Winter Challenge 25-26 - Fiordland Lobster Company - Tellynott Depot

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

Philosophy continued

Another big part of my approach to my structure modelling is to try to always think of my kits as a box of bits.  This includes, to some degree, craftsman kits.  I try to change everything I build significantly from what is intended to create something unique.  I kitbash, kitmingle and scratchbuild.  I often use prototype photos as inspiration and then try to think of kits I own that resemble that look, and then go about cutting those kits up and splicing them back together to create a 'feel' that gets me close.  Planning is usually done with scissors, cardboard and sellotape and photocopies of the kit walls.

Back to the build

Photo 1 - Test fitting to see how things are looking.  The Walther's kitbash has been primed with grey primer.


Photo 2 - A view from the original structure at the shoreline.  This shot shows a little of the lower tower and angled covered conveyer.  This will be a fun little scratchbuild.  I hope I can find the time!


Photo 3 - In a little closer.  I'm holding the DPM kitbash in place.


Photo 4 - Paint colours going on.  I decided on Josonja's burnt umber for the main colour.  I wanted a dark colour to contrast nicely with the brick inserts.  I smeared in a bit of red ochre and mars black as I painted.  I used a large round brush and wiped most of the paint off.


Photo 5 - I painted the brick inserts with the Studio Acrylics red ochre mixed with varying amounts of Reeves mars black for variation.


Photo 6 - After gluing in the brick inserts I went about picking out a few bricks here and there in darker and lighter shades.


More soon, cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

That's coming along really well.  I like the dark brick on the main structure walls, that's something I wouldn't have thought to try.

dave

[jbvb]

That's coming along really well.  I like the dark brick on the main structure walls, that's something I wouldn't have thought to try.

dave

Even the oldest coots among us barely remember when everything burned coal, from the local gasworks and electric power plant to the downtown businesses to everyone's house. My layout's structures probably aren't dirty enough for 1950, though maybe much of the winter soot would have washed off the houses by August.

[Mark Dalrymple]

That's coming along really well.  I like the dark brick on the main structure walls, that's something I wouldn't have thought to try.

dave

Thanks, Dave.

I tried this colour on a much smaller structure on my layout a few years back.  After grout was added I really liked the way it came out.  So I thought I would try it on something bigger.  I'm planning on doing the Large Atlas kitbash a more classic brick colour.

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

That's coming along really well.  I like the dark brick on the main structure walls, that's something I wouldn't have thought to try.

dave

Even the oldest coots among us barely remember when everything burned coal, from the local gasworks and electric power plant to the downtown businesses to everyone's house. My layout's structures probably aren't dirty enough for 1950, though maybe much of the winter soot would have washed off the houses by August.

Hi James.

Tellynott has a lot of stacks and the area has a lot of coal, so everyone will be burning it.  There is also the fact that the area in which Shadowlands is set has one of the highest rainfalls in the world to take into consideration...

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

Photo 1 - Here are the colours I used for the Walther's kitbash.


Photo 2 - I tried Selleys 'spackfilla rapid' as a grout. 


Photo 3 - I put about a teaspoon full in a small container and watered it down to the consistency of milk.  I applied this with a #4 round brush, working it into all the mortar lines.  I wiped the excess off with a damp cloth, rinsing as necessary in a bucket of water.  I took the majority off with an initial pass, cleaned the cloth, and then went back over the wall again getting the rest off and using my finger nail through the cloth to remove spackle under sills and around lintels.


Photo 4 - Here is the end result.


Photo 5 - A closer view.  I liked the outcome and will use this method again.  On walls with lots of positive and negative detail I think my usual chalk grouting will probably still prove better, as it is easy to remove excess with a small brush.


More soon, cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Continuing...

Photo 6 - I  washed the windows in dish washing detergent and warm water (as I did with the Walther's kitbash) and after it had dried I sprayed with grey primer.  I let this cure and then sprayed with Belton molotow premium moss green.  I dry brushed the front with Josonja's unbleached titanium.  I then dry brushed using a number 7 round brush from the back of the windows, hitting at an angle up, down, left and right, using Mig old wood.  I used a light prodding motion.  I then hit the front straight on.  Finally, I dry brushed with Josonja's antique green.


Photo 7 - Here are two of my dry brushing colours for the windows.


Photo 8 - We had visitors around so I snuck the kitbash into position.  Here it is with the windows put in on the right side.


Photo 9 - I glued the glazing to the back side of the windows using Zap high viscosity CA.  I sprayed the back of the glazing with Dullcote.  There was some cutting of the excess plastic around some of the windows to fit around my bracing timber.  I test fitted each window as I went.  There was usually some tweaking to be done to get a good fit.  I also worked out which hand was going to hold the window and exactly what motion was to be used to get the window into position.  Some of them were rather tricky to get to!  I then applied 10 drops of medium viscosity CA around the window and contorted my chosen arm with the window precariously balanced on my finger tip and inserted the window into the opening.  All went fairly well until Wilbur, or bullmastiff, went past at great speed and got the chord of the lamp caught around his leg!  In order to save the lamp from crashing to the concrete floor I had to let go of the structure with one hand and hold it just with the other while I unraveled the panicked dog.  When I returned to my work, fearing great disaster, by some miracle the window had slipped snuggly into position while I was wresting with the dog and the lamp.  I don't trust CA long term, so I add Aleenes tacky glue around both the pains of glazing and the windows.  I did one wall at a time and then applied the tacky glue and let set over night.


More soon, cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

I don't think I'll try to recreate your window seating approach, not even with one of our toy poodles... 

The window coloring makes a nice contrast with the brick.

dave

[elwoodblues]

Mark,

I had a lot of catching up to do.    I was afraid that the size of the building would overpower the adjacent structures but looking at the building in place it fits right in.  I also like the contrast between the main building and the window inserts.

[Rick]

Mark, your brick walls look very realistic.

[Philip]

  A very industrious project! Looking great!

[Mark Dalrymple]

Mark,

I had a lot of catching up to do.    I was afraid that the size of the building would overpower the adjacent structures but looking at the building in place it fits right in.  I also like the contrast between the main building and the window inserts.

Thanks, Ron.

I think when the low pitched gable roof goes on with cupola it will change things up again.

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

I don't think I'll try to recreate your window seating approach, not even with one of our toy poodles... 

The window coloring makes a nice contrast with the brick.

dave

Thanks, Dave.

A poodle would definitely be better.  Wilbur weighs around 140 pounds!

I'm pleased with that green.  They are nice paints, but I noticed the stock was rather low last time I was in the art shop - I hope they are not discontinuing the range!

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Mark, your brick walls look very realistic.

Thanks, Rick.

Brick walls are fun to do.  I'm enjoying kitbashing again.  Its been a little while.  That board on board sawmill has taken an age...

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

A very industrious project! Looking great!

Thanks, Philip.

I'm hoping to keep the momentum up!

Cheers, Mark.