FOS Scale - Canal Street and 3rd - Limited Edition - Build

[nextceo]

Hey Mark, thanks for the comment.

I applied the Durham's Water Putty for the roads. The working time isn't bad. Probably 15-20 minutes. As long as you keep applying water to it, you can work with it. The next step is to let it dry overnight and to sand it smooth in the morning. The next step after that is to paint it the color Rain Gray. Weathering it with chalks will come near the end of the diorama. I also created "running water" coming out of the drain pipe by squeezing some clear GE Caulk on wax paper last night. This morning I cut out the shape I wanted my water to look like out of Clear Duralar and then glued the dried clear caulk to it. After that, I cut the caulk to match the underlying Clear Duralar Shape. I also poured the Woodland Scenic Realistic water into the ditch - it looks milky blue but will dry clear. Once its all dry...probably tomorrow...I'll coat the caulk with clear gloss and add Woodland Scenic Water Effects to the stream I poured to make it look like its moving.

That's all for now...
Alan

[EricQuebec]

Always a pleasure to see your progress on a dio. Very inspiring work.

Eric QUébec city

[nextceo]

Thanks Eric. By the way, did you ever finish that Red Hook Wharf Build? If so, can you please send me final pictures?

Thanks again!
Alan

[ollevon]

Alan,  The ditch looks awesome, great job.
Sam

[nextceo]

Thanks Sam...

    Some more detail on how I created the road. You mix up the Durham's Powder in a bowl with some water. I applied it with a putty knife. It has the same type of consistency as plaster except it doesn't absorb paint at different levels like plaster allowing for a solid color when painted. I attached a picture below in case someone doesn't know what a putty knife looks like. I also attached some more pictures of the layout as I wait for the roads to dry.

Alan

[gnatshop]

 Durham's Water Putty has saved many a carpenter's butts!!!   

[EricQuebec]

Thanks Eric. By the way, did you ever finish that Red Hook Wharf Build? If so, can you please send me final pictures?

Thanks again!
Alan

Hi Alan,

All the building on the Redhook wharf project are done, and the dio is only complete at 70 %.
I will take some pictures soon and will put them on the dio thread.
Thanks for your interest
Eric Québec city

[nextceo]

Hey Gang,

   Today I sanded the roads smooth with 220 Sandpaper...well pretty smooth...I left some variation in the road since no road is perfectly flat. I then applied 2 coats of Rain Gray and applied some gray and white powders to get an idea of how the roads are going to look. I'll need to redo them again later since the grass on the side of the road always seems to leak onto the road creating a mess. To create the cracks you see, I used an exacto knife to cut them into the Durham Water Putty once it was dry. Then to make them "pop", I simply used a Number 2 pencil and traced over my cracks I created. Make sure you trace over your cracks with a pencil after applying the powders otherwise you'll wipe out the pencil lines with the powders and brush. I also put in a few pot holes and filled them with gravel and some grass.  In addition to the road, I applied the first coat of Modge Podge. Immediately after applying the Modge Podge I went over the water with a Hair Dryer on low for 3-5 minutes to help pop the air bubbles. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. If you don't do this, you will find by about the 3rd coat, the air bubbles will make your water appear gray...you don't want this. I learned the hard way on my Salt Neck Build and had to rip up the water and start over. I typically allow 24 hours between each coat. I've tried numerous ways to create water and have found the "Dave Frary" way to be the best...with once exception, use that Hair Dreyer to pop the bubbles. I cant believe he didn't have issues with bubbles...

Here is a link to Dave creating his water...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgWt137zpkQ



That's all for now...
Alan

[nextceo]

Let there be light...

Finally got some of the lights hooked up. The first 2 pictures are of a campfire that will eventually have homeless guys hanging around it. I used a campfire simulator from ngineering.com that looks great. The two yellow lights flicker back and forth to simulate fire while the orange light constantly stays on to simulate burning coals. The car in the foreground is a Jordan Kit I built and weathered. As you can see from the missing engine, cracked windows and missing rear tire, its not going anywhere. The next 3 pictures show the lights on Brody's and Qunits. I just noticed from the picture that the gooseneck lights on Quints aren't lined up quite right. I'll have to make sure to adjust them. I also built and installed 2 Channel Markers from ModeltechStudios.com. I ran Red LEDs up each of them and created the round bulb look by applying Ruby Red Gallery Glass. Its a liquid found in a bottle at Hobby Lobby. I then hooked them up to a Channel Simulator where the red lights flash at different speeds. This simulator also came from ngineering.com. The water is starting to look good and finally getting some texture to it. I've applied 5 coats of Modge Podge so far. I'm constantly battling the little gray bubbles. In addition to running the hair dryer after each application, I also use a small brush and try an pop as many of them as I can before the Modge Podge drys.

That's all for now...
Alan

[barrymk]

Alan superlative work. I'm definitely going to pinch your teabag tarp.

[cuse]

Spectacular!


John

[ACL1504]

Fantastic modeling! Just Awesome.


Tom

[nextceo]

Thanks John, Jerry, Barry and Tom!

Alan

[jerryrbeach]

Alan,
Outstanding modeling!  Thank you for the detailed explanations of how you achieve these wonderful results! 

[nextceo]

Alright, tonite I added some vines growing up the Stone Retention Wall of the Canal. I used a product from Scenic Express called MiniNatur Plane Tree Foliage. I included a picture of one of the labels. Because I'm modeling in Fall, I used 3 different colors; Red, Brown and a late Summer Green. The product comes as one sheet and from there I cut off various widths and lengths and then pull those strips apart with my fingers to "stretch" out the vines. I used Weldbond Glue to hold them to the wall. I first tried Elmers White glue but that didn't work. I also pulled some individual leaves off of this product and scattered them across the diorama. The leaves are highly detailed creating for a neat effect.

That's all for now...
Alan