Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- 924 All Categories
- 3 Picture Posting and Resizing
- 54 New Member Introductions
- 112 Off-Topic Forum
- 4 Photography
- 2 Resources
- 16 New Product Information
- 166 The SierraWest Forum
- 9 Brett's Blog
- 117 General News & Ramblings
- 3 Re-Release Information
- 6 Q & A about SierraWest
- 9 What Would You Like to See?
- 362 Builds
- 131 HO Scale Builds
- 155 O Scale Builds
- 59 Finished SW Build Pics
- 12 Miscellaneous Builds
- 187 Techniques
- 19 Working with Wood
- 20 Painting Castings
- 5 Masonry
- 23 Scenery
- 36 Tools and Supplies
- 21 Layout Planning & Building
- 38 Miscellaneous
- 24 Prototype Information
- 22 Reference and Research
Comments
Paul
Just a thought on the gates... I saw that you didn't want them to look rusted, but they almost look too new. I wonder if a light dusting of gray chalk (or even a little gold ochre) would give them a touch of age and also help make the details pop a little bit more. Maybe just on the raised parts (the geared track and the rivet plates on the side). That might add a little definition and depth to those details.
Again...just thinking our loud.
Looking forward to your shack on top. You're getting to the fun stuff next!
I had a great chat with Mike yesterday as well. It was funny that both of us seemed to have the same idea of what we would like to do with the mine as far as a dio. The interesting part is we had never mentioned it to the other one before.
A few months ago Brett put me on to Jax Pewter Black as a replacement for the A-West Blacken-it I had used for many years. I think the Jax adheres even better to the white metal castings, and I also find that it does a great job on brass wire. Shown are most of the castings after a minute soak in the Jax, then rinsed, but before buffing with Q-tips, felt wheel (from Dremel- hand held on the little pieces), etc. Some will also get chalk and/or acrylic paint. Brett's castings get better and better, which I thought impossible. This is one great kit- I'm anxious to use some of the other jigs and templates included.
The last three pics are of the bin with all but a few details to be added. Some clean-up is needed, and I need to figure out some more or different weathering on the gates. Animated (working) gates are probably not going to make an appearance. At least I'm thinking about it- kind of like I always think I'm going to add lighting to my structures and dioramas. Like my logging models, this was from an era that pre-dated electricity.
After I painted all the siding boards Apple Barrel "Barn Red" 20577, I sanded lightly as Brett suggested one hour later. I only did half, and results aren't as good the longer past one hour you wait. Since my base color was the grey A/I stain, just the right amount of sanding left some of the A/I intact. Too much sanding and I had to reapply more A/I, or add some alcohol and gray chalk with a fine brush to the bare wood areas. I also used a scratch brush from Micro-Mark that works like a mechanical pencil, especially for board ends.
I've gone back and forth, and have had several discussions with Dustin on nail holes (nail heads). I've probably participated in two dozen threads over the years debating the subject. I believe from 100+ feet away you wouldn't see average size nail heads on most wooden buildings. I've put thousands of nail holes on models over the years, but no more on HO models. The biggest reason is: It's easier not to.
When sanding one or more painted boards I found it easier to NOT round the corners by placing them on a 1" X 2"- somehow it was easier to sand them flat and not the edges.
So after all that I have built one little wall (actually more than that but this post is already way too long). The result isn't great, but is something I can work with. These big close-up
photos are for my benefit, not yours. They not only humble the builder, they tell you where all the warts, fuzzies, blemishes, glue spots, and shiny spots are. Your cell phone camera is one of your most invaluable tools.
Marty
Mike and I seem to be a meeting place as far as our builds go.
The Runner does some great work.
Here are the stairwells complete. I liked them so much I built them twice Mostly my fault.
Once these were together its time to grain and stain!
I save all kinds of stuff, the tube came from the box my wife treadmill came in.
It is a bit different than the red.
I like this look down into the tipple house. To bad so much of this isn't seen.
Here are the steps glued in place, with the steps glued to the correct side.
Thats were I am at the moment. It has been nice to lose myself in building a little here lately. I am like Mike though I use my phone camera as a tool as much as any that is on my bench.
Mike, I like the red siding effect.