Kitbasher's Diary - Model Power Lumber Mill (HO Scale)

[Drew1125]

OK...I haven't done one of these for awhile...but after poking around here at The Gauge for the last couple of weeks, I've gotten inspired to try a little kitbash...
I thought I'd see what I could come up with for this little cheapo kit I picked up at a swap-meet last summer...

Here's the kit...


I assembled the outer walls, but replaced the rear wall, & second-story floor with some scribed styrene siding...


I went ahead, & added the upper portion, & cut the original rear wall in two pieces, to make an annex at one end...


Well, that's where she stands at this point...I'm going to try & scratch something up to use as a roof...more on that later!

[nalmeida]

Looking forward to your progress Drew, so far it's looking great!

[ezdays]

I have one of those in N scale that I haven't built yet. I'll be following your progress with great interest. Looks like you have a great start...

[ausien]

I have already put mine together and never thought of using a wall like you have for another building. I ended bashing a store house to go with mine... live and learn...great job of it you are making, look forward to your next post with an update......steve

[Drew1125]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Last night I managed to get some cardstock cut for the roof...I'm goinfg to try & cover that with some corrugated roofing...


Steve,
I'm planning on adding some type of storage shed to mine, also...maybe an open-air shed for lumber...?

[Drew1125]

I painted the roof black, & I'm in the process of adding some corrugated roofing that I made from alum. foil...

I also added some posts that I found in the scrap box...They didn't quite look right at the ends, so I compensated by taking some of those plastic lumber loads from the kit, & using them to fashion some makeshift walls...

[Chessie6459]

Looking Good Drew.

[Drew1125]

Thanks Matthew!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Well, I've gotten some painting done on the structure...
To tone down all those cheery greens & yellows, I spray-painted the entire structure flat black...


Then I switched to Polly Scale acrylics...I brushed on a wash of Rail Tie Brown, then dry-brushed with Dirt, Mud, & Aged White...I was trying to get the look of weathered wood...


Now I need to add some weathering to the roof...
I'm hoping to get some more done today...
Film at 11!

[jim currie]

like the paint job

[Drew1125]

Thanks, Jim!

I got the roof finished today...


I was a little worried, because gluing the corrugated foil to the cardstock roof caused it to warp slightly...but in the end, it gave the roof kind of a saggy look that I thought was kinda nice...

Now I've got some detailing work to do...

[ezdays]

Yeah, I agree, the roof looks great that way, naturally aged that's for sure...

Don't you kinda wonder, with all the wood, roofing and paint they store in there, why don't they use a little bit of it to fix the place up?

Can't wait to see the next step.

[Dave Harris]

Originally Posted by ezdays

Yeah, I agree, the roof looks great that way, naturally aged that's for sure...

Don't you kinda wonder, with all the wood, roofing and paint they store in there, why don't they use a little bit of it to fix the place up?

Can't wait to see the next step.

I agree, sometimes we tend to overdo the ageing & weathering.
It certainly is impressive & requires a lot of talent to produce some of the effects we manage.

Perhaps it is , as my friend Lynn Austin says, we don't always know how to model "time" .

George Selios is an example of out of whack "time" modeling--- He does fantistic work, however the F&SM is set in the Depression years. Almost everything on the RR is run down, dilapidated, & in general in poor repair.

That would be fine, IF the layout was set a few years LATER. While we are used to seeing structures that survived those years that are all run down, etc, one needs to remember that untill the depression hit things would have been much better maintained, & MANY years newer than we see them now. When everything went to pot the ability ( money) to keep things up dwindled & things were let go , but it would take a number or passing years to really show up.

[doctorwayne]

Nice work Drew. I like both your re-design and the weathering.

Originally Posted by Dave Harris

George Selios is an example of out of whack "time" modeling--- He does fantistic work, however the F&SM is set in the Depression years. Almost everything on the RR is run down, dilapidated, & in general in poor repair.

That would be fine, IF the layout was set a few years LATER. While we are used to seeing structures that survived those years that are all run down, etc, one needs to remember that untill the depression hit things would have been much better maintained, & MANY years newer than we see them now. When everything went to pot the ability ( money) to keep things up dwindled & things were let go , but it would take a number or passing years to really show up.

Good point, Dave. While I admire George Selios' work, I always felt that the layout was a bit like a caricature of the Depression era. Another thing to remember is that those who did have the means could afford the upkeep on their property, as labour was both cheap and plentiful.

Wayne

[Dave Harris]

Originally Posted by doctorwayne

Nice work Drew. I like both your re-design and the weathering.



Good point, Dave. While I admire George Selios' work, I always felt that the layout was a bit like a caricature of the Depression era. Another thing to remember is that those who did have the means could afford the upkeep on their property, as labour was both cheap and plentiful.

Wayne

OH, there is NO DOUBT that George Selios is a MASTERS MASTER Modeler.
I watched a video of him building a brick building once, I could not Believe how FAST he is , of course he has to be to have done all he has on the F&SM in only one lifetime, and to think he has time left over to put out a FSM kit each year.
Parhaps he intended it to be a caricature,but do you know anybody brave enough to ask him that??

[doctorwayne]

Originally Posted by Dave Harris

Perhaps he intended it to be a caricature,but do you know anybody brave enough to ask him that??

I don't think that it would really matter to me, and it's nothing to do with "bravery". Rather a respect for his abilities, the same as I would accord any modeller, regardless of his/her skill level.

Wayne