This thread was started in February, 2021
Karl.A
February 2021 edited August 2022 in O Scale Builds
I started this build in Jan 2012 and then shelved it at 50% complete in Oct 2012, gathering dust ever since.
Along with my MainStreet Warehouse build. Now finished.
The Main Street Warehouse #206 - in O scale. Karl.A - O Scale Builds - SierraWest Scale Models Forum
I shelved the Hotel project due to other modeling commitments and because I wasn’t happy with any font I could find for the dry goods store front wall or the gas pump scene I was creating.
So, this seems like a good candidate for my “finishing off old projects and easing back in to things” phase.
Many of you will have seen the previous progress on this build so I’ll just post a brief recap of how it got to where it is now for those who aren’t aware of the build so that way I don’t bore too many of you, hopefully.
I’ll post a few old progress here while I finish off BlueSky and then pick this one up and finish it off.
Brett’s beautiful HO kit.
Comments
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Recap to 2012…
Karl.A
February 2021
brownbr
February 2021
Glad to see you pick this one back up.
admin
February 2021
Bring it on, excited to see this completed.
Jerry
February 2021
Looks like it full steam ahead. Glad your getting all these beauties off the shelf and finishing them.
Jerry
ALCO
February 2021
Like the choice. Don’t have this one but always liked it.
Joel
February 2021
Fantastic peeling paint. Looking forward to the detailing of course.
Karl.A
February 2021
Thanks guys, looking forward to getting this one ‘done’.
A couple of hurdles but after eight years of looking at it you’d think I’d have it figure out by now, we’ll see.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
and this is basically how it sits right now (8 year old pics), waiting for me to finish BlueSky and get back to it.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
Looks great so far. Just needs your personal touches…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Rick,
talking of personal touches Rick, the next couple of posts will hopefully interest you, and also a few of the other readers.
I’ve never posted them before and had forgotten all about these things I did myself.
Here’s what I found…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
After pulling this project from the shelf it was obvious that before any progress could be made a quick dusting was needed. Now, my house isnt dirty by any means, but, this baby has been sitting on the shelf untouched for almost 10 years, so dont judge me.
I grabbed a clean, soft, 1/2" wide brush and set to work on the clean up. Luckily in my exuberance I only knocked off a few things, easily fixed, so thats all good.
While dusting the front wall I started noticing some subtle things…
I remembered I had torn the small upper/top awning as a reason for rain water to pour down and concentrate on the lower awning, thus giving me a reason to distress that lower awning much more heavily on the corner.
But, I noticed the way the upper awnings were laying, their shape and conformity and I couldn’t remember how I had done it, I built this almost 10years ago dont forget, so, things get hazy, lol.
Here is a pretty good shot of what I’m looking at, and talking about.
So, I turned the building over to have a look from underneath to see what I had originally done and figure out what was going on and what I was looking at.
Here’s what I found…
edit: I was scrutinising that last picture and just realised that I did add nailheads, theyre tiny, but once you start seeing them you’ll notice them… I guess, like they should be…
brownbr
February 2021
I like the torn awning.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
All that dust was natural weathering! That’s a problem with a full layout. You can’t keep it from turning a bit dull over time from the dust…Rick
Joel
February 2021
Love the ripped awning - fantastic.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks guys.
so underneath I saw that the dock was fully built, corners braced, pretty cool but standard stuff, so looked closer…
Things I noticed were… I had done the peeling paint effect up under the roof overhang on the soffit, like it should be,
the main porch roof was only partly boarded where it was exposed, a standard old trick I used to use alot years ago.
The window awnings were fully framed as per reality (probably built with styrene but, I didnt wiggle them to find out) and I had used thin wrapping tissue paper as the fabric. I had colored both sides.
The thin material was conforming to the frame and that was what was giving the effect from the outside and the dimensionality. The frame shape showing through the fabric was a pretty good look I thought.
