Sunshine, Palm Trees and a Food Industry...

Thank you kindly.

Cheers, Gary.

 

One thing I overlooked when putting this whole structure together was to scribe the low front wall into concrete planks. This morning was to scribe horizontal lines to represent the individual concrete panels.

In addition to this, like most precast concrete wall paneling, they need vertical styrups or I beams to hold them vertical.

The end that is clearly seen I added a short length of I beam (Evergreen #275) and then every 20 scale feet (42mm) I added short lengths of 0.75 x 3.2mm styrene strip (Evergreen #136).
To represent the centre of the beam, 3mm lengths of strip 0.25 x 0.75mm (Evergreen #101) were glued to the top and centre of the vertical strips.

On the back of the wall (which I didn't bother scribing as it will be virtually unseen, I added a few short lengths of strip to represent the back of the I beam.

Earlier this morning I patched the holes in the roof that I made when I first stared on the internal structure. Now this has cured and been sanded, the whole model can now be primed ready for painting.

More as it happens...

Cheers, Gary.

 

So, before I started to prime the model, I had to add a chimney to the top section and also extend the 'fuel line' (??) down from the tanks to the roof.
Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of this process.... At the bottom of this post I have included a rear photo of the top section that clearly shows the additions.

So, after the additions, I took everything that needed painting outside to the glorious sunshine. I must say that today is a perfect painting and weathering day.
I used nearly a full can of Mr Hobby Surfacer on the three individual pieces, the main building, the internal structure and the roof top structure.

After letting this cure, I pulled out the airbrush and painted all the steel fabrication a light blue/grey. I didn't have the colour I was after so I took some left over Mr Hobby Gray FS 36270 (#306 in their range) and added a dollop of acrylic cobalt blue from a tube. This was thinned with isopropyl, then shaken before decanting into the airbrush.

The same paint was applied to both the internal and roof structure.

Once this was done, I added more Tamiya grey (XF-75) to the jar and airbrushed the concrete wall panels. This I found was a little too dark so I allowed this to dry then added some Tamiya Flat Earth (XF-52) and applied a thin layer.
I did used some of this paint on the other structures, but form a distance, creating a light dusting about the model. Here I aimed the airbrush down at a 60 degree angle so I really only got the recesses, roof tops and a little on the vertical surfaces.

This time it was a little too brown !! Can't seem to win... I thought I shall lighten the paint up again, this time adding Tamiya Medium Grey (XF-20). Basically I just lightened the brown hue this time round...

I really wanted to lighten the wall, much more than what I have just done, so out came the white ! I added some Mr Hobby White (#1) and mixed it with some more isopropyl. Hopefully this will just tone down what I have done already. I applied a light coat, allowed it to dry, then applied several more coats until I got the desired look.

I allowed this to dry then loaded my airbrush with straight isopropyl and jetted the paint that I had applied in up and down strokes. I didn't do the whole wall, just strategic areas to gain some streaking and bleaching. I was happy how this turned out, but you do need to be care full when using this method as you only wish to remove a layer or two of paint, bring the colours underneath to the top.

Apart from the blue/grey that I painted the steel frame work with, all the other colours used to paint the concrete wall was used on the roof top/seam roofing.

Next up was to dig out the weathering powders to highlight areas. I use light grey to high light the concrete panels first. Dipping the brush into isopropyl allowed me to paint more streaking on to the wall panels. I followed this up with a dusting of black to high light the gaps between the panels. This worked well.

I wanted to highlight the top of the wall by mixing up some orange rust with isopropyl to a weakish solution and I painted the top of the concrete panels. I used the same powder/isopropyl mix on the inside of the wall, painting downwards creating streaks. When this dries on the previous layered paint, it dries transluscent, not to heavy at all.

Like applications of the rust mix was added to the steel framework and cross bracing as well as adding random spots. Once this was all completed, I sealed it all with Mr Hobby 'Mr Super Clear' flat sealer.

Next up I went about weathering the internal and roof top ventilation system. I mixed up more powders and applied a wet mix as described above, Different techniques from light brushing to stippling was used to get the desired results. For the concrete landing, several layers of powder was applied from the orange rust, to light brown to light grey. I allowed this to all dry before adding some white paint to the handrails. This was done haphazardly to give the look of peeling paint.

Whan I was happy, both structures were sprayed with clear coat to seal the weathering powders in.

So, this is what the wall and structure looks like now...

...and this is the ventilation structure all in place...

Oh, and before I forget, the back of the top section showing the chimney and fuel line disappearing into the roof...

