Project Update: Truck Stop kitbash based on EF13B by RailroadKits.com

Although I am in a state of serious sleep deprivation this week I decided last night to sacrifice 15 minutes of sleep time and take some pictures. I think the diorama still needs 6-8 hours to get it done. I am not sure if I will be able to dedicate that much time this weekend...
My experiment with telephone keys, some styrene, electronic components, and leftover window spue has yielded quite decent result. Some commercial shelves looks like are more detailed but nothing beats free. As well I get better satisfaction doing something like this than painting a casting. I will definitely make more shelves for other projects as well.
The canopy supports proved to be too weak so I needed something that would make canopy assembly more rigid. while wiring may look like it is just a detail in fact it keeps canopy from moving in depth direction.

Flashback: Laughing Moose Hunting Lodge aka Miller Gun Shop by FOS Scale Models

Based on number of posts this September is turning out to be least productive month. There are few reasons I haven't been posting much. As far as Raglan's concerned I have been working on castings for the most part. I have also added few vents to the factory and painted parts for the second building in between but nothing significant to justify a post. The Truck Stop has progressed quite a bit. I am trying to get it to Jimmy before the EXPO. However, it seems I am falling behind and in my desperate attempt to make it I am not taking any pictures.
With no new stuff to post about I resort to old. This time is the last FOS freebie I have ever completed. It was supposed to be yet another contest entry but the contest died off. Too bad. I think I have made pretty good job to finally win it. I have turned gun shop into hunting lodge, westernized it a bit, added a backdrop. For the backdrop I used pictures of Lake Tahoe that I took summer before. I named the lodge Laughing Moose Hunting Lodge. I believe no moose lives in Tahoe area but I liked the name. To make lone pine I used Paul Scoles(?) instructions found in RMC magazine. I exhausted all balsa stripwood I had on hand to make just one pine due to the fact that balsa is very soft wood and wrong move easily ruins it. The rock has been carved by hand. Not the best sculpting job though but I hope it blends enough and doesn't jump at the viewer.

Project Update: Truck Stop kitbash based on EF13B by RailroadKits.com

Earlier today I realized that it is almost mid September and I haven't posted any updates in about two weeks. I have been trying to take some pictures of the Truck Stop for a week plus. My modeling room is in a such mess that if I want to take pictures I have to move a lot of stuff. Therefore, I have started thinking again about cabinets and work bench I would like to have in the room. I had dropped that idea some time ago in anticipation of move. I thought of moving in about 3 years but I felt like it would be waste of money and time building cabinets and for such short period of time. However, after learning how much homes in my neighborhood are selling for we may stay in current house few more years longer.
The Truck Stop is moving along although at slower pace than I would like to. I have almost all parts I need for it. It took some time to get them from Jimmy. He is very busy man running his RailroadKits business and setting up upcoming EXPO show so the parts for this project aren't high priority. Then when I got the parts they weren't exactly what I expected so he had to do another run. The missing now are the only letters for roof top sign which somehow managed to escape from previous package with parts.
While building side addition I realized few things I didn't take into account engineering it. First of all, laser cut path isn't 0 width. While in some areas it may not matter it shrunk my restaurant front wall by about 1.5 mm. Secondly, the windows are so big that interior is quite well visible. At least somewhat detailed floor is needed which could act as bracing as well. It was too late for me since I already had bracing in place so I ended up painting bracing up and gluing tile pattern onto foundation.
I have used some airgun pellets to represent rooftop vents before. I have added isolated ferrules and  telephone keys to my arsenal. I bought few bags of ferrules that seemed to be right size for HO scale buildings about a month ago. The telephone keys I found next to a dumpster. I just couldn't pass up opportunity and picked up a whole bag of them. I am one step closer to earning my dumpster diver certificate now.

Project Update: Rosa's Place by Downtown Deco

I am getting back into the rhythm again although my modeling time has shrunk due to days and time my son's practices are on. Technically I could do some modeling while waiting but I use that opportunity to do some running or walking. Otherwise, I wouldn't get enough exercising which I need for me to live longer so I can build all models I can get my hands on.
So far I have painted the accents, painted and installed the doors, and glued on "painted" sign. Next time I will paint area under the sign white. Faded white may be nice but I would have liked a little bit more of the color. Tissue paper is nice way to make painted signs but when it comes to white some extra layer of paint underneath should be considered.

Project Update: Slim's Dogs & Burgers by FOS Scale Models

I have decided to go with stucco instead of corrugated metal for the irregular shaped stick out addition. Usually I airbrush solution of water putty but this time I painted on DecoArt Sandstone. Latter method is less messy but first one produces finer texture. I am happy with effort and result ratio. Both methods can be used interchangeably. I will more  likely airbrush large building and use Sandstone on smaller or details.

Project Update: Raglan Road by Bar Mills

Work on Raglan continues. I want to avoid idling as much as possible so I took one build session to prepare parts for the next building which is Skinner's Salvage. I will be using Floquil paints. Therefore, I have to prime and paint parts at home and make sure parts don't smell bad before bringing them over for lunch break fun. As far as the factory, it is in assembly stage and I keep installing parts every day. However, sometime in the nearest future I will have to take time to prepare the castings. Some number of them have to be added to the factory but instead of picking out particular ones I want to do them all at once.

Flashback: Shaw's Airboat Tours aka Shaw's Bait and Tackle by FOS Scale Models

I have decided to mark one year anniversary with a flashback. I built this diorama in 2010 for FOS contest and got second place... out of four. Anyway, it was fun build. I used number of new techniques and material I had not used before. Theme was influenced by recent trip to Florida. I scratchbuilt air boat to represent early one. I couldn't find much information with an  exception of few not so good pictures from old newspapers and I was pressed for time so I did the best I could. I used cardstock for boat base and styrene rod for tubes and such. I cut out palm tree leaves one by one with Xacto knife and lily pads with screw punch.