2025-2026 Winter Challenge Interlocking Tower Build

[Larry C]

Jeff I agree with the others; nice color combo.

[friscomike]

Howdy Jeff,

The kit is looking great.  Those colors really go well together.

I love the nail hole tool and wish I had one just like it for O scale.  

Have fun,
mike

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen.  

I no longer use A&I wash as I've had it lift some of the acrylics when applied.   I now use oil paint with mineral spirits.  I used a black wash on the walls and trim.  A very light wash as I just wanted a bit of aging and to tone down the walls, along with showing the nail holes/board breaks.  It worked great on the depot buff, but the brown trim still looked very stark and monotone.  It shows better in person than the pictures. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I sprayed dullcoat before using the wash, again not to lift the paint (though I have less issue with the mineral spirits doing this than the alcohol).  I used a light gray wash and, well, it didn't go well.  I thought I'd applied a light coat, but it was too much and trying to remove it with just thinner, didn't seem to help.  I wonder if the dullcoat and spirits interacted.  At any rate, I'll be repainting the brown today.  

I'll try a thin "wash" to see if it gets to what I want, if not just repaint them all.  Maybe some light powder weathering afterwards.

Jeff

[Jim Donovan]

Hi Jeff;

Glad I was finally able to hop in and catch up with your project. As always great work!. I am intrigued by the oil based wash as I've only done the India Black Alcohol as well as Hunter stains. I am going to have to try it out. I like airbrushing and will have to look into the one you are using now. Thanks for the great ideas.

Jim

[Zephyrus52246]

Good to see you, Jim. 

I did repaint (more a wash) of the brown trim.  It still has a hint of the gray, closer to what I originally wanted.  Looking at it against the station, it's a little more weathered, but OK. 

Started putting in the windows.  They are pre cut, which I really like, but getting the paper off them is a bit of a pain.  Here's a pic of the tools needed. 

I cut out the desired window (only a couple of tabs) with the Xacto knife, which is then CAREFULLY used to lift a corner of the paper.  The window is then cleaned with glasses cleaner and a microfiber cloth.  Then attached to a suction device to hold it for placement.  I then remove the paper from the back of the window frame, apply a TINY amount of Micro Kristal Klear  with a pointed stick (I don't trust the window adhesive to hold).  Then using the suction device, place it, release the suction and put some weights on the window until it cures.  Don't add too much weight, you don't want the window to fall out.

Did half of them and need a break.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I decided to add shades inside the windows.  This was common on several towers I saw online.  I thought green or a tan color might work.  I have these color sheets to test.  I wish I'd indicated what colors the unmarked greens were on the sheet.  The ivory was too white and the buff (the same color I painted the interior) seemed too light as well.  I used the German Uniform green. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Originally I used some heavy paper and painted it, but it curled.  Trying to flatten it out made marks, so I went back to using a manila folder and painting the edge.  I cut the shades for two of the walls individually for each window.  As they are all lined up, I cut the other two walls as a single piece, using the window carrier sheet as a guide to size. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Of course this led to the edges possibly being seen and so I needed to paint them as well.  Used this dandy clip set to hold them.   My phone gave me a warning I hadn't seen before.  "Clean the camera lens".  I tried.  I even took it out of it's case.  The case covers the lens and over the 2.5 years I've had the phone, it's getting a bit beat up.  I thought some of the recent pictures were a little fuzzy.  I've ordered a new case.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Glued them from the back with a slight amount of weight on them.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Finally , it was time to glue the walls together.  started with two and thought I could add the other two, but one didn't seem to fit, so after the three of them dried, I scraped off any residual glue on the fourth piece and tried it again, and it fit.  The center floor and the top piece made it square easily.  The top piece isn't glued in place. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Taking off the clamps came the moment of truth.  It looks like a building!  Placing it on the layout, you can kinda see inside, but as it's dark, I think skipping detailing the interior won't make any difference.  It wouldn't end up looking as nice as Tom's anyway.  

Jeff

[ReadingBob]

Cool. I'm on board with this one. Looks great so far.

[Jerry]

Jeff that is coming along nicely.

Jerry

[PRR Modeler]

The tower looks very good Jeff. Is the coloring for a specific RR or generic?