There we have it. Another job ticked off the list !

Cheers, Gary.

 

Well thank you kindly Gormo. That is truly a compliment from the man I hold in high regards for his ingenuity, concepts and all round excellent modelling.
I have learned so much from you over the years that if I put it all into practice, a layout would occupy the whole house !

Cheers, Gary.

 

Here is my latest video update... Enjoy.




Cheers, Gary.

 

Thank you Kimbo !

Cheers, Gary.

 

The last couple of days (Sat-Mon) I have slowly been working on the hard stand texturing and colouring. I say slowly as I have been adding washes of colour as well as patches to the bitumen areas on the layout.

The technique I used is one from Boomer (Boomer Diorama on Youtube) using the wet on wet method of adding washes to blend shades of colour.

This first pic shows the wash going down on the bitumen area where I plan on building the oil/fuel depot. After smoothing the surface out a little with some fine sandpaper and dusting it off, a thin was of black acrylic was applied in a brush on then stipple technique. This was then allowed to dry thoroughly.

After it had dried, I masked off areas on the surface and applied another thin coat of the Golden Fiber Paste. I made some rather random shapes to this to make it look like the area has had some recent work, for example replacing soft ground and/or trench work. I allowed the paste to dry then removed the tape and applied a darker black was to these areas.

After this had dried, washes of various greys were applied over the top of the first wash and randomly over the new darker patched areas. Whilst this was wet, I sifted on bi carb soda to give the surface that grainy bitumen look. Once again, I allowed this to dry about 50% before flooding in more greys, this time with a touch of brown.

This was allowed to dry thoroughly then I ran my fingers over the surface to remove any excess bi-carb. This is the result.

The next step in this process will be done later down the track with the use of weathering powders and chalks.

The concrete hardstand under the processing plant was done in the same manner. I started off with grays and whilst it was still wet, I bled in some thin washes of black, especially between the rails and then some raw sienna to give the concrete that rust dust appearance.

This is the end result.

The other area that was treated with washes was the hard stand in front of the Produce Centre.

I applied lighter greys to this area, again using the wet on wet technique. Darker greys and a little black was bled in where road vehicles and the fork lift use the area.

Once again, between the rails was treated darker than beyond the rails. This is the end result after it had dried and it will also be treated with powders in the future.

The only other job I completed was to add some very thin layers of insulation foam to the corner module between the processing plant and the tracks. This area I didn't want flat. Here I wanted a little relief in the landscape.

More as it happens !

Cheers, Gary.

 

Thanks Kimbo. Still plenty to do on the corner module where I finished it off as bitumen. I have ordered a piping kit so I can plumb the siding for unloading the tank cars and a truck transfer pumping station. Both are Walthers products and I'll heavily kit bash the truck pumping station to resemble the prototype closer.

The Walthers kit...

What I have planned for it...

Cheers, Gary.

 

Hi Gormo,

Firstly, thank you kindly. I will be adding more expansion gaps in the concrete hardstand areas (processing plant and Produce centre), then touch it all up with powders/chalks.

Very little markings on the ground in these facilities. I will most likely add a yellow line after along the above ground fuel lines once they go in.

Here is an aerial shot of a fuel depot and not one line is present.

Unfortunately for the produce centre, I don't have any photos to confirm whether lines were on the hardstand.

Screen shot of produce centre from 2007...

Produce centre in 2022...

Cheers, Gary.

 

I use these guys all the time (Model Train Stuff), along with Midwest Model Railroad. Both excellent retailers with great service !

I already have a tanker trailer, just no prime mover for it !

I won't need too many vehicles as the produce centre will be rail served. I do have another pantech and a utility I can use.

Cheers, Gary.

 

My items from Miniprints arrived yesterday !

I must say that the detail on some of these little 3D prints is really nice and super fine ! Check these out...

This is how they arrived in a neat snap lock lidded plastic container...

This is what is in the box (or what I purchased). Miniprints through in a sticker and because of the time I placed my order, Bernard threw in 4 x owls !

On closer inspection of each item...

Garbage bags.

Gas Meters.

Gunzel (rail photographer)

IBC Tanks.

Owls.

Shopping Trolleys.

Same shopping trolleys on a 10mm square grid cutting mat.

Traffic cones or witches hats.

Trash Cans.

Each item will require a little work, ie sanding or filing, then I can paint them accordingly.

I'm super happy with the quality of these prints and I'm 100% positive all items shall find a place on the layout, well we will see about the owls !!

Cheers, Gary.