I haven't posted in a couple of years and you are still cranking away on this one. I remember when you would knock one of these off in about a week. Really nice job pal- I told you this would be a fun one!

Nice modeling!

Long time no post. Checking to see if my user name and PW still work and if you see this they do. I've been guilty of dabbling in social media (like Bookface)
(Hacksville) and see that a few of my wizened old buddies are still around.  I'll check the threads to see what you guys have been up to. Raymo probably up to no good.

I haven't finalized any Expo plans yet. I hope I go as I think I have been to all the Expos (and Craftsman Structure Shows- CSS) since 2007 and I'd like to stay in the running for Jmmy's attendance prize.
One problem is that I am still fried from the National Narrow Gauge Convention- I am about showed out. In the end I probably won't be able to stand not seeing everyone so I'll get a flight at the last minute with a nice middle seat all the way to Albany.


I did check with George Sellios and another option would be to fly to Boston Logan and then Uber to Peabody. George says he definitely will have the F&SM open on Halloween, Wednesday October 31st from
9AM to 3PM. After some time viewing the layout maybe I could hitch a ride to Albany. Who knows, maybe my pal Dan Raymo would have room for me in one of his trucks? (hint, hint) Dan always has good ideas.


Stay tuned- still a lot of drama here.

I agree with Jaime- he and I have been there a few times. I talked to George this week and he has been working for about five months on new stuff for the layout. He will definitely be open on Wednesday October 31st (Halloween) from 9AM to  3PM.  Bring your camera, as we like photos. If you haven't seen the F&SM before, you are in for a real treat.

I'm trying to plan how an Expo trip will work. A highlight would be seeing the F&SM again. I talked to George this morning and he has been working for about 5 months on changes and new stuff for the layout. George said to tell everyone that he will definitely have his open house Wednesday October 31 (Halloween) from 9 AM to 3PM. An itinerary:  Fly to Boston Logan; rent a car and go to Peabody; see the F&SM- take lots of pictures as the guys on the forum really like pictures; get in the rental car and head for Albany. If there is time hang out in Salem for a while to see if there really are witches hanging around.

Thanks for sharing all of the layout photos John. The layouts of Seth, Dick, and John are quite different in what they are featuring, but they all have great modeling.

Nice.

Hey Jan- long time no post for me. It's almost Ryder Cup time!


Here is a mostly head-on view of Karl Allison's Loco and Car Service Shop. There are several more similar shots of different sections of the walls. Let me know if any interest for your project.


Karl's model is one of the best I have ever seen.

Really outstanding Seth. Might be the best Houligan's version I have ever seen. Thanks for plugging the NNGC layout tour- Art VanDeWater has really put together an incredible array of home, club, modular, garden, and live steam layouts- over 50 in number.


And thank you for being on the tour Seth- you will steal the show.

Hi Karl-  You are really lollygagging along on this one- you started March 5 and have been at it two weeks and aren't finished! This is one of my favorite FSM kits that I have never owned or built.

Your build is looking terrific and of course every step is explained and the finishing details are documented for us. No wonder I picked you as a mentor when I first got involved doing this. Nice work!

Mike

Thanks for your well-wishes. Sorry for the confusion T.C.  There were a couple of photos missing but it is because I deleted them. During my computer meltdown I tried to post some photos with my phone with minimal success. I have resized and reposted since and you aren't missing anything. Actually there is one classic missing and I can't find it anywhere. I'm sure it will turn up someday.


I have the walls together and the roof panels on. Many details to add (rafter tails, vents, stacks, roof trim, etc.)
but everything fits, is square, and perfectly flat, and I am proud of the corners.

Thanks all. I am really happy how the color of the beautiful foundation castings turned out. It does need light as I found out when the walls were put together.

So it was time to see if these walls are flat and square. I joined the first two using my trendy, state-of-the-art,
and high tech tools. Here is where the canopy glue shines as it sets up so quickly. I can virtually hold these in place around the squares and weights for a minute or two and they are solid! When I started doing these many years ago, Brett Gallant told me the first thing he looks at when he evaluates modeling quality of structures is the corners. Square, flat, perfectly aligned and joined. If not, break them apart and do it again.

Here are the first two, and then two more. So far so good! Check your drawings as to which walls should be adjacent as it is possible to adjoin them incorrectly. Ask me how I know- I almost did. And take a look at the diecut slots where rafter ends will go at the top of the walls. A tip coming later when we get to them.

Thanks Karl and Jan. The bottom sample is the one I picked Janbouli- it looks pretty good. Next I put  the walls together, and place the building on the foundation. Then glue the three roof pieces in place. Since all of the building, detailing, and weathering are done this should not take long if I've squared everything up properly.

This is a little out of sequence- when I built the foundation I made the frame from the die-cut pieces, mitre-cut the styrene stone wall sides, and rattle can sprayed with primer gray the sides. I then did some practice colors on the styrene scraps, using craft acrylic Burnt Sienna, Light Orange, Reefer Orange, and the one I chose was Vallejo Model Color Light Brown. Then washed with A/I, and touched up a few stones with slightly contrasting colors. I also dulled a few stones with some pastel chalks.