I have been working on SRMW The Millett Creamery for a few weeks. The word working is a bit too strong to describe the activity. My previous boss liked to use word dabbling for something like that.
This is one of Bob's earlier plaster kits. I found all parts to be well packed, intact and good quality. However, there was a little issue. Instead of two different walls for the front and back of the middle section I had two of the same. In a worst case I could have used those walls and no one would most likely have noticed but I decided to email Bob VG and ask if he had a spare. I figured it was very long shot since the kit is from early 90s I believe. Bob VG replied that he had one but made of urethane. I had some concerns about shrink ratio but got it anyway. I found that I was right when the wall came in. It was about 3/32" narrower that the one made of plaster. I could have sanded down opposite wall to match the width but I would have had very narrow area left between the windows and side wall what wouldn't have looked right. Instead made urethane wall wider. First I glued 3/64" square stripwood on each side towards the back. Then I filled front part with DAS clay. When it was dry I sanded clay flush with the wall and scribed some bricks and stones where needed. Then I glued all four walls together and filled the gaps with lightweight spackle. I realize that I can't stain this whole assembly anymore so I will prime it heavily first to seal the plaster and the will paint like I would any resin parts. This is where I am at.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-110515134510.jpeg)
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Vilius
Good start on a great kit. Most of the SRMW kits are too large for my layout, but the Creamery is just right. Plus the creamery doesn't appear to be local specific. I mean it would work for just about any region of the country.
Howdy, Vilius.
Thanks for sharing your build.
Jaime
Vilius
Thanks for sharing your build with us - I will be following along.
Vilius,
Count me in too ! Can't wait to see what you can do with this kit.
If I find the time, I will post several pictures in My Gallery of my build of that creamery kit. It is on hold now but about 1/3 completed.
You also mentioned the replacement resin wall that was sent to you. My SRMW Diesel House plaster front wall was not missing but broken in 4 places and Bob send me a replacement in resin also. Good Luck !
Tom
Thank you for following, everyone. I hope to be able to stick to the plan and post regularly.
Tom, why don't you re-start your build and post your experience here.
Vilius
Vilius,
I took 5 photos of my build today per your request so you can see where I am at. They are now all posted in My Gallery. No kit construction goes on here from April to October in the basement. What I do now at this time of year is go outside to spray paint walls and castings that I worked over the past winter months . Another kit building cycle will start again for 6 months starting this fall. Note there is no brick mortar, weathering, chalk, A/I wash or nail holes added yet to the creamery. You can see where I drilled the holes for the NWB castings. The light green craft paint for the clapboard walls and doors is Apple Barrel # 21343 Light Ivy Green. Windows are done in acrylic white craft paint and the light green craft paint is out lined with Floquil Poly S Dark Green using a 3/0 brush.
I will post one photo on your build thread for reference.
Good Luck with your build !
Tom
Vilius,
I will definitely be following along on this build. I've got one of these kits which I'm hoping to start later in the year, so lots of pictures will be appreciated!
Well, you can add me to the lurkers and followers. Heck, I might just post a comment so you don't think nobody is following along. Oh, I just did. Must be to many retirement days. 8)
Tom ;D
Nice start Vilius!
Quote from: ACL1504 on June 13, 2015, 08:47:04 AM
Well, you can add me to the lurkers and followers. Heck, I might just post a comment so you don't think nobody is following along. Oh, I just did. Must be to many retirement days. 8)
Tom ;D
What Tom said .....
Sorry guys,
We adopted about 6 weeks old kitten few weeks ago. She has turned out to be very needy one. Then about two weeks ago lightning hit and took out more than a half of house electronics plus few outlets and switches. I have been working on restoration projects since then. Although I have been able to work on the creamery now and then I haven't had any time for pictures and forum updates. Hopefully I can get some taken tomorrow and do an update tomorrow or Monday.
Vilius
Thank you, Tom, for posting picture of your build and your paint suggestions. I figure we are at the same point right now and I wish you could join me but it is October is still way too far and I need to finish this build by the end of July.
Sorry, Mark, for not being able to produce lots of pictures. I had good intentions but life has intervened.
Thank you, Tom and Donato, for waking me up :) If not for you I most likely wouldn't have taken the pictures last night.
