GTMust

Go for it Paul....... storefronts give all kinds of design potential. Now if I could just figure out what my venders are selling....... Tony

Love the blue Nick. Great paint job. What paint did you use? I've got a glue bomb one of these sitting in a plastic baggy..... may have to get it out! Tony

Just picked up this kit myself. Wanted to do a replica of my '84 E150 Funcraft conversion van, but that would be a long project with many mods to the basic kit (barn side doors, longer body, side wondows, raised roof, etc., etc.)...... so I think I'll just build it fairly stock instead! Just too many other kits waiting to get onto the workbench. I'm really looking forward to seeing the progress on yours. Tony

Thanks Alex. You do great work..... Tony

Brilliant.......!!!!! Tony

I agree 100%... but I think you may have misinterpreted what I meant. What started as a single cannon and a homie.... is turning into one of Jim's great works of art. Definitely no disrespect intended! Tony

From such a simple concept at the beginning, this is going to be one heck of a dio! I'm just lovin' it! Tony

Thanks for the interest Charlie and Vaughn. The "bricks" I think you referred to Charlie, are actually supposed to be the "cut stone". You can see how they vary in size, compared to bricks. I could have made a brick wall as per the foamcore board method used on a number of projects on the board (including dannyi's great garage dio) but couldn't face the idea of doing it in 1/32 scale! Unfortunately, brick pattern sheets in styrene are difficult to find in this scale. I did get some paper printouts, but they just don't look real enough. So now I have to search the web for some reference pics of what cut stone of this type might look like in real life...... if such thing even exists! I plan to make the facing around the storefronts look like granite or marble as may have been done in the day, so that also will need some materials research. I think this buiding may take longer to construct than the real thing! Tony

If that's what you can achieve on the kitchen table......... can't wait to see what you can do in a real hobby room! Welcome, and keep us updated on the room as well as the model...... Tony

Decided to bring this one back out of hibernation and get a bit more accomplished. (Strange.... hibernation usually starts about now.....?) Anyway, first order of business is the upper wall area. I toyed with brick but couldn't find any in 1/32 at my local hobby shop...... but they did have some "cut stone" in 1/48 scale. I figure cut stone could be any size, so it should work for me at 1/32 scale as well. The challenge here was creating the returns at the sides of the windows. After the main area was covered and the window openings cut, I had to cut each return individually and glue it in place, using the window to determine the setback. After they are all done, I'll sand the extensions flush and use some filler at the corners and (hopefully) sand that to shape. Here's the start of the cut stone project: Painting will be fun to get the look and texture of the stone. This picture gives an idea of where I'm heading with it. I changed the base that was seen in a previous picture. I also cut out the rear walls to each storefornt, so that I can glue the "glass" in place and detail the windows from the rear. (The Mustang is a cheap 1/32 scale diecast just to give an idea of size.) This will be an ongoing project between other builds..... just for the occasional break! No rush........ Tony

Alex..... what scale are these? I assume the vehicles are diecasts, and I would love to get my hands on the Morris van, and possibly the Ford Transit (or is it a Bedford?..... it's been a while since I lived in the UK.) I work my dios in 1/32 scale and these look like they might work for me. Tony

To me it looks really good in primer. Perhaps you could finish it as a "primered rod". That would solve your color problem. Tony

I'm just loving this! What a great break from the norm....... Tony

Another truly inspiring build Geoff...... I'm always in awe of your clean building techniques. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Tony

Whatever the reason for your stay in the hospital, I hope you have a speedy recovery and all goes well. Tony

Thanks for the explanantion. As a retired architect, I should have known more about Frank Lloyd Wright's work! Did you get plans from somewhere or just build the model by eye. You did a great jpb! Tony

Sorry George... with all due respect...... most of the video is shaky and out of focus and impossible for me to really see what it's all about. Can you take some still pictures so we can see what the garage really looks like? Tony

Thanks Brad. I don't know about the glass insulators... but the rest of your suggestions are very do-able, especially the stove pipe. But I'll have to check on the lights for the sign. From various source pics I've seen, the pylon signs don't appear to be lit in the '20's to early '40's era. (Phew.... that makes my life easier! LOL) Thanks for you comment Danny. Tony

Looks like you have some architectural drafting background....... the brick arch is pretty realistic and takes much of the weight off that wooden lintel. And, as a retired architect, I would second Mike's comment about the concrete. This is really coming together nicely....... Tony

I feel your pain Geoff........ but a great recovery! Tony

Definitely some major surgery there! Is the kit body really that bad...... I was thinking of getting one to add to my Thunderbird collection....... but not sure I want to spend all that time modifying the body. Looks like you're doing a great job..... keep the pics and WIP descriptions coming. Tony

Beautiful.... beautiful..... beautiful! Tony

Nice dio Melvin. But what and where is "Lindholm Station". Is it a model of a real place? More details please..... I don't have a FB account. Tony

I figured the storefont needed a light over the door, so I came up with this idea. I used a small coat hook for the light frame and cut off the end of it.....then cut a small piece from the end of a styrene tube. I searched through Michael's costume jewelry untill I came up with something "bell like" that looked like a fancy light shade and superglued it to the light frame. And... voila! Now the 1/32 scale folks can see in the dark..... One more little detail done! Tony

Beautiful!! First time I've ever seen a Turbo 2.3 in a '65 convertible! Not sure I'd do it to a real '65.... but it looks like it was meant to fit. (Except for the shock tower brace.) Well done. Tony