Bar Mills Tribute Kit 1

[Opa George]

Time to switch gears from the Builders in Scale Waterfront, which is done and partially sited on my layout. I plan to incorporate into the plan this next build, Bar Mills' first Franklin & South Manchester Tribute kit, as a major industry and anchor to the hardscrabble hamlet of Ragged Edge.

I was not immediately smitten when I first saw this limited edition kit advertised on the Bar Mills website last December, but something kept drawing me back for second and third looks, and I ordered it just at the deadline, and I am glad I did. Below is the box:


And the contents:


It consists of three major structures, all dripping with character. Below are the castings, a mixture of resin and white metal:


Artie also threw in a Woodland Scenics truck and a pack of Woodland Scenics figures, which I really appreciate. Ads for all of the big limited run kits always show a beautifully finished diorama complete with figures and vehicles, but this is the first time I have purchased one that actually included some of those finishing details. A classy touch!

So, getting started, I tidied up the styrene windows for the first building, Sal Minella Egg Wholesaler. Flash was extremely minimal, and a trimmed down emory board easily took off the slight flash on the window muntins.  Below, the top sprue of windows has been cleaned up, but the others have not. After tidying up the window castings, all went for a coat of gray rattle-can primer.


I chose to distress, or "grain," the wall sections, and added other detailing, while still flat and prior to bracing. The kit includes plenty of hefty bracing, and below I have begun the process. I am about half-finished, but ran low on clothespins.  More later.


One final note: Mike Engler began a build thread on this kit and I followed eagerly along, but it seems to be on sabbatical. I am absolutely not attempting to steal Mike's thunder--I have huge respect for his work--and hope he doesn't mind me starting up a parallel thread on this kit.
--George

[PRR Modeler]

George I'll be following. I know of several times when the same kit was being built by 2 people at the same time.

[Lynnb]

I've liked this kit from the first day it came out. Following.

[vinceg]

Yep - I expect this will be in the next few kits I will build for the town I'm working on. Following with interest.

[Dave K.]

Eagerly following...

[NEMMRRC]

Very nice kit. Looking forward to the end result. Those Woodland Scenics trucks are a ton of fun to put together. Ask me how I know 


Thanks for sharing your work.


Jaime

[S&S RR]

I'm looking forward to following along with your build. I also bought the kit.

[jerryrbeach]

George,


I'll be following.  I almost bought this kit...coulda woulda shoulda.  Now I get to enjoy your version.

[GPdemayo]

Looks like a very interesting kit.....I'll be watching George. 

[Mark Dalrymple]

Cracker!

Cheers, Mark.

[Opa George]

Lots of people following this build--thanks for the support, Curt, Lynn, Vince, Dave, Jaime, John, Jerry, Gregory and Mark!

Jaime, I'll include the truck build, probably as a diversion if I get to a tedious portion of the build.

In comparison to the Builders In Scale kit, this one moves along quickly thanks to all of the laser cut parts. Artie recommended graining the walls while still in the carrier sheets, but half of them had already come out of their sheets. No worries, though, as the graining and distressing process went well. One minor hitch--while lifting boards with my Xacto knife, I accidentally sliced clean through a narrow wall portion. It fixed easily enough and should not be noticeable.


Below are the walls for building number one--identified in the instructions as Sal Minella Egg Distributors, and shortened on the parts bags as "Salmonellas." I've become very fond of Titebond wood glue, and now use if for joining nearly everything, not just wood to wood. I'll allow it to cure for a day before hitting the walls with their first color: an alcohol & ink wash.


After a coat of gray primer, the windows received a light coat of Valspar (rattle can) satin "Lighthouse Shadows." This is a very light blueish gray (which may not show well in this picture). The light fixtures remain just primed for color comparison.  I'm debating the wall colors for this structure--thinking white or light gray.   Need to give it more thought as I am thinking of utilizing all three buildings as part of the same business, and therefore keep them the same color.


All for today!
--George

[ACL1504]

George,

You are off to a fantastic start on the build. Love it and looking forward to following to the finish line.

I really appreciate you sharing the Emory board trick. When I saw it I thought, "Damn, what a great idea. Why didn't I think of that!"

Tom

[Janbouli]

I'm in for the ride.

[Opa George]

George,

You are off to a fantastic start on the build. Love it and looking forward to following to the finish line.

I really appreciate you sharing the Emory board trick. When I saw it I thought, "Damn, what a great idea. Why didn't I think of that!"

Tom

Tom, happy to give back with a tip of my own here and there--although I can't claim to have originated it. Unfortunately I don't remember where I picked up that tip.
--Best,
George

[Opa George]

I'm in for the ride.

Happy to have you along, Jan.
--George