Karl.A
Mountaingoat
February 2021
It may be older, but the modeling is still great. Love the affect with the awnings…Rick
Mike Engler
February 2021
The Main Street Hotel and Dry Goods Store is my favorite SWSM structure. I built it in HO many years ago and just looked at mine and I wish I had seen Karl’s version as many of his cool touches could have been added in HO. Like all of Karl’s work there is much to be learned from how he does it.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks for the compliments Rick and Mike,
I apparently used to be quite good at this stuff back when I was doing it… hahaha,
I keep looking at my old models during this period and thinking "how the ‘H…’ did I do that…
Mike, I just spent an hour or so looking for your build to get ideas from it and some pointers, I read through MikeC’s and Elliots build of this ‘beast’…
Did you do a thread ‘over there’ ? I found a few pics of your build in MikeC’s thread but nothing else.
As for me, I’m finding O scale details to replicate Bretts HO original masterpiece as close as possible, and some extra’s to blend in to fill in those spaces that always appear when you do an upscale, but trying to keep it authentic looking…
I’ll post some pics later while I play around with placements, I’m kinda struggling because it’s not the usual industrial scene that I’m used to… lol,
I can’t just throw a junk scene around to take up space when I’m building a hotel… hahaha
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Pulled out some of my toy’s and got ready to start playing with placement, and then paint.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
and then it FINALLY dawned on me… the way to get some of those awesome details into the scene wasn’t a junk pile… it was a ‘new pile’.
The merchandise from the dry goods store cluttered outside for sale, on display to attract those customers, gold miners, farmers, homesteaders…
Just your basic old style hardware general goods store, serving the prospector community and a growing backwoods town with everything they needed to build America.
Gonna be a little strange not to have everything, old, worn, aged and rusty… nothing wrong with that though, a change is as good as a rest.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
I like your thinking. This should be very interesting as it comes together…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Rick, let’s hope so…
One of my main stopping points on this build, as I noted earlier was the signage for the dry goods store. It’s a very visible and focal point of the model.
Sometimes things just go wrong, or don’t go right, this time I’m gonna keep trying till I get ‘it’.
The top sign is crooked (my first try), the bottom one isn’t touched/weathered at all yet, I’m liking the third one, but, still not what’s in my minds eye. I’ll keep trying.
I am liking how the barrels are turning out though so far, newer and not so aged as I usually do.
(I weathered the barrel with trash in it as older than the others for difference and to show it was aged more than the rest and had been around for a while.)
brownbr
February 2021
Always a fun part of each build.
AlexR
February 2021
I like the second sign from the top personally. Aged yet very usable. But, the second from the bottom may fit better with the overall weathering?
ALCO
February 2021
The W.Q. (Weathering Quotient) of the sign should be consistent with the WQ of the building. Having said that, the 4 signs demonstrate the wide-ranging intelligence, perspicacity, and good looks of the craftsman!
kebmo
February 2021
oh brother… 
ALCO
February 2021
At least I got a comment…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks guys, great to read you.
I’m between 2 and 3 myself Alex, they look different against the model though due to lighting when they are in the vertical position as opposed to flat on the desk. I’ll do a couple more today and pick one and move on.
Great comment Alan, indeed matching the age of the wall is paramount, the hotel is very weathered but matching to the much newer store is where I’m at.
" perspicacity" is a great word, thanks for the compliment.
More later.
Karl.A
February 2021
I got the base layers of paint down on most of the details this morning, time for lunch and then get them weathered this afternoon.
Dave_S
February 2021
Karl,
I see that among the weathered castings in the photo above you have a wheel barrow. What will you use to make the legs it will rest on? Brass wire? or other material? If brass wire what size will you use?
Thanks, Dave S. Tucson, AZ
Joel
February 2021
Great weathering. looking forward to seeing this come together.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Me too Joel…
I can’t remember which chalks I used for the store walls 8 years ago, but, thats close enough for me on the header I just did.
So glad to finally get those signs done…
(yes Alex I went with #2)
Hmmm, whats next…
Karl.A
February 2021
Well I guess I better move on with scenery, sat here for an hour or so watching videos and thinking,
time to get the scenery supplies out and hope for inspiration… feels like I only put all that stuff away a few days ago.
Cleaned up the desk, put the details away safe, time to get messy, again.
Karl.A
February 2021
I pulled down my O’Neill’s diorama from the shelf and sat it next to the hotel.
