Freight House by Laserkit Pt.1

Up until about now I've been ignoring model railroading aspects such as benchwork, track laying, wiring, DCC, locomotives, rolling stock. My focus has been on structures, scenery, and details. Since I may be starting to build my layout soon I've decided to address my lack of knowledge in the mentioned areas. The Trainmasters TV has series on how to build a layout with Miles Hale and also
how to build the Free-mo modules with Trevor Marshall. I found them to be good introductions into benchwork building. I can't say anything about the rest since I haven't seen it yet. Also I somehow have come across Model Railroading University videos on YouTube by Miles Hale. For the most part the videos provide more in depth coverage of the same topics as Trainmasters TV. I was watching some of the episodes past weekend and came to almost shocking discovery. Such prominent figure in model railroading as Miles Hale doesn't have knowledge of how to weather the structures. I suppose everyone has own certain areas of interest within the hobby and the weathering for him isn't one of them.
I am demonstrating my lack of self discipline again. I could have spent my lunch breaks making remaining sub-assemblies for Duffy's and Gibley's but instead I am building the freight house. I felt I needed something quick with no intention of making a diorama. I thought that the Laserkit structure would fit the bill. I have made some good progress and it shouldn't take long time to finish. The goal is to have it ready for eBay by Sunday.

Building Duffy's Coal by FSM Pt. 4

Every day on the way to work and back I pass a tire place that consists of two buildings with number of add-ons. One of the add-ons has flat front with three doors. I was driving past the other day and they were all open. I could see that it was used for the storage. I was curious why would someone put three doors and not one door with couple of windows and why the structure is raised up with a deck in front of it and lattice all around at the bottom. Then I was looking at it in Google maps and saw that something was separating roof into three equal parts. It all started making sense. It isn't one building but three trailers with built up front and the lattice covers the underside. All this makes the place even more interesting. I may make a model of it some day.
Meanwhile I am continuing working on the Duffy's. I am building a lumber shed and at the same time I am adding to the main building the sub-assemblies that I have prebuilt.

Building Gibley's Furniture Co by Bar Mills Pt.2

FSM Westside Auto is sold out. At this point all we can do is patiently wait until July or August and see what George comes up with this time. Or we can chase on eBay those kits that we have missed...
A piece of Gatorfaom for Gibley's is coming this week. I am not ready to glue the building to the base yet though. I still need to have access from the bottom. I cut a hole in the roof for the white metal castings. Then I glue a piece of pink foam from the bottom that I can carve if I need to adjust the angle what is the case most of the time. It is much easier to do that than sanding the bottom of the casting itself. In addition, doing this way makes stronger bond. However, my castings are not quite ready yet. I still have few things left to do before they will start impacting the progress.

Flashback: Barlow's Smokehouse by FOS

I finished Barlow's in January of 2011. I was going to start working on a diorama but I wanted to add a smokehouse. I designed it after one in the area but never got around building it. It has been on my To Do list ever since...

Finishing FOS Canal & Third diorama Pt.1

Back in August of 2015 I was asked to finish up FOS Canal & Third diorama. Some five months later I am just getting into it. The pictures I have are old. I haven't progressed much since March of 2011 anyway.

Building Gibley's Furniture Co by Bar Mills Pt.1

I have never been completely satisfied with the way white laser cut shingles turn out using streaking method. Yes, it is better than painting in single color but still I've been wanting something even better. Then perhaps some couple of years ago I came up with an idea of printing of the wood texture on white shingles but since then I haven't had proper test subject to try it on. The kits I built either had Campbell shingles or Bar Mill premium. About two or three months ago I received Gibley's for custom building. Even though it is limited run kit it comes with white shingles making it perfect test subject. Here it is how they have turned out.

Building Duffy's Coal by FSM Pt. 3

TGIF. It may be icy one though. However, freeze is not supposed to start until later at night so I won't have an excuse for skipping work and building models instead. It is not a problem. We still have entire month of February ahead of us. Over the past decade I remember only one winter when we didn't have snow/ice.
A snow day would be nice for getting Duffy's further ahead. In fact I would be nearly done. I have a number of sub assemblies that simply need to be installed, I have all wood stained, and almost all castings painted. For time being I'll have to nibble on it whenever I get a chance.