Hello everyone,
Next in line is an old one- Fine Scale Miniatures Branchline Coaling Station.
I started this kit this week. I managed to get all the castings primed or blackened and most of the stripwood colored.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1507.jpeg)
Just a picture of the box.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1509.jpeg)
All the stripwood as been colored. The kit has several bags of wood each labeled "Right and Left Walls, Rear Wall, Floor etc.." which makes it easy and a good portion is precut as well. I stained the wood with alcohol and powdered chalks after I added some grain with a wire brush.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1511-e1612955959275.jpeg)
The framing for the walls is done. I made a copy of the templates and used some double sided tape to stick the wood to them.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1512-e1612956053467.jpeg)
Both side walls and the rear. I would've liked to add the siding while the walls were stuck to the template but the inside framing is facing up.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1513-e1612956152925.jpeg)
The framing for the floor is complete.
That's all so far. Next step is attaching the siding.
Thanks for following along.
That's a fun little build Steve! I'm following along.
I built this one a long, long time ago. Mine needs some TLC to refurbish it. I tried the etchant method of rusting the corrugated roofing which looked great when I was finished with but over the years the panels continued to erode so there's not much left of them now. ::)
Neat kit.....I'll be looking in Steve. :)
I'll be following.
I'm here for the ride! Great start.
Hey Steve:
Built that one A couple of months ago for my buddy Jons railroad. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
Karl
Looking good, Steve.
The timber colouring is very nice.
Cheers, Mark.
Steve,
Another build to follow. Watching you guys build kits is great for my learning curve.
Bernd
Wow That put me in the "way back machine". first wood kit I ever built. I'm thinking maybe 1979.
Dick
Steve
You are off to a great start, I will be following along.
Good morning everyone.
I made some more progress on the walls over the last couple days. I also started planning the placement of the building on the layout also.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1517-e1613142070237.jpeg)
I wanted the walls the be pretty beat up and worn. The siding is colored with rembrandt chalks mixed with alcohol.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1518-e1613142411133.jpeg)
I glued the walls together and glued them down to the floor. The instructions call for doing these in separate steps but I only waiting till the glue on the walls started to cure before I glued the assembly to the decking. I wanted to make sure I could easily adjust the walls to match the dimensions of the floor.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1519.jpeg)
Close up of the left wall.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1523-e1613142555186.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1522-e1613142582906.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1524.jpeg)
I had originally intended to place the structure here on the layout but once I put it together I realized its far too overpowering for the scene. So I had to rethink it's placement.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1525.jpeg)
I think it will go here and I'll add the FSM Water Tank right next to it.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1526-e1613142802967.jpeg)
Here is how it will fit in the overall scene. This area is a little to the right of the original spot I had intended for it to go.
I painted the foam base brown last night.. I can't proceed with the build easily without gluing it down so that'll be my next step.
I'm probably going to opt-out of the rear track and have the coal delivered by truck instead. I'm not sure yet, I have to start to put it all together and get an idea of how it feels.
Excellent progress, Steve. Your modeling continues to shine.
If those 2 tracks in front of the station are meant to be 'double track main' line, you could reinforce that notion by adding a water column for the track on the left side. I've seen pictures of that in the prototype, and it would add a bit of "eye candy" and operational interest.
dave
Very nicely done.
Steve,
Most excellent. Like others, I built this kit many moons ago but I like yours much better.
Tom ;D
Hey Steve:
Opps I didn't build that one. I built Kit #115 The Coal And Sand Shed. Your build is looking just great and I am very much enjoying the pic of your RR.
Karl
Looking mighty good.
Hey Steve:
Looks great so far. Beautiful board by board construction.
Karl
Quote from: ACL1504 on February 12, 2021, 05:35:56 PM
Steve,
Most excellent. Like others, I built this kit many moons ago but I like yours much better.
Tom ;D
Great job on the framing Steve and speaking of Tom's build many moons ago.....here it is.(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/27-130221102533-480591008.jpeg)Great build, lousy picture, but you get the idea. Tom donated it to the St.L&D a short while back and it will be residing in the mining boomtown of Moosebutt. :)
Hello Steve, you are doing your usual very fine job with this kit. I love the realistic wood coloring and I like the location next to the water tower and station. Looking forward to the finished scene. Jeff
Hey Greg:
Looks just beautiful. great coloring.
