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Just an experiment, but for some time have wanted to build a rough seas scene with a Revell PT boat. Want to replicate speed and also the bow diving hard into a large swell. Using the lid from a Wendy's salad container, tempera paints, cotton, and some thick clear acrylic called "triple thick" from hobby lobby, it seems to have potential. The boat in this pic is a glue bomb and this was just a test. These cheap clear food containers cut and shape easily. I've used them in the past for windshields. A hair dryer does wonders to reshape them. Anyway, it's just one more idea to put in the back of our cluttered minds. For the cost and being a first go around thrown together in ten minutes,, the results aren't bad imo. Peace.

Very impressive!

There is some minor straightening to do here and there and more weathering on the fountain is needed (all loosely placed thankfully)...amazing how pictures reveal flaws the eye cannot see...but otherwise say this one is nearly done.. The perimeter border/frame is still under deliberation. Meanwhile, the (thus far unsuccessful) search for suitable 1/25 figures dressed in 1920's garb continues. Once those are found, only then will this thing be truly done. The only major "failure" not easily fixed in my less than humble opinion is thinking fiber optics would suffice for the porch lights. The "filament" diameter chosen was far too small. Maybe a pocket laser channeled through them would make them visible? Anyway, attached is the inspiration photo. Hopefully the ability to continue watching in coming months will continue though posts may be sparse. Peace

As one who tuned out the world for well over 6 months, I must say the quality of your work, lighting, and photography has gone from "good" to "outstanding". It is as if that elusive corner we all seek has been turned. Granted I am partial to B&W and an arrogant/ignorant Yank, but in some of your most recent pix, I half expect to see Winston Churchill or develop a hunger for a Hitchcock film...two very enjoyable things.

Thanks. A few petty details for amusement purposes. I build cheap as possible. Other than the basic kit most everything is from dollar general or re purposed stuff. That includes most paints and adhesives. Precision fit is the city delivery truck. Lindberg kit with minimal mods. Remainder is scratch built from sheet plastic, sandpaper, and tinfoil scribed with a comb for the building exterior. Trailer only goes in about an inch at an angle. Toll bridge is the tank on the bridge. "Tokam" kit. Very nice kit. Scratch built otherwise out of balsa, dirt, and twigs. Trees are woodland scenics foilage..no trunks. I'm still trying to find a cheap alternative for the trees and shrubs...getting closer. Probably will finish the tank with a skeleton to hold turret but leave all exterior skin off. Delivering the mail is the Korean era army truck. A glue bomb found reworked and muddied up. Scrap pile is just that. Real dirt. Tarp is a chunk of panty hose. Class is the peterbilt from their 1970's advertising program. House is scratch built styrene. Porch lamps and planters are extra tank sprockets, tank barrel, and jet engine parts. Plants are cotton balls. Rock wall is craft paper. Shingles are popsicle sticks. Columns from a wedding cake. Truck is a Revell snap kit. White walls are styrene. Air cleaners are brass tube and fuel strainer screen. Working on more flowers and a fountain now. I use woodland scenics turf for grass but to get texture, apply it over cheap "scotchbrite" like pot scrubbing pads. Static grass is nice but too pricey for my needs imho. Thanks.

Been a while and hope all are doing well. Got a few projects done and some nearing completion as you can tell. Enjoy. Look close at bridge on tank diorama. Follow the wire.

Likely to be last post for a while. Rooting thru the junk box, a few things were found and figured i'd have some fun. "Biff's trading of the Volvo for a new 300 series diesel with whitewalls and tucked leather interior fails to impress Muffy. "

It seems there is or was a very similar building front in the model railroad kit world but marketed as a hospital if that is of any use to you. Perhaps walthers or one of their suppliers offered it but amnesia takes hold.

Thank you.

Price mostly. I repurpose, salvage, and rack my brains searching for and developing alternatives. Time i got...money not so.

You pulled off another great piece. I seem to vaguely remember their "new" day cab road commodes. I think they had cats which really surprised me and thought it odd how half the engine was exposed. Ahhh...amnesia alley. Your interior detailing and ability to work with resin kits are personal favorites.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm still working on a base surround and trying to make a better net out of small diameter solder.

