Todd


It looks great so far - I will also be following along.

Todd,
Interesting layout idea, certainly should make it easier to see all the details.  Ideal is looking good, I'll be following along on the build as well as the layout.

Update on the storefront for Ideal Hosiery:  Sunday evening I sat down to begin work on the storefront which is three separate pieces to be built and then  joined together.  The actual storefront lower section is made of mat board.  The columns decorative work is built in layers of those mat board pieces that are stacked or layered.  The columns themselves are the 3/16 square wood beams cut to size.   When done, the entire lower assembly was painted Holly green.  I left the front tiled piece as unpainted mat board because I did not want to paint it and have the grout line not visible.  So now they just look like old yellowed tiles.  Likewise with the door, for contrast reasons I left it unpainted mat board and glued it into place.  The door handle was also mat board and I painted it silver, and it did not hold its shape very well, so I'm not happy with that and plan to straighten that up a little this evening.

The cornice up top was also comprised of mat board material and the decorative supports are styrene.  very basic assembly and painted.  Both the cornice and the storefront on its green portions were very gently sanded to take some of the paint off at high points to give it a bit of character and add depth.

The center clapboard section had been done earlier and has been waiting for the other two pieces.  I just had to add the red signage which I had sprayed with a zap of dullcoat to take the glossy paper effect off.  might need another zap of that yet before Im finished.  All three components were then glued together and I added an extra support beam dead center behind it to give it some stability.  When the glue was dried, I painted some roofing paper, soft black to fit on the lower cornice over the doorway and tattered up the edges a bit on the overhang to expose some wood and give it that look that says attention needed.  A light dusting of white pastel dust gave it some age.  I plan to add some rust and pigeon droppings to it when the entire structure is completed.   I may also peel some of the green paint away where the wood is exposed at the roofing paper.

Next step on Monday afternoon, I began the actual structural assembly.  Which is very straight forward.  Everything matches up perfect as per any FOS structure I have built.  The last photo shows the sub wall for the support of the enclosed stairwell.

Last night after my Capitals choked in their playoff game to the Leafs (42 years of frustrating tears here), I worked on the board by board work of the enclosed stairwell.  The stairwell is mat board and I covered it with 3m transfer tape  ( I like using the 1 and 1/2 inch size as it gives me greater coverage options to application than the one inch size being that I can either cover more space, or over-cover and trim excess easily).  Then I took the 3/16 inch strip wood provided for the boards, there is plenty given for this, so you wont run out, and I washed them in the India ink and alcohol.  When dry, I painted them white and a few minutes later covered them with masking tape and then quickly removed it, like pulling off a band aid.  It gave the peeling paint effect.  This technique was described by Doug in the instructions. He suggested using scotch tape, but it did not remove very much of the paint and everything looked a bit too white yet.  So I attempted the masking tape which had more stick to it and I liked the results.  Afterwards I cut the strips into scale 8 ft and 12 ft boards and placed them on the wall butting them up against each other and cutting along the 45 degree angle where necessary.  The front of the stairwell with the door the pieces were glued on and trimmed individual to fit the door which was a little tricky as the door seemed a little larger than the opening.  Whatever happened, it worked...lol

Looking great.  Love the storefront, nice work.


Jeff

Lots of character in this little structure , great job.

Coming together nicely. 👍🏻👍🏻

I've been following along on your build and it's really coming along nicely.  Keep those progress photos coming.

thanks Jeff, Jan, Dave and Mark! 
Last evening I worked on roof of several areas of the structure, putting on the roofing tar paper which I painted "soft black" and put some of the trim under those eaves.  I did make the edges of the roofing paper on the enclosed stairwell a little ragged and worn, but the rest of it and the roof on the main structure are too clean and perfectly placed because I ran out of time and needed my pillow.  I will be weathering them all, making them look worn and somewhat tattered tonight, along with the adding of the rooftop shack and billboard sign to build yet.  A sidewalk as well will be worked on and I am excited to use the suggestion by Doug on the FOS facebook page this past week of painting concrete for sidewalks, streets and parking lots, with some stuff called Chalk Matte Distressing paint by Artminds in Cocoon color.  I found it at Michaels craft store this weekend.  So I anxious as always to try my hand with this new medium.  A lot of weathering and the addition of small details should start bringing this kit to life very soon.   Can't wait to get out of my work office today to get started!!

Todd

Todd,

The structure looks great, very well done. I the sign. As Reading Bob said, looks like it was painted on the wall.

Tom

So this past few days I wrapped up the remainder of this kit, with the exception of a possible added wall advertising sign to the rear of the structure (haven't made my mind up on this yet on whether it would be overkill or not), and painting and placing people figures to it (something I am both not very good at or sometimes have the patience for.  I was going to post more of the build but from the point I left off, there wasn't much left to complete outside of the smaller details and weathering.  it really is that straight-forward of a kit.  Not a hard assembly at all but overall a very enjoyable little structure kit.  I think it is more of what you want to get out of it and how you add your own personal touches to any kit that brings it to life to tell it's story.   So without further ado:

Todd

 a few more of the roof and back wall

Todd,
Your structure looks great !
Tommy

Love it Todd , great job on the signs , the chimney , the weathering etc.