Tall Pines Depot by Vector Cut

[NEMMRRC]

I guess I'm the only one that has managed to CA glue his eyelid while building toy trains

Carry on...

Jaime

[Cletus]

Next is step 9; which involves multiple steps. It instructs you to glue the windows and doors from the inside of the building. The windows fit inside a slight cut out area that aligns them beautifully. The various doors go on top of the spacers glued in place early on. I checked each window to make sure I did not need to sand or adjust anything before gluing. Took a minute is all.

I add the pinprick size dap of glue in the corners of the cutouts and on the spacers one at a time and placed the windows. Once the windows were correctly placed within the building, I added globs of Aleene’s quick dry white glue along the edges. The instructions further suggest adding CA along the inside edge, but my globs of white glue will suffice I think.

Once again, when viewed from the front the 3D result is impressive in my opinion.

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I then set about adding the windows in the bay window framing. This was when I discovered the gluing of the desk onto the window prior to installing might require sanding of the side. Once the side windows were glued in place, I used clamps to hold everything.

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Once this dried enough, I placed the front bay window in, and used small clamps to hold it tight to the framing. I then placed some larger clamps on the outside of the bay window walls bringing them tight to the desk piece and added a dab of CA to help keep everything square.

The next picture looks like over kill on the clamps, I know, but they were all I had and are serving different purposes. I could have stepped through this process slower perhaps and not have the need to clamp. No one, especially my wife, has ever said I am a patient person!

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Watch what you touch with CA... no eyelids, no, nose..... Bazinga!

[Cletus]

Continuing with step 9, I glued on the external brackets. I trial fit each one, and needed to sand a little off of each tab. Thankfully they are study enough in my big hands to hold on to. I used an emery board fine grit side. Once I had one in place, I added CA from the inside to seep into and around the tab. I hit each with a shot of kicker to set up the CA while I held it perpendicular to the wall.

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The next step is to glue the base onto the bottom. It goes inside and flush to the bottom. It is the piece that originally held the rafters on the inside.

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Once in place I added CA inside at each corner, then dabbed Aleene’s quick grab white glue along the other edges inside the building. I then added clamps to square it up until the glue dries.

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While this was drying over night, I decided to go back and re-paint some parts I painted the wrong color. I think I mentioned at the time, that some of the items on the one card I painted red may need redone as I had no clue at the time just what they would be used for! The two dormer pieces I repainted with two lights coats of Depot Buff as used on my main building. To cover the red, it opted for the two light coats. The first dried well in about an hour and I then went right over to add the second coat.

While I was doing the repaint, I went ahead a painted the other two details on the same card. The bicycle I painted according to suggested colors. Brown seat, black frame and handle bar, as well as the penny scale (which is beautifully made by the way) I believe Dave should offer these as a separate detail purchase myself (hint-hint). I painted this gold and rubbed the footplate with a artists lead pencil.

I used craft paints as in the picture for the various colors mentioned. BTW, I have no preference for brand as you can tell. I am sure there is a professional artist who can speak to all the differences in brands (if there is one), but that is not something I know about. I pick this way: walk into store, look at hundreds of differing colors for the one I want and when I see it — buy it. I think it logical!

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[Cletus]

After The bottom bracing in the building dried, I then glued the bay window in place as instructed. If fit very well. While holding it in place I dabbed a small amount of CA on the inside by the tab and building wall. I then applied a clamp to ensure it was snug to the wall and used Elmer’s wood glue on the inside along all areas where the bay window touched the building. I’ll let this set up and move to the next phase, steps 10, 11 and part of 12.

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I followed instructions and glued the parts of the dormer together.

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The first part of step 12 was to glue the roof end=trim pieces on , which I did. I used wood glue and did one end at a time. After the minute amount of wood glue dried, I went back and added a little CA in spots. I also used CA to glue the additional vertical trim pieces onto the ends. These are tiny and fragile. I also added the trim to the dormer while I was at it. I’ll need to go back and touch up the red paint a little.

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[Cletus]

This next few pictures are NOT part of the actual kit, but needed to be done for the spot the depot will occupy on my layout.

I took time to build the platform I will place the model on at this point. I have a little bit of an odd area that I am revising on the layout. So I will need to do a little creative work. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and have a plan.

In any case, it will involve a multi-level platform area. So I cut out those pieces and applied the decking.

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This picture is directly after some initial weathering.

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[Cletus]

Short delay in progress. Busy household!

