My wife and I have spent two weeks per summer for the past 20 years up in Onekama, Michigan. The Blue Slipper (now closed and on the market) has been an institution there, especially its iconic sign. I began to file photos of it a number of years ago for a future scratch build. Last summer I shared some pix with Kenny at KC's and lo-and-behold, he designed a kit of it and included it in his Cameron Street Corner set of buildings. At Springfield he'll be offering it as a separate structure. So this kit is special to me because of our personal connection, but also because it's the first idea of mine that someone turned into kit form.
The Slipper.
The brick walls and corner pieces.
Dave
I have driven by that building many times. As you know, it's not far from my cabin (S&S RR Northern Hqtrs.) Do you have a close-up picture of the brick? I will be following your thread with great interest.
Quote from: S&S RR on January 20, 2018, 12:13:41 PM
Dave
I have driven by the building many times. As you know, it's not far from my cabin (S&S RR Northern Hqtrs.) Do you have a close-up picture of the brick? I will be following your thread with great interest.
I knew you'd know the place, John. Do you mean a close-up of the proto building's brick?
Not sure what this brown material is called...laser board/laser board?
Illustration board base/sidewalks.
Shed.
Quote from: Dave K. on January 20, 2018, 12:17:02 PM
Quote from: S&S RR on January 20, 2018, 12:13:41 PM
Dave
I have driven by the building many times. As you know, it's not far from my cabin (S&S RR Northern Hqtrs.) Do you have a close-up picture of the brick? I will be following your thread with great interest.
I knew you'd know the place, John. Do you mean a close-up of the proto building's brick?
The prototype - I'm looking for examples of light colored brick for my Brick Tower build. So far I've had good luck coloring laser bricks red and dark brown but I'm trying to develop a technique that I like for lighter colored brick.
I'll see if I've got anything close-up.
Quote from: Dave K. on January 20, 2018, 12:59:37 PM
I'll see if I've got anything close-up.
Sounds good - I checked KC's web page and he lists this kit as coming soon. I know where one will fit on my layout. Kenny - order coming soon. I think mine will have the name of the new owner's. Dave's ******.
He's working like a madman getting teady for Springfield. He'll see your post when he comes up for air and set one aside for you.
This is the only brick close-up I could dig up, John. The variation in the brick colors is pretty wowsers.
Another, and zoomed...
After checking the edges of the walls far any kerf left by the laser and sanding where needed, I applied the brick lintels above the windows and attached the brick corner pieces to the ends of the two side walls.
Like John, I've done brick structures in various shades of red but this time would like to try and capture the limestone color of the prototype. While I get my thinker workin' on that I'll move on to the shed for the side of the building.
Here's Kenny's version as it appears on his Cameron St. Corner dio...
Dave
Thanks for the close-up pictures of the brick. Solid color brick walls are actually more rare than the multi-color brick in this wall. I'm trying to develop a technique to get the variation in HO brick. I can color individual bricks - which helps. What I want to achieve is the bands of color within the brick like I get with hydrocal rock castings. I ordered some blank brick walls to do some experimenting.
Dave,
I'll be following along. I didn't realize it was a brick structure until I looked closer. I think this one is another winner and has many possibilities.
Tom ;D
We'll be watching as you develop a brick technique. For the shed/annex I braced the walls and then applied a light inkahol wash.
Thanks for checking in, Tom.
Next a super-light drybrushing using an off-white.
Like John, I kerp sheets of clapboard and laser-cut brick on which to do color ecpetiments. First I did a straight spray of rattle-can Sand.
Then, as I've done on red brick, I used the Fast-n-Final spackle technique for mortar. Hmmm...don't like it. I'll save this test piece and play with it some more later.
Experimented some more. Methinks I'm settling on Apple Barrel Sandstone with a few drops of Americana Buttermilk.
It actually has more of a yellow tinge to it than is apparent in this iPhone pic.
Tom has Diet Pepsi breaks...I'll pause for this public service announcement.
Coming along nicely! I'll be taking notes on your coloring techniques.
Quote from: MAP on January 20, 2018, 05:38:37 PM
Coming along nicely! I'll be taking notes on your coloring techniques.
Uh oh! I'd better not screw it up! 🤬
I'm going with a khaki accent color. Used it on the shed corner trim, the two Tichy windows, and the laser board door, which I first assembled by just using the peel-and-stick 3M material the door and all other windows are cut from. Never sure if I should also supplement this with additional dots of glue.
