Laser-Art Structures DuBois Store

[Oldguy]

I got the windows, doors and shutters installed.  I deviated a bit and installed the windows and doors and then added the exterior frames.

One of the draw backs to some of the tab and slot construction is the gaps left and darker end grain material.  In some places, it isn't an issue.  But in others . . . . I had hoped to add a stone foundation wall.  I added a perimeter of 1/8" stock to brace the provided floor but did not take into account the need to set it back the thickness of the stone sheet.  Oh well.  I'll need to cover a lot of the side foundation with weeds anyway, so maybe it wasn't a total mess up.

The store/diner section has a ceiling and it would appear to have some openings tailor made for lighting.  This will be first structure that I have ever lit,  What could go wrong?

It took several work sessions to cut out all the self-adhesive trim pieces.  The laser didn't make it to the adhesive backing and only marked the surface, so it was slow going.  Some trim is layered, so similar pieces of different widths are stacked.  Not sure about some of the corner trim pieces.  We'll see how it goes.

[Oldguy]

Now it is time to work on the interiors.  The drug store was easy, comparatively speaking.  The diner section will take a bunch of work.  There are two sets of double booths, all out of self-adhesive material.  The plans have one add the piece that has the booth seats and table legs in one piece to the wainscot wall section.  How one was to add the individual end pieces and then add the seat, seat backs, and table tops, to the loose pieces was beyond me.  So, I added the individual end pieces to the wall section instead.  To keep them aligned, I used the single piece outline as a guide so everything would match.
Darn.  I didn't take any shots of the finished booths.  Stay tuned

[postalkarl]

Hey Bob:

Great progress so far. I'm following along. Can't wait for more pics.

karl

[Oldguy]

Thanks Karl.  Did a quick test fit of the front facade trying to figure how the best way (at least for me) to get the doors and side walls set.  Seems as though the doors for the diner and drug store are missing a bottom tab.  At least that settles which way to install them best.

I added a bunch of braces for the roof sections as many had some amount of curve to them.  First, it was a matter of figuring out the brace boundaries and then deciding how many and where.   I'm trying to leave open an option of having the roof removable.  But before adding the braces, I needed to add some roofing guide lines.  The main roof will have 3-tab dark green shingle from RSLaserKits.

I needed a break from the lines and bracing, so I built a jig to build 20 chairs out of plastic scrap.  I can manage about four per round.  Then a short beak. 


Now was a good time to glue on the upper front wall.  I always try to get a roof card involved during this type of process.

With all the other electronic shortages, apparently current limiters have also been affected.  Found a source, so I'll see how it goes.

[ACL1504]

Bob,

Looks like you have this one well in hand. Well done!

Tom 

[deemery]

Great job on the jig, including adding the label.  I tend to forget to label jigs, and then when I want to reuse them, I can't find the right one...


dave

[Oldguy]

Spent the last several work sessions building and painting the table and chairs.  I was going for the old chrome and laminate tables and chairs from my childhood.  Got 'em done and stored in a plastic container to keep them safe.  I soon found out that my stash of hundreds of little people doesn't contain that many seated versions.  I have a bunch of unpainted figures, still on the sprue and thought that I could cut them up for seated positions.  Um no.  So I have ordered a group of a hundred garish little folk, most of which showed as seated.  Being somewhat hidden might work, even after I repaint them.

The interior kit included some picture frames.  I surfed the google machine and found some 1940's wall art.  I saved them and used Word's function to size them according to the respective frame.  One had to be the Frisco system map and one had to be Custer's Last Stand.  I remembered the gruesome painting from my younger days and had to include it. 

Once I receive the little monsters, I can get the interior tables and chairs installed with the little diners.

[ReadingBob]

Wow Bob!  That's really neat.    

[ACL1504]

Bob,

Excellent, very well done.

Tom 

[Mark Dalrymple]

The interior looks great, Bob. 

Love those paintings.

Cheers, Mark.

[postalkarl]

Hey Bob:

It's coming along nicely. Thanks for the pics.

Karl

[Janbouli]

Interior looks great , the N-scale version is quite different.

[Oldguy]

Interior looks great , the N-scale version is quite different.

Hmm, maybe limits of the laser?  Mine doesn't have any table settings.  Or was this something you added?  Folded napkins, candles, condiment holder all look good.  Might have to see about doing the napkin thing.

[Oldguy]

So the diners arrived.  One of those Amazon specials where no matter what each of the sellers called them, they pretty much all looked the same.  I was expecting a baggie with the 72 little people, but they came in a blister pack.  At first glace some looked decapitated, but no.  Just terrible paint.

These are all the seated figures.  Three folk per pose. 


Some actually have facial features that come out after a little skin tone paint.  Kept the hair more brownish using three tints,  Next up will be clothing colors and some facial feature highlighting (maybe).  At about 34 cents each, a better deal than using Woodland Scenics or Prieser figures, even though they look way better.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Bob - Preiser do bulk packs of unpainted figures.  120 seated figures (as an example) for around 25c each.  There are several packs to choose from - and they are very well formed.  Seems a good alternative if you are repainting painted ones.

Cheers, Mark.