Just saying, I'm not finished with this build, but I want to get the diorama board started, before I place it and finish it.

Same for the Carricks build I started.

More to come.

Jim

Finally, a update, though sparse on pictures. I was doing so good carrying my phone around with me, but got away from it again, with all else going on.

1st picture - Got the building assembled, mounted on it's base and that mounted on the lot base. Went with the paving stone look to break up the all concrete look.

2nd picture - Details placed. The one hose not attached to the pump I hope to have a figure holding, fueling a car. Other than I need to put some signs in the windows, I'm pausing here. I'm going to work on the diorama base next, putting in streets and sidewalks, once I decide what I want to use. PITA comment, it seems all the commercial sidewalks out there are done at slightly different thicknesses.

More soon, I hope.

Jim

Welcome to the challenge, Greg.

Looks like a nice kit, I'll be watching along with everyone else.

Jim

Thanks all, appreciate the comments.

Got a bit more done, roof painted it's basic color, windows and doors installed.

Going to try to scribe just a few expansion joints in the building base, then attach it to main base. Weather them a little, along with the roof.

Need to decide what I will base the whole scene on.

Jim

Tom, thanks.

The picture of the signs makes the posts look very rough, they look better in person.

They are a very soft metal, they wanted to bend very easily when I was cleaning them up, so decided to not go further and try and sand them a bit smoother.

Jim

So now, as of last night, the base is primed, and may actually just go with they grey color and weather it just a bit.

The sign posts and oil lowboys are painted and have the signs/labels in place, the 4 walls are built and painted.

I'm building this as a new business just opened, so things will look pretty freshly painted, weathering will be light.

Will work on the roof and windows, at the minimum, today.

Jim

Next, I filed the edges or the driveway areas or the sidewalks, then painted them and the main base piece.

Here's where I messed up big time. Got in a hurry, forgot to prime the pieces. As can be seen in the 1st picture, the sidewalks came out OK (they warped a bit, but are pretty flexible. They should be fine, once glued down and weighted while they dry)

I wanted to make the base a bit darker, so added some grey to the mix. It was too thick to spary, so I added more thinner. Too much, it turned out. It sprayed too wet, and that's the base after drying, in the 2nd picture.

And because the paint was too wet, it somehow blue back into the airbrush, and made a mess. In cleaning it, I then damaged the nozzle, so after getting it all cleaned and testing with water, I had air bubbles in the paint cup. Thankfully, Hobby Lobby carries the nozzle, so have now replaced it and things are all good again.

Finally, a 'Shout Out' and big Thank You to Doug Monroe (Monroe Models). I emailed him about buying a replacement base, and he replied asking for my mail address (and giving me a gentle reminder to prime). He sent me, free of charge, a new base, along with the side walk pieces, right away. Great service.

Jim

The long awaited and anticipated update LOL

Finally got back to modeling, and have made some progress.

1st, here's the rest of the parts of the kit, the castings, bases, sidewalks, windows parts, billboard parts, etc...

Jim

Looks fantastic, Jamie.

I'm not sure I will use them, but after watching your build, went ahead and bought both kits, just in case. One never knows

Jim

Wow, you've really made progress while I was MIA, George.

AS usual, your build looks terrific, you definitely have a artist's bent.

Watching for more.

Jim

Texturing and colors look great, Karl.

Jim

I've only done one Metcalfe kit, years ago. It was a N scale factory, a bit fiddly, but looked great when it was done.

In more recent times, I've built a few card structures in OO (1/76, like Jamie's kit is). A medium station, a canal narrow boat, and a row house. The difference is there were downloaded kits, that you either print out at home or take to a Staple's or Kinko's. You then glue the printed surfaces on card and cut out all the parts yourself. Buy once, make any number of them. The same way Clever Models sells their kits.

Also, they can be re-scaled easily.

Here's some links to a few mfrs for anyone wanting to browse..

http://www.3dk.ca/

http://www.modelrailwayscenery.com/

http://www.scalescenes.com/

http://www.smartmodels.co.uk/

And someone asked about warping. Card kits have been used in the UK for years and years, and I've not read that it is big issue. They seem to hold up well, considering many are on small layouts that get taken to several of their types of train shows several times a year.

Jim

Great wood tones and effects. Art work.

Jim

Catching up here. Looking really great, so far.

This kit was my 3rd or 4th FSM kit I built, for my cousin's layout. I was still in my 'plastic WWII armor' days, back then (the 70's) but built structures for him. Think he would settle for plastic kits? Oh no, had to be all these wood and or card kits (Suydam's Bekin's warehouse was a experience).

Looking forward to more updates.

Jim

I'm not much into waterfront scenes, at least seaside ones, but love the way you have made it look.

Jim