Gonna add a sill under that door, glaze the windows, put in window shade, and add my own signs before raising the walls. Like Mike THE Runner, I prefer to do as much as possible while the walls are flat.
Quote from: Dave K. on January 20, 2018, 05:31:00 PM
It actually has more of a yellow tinge to it than is apparent in this iPhone pic.
Dave
From your picture - did you paint it with the two colors (the small sample) - then whip it off to let the base color show through?
Since the proto is in Michigan I've been hunting all week for home-brew signs. So many cool signs...so little wall space. 😥
Quote from: S&S RR on January 20, 2018, 05:50:25 PM
Quote from: Dave K. on January 20, 2018, 05:31:00 PM
It actually has more of a yellow tinge to it than is apparent in this iPhone pic.
Dave
From your picture - did you paint it with the two colors (the small sample) - then whip it off to let the base color show through?
No...I mixed them in a little palette. Looks like breakfast! 🍳🍳🍳
More later...heading out for a sushi dinner. Hope I avoid this guy's fate... https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2018/01/19/man-feels-five-foot-tapeworm-wiggling-out-after-eating-sushi/amp/ (https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2018/01/19/man-feels-five-foot-tapeworm-wiggling-out-after-eating-sushi/amp/)
One more shot...the paint wasn't yet dry here. I'd like still more yellow. More experimenting is in order.
Following along , I love the Bock and the Cream Top signs.
Thought I would throw in a couple pics of the almost complete display model for Springfield ....( Still needs the sign on the front )
Looks good, Kenny! Love the ghost signs👍🏻
Found another great vintage Michigan beer ad...definitely using this one!
This guy showed up on the front steps yesterday...I think I'll add it to my challenge build.
Painted and glazed the windows with Gallery Glass frost. Dagnabbit if I didn't get a couple of bubbles. Added a few signs and started playing with Pan Pastels. I've had a set for a year but barely touched them. Time to dive in.
Glaziing, shades, corner trim, and door sill added. Forgot to mention, I also psint the interior black; one of these days I'll suck up the courage to try lighting. I've been gathering supplies from Slim. Walls up...
Wowser! Those walls look great. This looks like a neat structure from Kenny. I'm definitely following along!
Welcome aboard, Bob and Jan! 👍🏻
My favorite roofing paper is from Brian and Jill at BEST. I know, I know...plain paper or the paper provided in kits is cheaper. But I like the texture of this stuff and how rugged it is...it takes distressing with a sanding stick really well. Besides, it's an excuse to order hobby supplies. 🤣🤣🤣
So here's the shed roof...
I'll pre-drill a hole for a roof fixture, give it an inkahol wash, drybrush, and weather with powders.
I a little late too the party Dave, but I will be watching your progress.....great work so far. 8)
Thanks, Greg...welcome!
Quote from: Dave K. on January 21, 2018, 07:08:43 AM
Found another great vintage Michigan beer ad...definitely using this one!
This one is definitely the best one .
Really nice job.
Thanks gor stopping, Curt. Got more done today...just have to format the pix.
Dave
You are moving right along on this build. Your work looks great!
Thanks, John. Got a lot done yesterday but back to work means less time. I've got enough progress pix to keep the thread going the next few days. Cheers!
Dave,
Just got caught up with everything you have done. Looking great so far. I think getting the colors right on tan brick is a more difficult than red brick. Even though I don't see modeling any tan brick in my future, I'll be watching to see how you handle the challenge.
Thanks for checking in, Jerry...more to come.
Hey Dave, just so you'll know...I'm following along....
Good to have you, Donato!
Thought some end trim was in order.
Settled on a wall application. Went with the Butternilk/Sandstone mix, then used various hues to color individual bricks. Also used some powders here to see how it affected the overall color.
Going to brick-up a couple of the windows using the knock-outs. As you can see, fit's a bit loose. I'll mortar it up with spackle.
Filled the gaps around the brick with spackle. Started installing windows and the ledgers (term?) under the windows.
Quote from: Dave K. on January 27, 2018, 06:02:13 PM
Filled the gaps around the brick with spackle. Started installing windows and the ledgers (term?) under the windows.
Very nice
Eric
Finished shed and painted wall.
I wouldn't have thought that color would work, but it looks great!!!
dave
Thanks, Eric & Dave.
Side wall.