My path leading to this point wasn't all that straight. After trying to test fit brick additions I realized that outer side of one of the side walls of the main
building had shape of a bow vertically as well as horizontally. And it also had to be the one where clapboard office attaches just to make it more interesting. I couldn't fill the gap with drywall spackle like between brick wall sections. I decided to move whole addition forward so that it extends by the thickness of clapboard wall and cut into stone foundation so that clapboard wall overlaps main building wall a little covering up the gap. I had to make few other adjustments there and there too to make everything fit. I will also have to redraw all docks as well since they wrap around some parts of the additions and as designed they won't work anymore.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-150615113930.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-150615114007.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-150615114035.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-150615114100.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/450-150615114129.jpeg)
Vilius
Vilius,
I like your build ! The coloring is done right. My build is the same as you saw it in the past photo . Let's talk about the colors you picked out for this kit. How did you do the painting of the stone foundation, in what craft paint colors did you use ? Same question for the brick and mortar, how did you do yours ? On the main stucco building, did you use chalks and or paint washes over the main base primer paint, etc. So please mention your painting steps on each section of your kit build that made it look so good. Always looking to gain info from other modelers. Some of us need to purchase a better camera also, what type did you use for today's photos ? , they all look good and show the detail well.
Tom
Very neat work, Vilius - and the colours look spot on!
Cheers, Mark.
Great build , love the brickwork and the colors, very convincing stuco.
Thank you, Tom, Mark and Jan.
Since I had mix of plaster and urethane walls I sprayed them with gray automotive primer to get uniform surface. Then I painted brick patches. I will describe my method later. Then stucco. I used Suede craft paint by Craftsman (Michaels brand?). I am not sure if it comes that thick or mine just sat for too long but I had to dilute it with water and do two coats. After seeing paintbrush marks in the area where I tested undiluted paint I decided to try stippling the paint. It worked. The surface looked like smother version of stucco so I finished the rest of the building this way. Then I painted stone foundation with Dove Gray craft paint (I think it is available only in certain areas since I can't find it locally and it is still being produced. It was sent to me from Ohio along with a kit to build). Perhaps I could do the next step right away but I left the paint to dry for 24 hours. The next day I used two brown and one dark gray color somewhat diluted craft paints to do individual bricks. After it dried (10-15 min) I applied heavily diluted Dove Gray over the stones and set aside for another 24 hours. Then I applied my oil wash over entire structure. I didn't use any chalks. The wash is made of Turpenoid and oil paint. Mineral spirit can be used but Turpenoid is nearly odorless so I like it better. Some time ago I bought a box of Reeves oil paints. Included was tube Ivory Black. I used it for several years until I ran out of it. It wasn't pure black. It had some brown in it and I liked that aspect. After I ran out of it I got tube of Ivory Black for real artists. Unfortunately it turned out to be pure black oil paint. I had to get brown as well. I add them both in my mix now.
To be continued...
Vilius
Bricks.
You can find info on how to do bricks right way in Karl Osolinski's thread on RR Forums here:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36835 (http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36835)
Now how to paint bricks lazy man's way. First, I glue walls together with 5 min epoxy. Then apply masking tape on each side of joint leaving about 1/32-1/16 gap in between. I use lightweight spackle to fill the gaps and let it dry for a day. After removing the tape I sand, scribe and whatever it takes to make joint invisible. When I am done I take the building outside and lightly spray with white paint. I don't know if it is necessary but I let it dry for 24 hours. Then I paint the building with off white making sure I get it into all mortar lines. After I take different off white and /or light gray and randomly paint some areas. And again I let it sit for 24 hours. When I come back I use dark gray, brick, red, orange color craft paints and dry brush the brick in the order I have listed. Then I do the stones as I have described earlier, areas around windows and whatever is left. When all is done I apply my oil wash.
The brick can be colored using a sponge. I haven't tried it myself. I personally feel that dry brushing gives me more control.
I use my 2004 digital SLR to take my pictures. A sheet of white mat board is my background. I place one end against the wall and other on the floor then push the center to make curved V. I use two lights. One of them is 300W. The other is 200W. I place them at about 1 ft away from each corner of mat board facing towards and down the model. I am sure Wattage and light placement is wrong from pro photography point. I know I am supposed to use diffusers and perhaps third light but most of the time I get acceptable result and that is enough for me. The only time I use third light is when I am taking pictures of larger diorama and I use it to light the back. One of these days I may read a book about proper lighting technique...
Vilius
Vilius,
THANK YOU for sharing your painting and building methods that you used for this build. I will print it out and save it in my work bench note binder.
Did not know you used an oil wash instead of the common achohol and india ink, A/I wash. Dove Grey is sold in the craft stores here . Let me know if you need any.
Tom ;)
Vilius
Great build and thread! Thanks for sharing your techniques with us - looks great.
Vilius,
Thanks for the painting tips and great explanation on how you do it. Looking forward to more progress.
Guys,
Thank you for stopping by. I am going to take a short break. It is summer time after all.
Vilius
Hi Vilius:
Looks just wonderful. Great paint and choice of colors.
Karl
Great work! The whole building has a perfect grunge look to it. Nice weathering.
Thank you Karl and Bob.
After vacation and taking time off due to some tragic event I am building models again. Here is where I am at.
Vilius
Vilius, this build is coming along very well. Not an easy project but you have been skillful as well as artful.
One of the big challenges working with a structure such as this is making the corners look like they match, and you have done a great job on yours. I'll follow along as you do the detailing.
Thank you, Mike. I agree. The corners are perhaps most challenging part of any plaster kit.
Vilius
Looking tremendous, Vilius!
Cheers, Mark.
Thank you, Mark.
Vilius,
Great looking build ! What a difference with the rafters, roofing and dormers added on. 8)
Tom
Thank you, Tom.
Hi Villius:
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! really looks great. As I said before great choice of colors. Very skillfully done.
Karl
I appreciate it, Karl.
Vilius
It is done. We am about to move to our new house and timing couldn't be better. All left is to pack it for shipping using my own method enhanced by extra security layer suggested by Mike E.
Vilius
Last one.
Vilius
Nicely done Vilius !!
Vilius,
Great job on your build ! ;) Excellent coloring ! 8) Best in Show 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Good Luck moving into your new home too :)
Tom
Exceptionally nice work Vilius! You have created a stunning model.
Cheers, Mark.
Excellent build Vilius! The execution of the build, the colors and weathering are just superb. I'm going to put my red box of this kit back on the shelf for a while.
Vilius, that is a fantastic looking building. There are so many subtle details in the weathering. Love it!
Very nice, Vilius.
Jeff
Well done Villius.....great looking build. 8)
What a masterful build! The variety of materials, textures, appropriate weathering, and colors. I love the two-tone windows. Magnificent!
John
Vilius,
Great build on the kit.
Frank
Guys,
I appreciate your comments and compliments very much.
Vilius
Hey Vilius,
Looks Awesome...as usual. My favorite part of your building are the Bricks...I like the color (by the way what color did you use) and how some of the mortar looks like its old or missing...and that metal roof.
Thanks for sharing!
Alan
Alan,
Thank you. For the bricks I used four colors and I dry brushed them in following order (after I painted everything in off whites and grays trying to get paint into all mortar lines) dark gray, Heritage Brick, red and orange. They all are craft paints. Dark gray is whatever is closest to reach. Heritage Brick I suspect is Americana. Red and orange are Michaels brand (Craftsman?). If it is only brick then next day I apply oil wash that makes some mortar go darker or missing.
For the metal roof I cut it to pieces first. Then I prime both sides, spray paint good side with gray Walmart brand paint which it seems has been discontinued and replaced with more expensive version. Then I dab on rust color Valejo paints with a piece of pot scrubber. Here you have to be patient and give at least 24 hours for the paint to dry. After it dries I glue metal onto the roof and use rust color oil paints to finish it off.
I hope that helps.
Perhaps I should do Reading Bob style tutorial on this at some point but I just don't have that much patience.
Vilius
Hi vilius:
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So nicely done. Is it going on your layout. If so don't forget pics.
karl
Karl,
Thank you. It is going on someone else layout. I have some space in my modeling room in our new house. I may start my practice layout soon but I am sure I won't put any FSM or South river models on it.
Vilius
What a wonderful build Vilius! Whoever that someone else is who is getting this structure they sure are lucky. It truly is a beautiful structure. Thanks for sharing!
Villius,
Fanstastic build! And thanks for the info on the brick coloring. I'm sure I'll use that info in the future.
Tom ;D
Bob and Tom,
Thank you for the compliments.
Vilius