Broom Handle Factory by Micro-scale Models Pt.3

It seems a number of model railroad related podcasts have died or are on their last leg. Too bad  since I've got so used to listening them on the way to work. Good thing that there are new enthusiasts attempting to fill the void. I am talking about Jim and Lionel who produce A Modelers Life podcast. Check them out. Those guys are really funny. I am not sure why they are doing what they are doing for living and not making money as comedians.
As far as project update goes, here it is.

Building the Small Station by Motrak Models Pt.2

What a week it has been! FOS Scale Models and Bar Mills Models revealed their limited edition kits for 2014. FOS have been consistent for the past few years so placed my bet on them and I don't have any regrets. It seems I missed out on Bar Mills offering though. Original run sold out in 47 hours. Yet I can pretend I saw their ad in Model Railroader and still order the kit... I wish the manufacturers would
spread out their releases, so I don't have to make choices, but they are gearing up for Christmas and it is understandable. Anyway, even if I don't get full Cundy's kit, individual buildings are still available.
Tonight I will place the box, that used to contain the Small Station, in recycling bin. It has become a ritual of some sort. I complete a model and place its box in recycling bin. Weird, but that brings me more joy than applying finishing touches or taking final pictures. I believe it is so, because I am over-stacked with the kits, and removing one box is like proof, that I am not a hoarder, that I can actually build those kits. Deep inside I feel though, that I am a hoarder and I will never build all the kits I own. Who cares! Lets get more kits!