Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Finishing FOS Canal & Third diorama Pt.2

Last time I mentioned that I made a batch of tufts. Few days ago I watched a video by Luke Towan on YouTube on how to make tufts. Two varieties shown there I have done in the past. The third requires a little more work but has a look of different type of plant. I may try making some when I get my static grass applicator out. The whole static grass thing is a little messy. It gets everywhere.
I have planted third building on the diorama. The next step is the sidewalk. The kit came with some of it but not enough to do what I want. Therefore I spent whole Sunday evening designing the sidewalk and then cutting it out of 1/16 inch basswood sheet. It is all primed and ready for painting. I even may start installing the sidewalks tonight.






Friday, March 18, 2016

Building Duffy's Coal by FSM Pt. 5

Around the same time last year I thought Jordan vehicles were going to disappear from the market. I bought a bunch back then since there is no other manufacturer that covers the 20s. Perhaps it is all just in my mind but I can't imagine later era vehicles along with FSM kits. This year it may be for real though. I don't know if that coincides with passing of the Jordan Products owner but Walthers has all of the remaining vehicles marked as "Discontinued". If the company is going out of business for real I hope someone eventually will acquire the molds. For now I may just go on shopping frenzy and stock up on Jordans.
My build of the third FSM kit has come to the end. It has been packed, shipped, and successfully delivered to its new home.To summarize it all I must say it has been most complex kit I have ever built. It has been fun though except for the handrails.







Monday, March 14, 2016

Freight House by Laserkit Pt.2

Few years back I made a batch of tufts with my static grass applicator. Although I have also commercial ones as well I tend to use home made tufts more often. The other day I wanted to "plant" few of them on Canal & Third diorama but I had nothing left from the first batch. It isn't difficult to make the tufts so I decided to make a new batch. I had two non-stick aluminum foil sheets and without thinking I made few more out of regular aluminum foil. The next day I tried removing the tufts from regular sheets and I couldn't. Only then I realized why did I use non-stick foil in the
first place. Eventually I came up with some kind of solution. I placed a drop of water on the tuft, let it sit for a little, and removed it with a tweezers. However, it wasn't as convenient as just light pull if non-stick foil was used. I'll try to remember that few years down the road.
I finished the freight house one week later than I said I was going. Like always my original estimate was too optimistic. I am late with the post as well. At the time of this writing it has already been sold and it will leave tomorrow for the new home.