These two dioramas were always planned to be next to each other, O’Neills was specifically laid out for that purpose with the elevations. The two structures were built to go on my O scale version of the complete SW “Logging camp diorama”.
SierraWest | Logging Camp Diorama
O’Neills will substitute the first aid building, everything else the same, the others completed so far are :-
Tool shed
Rigging Shed
Warehouse 50%
Hotel 50%
Locoshops 75%
a few more to go so, time to get this one finished off.
Gonna be a bit cramped with both on the desk at the same time to start with…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
I’m thinking I need a cobble stone/brick street infront of the hotel, a dirt road just isn’t going to cut it.
kebmo
February 2021
looking forward to this…
Karl.A
February 2021
Don’t blink, I just finished eating and scenery is about to start flyin…
Mountaingoat
February 2021
Your expediency matches your exceptional modeling. I don’t know how you do both so well. I won’t blink. I want to see the scenery come together…Rick
Quote
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Rick, I’ll keep you updated
Karl.A
February 2021
Realised I needed a coal bin for under the stairway and hadn’t made one… found Brett’s casting from my “Logging and Tractor Repair” kit and made a quick copy out of some scrap balsa I found.
Needed some coal to fill it so grabbed a filter from my aquarium and took some charcoal out, turned out to be about twice the size I wanted so crushed it under my scale ruler to a better size. Good to go…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
This side pretty much done, made another pallet, painted/weathered some barrels to be old, I’ve got to let it dry before adding the final chalk weathering. Still need to add the wheel barrow and shovel to finish it off.
edit: oh and I’ll probably add a saw for cutting up the limbs.
Time to turn the corner and start working on the back.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Well time for the next area but I think I’m going to leave the back of the store until tomorrow, because, I know I want some of Brett’s cool little produce crates outside the back door and I’ve had way too many coronas to be building those little things tonight.
So, I guess its back around to the front.
Karl.A
February 2021
Well, back around to the front, time to play with some details… finally…
Everything seems to be drying good, a little bit more ‘greenery’ than I usually do, but, I’m still OK with it.
Time for a little slow down thinking time, then on with the details for the store front.
Karl.A
February 2021
Oh yeah, you can notice I cut the front of the dio off ready to do the brick street, but that will be tomorrow.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
OK, break time over, time for the store front…
I guess Rick went to bed… hahaha
Karl.A
February 2021
Karl.A
February 2021
Bed time…
Still lots to fix, mostly what i knocked loose/off tonight, or just ‘next on the list’…
brownbr
February 2021
That’s gonna be one big diorama.
I like the idea of cobblestones. Been planning an area like that myself for the foundry. I’ll be interested to see how you tackle this.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
Wow! I only blinked once(sleep) I am on the east coast and have to work today. I can’t believe how much you got done in one evening. That would take me over a week to accomplish and probably not even then. Looks fantastic. Need more time to study it all…Rick
SteveCuster
February 2021
Looks really great Karl! Are you still using grout for dirt?
vietnamseabee
February 2021
Karl, to expand on Steve’s question, sanded
grout typically has its own adhesive properties so do you merely place the grout and dampen with a spray bottle or eye dropper and it’s ‘good to go’?
Terry
admin
February 2021
Wow, loving where this is going. Combining this with your O’Neills diorama is a great move. They look incredible together…
TomMich
February 2021
Love your scenery and detail work! How about a bumper under the rear freight door? A couple of half tires or a beam?
Dave_S
February 2021
Karl,
Looking forward to your cobblestone street in front of the hotel Personally, I might be tempted to spruce up the area between the hotel and street a bit and possibly add a post and rail fence around the approach to the hotel. But perhaps that wouldn’t be in keeping with the weathered appearance of the hotel.
Definitely a fan of all the photos you add to illustrate things. Takes some time to get them shot and posted but I really appreciate your efforts.
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Guys, really appreciate all your comments.
Bryan, HO-2’x4’ so 4’x8’. Dave Revellia used to say “Go big or go home”
Rick, I did warn you.
Steve, yes it’s still the same two colours of grout.
