Structure

Freelanced design based on prototype photos. Shell cut from .06 thick scribed sheet basswood. Interior and exterior Mt. Albert siding applied board by board. Windows and door made from thin cut strip-wood white glued over microscope cover glass. Roofs made from .04 thick styrene sheet, covered with drafting vellum held on with double sided tape. Benches, cabinets, shelves and bins made from strip-wood.

Base and ground cover

Drywall compound applied over Masonite to build up contours. Painted with Poly Scale dirt. Real dirt (sifted thru different meshes of brass screen) applied over thinned white glue. Additional rocks, leaves (ground foam and sawdust chips) and dried grass (macramé twine) applied. Weeds made from macramé twine with finely sifted ground foam glued on top. Trees are tapered balsa trunks with Caspia branches covered with ground foam. Bushes are Supertrees with ground foam glued on.

Painting and Weathering

Most wood grained using fine wire brush and sharp knife, and then treated with Silverwood stain, available from C.C. Crow. Interior boards individually scuff brushed with Poly Scale Antique white. Various shades of Bragdon weathering powders were applied to add grimy effect. Floor stained with Floquil Oak over the Silverwood and dusted with weathering powders. Oil stains are mixed Roof Brown and Engine Black paint, applied in diluted form until desired affect achieved.

Exterior painted wood technique (each strip done individually and then applied to wall): Add grain effects with wire brush, and sharp knife. Add knotholes with .03 MM drafting pencil. Stain with several applications of Silverwood. