When I saw Jeff's early versions of this building I knew I wanted to build it. It's interesting what grabs us...this is a fairly simple structure but it just had "Appalachia" written all over it, so I placed an order and here she is.
I'm a little reluctant to start a thread, seeing as how it's the last day of my Spring Break and the final push to June is always hectic. Don't want this to hang out there unfinished. So early warning...this won't be a fast-moving build but I'm anxious to have at it.
Dave, I have this one too so I'll be watching. I bought it because I thought it looked New Englandly.
The proto is in Elkins, WV and has received a lot of love from the locals. It even has a website and Facebook page. From the website:
The Darden Mill, also know as the Elkins Milling Company, was built in 1902 in the Elkins rail yard. It is currently owned by Citizens for Historic Opportunities in Preservation and Education in Randolph County (C-HOPE). The restoration of the 1st and 2nd floors is now completed. The 1st floor is home to the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFHA) museum and the 2nd floor is home to the West Virginia Railroad museum.
More detailed info here: http://www.c-hopewv.org/millhistory.htm
Hmmm...not sure how that "insert weblink" button works.
Quote from: Raymo on March 31, 2017, 09:29:00 AM
Dave, I have this one too so I'll be watching. I bought it because I thought it looked New Englandly.
Well, my initial take was after doing some background research so I'm sure I had Appalachia on the brain. Hey, shows how versatile the kit will be! Feel free to join in with your build if you wish, Raymo. As I said, mine will be slow.
We love pix...
...contemporary...
And here's Jeff's display build.
This is where being a nail hole guy comes back to bite you, especially since I don't use a pounce wheel. I always seem to let the straightedge slip and then I've ruined a wall with a crooked row of nail holes. So I put myself through the agony of doing them a pair at a time with my beloved (now unavailable) Monster Nailer. I also like the slight unevenness of the rows when done this way. I'll check back in when all the holes are done in about 2 weeks.
Hi Dave:
Nice looking Kit. I'll be following along.
Karl
Welcome aboard, Karl. I'm nail-holing now.
Still at it ...
...soldiering on...
Then and now of the track side of the building, home today of the West Virginia Railroad Museum.
Taking a break nail-holing and went to the West Virginia Railroad Museum and came across this from their collection. From the website:
In early 1946, the Western Maryland purchased 17 assorted highway vehicles to 'handle men and material over highways eliminating delays and expediting work' according to the WM documentation. Included in this group was a five-passenger Cadillac Sedan to be used as an Official Car.By 1955, the 1946 Cadillac was 'no longer appropriate for official use' and converted to Rail Motor Car #6 in 1956 for a total of $500.00. It was retired in 1968 and sold. #6 was purchased by the museum from the estate of John J. Warfield, Washington, DC, who died suddenly in April 2006.
A second '46 Caddy has been purchased to act as a 'parts department' for #6 and it includes the grill! Work is underway to fully restore #6 and have it running in spring 2007.
Restoration work is underway in a garage in Elkins by museum volunteers.
Last wall...just 38 rows to go!
Only six rows to go!
Dave,
Seeing your Monster Nailer in the photos, it is evident how much you use that tool. It reminds me of the story of the Velveteen Rabbit. Hmm, I must be very old.
Thanks for taking time to post photos of the prototype, it really adds to the thread. In case you haven't guessed, I'll be following along.
And, you get my personal gold star, I have no where near enough patience to model nail holes two at a time!
Ah, what a classic story! I'm down to one row...gonna take a break and read a book!
Dave... when you ordered that you should have put in the comments "Jeff, please add nail holes to the wood walls for me."
Jeff is good like that. He'll do every single one using an HO scale hammer & spike!
I saw this kit at the Springfield. Amazing. I think I'm going to copy it. (That's allowed since it's a prototype and Jeff will share the CAD files with me.) (Jeff is good like that!)
Jimmy "Just being a Jimmy."
Holey Cow! :P That's a lot of nail holes. :o :o :o
This looks like a neat kit. I'll be following along as well. :D
...funny, how we think....I did this one for myself , not really thinking I'd do a kit of it....it has been one of our most popular kits....currently, we are sold out of the again.....(but jimmy will say I only cut one at a time)....jimmy has been trying to hack my kits files...I know, because I get an email from him requesting info on how to haxk my files.....above all else, jimmy is polite.....this one reminds me of our Round Barn Kit's popularity...jimmy also said that would be a flop.....love your progress Dave....this one is just another of your great builds, no matter who's kit....I think you have the Karl gene......
Quote from: RailroadKits on March 31, 2017, 02:11:18 PM
Dave... when you ordered that you should have put in the comments "Jeff, please add nail holes to the wood walls for me."
Actually it was an option on the check-out page, but it ssid "JimmyD rate." I didn't know what that meant.
Ready to lift some clapboards and add wall bracing but, Son of Satan!, I have to take a break to make an airport run. Now, think about this...airport run...Friday afternoon rush hour...Chicago...WTF??! I'mo kill someone.
...tantrum after having a week off to build stuff...
Survived the airport run, though the Chi-town PD probably have me on one of their red-light cams...long story.
Got back to do the bracing. Adequate supply of 1/8" strip provided.
Bracing is installed and walls weighted for the night. Kenny, if you study closely you see in the background the stairs I forgot to pack with the Company Houses. D'oh!
Jeff's instructions call for liberal application of Rumchata to ensure proper placement of the bracing. Being a stickler for compliance...
While the coffee seeps in...we have braced walls. Next up will be to paint the interior black, prick-up the lifted clapboards that got flattened under the weights while the bracing dried, and then an inkahol bath.
Color tests...
Hmmmmm....
A little better light. This one goes out to John S.
Neat building Dave.....I'll be watching. Neat Caddy..... ;D
Welcome aboard, Greg.
Hmmmmm.....
Normally I'd paint/distress the corner trim before installation, but I'm going monotone as Jeff did in his pilot model.
Molly says, "Er...um...I noticed you've got some snacks on your workbench, there."
Before attaching the corner trim I run it through a piece of fine sandpaper to get rid of any fuzzies. Here's the last of it in place.
Wasn't Stripwood Galore a Bond character?
Dave, you're really doing a great job on this build. I also picked one from Jeff. It's a structure that seems to be able to be plunked down anywhere in the country and fit. Keep the progress photos coming.
Afraid I took advantage of our first dry, sunny day in a week to start spring yardwork. No progress 'til the dog hours...about 6 am.
A Darden Mill.....and another one which I can't seem to remember the name. After I finish 2 kits that I'm currently working on the Darden will be next.
Looking forward to it. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Sure enough...6 am like clockwork. Who will be more miserable tomorrow when the back-to-work alarm goes off at 4:30...me or the doggers?
After experimenting with colors on some scrap clapboard I'm going with white for the back shed along the tracks. First, of course, was the inkahol wash. Then dry-dabbing with grey.
Then another round of dry-dabbing, this time the white color of the shed. Gobbed it on a few spots there, especially on the long front wall, so I'll use this nifty scratchy-tool to take those down. I'll also use it to ragged the bottom row of clapboards for some weathering/rot.
That seems better. I'm going for a beat-up old look...this mill has seen some miles...but maybe I overdid it. I might give 'er another round of white dabbing. I'll go paint the wind'ers 'n' doors and ruminate on it a spell.
Cheapo gray primer for the windows and doors, followed by dry-dabbing of Polly Scale Earth. Then dry-dabbed the white color. As it turns out the Earth dry-dabbing was a waste of time as it didn't show through the white. No worries...went back over it again.
That's it for a couple of hours. The dogsters and I are off to our weekly visit to the local old-folks home.
Back from our Sunday visit with the older folks.
Window glazing with Gallery Glass. Using the clear this time. I've also used the Clear Frost.
While those are drying I'll study this here foundation on which the whole shebang will sit. The kit comes with lengths of Crescent illustration board to which you attach printed brick paper. I found these old lengths of basswood scavenged from an old Bar Mills kit. Height seems about right, so I'll use it for the foundation.
Simple frame, a smidge smaller than the shed's footprint.
There she is.
Win'der shades. Acid-free scrapbook paper (I sometimes have reflux).
Walls goin' up.
Foundation in place. I made it a tad too short, but some creative landscaping will take care of that.
All the roof cards are provided pre-cut on tagboard. I felt the front overhang was a bit deep for my taste, so I trimmed it back a bit. Did the same on the side overhangs.
That seems better. Used a Sharpie marker to hide the bare cardboard along the edges and underneath where it will overhang to roof.
The kit comes with plenty of paper to paint and cut into strips. Long ago I got into the routine of using BEST roofing paper, so that's what I reflexively grabbed for. I like to take a sanding stick and beat it up a bit.
Oops...forgot to cut the hole for the chimbley. Next up...rafter tails and gable trim.
Hope to do some more tonight, but this might be it for the weekend. :-(
Looking good Dave. I like the old weathered beaten look for the Mill. I'll have to try roughing up the roofing material with a sanding stick...it really gives it a great look.
Thanks, Mark. A simple technique. The BEST paper takes some elbow greade...construction paper needs a lighter touch. The heavier materials also take the later inkahol wash much better, too.
Hey Dave,
I see you bring your pup into what I'm assuming is a Rehab-facility for the senior citizens. When my mom would stay in one for some re-habbing we used to bring in our El Doggo for visits. He was a big hit amongst the residents.
Dave,
What can I say? Shed came out great. I have commented before on how realistic your asphalt roofing looks, thanks for showing us how you do it. I, for one, will be trying it out. You are right there with Reading Bob when it comes to showing the steps of your build, and helping everyone improve their modeling by explaining your techniques.
I'm sure a visit from your "doggers" makes everyone's day a little brighter, thanks for sharing that photo.
Thanks kindly, Mark and Jeff, and thanks as always for visiting. Mark, that's the assisted living facility where my mom lived for five years. She passed 2 1/2 years ago but some of the residents got very attached to our dogs so we still go every Sunday morning.
Dave K, that's very sweet of you to take your dog visiting. I'm sure everyone there really appreciates it!
dave
Nah...just paying it forward. My mom had pretty bad macular degeneration toward the end of her years. The folks here were good to her...helped her at Bingo when she could barely read the cards...cut her food up for her at dinner. Some of these folks rarely get visitors. They love the dogs.
Busy week but I'm back at 'er this morning. As you can see from Jeff's pilot model, two of the walls are sheathed in corrugated metal sheet. Instructions suggest a scale 3' x 8'. I did mine 4' x 8'. No reason other than I thought it looked a bit better and thought maybe that's a stock size, like plywood. Anyway, I cut them prior to painting hoping to avoid too much touching-up of the edges. Did a few detail parts, too, while I had the primer out.
A pox upon me for not checking first with His Grooviness! Turns out 38" was the widest you could get the stuff prior to the '60s. Next beer 'n' burger's on me, Jeff!
Back to the main walls. First some dry-dabbing with grey...
...then some white...
...can't forget the edges of the corner trim...
...and the wall color; Folk Art Camel.
A few grey blotchy spots which I'll try to scratch-out. Maybe another pass with the Camel.
Today was painting windows/doors, detail parts, glazing. Nothing too photogenic.
Hi Dave:
The wall look great so far.
Karl
Dave,
I agree with Karl, the walls looks really great. Keep the pictures coming.
Tom ;D
Thanks, Karl & Tom. May not get a lit done the next few evenings. Doing a Monster yard tower for an area gent's layout.
For windows and doors I lightly primed with rattle-can gray, then dry-dabbed the same color as the walls and trim. I thought they came out too uniform so I lightly dry-dabbed a slightly darker brown color and then the usual finishing with a white dry-brushing. Glazing next.
Hi Dave:
I'm still watching and all looks great so far.
karl
Dave,
Great job matching the windows to the wall color. I find it challenging to try to get the colors just right when working with both plastic and wood. Gotta say, you really nailed it (pun intended).
Thanks, gents. Poking along. As I said, this won't be a quick build but I'm enjoying it just the same. I have Friday off so I'll get a lot done then.
Finally got all the windows glazed and those on the clapboard portion of the structure installed. While that's all setting-up I turned my attention to the lazerboard doors, treated the same way as the windows and doors with dry-dabbing the same colors.
By the way, I've forgotten how to include pix in a PM. Any pointers? Thanks!
Playing with signs. What do you think...graphics too much?
Dave,
I think the graphics are just fine. The wheat is a nice touch.
Tom ;D
Thanks, Tom. Still deciding...
An example of the lazerboard doors and shutters.
The sign I decided to go with. Tomorrow is walls up!
Overlooked your question on what sign to use Dave, you did use the one I prefer. Looking great so far.
The sign looks great on the wall. I really like the coloration of your walls. Nice job all around so far Dave.
Thanks, guys. Get some coffee goin' and then a couple hours available before family stuff intrudes.
Woo hoo!
Couldn't resist a sneak peak...
Oops...had the walls oriented wrong in that earlier pic...good thing we dry-fit before gluing!
Sub-assemblies...
Can't put it off too much longer...gotta tackle those metal-sheet walls.
More dry-fitting. The main building will also rest on a foundation and some concrete piers. Afraid I need to quit for now...family Easter up in Rockford in a few hours.
...wow, Dave has been a busy boy.....I love the colors and his overall finish of this one is great....FYI, everyone....the first run of this kit sold out quickly after Springfield.....we have had alot of requests for this one, so we will be doing another run of them in the next few weeks....if anyone is interested, let me know, we will continue thw $199. Price to all.....we will cut 64 kits...thanks for all the interest, and the fantastic build from Dave....Another run of Lowell's Boat works is on the schedule too.....
Great news, Jeff. 👍🏻
The two walls that will be sheathed in corrugated metal are cut from illustration board so no bracing is needed. I may brace anyway, just out of habit and to provide some rigidity for transport. Plus, you can never be sure about what that Jeff character tells you.
Dave,
This looks great! That Jeff character sure makes nice kits.
Yeah, but he's a slippery one. He's much better now, of course, since the parole and Witness Protection move to North Carolina. He's really reformed with this CCK operation. True, he can never go back to France, but some would say that's a blessing. :P
Well done. Skillful execution and thanks for the photos. Love the painting technique and the colors, especially on the main structure. Interesting shed foundation. I'll have to try that. And I do like the bend of the roof line. Something else I'll have to... ahem "steal." 8)
--Rich
Thanks, Rich. He's got a nice kit, here. Thought I'd try transfer tape instead of glue. After finishing the first wall I learned that I didn't have to finicky small pieces around the window and door openings. On the second wall I just stayed with the larger pieces and, once all applied, flipped the wall over and cut out the openings with a #17 chisel blade. Afterward I decided to go ahead and brace the walls on the inside, after all.
So...soliciting suggestions on the coloring. In the past when using this light wood product corrugated material I've used a thin wash of roof brown followed by some light dry-brushing of silver and finishing with rusty powders. Advice?
Okay, I've decided to leave my comfort zone and try something new. Had these old things in a drawer for several years. Had to use pliers to get the caps off!
Thought I'd squish a bit of each color onto the sides of a glass dish, put some odorless mineral spirits in the bottom, and have Bragdon's powders at the ready. Odorless is important...other stuff leaves a nasty refinery taste.
Dipped a cruddy old brush into a color, dipped into the mineral spirits, and just kinda slopped it on in vertical strokes. Hmmm...not too impressive.
So I dipped into another color, again into the spirits, and this time plucked-up a bit of powder and made a little more mess on the wall.
Just kept doing that, bouncing around between colors and powders, making a mess. I figure if it doesn't work out I'll just blame Jeff's kit.
A little darker than intended, but almost looks like I knew what I was doing.
Not sure if I should futz with it some more or leave well enough alone. Think I'll walk away for a bit and take the dogs out.
I figure anything that looks this bad has gotta be kinda-sorta artistic.
Woo-eee! Look what I just found on the porch...
Now I can run with you big dawgs!
I have a few of those clamps Dave , they are more then great.
Quote from: Dave K. on April 22, 2017, 11:47:56 AM
I figure anything that looks this bad has gotta be kinda-sorta artistic.
Dave,
It looks like a clear version of my 1955 Ford rusty hubcap! It's a FTOB. Fantastic (Sub another word here) Thing Of Beauty.