Very nice Dave. The bricked in Windows are a really nice feature.
Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 27, 2018, 07:12:07 PM
Very nice Dave. The bricked in Windows are a really nice feature.
What Curt said...
Thanks, Curt and Jerry. I'm afraid my thread will be skipping a lot of steps...nothing but computer headaches this week.
The dtorefront and cornices are peel-and-stick laser board. The air conditioners and corbels are wood. The exploded diagrams show how they go together. If doing a two-color scheme you want to paint the layers separately.
Acetate for glass...used the Googlizer to find memus and an interior.
Did the roof just as with the shed roof.
Cut/drilled holes for roof fixtures prior to gluing roof atop walls.
I had read how some modelers use Liquis Nails for projects for brick mortar. On the left is my usual spackle method...on the right the Liquid Nails after drying. Hmmm...
Didn't do mucheith the rear as it likely won't be seen. Just some weathering experiments.
I really like the final wall color you came up with Dave. I have never tried a light colored brick treatment, but your combination looks great. Keep up those progress pics.
Thanks, Mark.
Dave
This is coming along real nice. Love the mortar idea around the bricked up windows.
Wonderful Dave, the brick color makes them stand out really well and the detailing is great.
Dave,
As usual, some very nice modeling. I especially like the way the colors blend and compliment each other through the entire structure.
Thank you all very kindly. Plan to finish up today.
Roofing tar around the fixtures...more experimenting with the Pan Pastels.
As I said at the start, the Slipper's sign is quite a northern Michigan icon.
I carefully trimmed the paper sign and used it to trace the outline on a piece of basswood to make a former.
Painted the edges of the former, drilled a hole, and bent the end of some brass wire.
Used some colored pencils to camouflage the white edges of the paper, and some additional touch-up with paint.
Not sure what's recommended, but I gave the wire a bath in Blacken-It, hoping it would help the paint adhere better. Then a quick shot with rattle-can black.
While that was drying I got out the powders and Pan Pastels and putzed around to dull-down the bright, printed sign. Then glued the support wire in place.
Drilled a hole in the wall for the opposite end. Used ACC here, and a few dabs of wood glue where the end of the sign butts-up against the wall.
Almost ready for their tomato bisque and a Cuban sandwich.
By the way, when I find a sign I like on the interwebs I'll print several versions of different sizes...saves a lot of back-and-forth to the printer to get the size right.
Dave,
Great job on the building. Looks fantastic.
Tom ;D
Thanks much, Tom. I'm hoping I'm (slowly) learning from you masters.
Very nice work. I like the color of the wall and the «tavern sign»
But, excuses my arrogance, there is a little detail that bothers me. It seems that the windows is mounted in the wrong side. Let me explain, it seems that the lower part of the window is outside the chassis while in the case of a window guillotine, it should be inside.
Eric Quebec.
Good eye, Eric! After I realized my -oops- on the first few I figured I'd better keep them consistent. 🤮
Dave, Very nice. The coloring and contrast is excellent. Man, Eric has some good peepers.
ed
This was sn enjoyable build, and Kenny has put out another great kit. I'll be building a couple more since friends in Michigan want one. I'll be more careful with the corner seams, not get so sloppy with the tar, and put the windows in right from the start. 🤣
Great build , love every bit about it , thanks for sharing Dave.
Thank you kindly, Jan.
Dave,
Excellent build of a very nice looking kit! :D Thank you very much for sharing the build with us. I've learned a lot from your builds over the years.
Dave great job ! Love all the subtle changes.... gonna keep the show / presale price up for a couple days ...got a great response from show goers on the kit
Nice looking building, Dave. Love the color.
Jeff
Dave,
Great job on the Blue Slipper. The colors turned out really nice and the overall look is very appealing. I've added this kit to my "need to get this one" list.
Tom ;D
Good work Dave.....nice addition to the layout. 8)
Dave
Very nice build! And I really enjoyed your thread. Jan sure has good eyes from working in N scale. If the windows bug you add the plastic that cover the windows in that part of the country 9 months out of the year. Perfectly prototypical. ;)
Very nice modeling Dave.
You da Man Dave...!!!
(https://jlino7.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/you-da-man.jpg)
Congrats, Kenny, on a rave review!
http://hoscalecustoms.com/ (http://hoscalecustoms.com/)
Your build is just loaded with character, nicely done.
Just curious what program do you use for resizing your downloaded signs?
Just good ol' Word.