Terry, it still needs a flooding of white glue, a)because its so thin. b)to hold the other scenery materials.
Brett, I know you wont remember but it was one base when I just had the two structures, I cut it in half to do the “Dirt and Details” thread. I’m loving it to, it’s coming out as we imagined. Perfect fit.
Tom, I thought about it, and tried it, didn’t like it, it blocked in the foundation too much, might revisit it but I doubt it.
Dave, I still have quite alot to add to the front yet, stairs, details and a couple more ideas.
Thanks again.
Karl.A
February 2021
brownbr said:
That’s gonna be one big diorama…
This is my initial plan Bryan, and my slow progress so far.
You’ll notice I’ve switched around a few structures but I think it still has the original feel.
This first section will be about 30"x8’…
Karl.A
February 2021
Tonight I’m hoping to
detail/scenic the final side,
detail the front,
detail the structure,
maybe glue everything back on the structure I knocked off or broke,
maybe the roof details
maybe the brick road
I’ve got to make/build/paint the details for these areas so slower progress tonight.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Got some extra details built, some painted, some prepped and placement planned out. Time to take everything back off, get the dirt out and start gluing some things down.
Karl.A
February 2021
First level of dirt and details done, as with the rest of the diorama once this is dry I’ll come back and add all the small fine details, bottles, rags, etc.
I think I’ll do this driveway next as the ground is wet anyway and then move around to the front.
Ok, thats good to go, time to move on…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
It looked so good when I turned it around to work on the front I took another pic,
still very wet obvly.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
I am still amazed at how fast you can bring the scene together. Looks fantastic…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Rick.
When I’ve got it in my head (or the manual) to follow, the rest just flows.
It’s all the sitting around thinking and staring and planning that slows me down.
Planning out the gas scene now,
well, it’s planned out, has been for a long time, just going through the final thoughts, layout and weathering.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
I was wondering what you had in mind in that inset. This is going to be great.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
This was originally Brett’s idea 8 years ago for this model, to have a gas pump scene,
but, I wasn’t feeling it, I couldn’t figure out a way I liked to do it, this was the second reason the dio went up on the shelf back then. I couldn’t get past it at the time.
Now, it’s progressing…
The original balsa form i made,
so now I painted it a light grey.
Exacto scribed cracks
408.3 chalk and extended the cracks down the face of the base.
Black chalk
Scenery/weeds/grass added
I made it out of balsa because I wanted the grain/texture to show.
No point making a grained mold out of balsa and pouring plaster in it to make the plaster look like concrete poured into a rough wooden form. Cut out the middle man. I aint got time for that.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Mountaingoat said:
I was wondering what you had in mind in that inset…
You could of asked…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Test placement, not glued or blended in,
time for me to finish the gas pump and oil high boys and anything else for this little mini-scene…
Yes, I need to remove and redo those brooms in the background because they look atrocious, I knew this before I placed them but, I wanted to get the scene laid out at the time and move on.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Test placement,
I think I’m going to remove this and detail the structure first so that I don’t have to lean over the gas pump and worry about knocking it over while I work.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
I found the dry transfer for the bluesky coke machine in the bottom of the box and tried to apply it to this one. (I just used a printed out sign on bluesky).
I’ve never done a dry transfer before and I messed it up royally.
It didnt come off the first time I rubbed it, so I licked it and it came off better, but it moved quite a bit, hmmm…
At least I got it pretty much centered, I guess that’s another mistake I’ll need to hide, I’m getting good at that.
Karl.A
February 2021
OK, I’m looking for ideas here guys,
I like the right side of the porch but, I need ‘something’ to go next to the bench…
I’d like something low on the right of the bench, I’ve got a spitoon, which might work for the era,
and I’d like something slightly taller for the left side.
I 'm thinking luggage, trunk, etc, but, that would mean scratching that itch, and I’m looking for other ideas first…
I wanna keep it simple, natural, real.
thoughts?
Karl.A
February 2021
The more I think about it the more I know I’m gonna have to scratch some luggage, 'cos its in my minds eye, somebody come up with a better idea and save me…
Karl.A
February 2021
Bill ?
brownbr
February 2021
So how will the hotel guests get up on the porch?
