Master Creations Blandings and Gallard Cement Co

[Janbouli]

Great modeling Steve , I like the little touches , such as the ramp from one deck to another , most wouldn't think about that and just leave it as a step.

[PRR Modeler]

Really nice modeling. I agree with others about the second level and detail parts.

[NKP768]

Nice work Steve - the coloring is spot on

Doug

[Jerry]

Nice work!!

Jerry

[postalkarl]

Hey Steve:

What you have done so far looks just beautiful. Keep the pics flowing.

Karl

[SteveCuster]

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone!

I got a few things done last night and today. I put together a Tichy crane and a little water tower for the scene.


I had a couple of these Tichy kits in my stash so I decided to build one for the scene. They go together very easily and quickly. Took me around 30 minutes to build it I think.


I primed it with a orange/red primer followed by a coat of Aqua-net hairspray then I painted it with Apple Barrel Pavement.


I used rubbing alcohol and small stiff brush to pull up some of the gray paint and expose the rusty color under it. I blended it all together with a few shades of rust chalk. This is one of the first times I've messed with this technique so I was pretty conservative with the amount of paint I removed.


I'm thinking about placing it here next to the loading dock on some type of concrete base.

First step for me building a water tower is the scribed siding. I scribed horizontal lines in the siding and colored it with A&I. The scribed lines act as a guide for the thread I'm going to use for the bands. None of this was included in the kit I just wanted to scratch build one for the scene. I use thin scribed siding for this.

I used rubber bands to wrap the siding around the core which in this case is a cardboard center from a label maker used for printing oil change reminders for the corner of your windshield.

After everything dries you can see the lines and they leave enough of an impression that it will hold thin thread inside.

I used double sided tape to secure the bottom framework of the upper tank support. It will be about 10'x10'.

I covered the beams with planks.

While the support was drying I added the thread to the tank. I used some brown thread I got from Wal-Mart. I don't know anything about thread types so I just picked one that didn't have many fuzzies coming off. I secured the thread with a drop of super glue every 1/4-1/2" or so.

I wanted to build this tank with a flat top instead of shingled roof. I used a compass to draw a circle on some thin scribed siding.

I cut out the circle and stained it with A&I.

Added some 2x6s as cross support.

I outlined the hatch opening with some scale 2x2s.

I built the door directly on top.

I build the water tank support structure right over some crude drawings I made. I made 2 of them.

I glued the supports on and added some cross bracing.

I ran out of NB&W castings so I had to order some. Once they come I'll be able to finish the tank. I'm thinking it will sit right next to the office building but I'm not sure yet.

Thanks for following along. I spent some time getting the area ready on the layout to start adding the buildings. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to place at least the warehouse in it's final spot and detail around it. I'm probably going to work on some bins with stone and dirt for the scene also.


-Steve

[restocarp]

Steve,

Beautiful work on the crane and the water tower.

Matt

[Dave K.]

Love the subtle coloring on the crane. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[PRR Modeler]

Excellent results with the crane and water tank.

[vinceg]

Excellent, Steve. It seems that every day I'm seeing someone display realistic work based on cheap, craft-store paints. This is great for the hobby.

[bparrish]

Steve.....

I've tied water tanks and cisterns before but your scribed method is WAY TOO simple.

Thanx for demonstrating.

see ya
Bob

[cuse]

Beautiful work and I appreciate the documentation of the build


John

[Erieman]

Steve,
Wonderful job on the build. If I wasn't so busy with the regional convention this September, i would drag out the same kit and work on it. Beautiful job, my friend. Too bad that the main structure was not included in the box. It is awesome and the reason i bought the kit. i have a wonderful place of it, just not the time to build it currently. Keep up the beautiful work.


Frank / Erieman

[SteveCuster]

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone!


Bob, It's very simple and easy. I learned the scribing technique from building the FSM stone base water tank I think it's kit #240. I've since adopted it on any water tank I build.

Frank, I'd like to see your build of it. I do wish I had the main structure but I don't think it would fit in this narrow scene anyway so I'd have to use it elsewhere.

Vince, I try to use as many non-modeling materials I can for coloring and weathering. Floquil or Testors can go away but cheaper craft paints and pastel chalks should be around for the forseeable future hopefully.

I made some progress getting everything laid out and figured out over the weekend. The natural placement of the structures in such a narrow spot felt a little challenging to me. I'm looking for selective compression of the scene but still have a natural feel.


I decided to elevate the office so I cut a piece of 1/2" foam and painted it brown as the base.

Glued the office structure down. Still wet in this picture.

I wanted to add some ladders to the water tank assembly. This is how I build them cheap and easy.

With a chopper this took about 5 minutes to build. I used double sided tape to hold it in place while I put the rungs on.

I made another small one for the tank.

Ladders are in place and the tank structure is glued down. The scenery under the overhang is still wet. I added the little stairs under the front door.

I added some details under the front porch. These type of scenes are a good place to use some less than perfect castings or some not so great paint jobs.

I added some pipes under the porch. They are made from Evergreen styrene tubing that I drilled out on the ends to make thinner. I sprayed them with dark gray primer and weathered with chalks.

Here is the office glued in it's home.

I added the trees and foliage above and behind the concrete wall today. I'm still adding more there.

I build this wooden bin to use for some stone. This is not part of the kit either just something I thought would look neat.

This is where the bin will sit. I'll add a couple different types of stone in it.

I'm trying to get the main structures placed in there final positions so I can figure out what else I need to complete the scene.

Thanks for following along.

-Steve

[Janbouli]

What a beautiful scene this will be , great structure , stunning bridge , awesome trees .