My "First" Build - Magee's Tire Service

[donatode]

O.K. well actually this is my third build but first "craftsman" kit.  I have already built a couple of Walther's plastic kits only to get my hand and eyes accustomed to the scale, materials and tools.  It has been a very long time since I have done anything like this.


I have tried to be a good student and have tried to incorporate many of the tips and techniques I learned from many of you.  I have braced the interior walls, used A&I washes over base colors, tried the canopy glue thing, but had to get new windows and went with the conventional "glazing" method.  I added a "footing" where one wasn't called for because the garage door was a tad too long and did not offer an opportunity to resize.  I used wet/dry sandpaper for the roofing and used chalks/powders to weather.  I even used the "glue and paint" trick for the tar on the roof.


I can't say that this is a 100% finished build.  I still need to become confident in scenaking (sp) and to learn how to paint and weather the white metal castings (and other detail parts), as evident in my nude smoke stack.


So please critique this build.  Don't hold back as I need to learn a lot more than I have so far. To be honest, I think I did o.k. for this first effort .... I always was a good bike rider!


I am chomping at the bit for my next build .... which one shall it be?

[bparrish]

Donato.........

That's just super.

I'm not seeing anything that jumps out at me.  The next thing is how you "plant" the building on your railroad.  Look back at the builds that show up here....... and there are some great ones.  The besrt photographically are those which are put in and landscaped around.

For an early build for you......... just great

Thanx
Bob

[LongHornCaddy]

Nice job Donato!

[tom.boyd.125]

Donato,
Thanks for sharing your first craftsman kit build with everyone.
You will get more comfortable with each one you complete. Starting out with the smaller kits is the way to go as you learn.
Before you know it, you will have a city or town to view. Great job !
Tom

[GPdemayo]

Great start Donato.....looking forward to your future builds. 

[ACL1504]

Donato,

I believe you did a great job for it being your first craftsman type structure. As Tom said you'll feel more comfortable and get a little better with each build. However, since you asked here are three things to do on your next build that will help the model look better. You could actually make these changes to this structure.

In the first picture the edge of the cardboard roofing is visable. If you aren't going to cover this with an end roof facia, then paint it the roof color. You may have painted it but it looks to me like it isn't.

In the second picture, the end of the garage door beam needs to be painted the green trim color. The bare stripwood is still visable.

Your rolled roofing paper is rolled in the wrong direction. Rolled tarpaper is applied horizontally, not vertically. It is applied from the bottom up and slightly overlapped to prevent leaks when it rains. I'm told by Greg that the vertical tarpaper isn't wrong but it was applied in very rear occasions.

One final thing is the pitch around the roof pipe. You don't need that much material around the bottom.

Tom

[donatode]

Bob, Leo, Tom B, Greg, Tom thank you all for your kind comments.  I have taken notes and will implement the many suggestions you all gave me.  My next adventure will be working the detail parts where I will be washing them first and applying a neutral base coat.  I like the idea of doing a whole bunch at a time even from multiple kits, just have to make sure that I keep them segregated and store them away until needed.  The tar paper did look "funny" to me after I applied it; that won't happen again.


I look forward to continue learning from you all and to apply more and more techniques to my subsequent builds.

[bparrish]

Donato....

If you cave in and decide to change the roofing.............. Don't try and remove the tar paper.  Just change the entire card stock roof....... If you don't have enough............ cereal box stuff works pretty well on small structures.

Otherwise contact the kit manufacturer and he will probably send you another card.  He want you back to build something bigger of his.

Still good stuff......none the less

thanx
Bob

[martin.ojaste]

Donato,


If you attach rafters (ends) to the underside of the sides and a fascia to the gable ends of the roof card, it will re-balance the overhangs. (Color them with raw siennia or raw umber chalk). Grey chalk of the black tar will help blend the roof a bit better. Adding some light rips and scratches to the paper parts and putting  "junk" or blocks around the sign legs will re-direct the eyes.


Something to think about.


Marty

[bparrish]

Donato...

You might consider framing in the roof structure like a prototype might have. Below are to photos of a build of Jimmy's Falberg station.

It would not be as elaborate as this structure but you can get the idea.

see ya
Bob

[donatode]

Marty, Bob.  Thanks for the additional tips.  I have decided that Magee's will remain "as built" so that I can refer back to it from time to time as I advance (hopefully) into other kits.

[ReadingBob]

Looks good Donato.  I can't think of anything to add that hasn't already been mentioned.  You're off to a great start.    

[jbvb]

I noticed that the signs in the first picture are crooked to the point of being a couple of inches out.  Putting myself in the owner's shoes, if I stepped back and saw that, and I'd hired the job done, I'd have the sign guy fix it.  If I'd painted it myself and was pressed for time, maybe I'd leave it for later, maybe not.

[donatode]

I noticed that the signs in the first picture are crooked to the point of being a couple of inches out.  Putting myself in the owner's shoes, if I stepped back and saw that, and I'd hired the job done, I'd have the sign guy fix it.  If I'd painted it myself and was pressed for time, maybe I'd leave it for later, maybe not.

Magee had a few extra pints the morning he plastered that sign up on the building.  He still thinks that it's on straight. 

[NEMMRRC]

Thanks for sharing your first build. These kits get easier and funner as you build more of them. I've learned that asking for help along the way from the folks on the forum is always a positive thing.

I feel you could improve on further builds if you paint with the grain of the wood. In the picture I've attached (click to enlarge) it looks like you may painted the door with the brush marks against the grain of the wood. However, sometimes the kit makers cut the parts with the grain going the wrong way.

Keep the kit builds coming and take lots of pictures 'cause we love pictures.

Jaime