Coal Store

Discussion in 'Dioramas and static displays' started by Chatty, Mar 29, 2020.

  1. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Good Afternoon Everyone

    I hope you are all coping being confined to barracks.

    A friend of mine asked me to build this coal store from Laser Art Structures. It is a laser-cut basswood timber. IMHO not a terribly good kit as it took a lot of fiddling to get it together. I added a a fair amount of additional detail including cutters and downpipes and ridge caps.


    upload_2020-3-29_14-12-13.jpeg


    I wanted the building to look somewhat aged and decrepit but still functional, much like myself. Using Vallejo paints I undercoated the building and then sprayed with concrete for a grey look. Well, that what their instructions said but it turned another shade of brown. Saying O dear, well if I hadn't been so cranky that is what I would have said, and found myself scrambling amongst my paints to find a suitable grey.

    After letting it dry for a couple of days I ripped a bit off some packing sponge and dabbed into red paint. After blotting the sponge on some paper towel to remove excess paint and was applied by dabbing it on the building. By using a nearly "dry" sponge I was able to control the amount of paint going onto the surface.

    The methodology used by military modellers is to work out where the sun is coming from to highlight points. In this case, the "sun" for me is to the front and to the right. This would mean the rear roofs would have probably had some lichen and moss on it so I dabbed some green paint onto the roof to represent this.

    The shute on the far left no matter what glue I used insisted on falling off so I made a cameo of two workmen trying to repair it. Mind you as the "shoot" went on greater the lean on figures became greater. They must have had a bottle of something stash in the coal pile.

    The coal hopper was, I think, an old model power model. It was weathered initially by spraying it with very diluted worn black from Lifecolor to give it a faded look. The hopper was further weathered using Lifecolor Liquid Pigments. The trick is wet the surface with water and lets it dry for a few moments. Because of the water tension, it will, in this case, "move" back towards the edge of the panels. Then it is only a matter of applying Liquid Pigment to the water and capillary action will move it towards the bolts and corners of metal ribs. It then drys off leaving a dusty appearance. I was a bit over-enthusiastic and didn't let the water dry off so moved further out into the panel than I intended.

    Kind regards

    Geoff
     
  2. Gloria Aldridge

    Gloria Aldridge Full Member

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    Good morning Geoff,
    Your building looks lovely, we all have start from somewhere My carriage shed I am building looks crude to yours. It is very difficult to get the texture right sometimes and doesn't reach the required standard that we all like. Mostly trial and error I think. You are doing a great job and hope any alterations you make creates the desired effect.
    My kindest and best regards,:tophat:
    Gloria.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2020
  3. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    What a lovely build Geoff :thumbup: I enjoyed your how to write up as well and particulaly the attention to detailing such considerations always make a model in my opinion.:tophat::tophat::tophat:
     
  4. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    I have seen these kits from Laser Art and I was going to purchase one myself (not this particular kit). But I do know what these laser cut wood kits from the US can be like to put together. They can be cruel to the uninitiated ! The weathering on the coal store looks great. You have done a terrific job on this build.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  5. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Gloria

    Apparently, when Islamabad kingdom Brunel was asked how he tied his perfect Neckerchief, he pointed to a crumpled heap and said these are my failures. I don't know if it is true but makes a wonderful story. I am technically challenged so it has taken me a very long time to get this far and like IK Brunel I have had many failures. From what I recall your carriage shed was coming along quite nicely and looking forward to seeing the finished item.

    On the other hand, we both have some way to go to catch up to young Ms Taylor.

    Kind regards

    Geoff
     
  6. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Thank you Paul. Very kind of you to say so.

    Kind regards

    Geoff
     
    York Paul likes this.
  7. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Gary

    I welcome you to the unemployed. I am retired but I had a two day a week job not particularly well paid but it kept me sane. All gone now.

    Personally, I wouldn't go for a Laser Art kit. It wasn't particularly well thought out, some of the bits didn't much each other and I had to put in a fair bit of reinforcing. At the end of the day, it might have been easier to scratch build it.

    I would go for a Bar Mills Kit. Much better design but at a price. I am trying to build up enough courage to spend around $400 (including postage) for one of their kits. Well worth subscribing to their Daily Moose and looking at their website. https://barmillsmodels.com/

    All these kits need is perseverance; one step at a time. Take one step, check and then the next. A dry run helps using masking tape to hold it in position. If it all gets a bit to much walk away from it.

    Many thanks for your very kind comments.

    Kind regards

    Geoff
     
  8. Sol

    Sol Full Member

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    Geoff, you missed out a important point - it is in N scale...

    I am blessed to have seen this in the flesh - bloody beautiful...
     
  9. Gloria Aldridge

    Gloria Aldridge Full Member

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    Good Morning Geoff,
    Thank you ever so much for your very kind reply. I have made the doors for the carriage shed sorting the roof out is the next problem.I.k.Brunel expect he was like us both starting from somwhere making loads of mistakes the biggest one was Box Tunnel in Wiltshire lost a lot of Naavies building that.one.Tamar Bridge Bristol Temple Meads and Paddington Stations were built by him and his team of builders great creations. Yes as you rightly mentioned we have a long way to go to catch up Ms Taylor . Our railway is 16mm using 32mm Peck Track and points I it is laid out in our garden.My partnef pulled some of it up yesterday to make some alterations. Most of our stock is live steam r/C controlled along with some battery fitted locos. We are building another section of track to fit the carriage shed into position see what happens on that score.Will keep in touch how things progress and send some piccies once i get them transferred.
    Anyway Geoff you take please stay safe.
    Kindest regards,
    Gloria.
     

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