Wow! The art deco styling fits! I never would have guessed RR incorporating it into anything they had a finger in. It seems almost paradoxical yet they pulled it off very well in my opinion. Quite an undertaking you are starting but know its in capable hands.

Just out of curiosity...any recommendations on where to find fancy wrought iron railings and ornate hanging porch lights? My eyes aint what they used to be and prefer to not scratch build if reasonable alternatives exist. Thus far nothing remotely close found in the g scale or dollhouse world but don't know the best places to look.

Thank you. I like valejo and the other kinds as well but treat them like fine spices due to price. More and more i'm using the cheapest acrylics i can where there is a chance of getting away with it. Genetically modifed paints are increasingly the norm in other words. Recently the celiing in my lair received a much needed repaint with so called "ceiling paint". Its thick and snow white designed to cover a multitude of sins as well as fly turds . At $20 a gallon and with half a gallon left over, it will be showing up in alot of places in this and other builds. Add a drop or two of strong color, ink, wood stain, food coloring, beet juice, or a pulverized eye of gnewt and tongue of yak will and it covers a lot of foam and wood pretty good...fast and cheap. Longevity and interaction with atypical substances are uncertain but i do know this...ceiling paint seem to go everywhere and stick to everything. Now if i was just as smart as tom sawyer.....

Impressive. I tried to "wreck" a kit like this in my youth. My method involved gasoline and matches. Desired results were not achieved. Explaining to my dad about the ruined bbq grille lead to negative feedback not so easily dismissed either.

Driveway complete. It's foam board scribed with the edge of a coin. I then applied a paper thin coat of extremely watered down spackling. I then dabbed it with a wet sponge to further thin it and create a texture on the pavers. Painting followed with the whole thing painted tan then mixing a few different shades of brown to do the pavers. Pavers were painted in random fashion, unmasked, without cleaning the brush during the process. I used very cheap craft paints with a little bit of vallejo paints mixed in to achieve desired colors. For the price, it seems to be okay. Its always nice to be able to spray with a water hose to try again or use as target practice without the wallet shedding tears. If an ounce of ambition strikes, i will try again and stagger the pavers.

Doubtful but will contact a buddy who might know a buddy kind of thing. Nice time of year to visit edmonton. Just show up on their doorstep bearing gifts. Thanks for the carriage info. It looks like a neat build .

They are amazing to watch...and the operators. You must work with it and "listen" to it. It proves, to me anyway, when strength, brains, and good dose of humility are put into action, amazing and beautiful things can happen/appear. The arrogant and willfully ignorant show their true colors in a matter of minutes....and lose.

Very nice job on the windows. I probably missed it but where did the carriage come from?

Outstanding! Where did you get the loader?

As stated in caterpillar and earthworm, i'm trying once again on posts due to the members here. You guys are like family to me and above all, quality and character matter Anyway, this has been a project underway for a very long time. The truck is a revell snap kit with home made air cleaners and a few other tweaks. I finally acquired columns from a wedding cake that will work. That had been a major holdup. Architectural garden with a fountain and statue are planned. A local artist is working on creating the figures from scratch. That was the other big holdup. House will be sliced and inside detailed inside as i prefer to build things that can be viewed from most any angle. Yup, this one is going to take some time but atleast its finally moving from idea to reality.

Going to try another stab at this. Unlike deviantart, the quality of dialogue and character of the members is exponentially better and more constructive. Anyway, this is a roden 1/35 holt 75 assembled last year. Quality of the kit was about like a lindberg... poor. Step one is to throw away the instructions. Step 2 is spending a week cleaning it up before priming or gluing anything. There is a pony under the pile of manure if willing to search for it. The objective is to have this thing breaking fresh ground on the northern plains. Cheap suggestions on prairie grass are welcome. Static grass is out. I keep going back to using paint brush bristles for the grass but cant figure out how to cover a large area and pack it tight. Also ideas on starting point for the moldboard plows are welcome. Suggestions appreciated.

Thank you all for the kind words. Hopefully i (and to lesser extent this website) can get it together on pix, posts, and editing. Two other projects are underway and would like to do a start to finish journal.

Wanted to finish up this thread. I used dryer lint over steel wool over a thin brass rod. Hairspray holds it. It will be made "longer" but this works really well. Also, threw in one with it lit though very difficult to photograph and have lighting balanced time exposures pulled out "light leaks".