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Messages - SteveCuster

#31
Layout Tours / Re: Cypress Creek Railroad
January 03, 2022, 09:41:35 AM
Hello everyone,

I made some decent progress on the rear area working towards to the front over the last couple days. I added another structure to the layout, Builders in Scale Weiry and Sons.


I added this scene to the layout (I did a build thread for this kit also). Adding this scene allowed me to start to get the flow of the rear area a little better.


I cut out some pieces of foam to support this area.


Another layer of foam to get the base height I wanted, then I started laying out the buildings so I can get an idea of how everything will fit and how much room I have to work with.


I added some more foam over the rear section and started carving the hills/banks of the river area. The bakery is now glued in place here.


I added the stone support for the covered bridge.


Added the culverts at the end and placed the 2 other structures in their spots to mark the locations.


I filled in the hillside and added some rock castings.


I finished covering the banks with plaster, adding the rock castings and I also started a small road on the top of the little hill.


Colored the castings and glued the hotel in its place.


Glued the tenement building in place as well.


Base of ground cover was added and I started playing with some fences.


I decided I wanted a little fenced in yard in this area filled with junk.


I added a little shed and a bunch of junk then I fenced it in. I also added a bit more vegetation to the area.


Some junk was added along the front also. I added a fire hydrant and a mailbox.


This picture gives a good shot of the flow of the area.


From the other side..

That's it for now. I have a few more details to add then I start working my way forward. I'm trying to get this area mostly complete before I add anything in front of it so I don't have to reach over my work.

Thanks for following along.









#32
Thanks Steve! Look forward to see what you do with it.
#33
Thanks everyone!

George, vehicles are something I always struggle with so I appreciate that, not the assembly but the finish.

Tom, the dirt is just PA soil baked, ran through a coffee grinder and sifted.
#34
Thanks Karl!

George, I agree with the puzzle description of their kits. I built Minerva Casket a while ago and it was the most challenging kit I've built. You are right about them giving you something unique if you can get through it.


I added a light pole and 2 trucks before calling this scene ready for the layout.



Both trucks are from Wheel Works.


Here it is glued down.

This scene was the missing piece to completing the rear portion of my layout. I started laying out the landforms for the area surrounding this, check my layout thread for more details.
http://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=2968.0

Thanks for following along and thanks for all the feedback along the way.
#35
Thanks everyone!

George, I think most of the BIS kits didn't really get properly displayed in advertisements. They always seemed similar to Campbell's when in reality I think they are closer to FSM in quality and design. The FSM ad photos are always taken at a good angle that really makes the structure look big and interesting. BIS ads that I've seen are small, black and white and taken from a birds eye view. They really are great kits that are mostly overlooked. Master Creations has to opposite problem, terrible kits that look really great in the ads.
#36
Thanks everyone!

It's starting to wrap up now. Spent some time working out the fencing and just the flow of the diorama as well as painting and adding some castings.


I started out trying to use a plastic Tichy fence for the whole perimeter of the scene. I completed it but I really didn't like the way it felt so I pulled it. Then I toyed with no fence but that wasn't right either.


I added some details and then I added this simple fence. I always like this type of fence because its super easy to do and it boxes in a scene but still allows everything to be viewed unobstructed.
To make this fence I just cut a bunch of scale 4x4s 5 scale feet long and poke a hole every 8 scale feet with a toothpick, then I glue them in place. I try to get the heights fairly even but it doesn't matter that much. I cut scale 2x4s a little longer than 8 ft and start gluing them. I prestained everything also. This whole fence took me about 10 minutes.


Shot of the "front" which is actually the side. The little trailer was part of the kit but also sold separately as "Flybynight Construction" I believe.


More shots..








Most of the castings were included with the kit.





I blackened 3 different vehicle kits last night so at least 2 will be added to the scene here. Still a bit more detailing to go but I expect to be done by this weekend.

Thanks for following along!
#37
Thanks Jerry! That's funny but the rabbit is porcelain music box one of my kids broke. My wife asked me to glue it together. 3 young boys and any porcelain ornamental things are always a bad match.
#38
Thanks everyone!

Tom, I saw that CC Crow took over but the last time I was shopping on the site it said he wasn't taking any orders for a while. I just checked it now and it looks like he's shipping the BIS stuff. I'm going to see what items are interesting to me and put an order in this week I think. Thanks for the tip.

I moved forward a bit this weekend with the kit.


I colored and glued the foundation to the warehouse, added the roof and glued the whole thing down.


I added the docks. As you can see the scenery is wet. I also filled in the difficult to get to areas with scenery so I can start detailing them.


I added a few detail parts and some wood scraps under the stairs.


The little bit of scenery and docks are dried. I can start planning the flow of the scene.


I placed the whole scene on the layout to get an idea of entrance, exits and fencing. This should give a little idea of how it will sit. I liked the wood supports and the staircase so I wanted that facing the front, the other side is pretty plain and boring. You can see the pencil marks where I'm planning the fence.

Thanks for following along. Next step is building the little tow behind trailer, the fence and adding the details.

#39
Thanks Bob!

I started work on the warehouse this week. I used the same colors and most of the same building techniques for the walls as I did on the main structure.


All the walls all colored and glued together.


Other side of the structure.


The base gets built around this cardstock template. The kit came with scale 6x6 bracing but I know from experience this vertical scribed material warps like crazy once it comes in contact with the glue and water used for the ground cover so I beefed it up to 12x12s.




Test fitting the base under the structure.


I thought this building felt familiar....I already built this structure but in a different kit by BIS. On this one the side is just mirrored but otherwise it's pretty much the same. I just need to make sure I display a different angle on the layout.

Thanks for following along.
#40
Thanks Jerry! I have to admit my patience was tested a bit on the supports. I had to walk away after the second or third time knocking them off.
#41
Layout Tours / Re: PRR Bellevue Sub Build
November 30, 2021, 05:17:33 PM
Looks great Curt! Is that tower from Monster Modelworks?
#42
Thanks everyone!

George, The way I usually color them to match is first a priming of khaki spray paint, then a wash of A&I followed by a wash of Rembrandt chalks mixed with alcohol (In this case is was Rembrandt 408.3, my favorite color). After the alcohol/chalk wash dries I go over it with a dry brush to blend it together. Works pretty well for me and it's super easy.
#43
Yesterday I added all the railings and staircase to the main structure. It was probably the most tedious part of the whole kit.


The kit calls for a little corrugated metal shed for under the landing but I haven't built it yet.


The staircase is a one piece casting.

The main building is done for now. Next step is starting on the other building in the diorama.

Thanks for following along.
#44
Thanks George, Mark and Rich!

Mark you're right this kit has some really nice details especially in this side staircase area. I ended up turning the whole scene so this area is facing the front of the layout.
#45
Stone coloring is excellent!
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