FOS Radio Station WKLO

[ReadingBob]

Time to start a new build thread.  This time I'll be building the FOS WKLO Radio Station for Tom (ACL1504).  I have one of these in my closet to build for myself (someday    ).  When I build mine I may try to figure out how to rename it to WOLD as a tribute to the late, great Harry Chapin.     

Here's the prerequisite shots of the the box and it's contents (it's always fun opening up the box for a new build). 



The instructions have some nice, color pictures on the front page.



Lot's of templates.  These come in handy.   



Signs and details.  Normally I'd scan the signs as a back up in case I make a boo boo.  But, since I have the same kit in my stash of yet to be built kits I'll count that as my backup.



The roof pieces.



More 'stuff'.



More in a moment....

[PRR Modeler]

I'm following Bob. It's a very interesting looking building.  I can't wait to see your magic especially what you do with lighting. 

[ReadingBob]

The bags containing the walls, shingles, etc.



And, of course, some assorted sizes of strip wood.



The carrier sheet with the radio antenna (a selectively compressed, or shortened, antenna) along with some of the door and window pieces.



The first thing I do is remove all the plastic parts from their sprues with a sprue cutter.  Some folks like to leave them on the sprues until after they've been painted.  I prefer to remove them and clean them up first.



I use an emery board to clean up the edges where I nipped them with the sprue cutter.



Then it's on to the metal castings.  I use an old pair of rail nippers to remove these from the sprue or to remove any large remnants of where they may have been attached to the sprue.



More in a moment...

[ReadingBob]

I'm following Bob. It's a very interesting looking building.  I can't wait to see your magic especially what you do with lighting.

Thanks Curt!  This is a neat one.   

[ReadingBob]

I use some small files, sanding sticks and/or emery boards to clean up the metal castings.



This next step is very much an optional step.  If I'm building for someone else I like to clean the castings in warm, soapy water using an old toothbrush to remove any dirt, oils, release agents, etc.



After I scrub them I dip them in clean water to rinse off the soap and then lay them out to dry.



I try to plan ahead before I break out the airbrush to paint things so I remove the things attached to carrier sheets that I think I'm going to want to airbrush.  Like the letters for the signs and the antenna pieces.  I use a single edge razor blade for this.  I should mention, at the beginning a build I put new blades in the X-Acto knifes and get a new single edge razor blade out as well.



Again, I use an emery board to clean up the edges of these pieces.



Some of the walls have an upper piece (referred to as "window frieze walls" in the instructions) that need to be edge glued to them.  I applied a thin bead of Pink Flamingo glue to the top edge of the wall to do this.



More in a moment....

[rpdylan]

very cool- I don't remember ever seeing a build of this kit before! Thanks for posting your build!

[ReadingBob]

I tried to be careful not to use too much glue.  I didn't want it to squeeze out to the front when I joined the two pieces.



Next it was time to brace the walls.  I followed the templates for applying the bracing and, once again, used Pink Flamingo glue to glue the 1/8" strip wood in place.  I'll cut to fit after the glue sets.



I weighed things down until the glue set using some marbles pieces that were salvaged from some old trophies.



Then, using a single edge razor blade, I trimmed the bracing to fit.



Oops...I'm not quite finished bracing the walls but that's all the 1/8" strip wood I have left with two walls to go.  Time to go dig in the scrap box for some excess left over from other builds.



After the walls were braced I painted the inside black with a cheap craft store acrylic.  When I light this up I don't want any light showing through the walls.  Just thru the windows.   



I then stained the clapboard side of the walls with Hunterline Light Gray.



That's all for now.  I'm heading back to the workbench!   


Thanks for following along!

[ReadingBob]

very cool- I don't remember ever seeing a build of this kit before! Thanks for posting your build!

Your welcome Bob!  Thanks for following along.   

[postalkarl]

Hi Bob:

Was good to talk with you at the EXPO. That is a great kit. I built it when it first came out. Have fun with it.

Karl

[ACL1504]

Bob,

Wow, off to a great start. This kit is one of my all time favorites from FOS.

Oh yes, I'll be following along on this adventure as well. Thank you for the build - I guess I'll be buying the BBQ for the rest of our lives. Well worth it to me.


Tom

[jimmillho]

I will be watching this with interest.

Jim

[tom.boyd.125]

Bob,
The sounds of your FOS build thread woke me up today. Will turn up the volume and listen to your radio station build.
Tommy

[GPdemayo]

I'll be looking in Bob.....

[donatode]

Bob, you know me....I'm a sucker for any great build you make. So, you are stuck with me looking over your shoulder....

[Janbouli]

Following along with Bob the builder.