Ditto that. There is a lot going on without looking crowded or packed together. I like how he hid the rails leading to the silos. You don't even realize they go nowhere. BTW. The silos look scratch-built. Are they? Jim
Joe, have you built their "Fred's One Stop" gas station? It is my favorite build of all-time. I even reviewed it on their web-site I liked it so much. I have a picture of it in some file. I'll try to dig it out. I will use CA on the next roof on this kit. I may even take a different approach and put the roof on once the walls are built then I can use black construction paper and white glue to seal light leaks and to reinforce the roof. London Bridge makes fine cast metal roof details that really add to their kits since they don't provide any with them. Jim
Thanks Tom I appreciate it. I'm glad you noticed the missing turntable, initially I was going to model the olive street terminal in South Bend IN. I modeled that scene from arial pictures and the turntable was removed in the mid 50's. I had a good thing going until they tore it down last spring. So I just kept it as is and let the layout shape up different. I'll find a earth picture and post it here
I have not but I was really tempted to try it. It is a great looking kit and it is so packet with detail. Oh I might also add I put the roof on with out glue about 3-4 times to see what needs adjusted before I super it down. I always say you can hide a gap at the top with the shingles but you can hide gaps where the roof and walls meet so if you have to wiggle error with gap on top.
Oh and the big silo is an old resin kit from micro figs I believe. I got it about 16 years ago. The other grain elevators are scratch built. I enjoy scratch builds and bashes
Hi, Joe. Here is a photo of Fred's One Stop. The convenience store part also makes a great stand alone building. I have made it into a small restaurant on another build.
That kit is great looking Jim, now I'm thinking about where I could add one. How would you compare it to the wright build? Is it another two day build?
Hi, Joe. Yes, it is a relatively easy kit to build. It is hard for me to estimate how long it took to build since I get bogged down in little details. What is great about the kit is it is actually 3 separate parts. The house, the porch and the store. I painted and super detailed each part first and then put it all together. This kit is lit with 6 LED lights (plug & play.) All of the decals are n-scale. I cut them off the sheet with the backing still on and carefully with different colored sharpies color the edges. This gives the sign the look of old fashioned enameled signs. Their website has some additional tips when I reviewed it. There are also pix of some other builds using their kits. I can't wait to see what you do with it. Best. Jim
Hi, John. I can't wait to see what you do with it. I think this is one of the most versatile kit on the market for kit-bashing or customizing. With your skills I'm sure it will look great. BTW. It comes with great white metal castings. You may want to add some roof details. I used London Bridge castings. Jim
Looks great Joe! the two layouts added together. I have been working on one similar just getting it started seems to be the problem for me! My first layout was just to crowed so thinking a second one the same size would be nice and set up for switching. Got so many 3D printed things to work with! keep up the great work!
I will say the nice thing about a second layout is you’ll find some pieces on your first work better on in and it gives you the opportunity to rework the first layout while creating another big fun! I’ll post a picture of the tin roof I made for the grain elevator. That was fun.
Well earlier I said I’d show a picture of the roof I put on the old elevator. Years back I read where someone used tin foil. So what I did was cut tin foil to the size then put the foil on top of grooved styrene board used a plastic putty knife and rubbed the foil with it so it would take the groves. Then I used a simple glue stick to attach and it worked well I put it right over the old roof which was layered paper and it took the contours of that and it gave a great look. The hard part was getting rid of the shine finally I painted it with a watered down asphalt paint I let it dry then dabbed a brush is 90% alcohol and did slow brushes the paint smeared and bled into groves nice so I let that dry once dry I used Brandon weather powders to add a little dirt and rust. In the end it was well worth it
So I decided to build a gas station but I went with the randy brown kit. Although it’s a simple build you really need to be careful. Once you glue with super glue it’s one and done. It sticks together instantly so pre test before you build! A few quick things I purchased showcase miniatures gas station accessories cause I liked the look of those pumps better. I used one that came with kit to make the diesel one on side. I cut the base down and painted it concrete and weathered it.