Per instructions, I glued the shingle roof panels on both the main roof and dormer.
Prior to doing this, I checked the fit on the structure with the sub roof. It was tight on tolerance, but did snap into place with a little manipulation. I filed ever so slightly the tabs basically doing not much more than removing the paint.

I used Aleene’s white glue again for the shingle roof when gluing. The same was done for the dormers. You can follow the suggestion to weight this down while drying, or in my case use clamps to do so. I’ll let this cure well for a couple hours.

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While all this was drying, I weathered and applied some dry brushing to the decking surface of the base. Once again, the base is not part of the kit, but rather something I came up with for my needs. I used acrylics craft paints: Driftwood and Barnwood to lightly dry brush the surface.

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I also prepared a surface for sanding the dormer once the roof is dried to meet the main roof flush. To ensure I get an even and flat sanding, I use my piece of glass I bought a couple years back for the same reason. It is flat and even. I then tape sand paper to the surface.

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I will attempt to get some more done this evening........ Fingers crossed!!!!

[Cletus]

I painted the entire roof a Polly-scale building brown. I mixed in the smallest amount of a darker brown. Honestly, I spent the most time trying to decide on a roof color. Why I do not know! I finally decided on this color.

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I returned to the roof shingles and applied “gutter” material around the dormer. This was made up of copper and black craft paints with a mixture of patina “green” Doc O'Brien's Weathering Powders:
http://www.micromark.com/doc-obriens-we ... ,7798.html

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A very light coat of Future Acrylic floor finish was applied. I left this dry before applying the wash.

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The wash was made up to a water color consistency. The instructions recommended a gray-ish color. I used the black and white oils I had on hand to get a grayish color diluted with a solvent.

I applied this over the entire roof with a ¼ inch soft brush from the roof peak downward in most cases just letting it run the natural contours of the roof as would happen in nature. In other words, the streaks and collection areas are what they are just as on a real roof. I took the picture while it was still wet, so it probably will look a little shiny to everyone, and definitely is darker right now than it will look once dry.

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[Cletus]

Well the heat in the east is oppressive and oppressive to wanting to model. But I did to a little more.

While the roof dries, I decided to apply mortar to chimney. I painted with the chimney a craft paint Barn Red color a couple days ago, and then applied Durham’s Water Putty and used a soft cloth that was moist to wipe the brick surfaces off and wet the residual putty which will dry and seal the mortar joints.

Now the instruction sheet suggests flour for use as mortar and I was going to try this. I never used four before, but am interested in trying this. I will do so in the future, however since I was already at the workbench and the water putty was right there I just used it.

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After an overnight drying period, I hit the roof with a light spray of Dull Coat, set it aside and pulled out some Vector Cut letters and their pack of building plates… or whatever you call them. NOTE: these two packs are NOT part of the kit.

I don’t want to weather this building into derelict condition. The town of Meddows is very proud of this station, and the citizens keep it in good condition. Since the building will reside in my town of Meddows, I needed to make up new nameplates. The letters from Vector Cuts will serve this purpose well.

I also added a very light dry brushing of an off-white and light brown (Mushroom and Territorial brown craft paint) to the roof. I also applied my weakest solution of alcohol & india ink to the building walls. Once all this dries I will go back and add some weathering using MIG pigments.

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Coming dow home stretch and I promise to try to get this completed soon!

[Cletus]

I next glued the roof on. The instructions make this optional and it fits snug enough to not have to glue the roof on. The options of glue or not in the instructions is in case you wish to install lighting in the building. I will not be doing that now or in the future, so I opted to glue it on.
Once the glue set up I applied a dry brushing of light brown acrylic paint in areas. I also applied various MIG pigments for weathering. Once again, I did not want this building to be as aged as some other ones. I feel most stations were “kept up” in their time and approached any weathering with this in mind. I will also add a little more weathering at the bottom of the building where it meets the base.

Once I was satisfied with the weathering I applied a thin line of wood glue to the underside of the building and placed it on the base I built earlier and placed weights on the roof over night.

I also painted some of the lettering I would use for the name of the station— Meddows. I came up short on letter “D” as I need 4 and there are only three. But I will convert a “B” and use it. I also painted the builders plate I will use. I am torn with the builders plate a little as I am now not sure if it is a little too big for the building. I do have some other building plates that are a little smaller and may opt to use one of those. Those I bought from ScaleLink in the UK— http://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

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buildingbase.jpg

(96.6 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Cletus]

Why that second image will not preview I do not know... guess you'll need to click on it to view.