Karl
Steve looks great nice coloring and weathering.
I think you hit the nail right on the head it would have been more beat up than most.
Jerry
Looks great.
Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone!
Yesterday I managed to get a good bit of the interior finished.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1564.jpeg)
I ran the little narrow gauge track that the bucket carts ride on through the building.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1565.jpeg)
The other side..the rail is just T shaped wood sprayed black and weathered with chalks.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1561-e1613562729343.jpeg)
I put the crane together and added all the buckets, air compressor etc.. to the interior.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1562-e1613562747835.jpeg)
I still have a little more interior details to add but I probably won't add too much more.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1563-e1613562762295.jpeg)
Overhead shot of the interior. I added some serious black chalk weathering and coal spillage everywhere. I figured the place would be a black dirty mess on the floor.
Thanks for following along everyone. I already colored the rest of the wood for the structure and started assembling the front wall section. Hopefully I get a good chunk of the roof done today.
Excellent modeling and great detailing.
I expect nothing less than this wonderful work. Great stuff.
Wow wonderful detailing!! Very realistic!!
Jerry
Here's my narrow-gauge adaptation of the structure, I started with a Durango Press kit and cut it down to fit HOn30 locos.
dave
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the feedback.
Which Durango Press kit did you use for yours Dave? I have the real basic bucket coaling station from them but it's just a crane, some wood posts and some cast buckets. I was going to use the crane for another project but it was too large.
What everyone else has said!
Looks terrific, Steve.
Cheers, Mark.
Hey Steve:
Looking just beautiful so far.
Karl
Steve, love the look of that. Those interior shots are fantastic.
--Opa George
Thanks everyone for all the positive comments and for taking the time to comment.
Todays update: I got the front wall installed, added the ridge support and started the rafters.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1569-e1613659142168.jpeg)
Front wall is built and installed. Both the front and rear walls needed to be notched for the ridge board. I had already notched the rear before I glued the walls together but the front was a little more challenging. The small assembled front wall section is very fragile.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1570-e1613659404910.jpeg)
The rafters are being installed. They need to be notched to clear the tops of the side walls. I stopped here but I should be able to get the rest of the rafters installed today, hopefully most of the roof boards as well. Everything is already colored and weathered so it's just a matter of installation.
Thanks for following along.
Hey Steve:
Looking just beautiful.
Karl
I suspect 1-1 scale carpenters find notching rafters is annoying, too :-) (I'd ask my brother if he was still with us.)
dave
Wow! Birds mouths. How flash.
Looking good.
Cheers, Mark.
Looks awesome. Enjoying this build.
Mark
Extremely well executed. Most of the other superlatives were already used.
Beautiful work as always, Steve!!
I've got one of these kits that I will never build...If anyone is inspired, PM me
John
Thanks everyone!
I made some more progress on the roof between yesterday and today.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1571-e1613765659918.jpeg)
All the rafters are glued in place.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1573-e1613765772257.jpeg)
All the roof boards are in place. I beat some of them up but not as aggressive as the walls.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1574-e1613765955677.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1575-e1613766003190.jpeg)
I wanted a really beat up tarpaper roof to match the beat up structure. I used black tissue paper sprayed with black primer.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1576-e1613766071185.jpeg)
The other side..
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1577-e1613766132440.jpeg)
Next step is building the rear shed.
Thanks for following along.
Just Beautiful Steve !!
So very well executed ...
--Paul
That roof is gorgeous.
Can you clarify what type of tissue paper you are using? I don't think it's the same kind I'm used to as what you've used looks slightly thicker?
Thanks Paul. Thanks Craig.
Craig, here is a link to the same brand I bought only they don't seem to have black anymore. I think the gray would work well also.
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Wrap-Tissue-Paper-15/dp/B078PHC52R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=233KCTPZLLJAH&dchild=1&keywords=flexicore+packaging+black&qid=1613769227&sprefix=flexicore+pack%2Caps%2C323&sr=8-1
It seems like standard tissue paper thickness, pretty thin. I did spray it with black spray paint so that may have given it a little more thickness and stability.
