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Messages - craftsmankits

#31
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 04, 2021, 11:09:44 PM
Thanks to Mark D. Bob, Eric, George and Karl.  Still plugging along on this one.  Next up is some Mod Podge Gloss, and possibly some Liquitex Gloss Heavy Gel for waves.  I'll have to experiment with the Liquitex product.  Never used it before.   Mark
#32
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 04, 2021, 11:05:10 PM
Quote from: vinceg on November 04, 2021, 08:00:53 AM
Gorgeous diorama. Doug should have you do the pilot kits for his ads!

Hi Vince,  I'm sure many of us would love that task.  Not sure that I would do it fast enough.  I tend to take my time, but if Doug allowed me the honor, I would love to attempt building one of his fine kits.

Mark
#33
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 04, 2021, 11:03:01 PM
Quote from: darrylhuffman on November 04, 2021, 01:30:02 AM
So many people just use waves painted dark with a glossy finish.

I really like your treatment of water.

I hope to go over your build again the next time I am doing water.

I'm guilty of just doing dark, glossy waves.

Thank you Darryl.  I simply wanted to try something different, and have some actual depth.  Your water looks great to me.  What scale is the structure in your photo?
#34
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 11:27:54 PM
This is the result of the second pour.  The Envirotex resin worked wonders.  I didn't have to overdo it with the repairs.  I simply took my spatula and held it over the problem areas, then used a toothpick to ensure the air was driven from the many holes, then poured the remainder over the entire surface.  It not only hid those mistakes, but it filled in along the sides where the tape had fallen inwards.  I used the same bracing methods as before, only this time, I taped the tape to the foamboard wall, ensuring it wouldn't fall into the diorama as it had the first time.

Where I used the Dremel tool, the rough white edges disappeared, and remained hidden.  I did remove some excess where the Dremel tool left a whitish appearance using an Exacto blade, but the majority of it was left as is, and to the credit of the resin, it hid the flaws. I used the same 3 to 1 mix of Woodland Scenics colors for the second pour.

You'll notice the corner was 'fixed' by keeping the tape taped to the foamboard.  Many lessons learned during this experience.  If you're using Envirotex Lite, along with tinting, it's pretty fool proof.  Not sure how it would be with Magic Water, but Magic Water does have a leaching problem, while the Envirotex doesn't leach nearly as much.  Don't panic if you make a mistake, there are always solutions.  (If you look closely at the last picture underneath the corner, you'll see some foamboard.  I did have a small leak, from a poor tape job around the corner.  Not a bad leak, but it did prove out my 3ML plastic drop 'bathtub'.  The resin didn't stick to the plastic drop.
#35
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 11:14:02 PM
As scary as Halloween, these are some pictures of the problem areas.  Some of the holes were as deep as a quarter inch or more.  In addition to the tape falling away from the walls.  I took a Dremel tool to some of the air bubbled areas.  While also cutting out, and trimming around some of the larger holes.  This is the first attempt at curing the many issues that erupted over the areas where the hydrocal was pushed against the rocks, rather than using sculptamold over the entire surface beforehand.
#36
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 11:06:46 PM
All was well, until air pockets began to form in the center, and these pockets came from underneath, alongside the rocks I had placed in, and pushed the hydrocal up to them.  All the areas where I applied sculptamold held up, the problem came strictly from areas where I covered the plaster directly over the foamboard insulation.  I stood guard, and poked the air bubbles, used a hair dryer, all to no avail, the resin was setting up by the time I had to simply give up, and approach the problem after it had fully set.

The first picture is immediately after the pour, this area remained fairly problem free, the second shows the removal of the tape.  I expected the resin to push out towards the foamboard, instead, the resin fell inwards.  Cringe worthy I know, but a fix is soon coming.  Through all this, I remained calm, and placed my faith in the second pour, and the Envirotex Resin, and I would not be disappointed.
#37
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 10:58:19 PM
Here is the first resin pour, and it was a big one.  Over one hundred ounces of Envirotex Lite Resin.  The depth of the pour exceeded one inch in some areas.  I had never done a pour this big, and thankfully, there were zero leaks, but, there were some issues which I'll display in the upcoming pictures.  I used blue painters tape to seal the sides, placed formboard against the tape, and braced the sides with encyclopedias and various heavy books.  (The 3ML plastic 'dam' was placed between the painters tape and the foamboard.)