Karl.A
February 2021
brownbr said:
So how will the hotel guests get up on the porch?
Seriously ??
Take some time to read my previous comments that I took the time to write.
kebmo
February 2021
karl,
you could put a little person there talking to another one sitting on the bench??
Karl.A
February 2021
Good idea kevin, Its been sat on my shelf for 8 years with a dude sat on the bench and a yorkie next to him.
i’ll put them back to show you, but, I dont do figures… permanently.
I’m actually thinkin I’ll just leave it as is, seems natural after I’ve been starin at it all night.
admin
February 2021
bring on the Yorkie! Grohe and I will be really happy with that…
Karl.A
February 2021
admin
February 2021
ahhhhh, life is back to “normal”. Starla and Zoe will be happy.
kebmo
February 2021
why the aversion to lp’s?
Karl.A
February 2021
its a bit big for a teacup, more like a teapot, or even an urn… ha
Alan_H
February 2021
Great looking work!
Mountaingoat
February 2021
We know this is not a 5 star establishment so it is probable most guests are long term. That would reduce the idea of luggage. That said, it increases the chance there might be items on the porch that would not normally be on a hotel porch. The one item that come to my mind would be an old steel rocking chair (or wood) for someone else to sit in while they visit. Yes the Yorkie can stay in either case…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021
kebmo said:
why the aversion to lp’s?
I dont mind them for photo’s, because thats a static situation,
never really liked them for in person viewing.
Mine have pins inserted into their feet so I can place them and remove them.
I generally have one on my desk while scratch building for scale perspective when creating scenes, but they’re usually camera shy…
Jerry
February 2021
Karl nice detailing. Love the Yorkie!!
Jerry
Karl.A
February 2021
Thanks Jerry,
give Zoe a treat from me and say ‘Hi’ to Ms Dianne
Karl.A
February 2021
Mountaingoat
February 2021
Looks fantastic Karl…Rick
TomMich
February 2021
Love the placement of your details and the scenery! The gas pump island is a neat scene!
kebmo
February 2021
karl,
[insert superlatives]
MuddyCreekRR
February 2021 edited February 2021
One thing I was always afraid to do was to finish off a kit…on a base…then hope the ground cover matched the remainder of the layout once it got installed on the layout. On the layout I am now planning and slowly…ever so slowly working on…I am following your lead of using the grout as a soil base. I feel it’s easier than trying to use another product that may be hard to find (it’s always in stock at Home Depot) and I’ve never been a fan of real soil. I live in NJ at the Shore area…sand is obviously plentiful…but the other “soil” is usually reddish clay (old sea bed). I do have a lot of New England Brownstone product…the larger talus and such…and I chose a group of grout colors that match it well. And since I model no exact prototype area…the soil is the color I want it to be. I Thank you for all this inspiration…it has helped to get me back in the shop…along with now being quarantined with the Rona. I hope to post some pictures soon…once I get the shop reorganized I very much like what you are doing with this…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks so much Art, Rick, Tom and (lol)Kevin.
Art, do you want me to ‘clean up’ your posts? I’m guessing you just want to leave the last one visible ?
Glad your feeling inspired, can’t wait to enjoy more of your great modeling.
I made the caps for the chimneys, they still need paint and weathering. I’m happy with the caps but so pissed about the chimneys, I shouldn’t have glued them on until I was sure, I had a ‘feeling’ at the time but I ignored it. They’re fixable, but not easy, damnit.
not really much else left to do on day 4 of this build so I think I’m going to get some things together and try to get the brick street done tonight,
progress pics as/when/if it happens…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited March 2021
Theres a few flaws in the foam base but hopefully they wont show up too much in the finished street, this piece obviously fits perfectly because I cut it off the base, it would be hard to cut another to match so hopefully it works out OK the first time.
Time to get it done…
Step 1 done, time for a beer.
MuddyCreekRR
February 2021
Not sure how I did that Karl…yes…you can fix them…I’ seemingly can’t…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
MuddyCreekRR said:
Not sure how I did that Karl…yes…you can fix them…I’ seemingly can’t…
I deleted your first two posts Art, and edited your third for you, I hope I got it right for you,
if not just let me know.