Thanks Steve!
Steve,
l really like the roofing paper. I have been using kraft wrapping paper with charcoal acrylic paint, followed by a lot of sanding. The material you are using looks more fragile and looks easier to weather. Count me in. just ordered it. What did you spray it with. Rattle can or ?
Frank / Erieman
Steve beautiful roofing. And birdsmouth no less, perfect execution!!
Jerry
Awesome roof , awesome structure , awesome build.
I like that roof.
--Opa George
Steve,
Amazing modeling for sure. Perfect looking old and weathered roof.
Tom ;D
Steve,
The Amazon man delivered my package of grey gift tissue. There is enough tissue to do a gazilion buildings. I'll share with friends and maybe find a couple of gifts I can wrap. What type of paint did you spray the tissue with? What grade of sand paper did you use ? So instruction would be greatly appeciated.
Thank you in advance,
Frank / Erieman
Thanks for the nice comments everyone!
Frank, Definitely enough to last for decades and tons of buildings. I sprayed mine with Rust-Oleum Camo Black but I prefer dark gray auto primer I just didn't have any on hand. I've used some of the cheaper flat blacks but they always seem to have a little sheen. The Rust-Oleum or Krylon Camo is always super flat. I didn't sand the paper at all either before installation or after. I used very sharp tweezers to tear at it as I installed it. In some of the heavier weathered spots I sort of pulled it with a razor to tear it. Once it's set into the glue its really easy to tear little areas in the middle of the sheets with tweezers or a toothpick. I think you could also use a straight edge and tear along the edge to get a nice rough edge without cutting with a blade.
I forgot to mention I didn't remove each strip from the sheet until after it was painted. I cut lines every 3 feet horizontally but didn't cut vertically until it had been painted.
Hello Steve, great job on the roof and thank you for the tutorial on your methods and the tip on where to get the tissue paper. Jeff
Hey Steve:
That model is looking just beautiful. Really great weathering. Love the roof to.
Karl
Steve, Love the way tar paper came out, will have to try that method.
Loren...
Thanks Jeff, Karl and Loren. I really appreciate all the positive feedback!
I finished the rear shed and started to get the diorama assembly over the weekend.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1583-e1614048398301.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1584-e1614048547867.jpeg)
The rear wall was assembled the same way as the others only horizontal instead of vertical.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1585.jpeg)
I decided to not use the track service in the rear of the shed.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1586-e1614048708662.jpeg)
The instructions called for the PCB etchant weathering technique to age to corrugated metal. I never get good results with that technique and I've attempted it several times. I beat up these pieces of corrugation with a small pair of scissors and a #11 blade. I colored them with chalks after I primed them with rust colored paint. The glue is still wet in this picture, I'll be adding some more rust streaks and colors after it all dries.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1587.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1589-e1614048922188.jpeg)
I tried to make the sheets look beat up and loose from the front. This is probably about the furthest you'll be able to see the rear shed.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1590-e1614049016604.jpeg)
The other side.. I also glued the water tank to the base as well.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1588-e1614049059326.jpeg)
This is a front view of how it all lays out. I still need to do some minor detailing of the structure (NBW castings etc..)
Tomorrow I'll try to put down the first basecoat of ground cover. It should really bring everything to life.
Thanks for following along.
Looking mighty fine, Steve. It seems we just painted our corrugated panels at the same time!
Looks fantastic, Steve.
Cheers, Mark.
Thanks Mark and Craig!
Seems that way Craig also looks like we had similar coloring ideas.
Hey Steve:
The water tank looks just beautiful. Great job buddy.
Karl
Thanks Karl. I had built it a couple years ago it was on the shelf waiting for a home. One of my favorite kits.
Beautiful weathering on that roof and building.
it goes well with the water tank.
Great work Steve.
Jerry
Steve,
Nice modeling.
Thanks for passing the how to info on your roof method.
Tommy
Hey Steve:
Really love what you did with the roofs. They both look just beautiful.
Karl
Flexicore should offer you a marketing gig Steve - just got my 2 packs........
Doug
Thanks everyone!
