Hank's Machine Shop

ACL1504 · November 10, 2025, 09:21:34 AM

Larry,

I love that machine shop. Fantastic interior detailing as well. I'm assuming you will "muck up" the floor. Can't have a clean machine shop.

Also, looking forward to the addition of the machines.

Tom

Larry C · November 10, 2025, 01:48:40 PM

Tom thank you for your kind comments. Yes the floor will be dirtied up some soon; then even more after the machines are built and glued in place.

Larry C · November 10, 2025, 02:07:24 PM

Moving right along:

This is the right side wall which is the last one to be detailed. Didn't go too nuts since it's a short wall. Added a couple of signs, the storage shelves along with a 55 gal. drum and three 25 gal. ones added to the grouping. The two pulleys are some that I acquired from Dave which are blacked, buffed, and held in place by a couple of HO track nails.

Here's the same corner completely finished off. Added a pot-bellied stove from Berkshire Valley spray painted flat black then weathered with a little rust around the "fire pot" as well as grey chalks overall. Also added just a hint of rust on the stove pipe. Made the cement slab dirty with coal dust and some coal spilt on the floor and beside the coal bin. I did add a coffee pot on top of the stove; the boys need their coffee while they drool over the pinup.

Since I've had a couple of comments on the clean floor I followed Dave's suggestion and went all around the walls and details with A&I to show dirt collecting. Also went over the entire floor with black chalks sparingly to add some dirt areas; I may hit it with some dark brown yet.

Next will be onto the machines themselves although I'm still not 100% sure what they'll all be yet with the exception of a 24 inch lathe from SW. Probably about 4 total so I have some LP wiggle room. As always thanks for stopping by and for all those great comments and/or suggestions; they really do help.

deemery · November 10, 2025, 02:31:42 PM

Yeah, the floor looks better. You could do pigments around the base of the machines, dark grey would be good. And once the machines are located, you could add some 'oil spills' by small amounts of gloss varnish over dark grey puddles.

dave

PRR Modeler · November 10, 2025, 03:12:31 PM

Outstanding detailing Larry.

Rick · November 10, 2025, 06:43:04 PM

It's all looking very good.

Jerry · November 10, 2025, 09:35:34 PM

Looks great Larry!

Jerry

Larry C · November 11, 2025, 07:56:19 AM

Dave thank you and yes the floor is coming along. Usually when I want to do oil spills I use 3in1 light oil, just a drop, blot off the excess then drop some black weathering powder on top and hit it lightly with a brush; seems to work pretty well.

Curt, Rick, and Jerry thank you all so much.

friscomike · November 11, 2025, 08:01:06 AM

Howdy Larry, the stove, coffee pot, base, and exhaust pipe look great. Good luck with the machine choice and placement. ...and have fun, mike

Pennman · November 11, 2025, 11:51:26 AM

Well...I am amazed again! It looks like you have over $200 worth of details here,
plus the countless hours of painting them. There's no wonder why these dioramas
sell for big bucks. But should you not sell it, you can sit back and be happy
about how you masterfully accomplished what you set out to do. And, it looks fabulous!

Rich

Larry C · November 11, 2025, 05:18:31 PM

Mike thank you so much and I'll have the machines figured out soon.

Rich you're too kind but thank you. Yes details can add up quick when doing a project but thankfully most everything I had on hand already. I couldn't imagine anyone actually giving me $$ for a diorama which is ok since I don't plan on selling it anyways. Some day when I can't do this sort of thing anymore I can sit back and look at it remembering the fond memories I had building it.

deemery · November 11, 2025, 05:55:48 PM

Quote from: Larry C on November 11, 2025, 07:56:19 AMDave thank you and yes the floor is coming along. Usually when I want to do oil spills I use 3in1 light oil, just a drop, blot off the excess then drop some black weathering powder on top and hit it lightly with a brush; seems to work pretty well.

Curt, Rick, and Jerry thank you all so much.

I'll have to try that, there's a couple places on my Machine Shop that could use a bit more oil staining.

dave

Philip · November 12, 2025, 09:10:08 AM

Nice shop!

Larry C · November 12, 2025, 01:30:01 PM

Philip thank you.

Larry C · November 12, 2025, 01:55:42 PM

Did somebody say "machine time?"

The milling machine is the first up. This is a Crow River product which needed some filing and drilling but not too bad. Assembly was straight forward and the kit went together well. Most of the machines I decided to go with a blue-grey color to get away from the usual green. Unfortunately the blue-grey didn't cover very well so I went with the green instead. The premise is Hank bought this "gently used" and hasn't gotten around to change the color; that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Since this is a used unit I added a little rust here and there. The belt is made from Tyvek (USPS envelope) painted with raw Sienna craft paint.

This is the other side:

And the end:

The next machine in the crosshairs will be a drill press which hopefully I can make the blue-grey color I'd like just for a change from the norm followed by other modelers. As always thanks for stopping by and all those great comments and/or suggestions so stay tuned.