Thanks for your comments and support.
The grout is great and readily available, I’m still on my first bag of each shade from 10 years ago, so everything I’ve built is going to blend together, built today or built back then, that is, if my dioramas ever all come together, maybe one day.
Just make sure to keep the bags away from moisture/humidity, thats hard here for me in MS.
I/we look forward to seeing some of your ‘finished’ work now that you have no excuses…
Karl.A
February 2021
I got bored halfway through, I’ll finish tomorrow, I need a change of pace right now…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Went to bed, watchin TV, trying to relax, an this little voice kept saying…
"Dont quit, dont quit, just get it done…so, I got up, and I did…
Karl.A
February 2021
Figured once I was done carving I might as well give it a wash of black paint to highlight the carving and see where the mistakes were that I would need to hide later.
First black wash to show up what I had to work with…
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Not happy with it so far but, I’ve got to let it dry otherwise I’m going to make it worse, I already made a couple of light spots because the paint wasn’t dry enough, dang it, patience isn’t a virtue I have…
kebmo
February 2021
street is looking real good so far.
KCSTrains
February 2021
Dang Karl. I travel for a few days and you’ve provided three pages of updates!!! Unbelievable progress and great looking scenes. I’m enjoying the show. Phil
ALCO
February 2021
A newspaper on the floor next to the bench. A blanket over the back of the bench for those days where the wind’s off the water.
ALCO
February 2021
A standing ashtray with someone’s pipe still there…anything that indirectly suggests that people sit here and look out over the water?
brownbr
February 2021
Brick street makes for a nice texture variance.
kebmo
February 2021
karl,
i have to say this. please don’t take it wrong, cuz dude, you’re one of the best. i just don’t think the cobblestone street juxtaposed with the dirt works.
i should just stfu cuz you probably already worked it all out…
never mind.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
No problem Kevin, gotta say what you feel and I’m always open to valid input.
First stage progress pics remember, give me a little time.
We’ll see how it works out later when I get to modeling,
if it doesnt work out we can do something else.
Thanks as always for your comment.
Some of my guys are having a meeting about it, I’m sure they’ll come up with something, they usually do…
Karl.A
February 2021
Thanks Kevin, Phil, Alan and Bryan
Some great ideas Alan, I already have the ashtray there but its sitting up on a couple of small boxes, no pipe though, we obviously think alike… I’ll try the newspaper in a few places and see how it looks.
btw, no water on this one, this is ‘in town’, the tracks are on the other side of the road.
Some progress…
How are we looking Kev?
Joel
February 2021
Looks great so far. So did you make a thin plaster/hydrocal slab and cut it the shape of the road and then scratch in every line? That’s incredible. Have Looking forward to how you will blend the cobbles into the diorama. I don’t think anything is “needed” next to the bench but I do get a little feeling of empty space. I do like clutter but have you thought of a small sign? Maybe for Nehi or “No spitting” or something like that. Your pace is incredible but what’s more impressive is the quality.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited March 2021
No plaster this time Joel I just carved it directly into the foam base. Yes, every line and then every brick.
Good thinking on the sign Joel, I had pretty much decided on just a broom leaning on the wall to the left of the bench to give me the height and ‘eye leading’ that I wanted, I had contemplated a sign there too but couldnt come up with anything appropriate to go there, I like your idea of no spitting, maybe no loitering also… hmm
That should take away the emptiness without changing the ‘look/feel’
Karl.A
February 2021
That’ll work, thanks Joel and Alan.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited March 2021
Well, I think I’ve done everything I wanted to do on this one, pretty much finished off.
Except for those danged chimneys, can’t believe I glued and stuck those suckers on there before I was truly happy with them… another lesson learned, again.
The problem is that they are about an inch too tall, it really looks bad in person, especially with the caps on.
I keep putting it off but I know I’ve got to do it, I even cleared off the desk ready for the next build and put ‘most’ things away to delay doing it, but, now’s the time to bite the bullet, there’s nothing else to do.