Tom ;D
;D ;D
Before leaving things for the evening yesterday I concluded it was darker than I had hoped. I lightener her up with some silver dry-brushing and light gray chalks. It still looks darker in the pic than in person, and the silver is nowhere near as evident as it is in the pic. Onward!
Dave,
I know exactly what you mean about the camera recording colors differently, sometimes that makes it hard for other modelers to see what a model looks like to the naked eye. I just snapped a couple photos of a model and need to find a way to change up the lighting or camera settings. The model itself has subtle chalk weathering, looking at the photo on my computer screen, the weathering looks like clown makeup.
Given your caveat about the photo versus the actual wall, should look great with the rest of the building.
Hi Dave:
very nicely done rusted wall. Love the colors.
Karl
Thanks, guys. Walls are up and glue is drying. Sunday morning, so the doggers and I are off to visit the seniors. 👴
Have a project that has a clock ticking, so the mill goes to the back, but...
I've been flooded since last spring with build requests from area MRRs, but I've told them I need October to finish this gem. So finally...
The foundation is artist's matte board with paper brick facing. I braced the strips of board and set to framing them up to match the building's footprint.
Looking good Dave!
Where did you get the brick paper? (who makes that)- The bricks look really good....
Nice modeling Dave.
Thanks, guys. Great to be back at it. The paper came in the kit...Jeff will chime in, I'm sure.
...chiming in.....www.tracksidescenery.com. Joey Ricard....he'll be at the EXPO.....his stuff is the bestest!!!!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Dave K. Very nice modeling. I am going to get the last O scale. I have an HO that I'm selling (different kit). From what I understand, I will be buying from a quality seller.
ed
thanks! I need to order some of that brick paper!
Quote from: Dave K. on October 09, 2017, 09:51:45 AM
I've been flooded since last spring with build requests from area MRRs, but I've told them I need October to finish this gem. So finally...
THAT PICTURE!!
I thought as it spun by that 'Gnat was back. :(
Nice Modeling Dave.
Thanks, Curt. I was starting to run really low on various rattle can browns, so I didn't get as much color variation for the shingles as I'd like.
Gotta darken that ridgecap.
The big roof gets rolled roofing...heavy black scrapbook paper beat to hell with a sanding stick. From now on I'll stick with a darker gray rather than jet-black.
The dock canopies were distressed the same way. For weathering I thought I'd try alcohol and powders, which some of y'alls have recommended.
And on goes the roof, weighted with my scuba diving weights.
Waiting for the ridgecap.
Dave does good work....a few pics of my test building on my shelf layout....
Nicely done. You've upped the ante!
I'm currently reading David McCullough's "The Johnstown Flood." While at the Expo I plan on finding the time to check out sites related to the story. Here are a couple of the buildings I want to take a look-see at. The yeller one is the Wagner-Ritter House, typical of steel worker's homes in the late 1880s. The brown one is an "Oklahoma House", pre-fab housing made in Chicago and used to temporarily shelter flood survivors...kinda the early version of a FEMA trailer.
Ridgecap in place.
...the build Dave is working on in this thread can be seen at the EXPO.....there are only a few of these kits left.....and as they say..."when they're gone, they're gone"....
Great-looking structure and a nice kit to boot. Grab one up!
Very nice Dave!
Very nice work Dave.
The mill looks sweet Dave. I like the looks of that mill house in Johnstown too.
Dave, That is a very nice job of modeling. Hopefully there will be a full size O scale version down the road.
ed
Thanjs, all, for stopping by. It's been a real treat getting back to this project. Wrapping it up over the weekend.
Nice work Dave. Really like the weathered look you achieved.
Thanks kindly, Mark. Ready to bull through a Friday so's I can get back to it.
Well done Dave.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. 👍🏻
Oops...forgot to install one door and it's framing prior to raising the walls.
Looks great Dave. How did you get the black streaks?
Just made a mess with some artist's oils I had. Back on pp. 7-8 of the thread. 👍🏻
Testing...
...testing...
One more test...
Got it...ready to post from the Expo! 🎥
Dave,
Nice build with some great looking weathering ! 8)
Tommy
Thanks, Tom. Heading to the airport & Expo now.
Looking good!