Conrad's Engine Service Lot

[Straightliner59]

I have been fiddling around with this, for a bit, now. I built the wood wall, and sliding doors, along with the Sinclair sign a month or two ago. I have been wanting some sort of photo backdrop for my models. I finally got around to doing something about it. Today, I applied a printed brick face to a piece of foam board, and mounted the sign to it, just to get an idea as to how it will function. 

Ideally,  it would be about two inches bigger. 10" is cutting it close,  but I was working with what I had on hand. I used a Fiskar's paper crimper to make the corrugated doors. I'll be adding a flagstone walk along the brick wall, and a small pine tree, in the corner. The drive area will be asphalt or concrete, or, maybe gravel of fine ballast.

Here are some test shots. Thanks for looking!

[Anglia105E]

You are off to a fine start Daniel, and it will be interesting to see where this one goes . . .

David W.

[Mark W]

Looking goodDaniel! It will just get better as you add on.

[bobss396]

I need to do something similar. Something I can store away when not in use.

My mom worked in a department store and would bring home big coat boxes that were white. The lid and bottom were usable.

We made window frames from construction paper, engine cranes from plastic sprue. It was a lot of fun.

[Straightliner59]

21 hours ago, Anglia105E said:

You are off to a fine start Daniel, and it will be interesting to see where this one goes . . .

David W.

If I can figure out a way to make it practicable,  I may have the brick wall replaceable with other prints. That might be interesting.

[Straightliner59]

21 hours ago, Mark W said:

Looking goodDaniel! It will just get better as you add on.

Thanks, Mark. It should provide enough interest as a backdrop, I think. It's been fun to poke at.

[Straightliner59]

1 hour ago, bobss396 said:

I need to do something similar. Something I can store away when not in use.

My mom worked in a department store and would bring home big coat boxes that were white. The lid and bottom were usable.

We made window frames from construction paper, engine cranes from plastic sprue. It was a lot of fun.

Those were fun times! I had considered doing a walk-in door and a window in place of the printed brick wall. I've enjoyed seeing the photos.

[bobss396]

22 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Those were fun times! I had considered doing a walk-in door and a window in place of the printed brick wall. I've enjoyed seeing the photos.

For us as kids, it passed the time and cost us nothing. We used whatever was laying around.

[Straightliner59]

1 hour ago, bobss396 said:

For us as kids, it passed the time and cost us nothing. We used whatever was laying around.

I couldn't tell you how many hours I spent with nothing but a pocketful of Matchbox cars and a pile of dirt! I'm smiling,  just thinking about it!

I had a Woodland Scenics pine tree kit here. I figured it would look good,  it the corner. I scraped off the mold lines and shot it with Grey primer, then washed that with Vallejo Oiled Earth. I followed that with a dry brushing of a light Humbrol brown. Lastly, I dry brushed the undersides of the branches with Humbrol Brown Bess.

When I applied the foliage,  rather than use the "meshed-together" foliage,  as it came from the kit, I scissored it into small bits. I then applied those individually,  using Alene's Tacky Glue. I am very happy with the colors of the trunk and branches! Overall,  it's a happy, little tree, and is not, I think, a detraction!

I set the flagstone using Elmer's Glue, in conjunction with Woodland Scenics soil colored turf, to level the individual pieces, just as I have done many times,  in 1:1, except, this time, my muscles don't ache! I plan to use a couple of colors of green turf, between the stones, to resemble moss. The corner area will be grassy, with the appropriate bareness,  beneath the tree.

I am pretty pleased with the thing. It's been a ton of fun,  as well. Thanks for looking!

[BK9300]

Just found this, Daniel - looks fantastic!  Great backdrop for your photo sessions.  How the heck did you get the 'corrugated' doors to flatten out so nicely, after running them through the crimper?

[Straightliner59]

56 minutes ago, BK9300 said:

Just found this, Daniel - looks fantastic!  Great backdrop for your photo sessions.  How the heck did you get the 'corrugated' doors to flatten out so nicely, after running them through the crimper?

Thanks,  Brian. Actually,  they came out fairly flat. Also, I mounted them on wood frames.  Not much of a fight, at all!🙂

[bobss396]

I would need to make something that could be put into a 11" x 17" banker's box for storage. I like the idea of 2 open sides.

[slusher]

Very nice looking diorama

[Straightliner59]

On 5/28/2025 at 5:17 AM, bobss396 said:

I would need to make something that could be put into a 11" x 17" banker's box for storage. I like the idea of 2 open sides.

Yeah, I have limited space, as well. I used this base, because it had been sitting here, forever. It's  10"×10", so that should work! I thought the two open sides would be the best utilization of space. I think my Nostalgia Top Fueler will fit, in the driveway area, although I haven't tried it with the flagstone installed. 

[Straightliner59]

On 5/28/2025 at 7:00 AM, slusher said:

Very nice looking diorama

Thank you, Carl. I appreciate it, sir!

I have been making progress.  The tree is done. So is part of the landscaping around it. It will get some static grass, to go along with the brown "turf", as Woodland Scenics calls it. I made the hummock around the tree with Perma Scene. Once the restbof the landscaping is completed in that area, I will blend in the base of the tree with a little more "turf".

I am very happy with the tree--it's a...well, it's a happy, little tree!😅 I filled the voids among the flagstone with green turf, to represent moss. It will get a touch of static grass, here and there, as well. 

For this update, I brought in my Junior Fueler. As always,  questions,  comments and critiques are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Edited May 30 by Straightliner59

[bobss396]

4 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Yeah, I have limited space, as well. I used this base, because it had been sitting here, forever. It's  10"×10", so that should work! I thought the two open sides would be the best utilization of space. I think my Nostalgia Top Fueler will fit, in the driveway area, although I haven't tried it with the flagstone installed. 

I could make it modular. Have a driveway-parking area add on section. Make it all fit into a single box when not in use.

[Straightliner59]

49 minutes ago, bobss396 said:

I could make it modular. Have a driveway-parking area add on section. Make it all fit into a single box when not in use.

No doubt! That's how model railroad shows are done--there's a set of standards, so that modules can be connected.

[Straightliner59]

I printed new bricks. I wasn't nuts about the repeating pattern. It was much too pronounced. I also made a new sign, and located it centrally,  on the wall.

I mixed two colors of railroad ballast, in order to attempt an exposed-aggregate concrete, for the driveway. I should have replicated some control joints. Oh, well. I still need to backfill some areas of the flagstone, and along the edging, on the drive-side. Then, I will do a little weathering,  overall.

In the meantime,  no telling who might show up at this garage! Thanks for looking!

[Mark W]

Nice display, nice cars! What body is that on the dragster?