T. Schwarz 2019 Winter Build - FOS Scale Models Deckers Tar Soap

[Dave K.]

Jim - You might enjoy this gizmo...wonderful for placing slide cover glass or acetate without fingerprints. Have a great trip!

[vinceg]

Interesting technique, Jim. I do like the look of a smooth window pane as compared to the [admittedly easier] glue blob (Micro Krystal Clear, Canopy Glue, Gallery Glass) approach. How would you say this compares in effort to using thin acetate or styrene sheets?

[Mark Dalrymple]

Looking fantastic, Jim!

Those windows are really something.

Cheers, Mark.

[Jim Donovan]

Well we are on the Disney Wonder with kids and grandkids, and I can still check in.

Dave, thanks I ordered one from Amazon, love it! Looking forward to using it.

Vince, as for your question, not sure I am best guy to answer it. Real glass takes more time, no doubt. The improved technique using the right tools really reduced the time and will produce better results then my past efforts. I think the use of UV glue for this is a game changer. So long as glue is only on outer edges it won't show in window panes, and it is clear, much like canopy glue. Using it cuts hours of waiting for glue to dry. I have not used the plastic ever in my windows, and liquid glass only a couple of times. I like the look of real glass so for me it's worth the extra time and effort. Hope that sort of answer helps.

Finally, thanks Mark. I have some other things I want to try on this kit so we will see how it goes.

Well time to call it a day. Grandkids and beaches on agenda tomorrow.

Jim D

[NKP768]

Dave's suggestion of the Hobby pal is a good one - I purchased one a while back for placing MV lens in locomotive headlights and it has greatly reduced my creative vocabulary.

Doug

[deemery]

... it has greatly reduced my creative vocabulary.

Doug

Is that what that !@#$%^&*  that I use so frequently is called?   I never knew that! 


(Doing those railings on the bar addition generated 2 full sessions of 'creative vocabulary')


dave

[NKP768]

Yes Dave - its amazing all the horizons that you can expand through model railroading.

Doug

[deemery]

Yes Dave - its amazing all the horizons that you can expand through model railroading.

Doug

Oh, I had that vocabulary long before I was a serious model railroader.  I once made a sailor blush, and that was when I was on Scout Camp Staff.  (No Scouts were in the neighborhood.  The Camp Director had just informed his staff, mostly teenagers, that -we- were responsible for picking up all the garbage because he didn't have the money to pay for the garbage service.  There were a couple older adults on camp staff, one was prior service Navy.)


dave

[Jim Donovan]

Wow, I post, hop a cruise ship and come back to find I started a mini thread on use of ?@"!, while modeling. I will be careful in my thoughts coming out. Good thing this is a forum and not a podcast. There would be no saving me.

Looking forward to the suction tool. I have some ideas on how to further simplify use of glass and it will be big help.  Next post will be back on track. For a while!

Jim D 

[engine909]

I just got the suction tool. Either I am an idiot or it is defective. I can't pick up a flies wing.
ed

[Dave K.]

Works great for me.

[brettcwiley]

Jim! The blinds on your structure turned out great! Hopefully the blinds you printed from our site were easy enough to work with. I also really like the color scheme you used for this structure

[Jim Donovan]

Sorry for the slow response and update folks. Dave: the suction tool works great, especially for glass placement.
Brent: Your tempetes enabled making blinds easy, thanks for posting them on your site. I used two of the designs. I have them on file now for future buildings, thanks.

My last step prior to putting the walls together was to lightly dry brush the clapboard using antique white. I tried to only touch the very edges of the clapboard.

FOS provides a template showing where the walls are located. I have a Micro-Mark magnetic gluing jig so was able to tape the template on the bottom of the tray and use it to make sure each wall was positioned correctly. It was extremely helpful. Some walls are at odd angles and the template and magnetic jig allowed me to position them correctly, make sure the they were sanded to the right angle, use metal squares to ensure the walls were straight, and clamp everything securely for gluing . I found I needed to glue carefully and only one or two walls at a time. Putting all walls in place happened over four days. Moreover. I needed additional bracing put in place, especially in the area of the front freight doors I have posted the pictures with comments attached. I spent a lot of time making sure the walls were vertical (90 degrees using squares).

The second change to the kit can be seen here. I replaced the shingled enclosed staircase wall shown in the kit with a board and batten wall. Board and batten fits Ohio better for that time. I don't like how the color came out (too dark) so it will most likely be painted a light gray with the darker color showing here and there for aging. We'll see.

[Jim Donovan]

With all the walls and angles this kit required a lot of patience getting each wall lined up correctly. I found myself often using every magnetic brace I had as well as clamps for the upper walls. It was like putting a puzzle together. Here are some pictures showing what I mean.

[Jim Donovan]

Finally I got to the last wall to install, the front side-angled one with the freight entrance, and wouldn't you know it, after all my care and patience I broke the glass in the windows over the entrance. @@##!

So I thought what would Stomping Tom Schwarz do? Well as you can see, the windows are boarded up and work goes on. All walls are up. On the back wall you can see over the fright entrance what will be a 'ghost' sign of the old Decker Tar Soap Company. The new overhang will likely cover most of it. Also, there is a circus poster. I tested some ideas on type of paper to use but ended up staying with sanding the copy paper till it is thin. More signs will show up as we go but I an testing using the Evens Decal paper first.