ITLA Modular Industry

[Zephyrus52246]

I added the top pieces and they didn't meet at the corner the way I thought they would.  So I cut the end off one and removed the other.  I don't think I'll do the top pieces until the kit is together, and I want to do all the windows/brick areas etc while they are separate.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The other two sides will be gatorfoam.  With some trial and error, I managed to cut these to fit.  I admire how you kitbashers and scratch builders get this stuff to work.  The gatorfoam is just slightly wider than the supplied pieces for the top of the wall.  I don't think it will be noticable, but I may just cut some styrene slightly wider than the pieces supplied and fit them when the kit is together.  This will require removing the one piece that's on now, but that's not a big deal.  I'll think this over. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I did remove the top piece, so I'll make some wall toppers from styrene.  Next was making sure the pieces fit back in the walls.  These were cut to be "friction fit", but with the paint coating, they didn't quite fit back in.  If you force the brick pieces in it may affect the piece between them, so some gentle sanding with the Ultimation sander to all the pieces got them to fit back correctly.  Need to do some touch ups on the brick pieces, then glue them in.  I'll take the windows back out, then everything will get a spray of Dullcoat or equivalent before oil washes.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

You can put the brick pieces flush with the front, like the top section, or push them back in a bit to have a bit of a reveal, as on the bottom one.  I chose the latter. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I used some of the leftover frame pieces so the brick pieces would all be set in the same amount.  Two of these pieces are on the top here.  Basically just put glue around the piece to put them in place.  They are such a close fit, I thought putting glue on the sides and pushing them in might force glue out the front. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I thought I'd be creative so all the windows didn't look the same.  I found some of these fans from Paw of a Bear and thought i'd put a couple in the windows.  you can make several different styles of fans from the kit. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Since the fan is smaller than the window area, I tried making a blank from the thin hardboard material which worked, but I didn't like the look of just sticking the fan on the piece, and the material is difficult to cut with an Xacto knife.  I tried making one from cardboard, but it was too flimsy.  I ended up cutting the window material to fit the fan and masking it off and spray painting it the same black.  I also had dipped the window framing in light Grey Hunterline weathering mix so the black wouldn't be so stark.  They looked good, but then I resprayed them with Dullcoat and it pretty much disappeard.  I'll dip them again before putting the "glass" back in. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

At 0300 one morning I realized I didn't have any signage for the structure.  I could make a billboard for the top, but I didn't really want the building looking any taller, so I made a sign to place on one of the brick areas.  But what to name it?  After thinking about it a day, I thought about he who has brought the forum back for us. 

I've used some black oil paint and thinner for the weathering.  I'll let it dry for while and see if I need to remove some or add some more.


Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Next up was building the stairway for the doorway.  This was very difficult for me.  You're supposed to put the side pieces into the piece with the doorway (not glued), place the first step in, which has tiny tabs on each side to fit into slots, glue it in, gently separate the pieces to put the next one in and so on.  every time I tried to put the next step in, the first one came out on one side.  plus the sides moved in their slots.  I ended up taping one side to the desk and then placing all five in and then lining up the left piece, moving each step into place and using CA with accelerant.  Got three of the five in place with two moving out of place.  I removed them, trimmed off the tabs on one side, and managed to get them in straight and glued.  Was very frustrating.  Yes, it's covered with shiny glue, I'll hit it with Dullcoat.  I now need to do another for the bottom of the fire escape panel.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The fire escapes were much easier to do.  Leave the base and ladder on the sheet and glue the side panels on.  Then put on the bottom supports.  I'll spray these with black paint later. 

Jeff

[ReadingBob]

Shiny glue spots aside, I do like the finish you got on that fidgety little stairway.  The whole thing is coming together nicely.  I like the addition of the box fans in the windows.  Keep up the great work! 

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Bob.  I merely painted the already dark wood with a Prismacolor marker.  Unfortunately, the second set of steps went even worse than the first.  I decided to put these on the interior door area (with the fan) and used the better set "outside" with the fire escapes.  As I was going to paint the outside ones black, I ended up spray painting all of them black.  You can see the difference in colors in the pics. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I mixed white and black oil paint to make a light grey to use as mortar on the walls.  I think this wall turned out OK and now will do the larger wall.

Jeff

[deemery]

That's a good choice for the mortar color.

dave