Dyer's Hardware by Microscale Models Pt.3

For anyone looking for a different kind of laser cut structures I suggest checking Petite Properties. They make British buildings in several scales. They don't have HO but OO scale is close enough.
As for Dyer's, it is starting to look like a structure.

Dyer's Hardware by Microscale Models Pt.2

The majority of Microscale kits I have built so far had a large number of windows. The Dyer's hardware isn't an exception. Quite some "glass" work is awaiting for me...

Dyer's Hardware by Microscale Models Pt.1

Finally I got a peek of new Bar Mills kit. The latest Model Railroader has an ad for it. It looks like the kit is called Delancey Street and consists of 6 downtown buildings. The ad shows only the graphic drawing and not the pilot model so there still may be some changes. It is early to say if I am getting it or no. It all depends on the price point.
To be honest, The Dyer's Hardware isn't the kit I would buy. Let's put it this way. I wouldn't buy it unless I could get it really cheap. There is nothing wrong with it. It simply isn't my kind of building. However, I have made a promise to build the kit so I am doing it.

Drug Store by BTS

I have this habit of bidding on a kit with the starting price less than $10 even if don't consider buying it from the manufacturer or through a dealer. I don't place high bids and for the most part I loose but once in a while I win especially during low demand seasons. The BTS Drug Store is one of these kits.
I used the Store as one of the filler kits that I work on when I run out of tasks to do on the main project. I built is almost as is except for the roof. I thought that shingles were more appropriate than tarpaper.

White metal forklifts

It is probably already old new that EXPO 2017 is coming to Altoona, PA. I am not sure if I am going. I may have to raise some cash for this one by selling some built up kits. I may need less of it since Altoona is within drive-able distance. Driving there would allow me to bring a diorama for the contest. All I need now is time for built ups and the contest diorama. That is what I call a real challenge.
I built the fork lifts few months back. They are very nice looking but very tedious to build. I spent several folds more time on them than I originally anticipated.

Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.5

For the most part new technology is exciting but sometimes it can be a real pain. Few months ago I bought new 64-bit computer with Windows 10 on it. It is great improvement over slow 9 year old machine that I had. However, with everything new also come new challenges. I have already solved several of them one or another way. The latest one surfaced few days ago. I use TurboCAD v7 for making window "glass" templates. For that I load scans of the backs of the windows and then load scans in TurboCAD and trace over the pictures. It so happens that TurboCAD v7 on Windows 10 doesn't open the pictures. It adds picture icons but not the pictures themselves. I needed to do the job that night and I didn't want to spend $50-$100 for the new version so I installed the cad on my trusted Windows XP virtual machine. I was able to make the templates the same night but I will check to see if it is worth upgrading my version of TurboCAD.
It has been some time since the last update on the shoppes. It didn't take me so long to actually finish them. I shipped them almost immediately after the last post but couldn't get around updating my blog. Here it is.

Building The Shoppe's on Concord Street by Carolina Craftsman Kits Pt.4

That's it. The very last FSM kit is out. I wish George would keep going, going, and going but there is an end to everything. Happy retirement!
I have finished the shoppes. Now it is time to take them home and build the dioramas. I think I will do more urban setting this time i.e. asphalt and concrete only. No dirt.