Stella Scale Models - New Erie Cafe

[vinceg]

Killer scene, Tom.

Edward Hopper, eat your heart out.

[ACL1504]

Tom,


The balanced lighting really shows off the excellent interior modeling.  This is going to be a real show stopper on your layout.  I hope the aisle is wide enough to let people pass each other because this is going to be a spot where visitors stop and blocks it.

Jerry,

Thank you very much. My isles aren't that wide as the layout was built for just two to three people. However, after seeing it lit with the LEDs, I may have to move it to the third level so one can look in and see all the way to the rear.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Awesome job all around Tom.  Really shows your talent, my friend.

Jim

Jim,

Thank you Butty, much appreciated. Thank you for the kind compliment as well.


Tom

[ACL1504]

Wow!


Jaime

Jaime,

Thank you.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Simply spectacular!   

This will be a great inspiration when I get around to building mine.  I need to start looking for a bunch of little people to populate the interior.

Bob,

Your compliment is very much appreciated. I know you want to build yours and you will get to see this one tomorrow.

I do have a few suggestions on the build.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Neat....

   Cool, thank you also.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Attaboy! Two thumbs up Tom.


-slim

Slim,

Thank you. I learned all my illumination skills from you! Although your first attempt to help me with LEDs was a failure. 

Tom

[ACL1504]

Nice!  Very nice!

Thank you Mark, appreciate you stopping in for a look.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Killer scene, Tom.

Edward Hopper, eat your heart out.

Vince,

Thank you for the kind compliment.

I wish my models commanded the prices EH gets for his artistry.


Tom

[ACL1504]

I got a lot more done today but don't have time to show any of today's progress.

In other news, I knew or suspected I would have an issue with the upper and lower parapet pieces.

These are laser cut as well and also needed to be stained and painted the same as the walls.

These pieces have burned sides from laser cutting. I used an Emory board to remove as much of the "kerf" as possible.

Compare the two below. The top has been sanded.



The tops also needed to be sanded. In the photo below, the top one has been sanded. You can see the laser burns on the edges of the piece on the bottom.



Even with the sanding, the stain and paint didn't take as it did on the walls. The color, even with the same color paint, is off.

I'll show this tomorrow.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I made a test fit of the roof and found it just slightly off. Also, the test fit was when I was gluing the bay window in place.

NOTE: This may be due to my not gluing all the walls together first. Just don't know.

You can see the front wall, upper right in the photo, is off.



I marked it with a pencil and made a small notch cut.



Now it fits.



Done for tonight.

[jerryrbeach]

Tom,


I read somewhere that ammonia will remove the laser burn marks.  I have a small jar and I use Q-tips dipped in the ammonia to remove the burn marks from pieces too delicate to sand.  I also like to use the ammonia before I sand the laser cut edges as I find my emery boards stay cleaner and seem to last longer.  I'm not sure in your case it would have made any difference with the paint color.  I believe the heat from the laser closes the grain and keeps the same amount of paint or stain from being absorbed by the wood fibers that have not been burned by the laser. 

[ACL1504]

Tom,


I read somewhere that ammonia will remove the laser burn marks.  I have a small jar and I use Q-tips dipped in the ammonia to remove the burn marks from pieces too delicate to sand.  I also like to use the ammonia before I sand the laser cut edges as I find my emery boards stay cleaner and seem to last longer.  I'm not sure in your case it would have made any difference with the paint color.  I believe the heat from the laser closes the grain and keeps the same amount of paint or stain from being absorbed by the wood fibers that have not been burned by the laser.

Jerry,

I've never heard of the ammonia trick, I'll give it a try on my next build. I do agree in believing the laser heat may close some of the grain. Even after sanding, the A&I and paint didn't absorb as did the walls.

The good news is I got it all blended on the model.

Hopefully, I'll have time to add this to the thread with photos later this evening or tomorrow.

Tom 

[Lynnb]

Wow , the details really came together once you sat down the patrons. liting looks fantastic.

[ACL1504]

Wow , the details really came together once you sat down the patrons. liting looks fantastic.

Lynn,

Yes, the patrons did make a big difference. The even lighting also makes it look more realistic/fantastic.

Thank you for looking in on the build.

Tom