Good evening everyone.
I added the base scenery over the week and I've been waiting for it to dry to post some semi-complete photos. I'm going to wait until I add it onto the layout to fully complete the scene.
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1609-e1614478517448.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1610-e1614478630863.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1611-e1614478658898.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1612-e1614478691658.jpeg)
(https://craftsmanstructures.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/img_1613-e1614478721823.jpeg)
I'm going to park this one on the shelf until I finish the area it will sit in. It shouldn't take too long to get it planted since the rest of the buildings up to it are already done minus maybe 1 or 2 small structures.
Thanks for following along everyone and thanks for all the positive feedback along the way.
Thanks for sharing, Steve. That's a beautiful bit of modeling. Lots of inspiration to take from this.
--Opa George
Steve it was a pleasure to follow this build. A beautiful scene for sure.
Jerry
Steve, Outstanding !!
This scene is coming along wonderfully. Obviously you planned the depth of the scene and you have pulled it off magnificently. Lots and lots of beautiful modeling and interest in your scenes and the railroad overall.
Well done and thanks for sharing,
--Paul
Thanks George, Jerry and Paul. I really appreciate it!
Looks terrific, Steve.
Beautiful workmanship, as always.
Cheers, Mark.
Nice job Steve
Doug
Steve,
I agree with the rest here, fantastic modeling/weathering and overall completion to date. Very sweet indeed!
Thanx Thom...
Hey Steve:
Very well done. Beautiful model.
Karl
Very nice work. I really like the tar paper roof.
Jeff
This is a really great model Steve
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it!
Great scene Steve.....well done. 8)
Impressive. Very well done, would you mind sharing how you achieved that cracking dirt look, it looks awesome.
Thanks guys!
I'm glad you like the cracking dirt but it wasn't really done on purpose. The dirt I used is sifted really really fine and it just cracked when I glued it down. I left some of the cracks but they bigger ones didn't look good so I rubbed some dirt in them to make them disappear.
The dirt is from outside. I bake it to kill anything then run it through a coffee bean grinder followed by sifting through a fine screen.
Hey Steve:
The dirt does look great and WOW!!! you make your own.
Karl
Steve, What's your formula for your dirt sir? Beautiful Job!!!
As always, extremely well done. Steve is is always a pleasure viewing your modeling.
Thanks Karl, Dennis and Ed. I really appreciate it!
Dennis, No real formula it's really just some Pennsylvania dirt. The batch I'm using now is from a dump truck load of topsoil I got a few years back. I took a bucket of it, baked it and sifted it.
I've always struggled getting my dirt fine enough. In the past I used a mortar and pestle to grind it down as fine as could for roads but I really like the coffee bean grinder now. I bought it for about $10 or less I think from Amazon. It grinds the dirt to a super fine dust. Then I just sift the bigger rocks out of it. Just watch out for anything glassy in the dirt.
Thank you Steve.
Only model railroaders would have a discussion about "great dirt" :-) :-)
dave
Steve
Great modeling. A coffee bean grinder for grinding your dirt finer, I need to try that. I'm still using a mortar and pestle.
Great Build as always Steve...and I have always been a big fan of your dirt (and overall ground cover coloring and texture). Awesome Job!
I've got that kit on my shelf and have come to the conclusion that I will never build it. If anyone wants to make me an offer, PM me. I'm not looking for a big payday-I'd actually be more interested in a barter for detail parts, 1920-30's vehicles, small structures, etc (preferably built-up and weathered). I just have all of my real estate spoken for and that beautiful structure is much bigger than I would have guessed.
Sorry Steve...don't mean to hijack your beautiful build thread.
John
Thanks everyone!
John, I thought the same thing once I started building it....this one is way bigger than I had thought it was going to be.
Steve,
How did I miss this wonderful looking diorama?
It really has the flare of backwoodsy feel. Nice work.
Rich
Hey Steve:
Like I said beautiful job.
Karl
Thanks Rich and Karl
Steve,
Very well done. I love the over all weathered look.
Tom ;D
Thanks Tom
Hey Steve:
You are quite welcome.
Karl
Beautiful work, love the colour of the wood and all the details.
Thanks Lynn!