The water was tinted using Woodland Scenics water tint, roughly 3 parts Navy Blue, to 1 part Turquoise.
#38
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 10:48:53 PM
In order to survive any leaks during the resin pour, I placed down a 'bathtub' of 3ML thick plastic drop around the entire base.
#39
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 10:47:12 PM
I'm skipping ahead, this is the finished seabed, with the colors all applied by thin washes of various acrylic paints.
#40
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 10:44:30 PM
Next up, is the water feature.  This is my first attempt at having actual depth to a water scene, so I had some mishaps along the way.  I'll explain my trials and tribulations in an effort to guide those following along upon a better path.

First, I applied my leftover hydrocal rocks and pieces onto the foam board, next I applied hydrocal directly onto the foam board insulation in small areas.  My advice ... DON'T do this!  As I'll explain later.  I applied the plaster then stippled it with a stiff bristle brush to give it texture.  I did not use any sand, nor gritty sand like material.  While time consuming, I liked the results.  The brush would sometimes pick up the plaster, ruining what I started, so I later covered the entire water area with a thin coat of sculptamold.  This helped the application of the plaster over the sculptamold, giving it a better hold, and would later provide the proper barrier for the application of the resin water.

The first picture shows the attached rocks, and the seam where I added an extension to the front of the diorama.

The second shows the applied hydrocal, with the stippled surface.  Don't mind the rocks, or childlike appearance, this is only the beginning.
#41
Kit Building / Re: Fos Scale Bandit's Roost Build
November 03, 2021, 10:33:35 PM
I'm back, and I want to thank Jerry, Craig, Karl, Mark D., John, Tommy, Tom and all the lurkers for following along.  I always come up against a road block or two, and this time, of all things, it regarded telephone poles, and telephone line.  I purchased and installed Woodland Scenics new utility pole system, but found the 'hang' of the wires not to my liking.  I did some research online, but couldn't find a way to make them droop appropriately, so ... I ripped them all out, and went with some left over SRMW's transformers, and wooden dowel rods.  I'm still not finished with them, but included a shot of the poles I made up, and later installed.

I installed thin Berkshire Junction E Z Line in black, but thought it was too hard to see, so that was removed, and in the process I tore off one of the transformers, not a big deal, it was an easy fix.  Next, I purchased the 'heavy' grade of Berkshire Junction E Z Line in green, and will use it for the main lines, leaving the thin black to the structures.

This is a shot of 3 of the utility poles.  Sorry its blurry.
#42
Quote from: tom.boyd.125 on October 27, 2021, 12:10:32 PM
Quote from: craftsmankits on October 25, 2021, 10:22:03 PM
Looking good.  The Cambridge Crossing kit from SRMW was my inspiration into building craftsman style kits.  Bob had displayed his kits in Milwaukee the year that kit came out.  I took pictures, but didn't purchase it until many years later.  I'm saving it.  Looking forward to your continued progress with this particular kit, and any issues may find during construction.

Mark

Mark,
Will take photos when I install the windows and clapboard. Figured if the dormers could be finished with OV Hooker and the Threadwell Textile before this station...it should go easy.
I also attended that same show in Milwaukee when BVG had his dioramas there...Lamson & Son was also on display correct ???
Tommy

Hi Tommy,

You know?  I don't remember seeing the Lamson kit there, I was so taken by the Cambridge Crossing Kit, that I may have overlooked it.  It may be lingering in the background of the few photos I took.  I was trying to find the photos tonight, but didn't have any luck. 

Mark
#43
Kit Building / Re: FOS' Pub Crawl Build
October 27, 2021, 11:13:06 PM
Wishing you all the best, and a speedy recovery, then back to the empire!  Mark
#44
I haven't been posting much lately, but I always look in on this build.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

Mark
#45
Looking good.  The Cambridge Crossing kit from SRMW was my inspiration into building craftsman style kits.  Bob had displayed his kits in Milwaukee the year that kit came out.  I took pictures, but didn't purchase it until many years later.  I'm saving it.  Looking forward to your continued progress with this particular kit, and any issues may find during construction.

Mark
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