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

Mark Dalrymple · January 19, 2026, 04:06:52 PM

Hi guys.

Photo 1 - You can see I have added an angled styrene wall and roof for the road to disappear into. Before the windows were added I painted the sills with Tamiya FX-83 medium sea grey.

Photo 2 - Here is the area surrounding the kitbash that will be added to the left. This kitbash will not be a part of the challenge, but I will likely mock something up so you get the gist.

Photo 3 - The front wall.

Photo 4 - a close up of the 5th and 6th story frontage.

More soon, cheers, Mark.

deemery · January 19, 2026, 04:35:21 PM

Quote from: Mark Dalrymple on January 19, 2026, 03:56:55 PMA 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.

My 'fat boy' weighs less than 14 lbs (but he feels a lot heavier when he's tight next to me trying to push me off the bed...), the other one is about 11 1/2 lbs. What do you use to thin the acrylics for brushing?

dave

Mark Dalrymple · January 19, 2026, 05:05:41 PM

QuoteWhat do you use to thin the acrylics for brushing?

For the brickwork, I don't thin. For the sills when using Tamiya FX I use isopropyl alcohol.

Cheers, Mark.

Larry C · January 20, 2026, 08:39:40 PM

Mark great coloring on the brick walls; something different.

Mark Dalrymple · January 20, 2026, 11:23:38 PM

Quote from: Larry C on January 20, 2026, 08:39:40 PMMark great coloring on the brick walls; something different.

Thanks, Larry.

Yes - a change is as good as a holiday... Hoping to get a bit more done on modelling Thursday. I might 'pool' supplies for that scratchbuild. That way I can do a bit of pre planning modelling! Any excuse!

Cheers, Mark.

PRR Modeler · January 22, 2026, 06:25:26 PM

Mark, excellent progress and terrific coloring choices.

Mark Dalrymple · January 22, 2026, 07:41:37 PM

Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 22, 2026, 06:25:26 PMMark, excellent progress and terrific coloring choices.

Thanks very much, Curt.

There are some nice colours in that spray paint range. I was in the art shop on Wednesday and asked about their unstocked shelves. Apparently they are so popular they can't keep up with the orders. No problems with getting anything, and all the colour swatches are on their website.

Cheers, Mark.

Mark Dalrymple · January 22, 2026, 08:14:59 PM

Hi guys.

A short update.

Photo 1 - Here is a photo of the DPM kitbash glued at right angles to the Atlas kitbash. As previously shown I had cut, chiseled and sanded any positive detail from the Atlas wall in order to achieve a good, tight fit when joining the two walls. I applied a bead of medium CA to edge of the bottom half of the DPM wall and then glued in position. The top half I applied a bead of thin CA to the inside seam, held in position and let the capillary action create a bond. I used a square when gluing to make sure things were pretty good for 90 degrees.

Photo 2 - Using my paper plan I had drawn up along with measurements of the walls, I marked and cut out a base from 1.5mm styrene. I bought 3 more sheets of this last week so I should be all good for a few more years! The sheets are 4 1/2' x 2 1/2'. On todays exchange rate they cost a little under $20US a sheet. I made a copy of the base before trimming to fit the kit base I had attached and the small jut out at the end of the wall. I had to allow for the thickness of the walls. I glued the base into position on a flat surface with a piece of grease proof paper on top. After this had set I applied Aleenes tacky glue to the back of all the joins, but left gaps around the basement windows. I want to test fit this on the layout before adding a roof and floors, and as this modelling Thursday was at my friend, Neil's house, I left this project to set up while I carried on with something else.

Photo 3 - A closeup shot.

Photo 4 - I started marking out and cutting walls for the scratchbuild. There was a fair bit of decision making about the types of cladding materials I would use, and this slowed me down a bit. I decided to mix up the front wall with thin vertical siding for the tower and weatherboard to the left and right. The wall to the left of the tower actually sits considerably higher than shown in the photo, and I will splice some 1.5mm styrene to the bottom. The majority of the rest of the cladding will be wider vertical scribed siding.

More soon, cheers, Mark.

Pennman · January 23, 2026, 12:34:40 AM

Mark,

I don't know how you can build so many structures all at once!.
I would be lost.

Rich

Rick · January 23, 2026, 06:31:48 AM

Mark, nice job of glueing the walls together.

elwoodblues · January 23, 2026, 10:27:44 AM

Mark,

The way you cut the wall sections and glue them together seamlessly is incredible. Once painted the seams will be invisible.

Larry C · January 23, 2026, 11:24:38 AM

Mark nice work on getting the walls fitted tightly. Like Ron said once painted it will look seamless. Have fun with the scratch build.

Jerry · January 23, 2026, 12:01:19 PM

Mark those walls glued together perfect!!

Jerry

Mark Dalrymple · January 23, 2026, 01:20:59 PM

Quote from: Pennman on January 23, 2026, 12:34:40 AMMark,

I don't know how you can build so many structures all at once!.
I would be lost.

Rich

Hi Rich.

If this building was a kit it would come with walls cut to size and shape and with all the openings cut in the walls. Things would be labeled and there would be some sort of construction sequence. Windows and doors would be selected (or materials and templates provided - I think I will have to scratchbuild most of the doors) and corner trim and stripwood for loading docks, decks, rafters and other trim packaged. I can do all of that and then put the build aside. This time around I'm hoping to do all of that and keep going. I can juggle four balls pretty well. I never quite got the hang of five - maybe its time to get them out and start practicing again!

Cheers, Mark.

Mark Dalrymple · January 23, 2026, 01:34:07 PM

Quote from: Rick on January 23, 2026, 06:31:48 AMMark, nice job of glueing the walls together.

QuoteThe way you cut the wall sections and glue them together seamlessly is incredible. Once painted the seams will be invisible.

QuoteMark nice work on getting the walls fitted tightly. Like Ron said once painted it will look seamless. Have fun with the scratch build.

QuoteMark those walls glued together perfect!!

Thanks, Rick, Ron, Larry and Jerry.

I bit of time spent at the fitting stage always pays dividends. I often do the same when doing an internal corner with weatherboards. I should find time today to do a test fit and hopefully get a bit more done tomorrow, Sunday.

Cheers, and thanks for following along, Mark.