I’m not really worried about knocking a chimney off, (even though I got them perfectly straight, square and true) or damaging anything on the diorama, anything can always be fixed or glued back on, my problem and hesitance is…
The chimneys are made out of plaster, a half inch square stick that I cast and then carved the bricks into and then cut to size, obviously now, the wrong size… the problem is that when I cut them (hopefully square/level) there is going to be a bunch of white plaster dust, and that could be a problem for the scenery, weathering, etc.
Enough typing, time to start doing…
Mountaingoat
February 2021
There is always something that we are not happy with when we think we are done. We do hesitate to correct them because we thought we were finished…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Indeed Rick, I’m much happier with it now.
Mountaingoat
February 2021
That’s the perfect height. Just above the roof peak. Great weathering around the caps too.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited August 2022
Thanks Rick, the whole structure just looks so much better now to me, those two too tall chimney’s were distracting the hell out of me every time I went to do something.
**
Karl.A**
February 2021 edited March 2021
Not quite finished pics, but, it’s my last set of ‘working’ pics, going around the diorama so that I can look for things that stand out, or something I missed, or needs fixing, or something needs adding, etc.
The camera never lies and I find it useful for picking up any flaws.
kebmo
February 2021
wow
Mountaingoat
February 2021
Truly another wonderful piece of modeling and presentation…Rick
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Kevin and Rick, much appreciated,
while I was looking at the pics for flaws I just noticed this, something I always used to do on my builds and had forgotten about…
TomMich
February 2021
Great touch! Turned out GREAT! Love all the detail work.
MuddyCreekRR
February 2021
I think you got it…it looks just cluttered enough in all the right places…the chimneys do look “right”…very nice…
KCSTrains
February 2021
Karl, I really like the Sierra West sign. It’s a nice touch and your signature on the build. Nice!! Phil
ALCO
February 2021
We’re not worthy! Thank you for posting!
CraigH
February 2021
Karl, Looks good Have one question? … what is on the front lower part of the Clock face gas pump.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
Thanks Tom, Art, Phil, Alan and Craig, glad you like it.
Craig, I’m guessing you are talking about this handle?
This is a 1930’s pump, the same as the one I used on BlueSky. On BlueSky I decided it would have a power feed, so an internal electric pump for the gas.
For this one, to make it different, and to show an older more backwoods situation I gave it the hand crank. The hand crank was used to pump the gas in situations where electricity wasn’t hooked up.
The kit can be built either way, this was prototypical for this style of pump in the 20s/30’s, I did it both ways for variation between the two scenes/models.
CraigH
February 2021
Karl, Your talking to a gas pump nut !!! This is not prototypical … on a tall 10 or 5 gallon visible pump they have a handle that goes back and forth that works there mechanism… the mechanism is a different animal on clock face pumps. that kind of pump came after visible pumps and have a electric motor and a belt that runs a pump that delivers gas and there should be a visi guage on the top left so you can see the gas flowing as the pump is working… How do I know I have owned and sold plenty of early gas pumps at one time I had 3 early clockface pumps.
Karl.A
February 2021 edited February 2021
CraigH said:
Karl, Your talking to a gas pump nut !!! This is not prototypical … on a tall 10 or 5 gallon visible pump they have a handle that goes back and forth that works there mechanism… the mechanism is a different animal on clock face pumps. that kind of pump came after visible pumps and have a electric motor and a belt that runs a pump that delivers gas and there should be a visi guage on the top left so you can see the gas flowing as the pump is working… How do I know I have owned and sold plenty of early gas pumps at one time I had 3 early clockface pumps.
Interior pic of a vintage clock face gas pump with the cover removed to show how the hand pump is attached.
Diagram from the kit - item 12
Best I can tell it’s based on an old Erie pump, but, I just followed the instructions, never looked into it too deep.
CraigH
February 2021
Karl, I found out there was a hand pump option on early clockface pumps. I called a friend that has a HUGE gas pump collection in Michigan and he has one in his collection…I myself have never seen one or heard of this option. The picture of the gas pump with the Yellow Chevelle is a friend that I bought exactly this pump in the picture from Him its a Bennett… Wow small world.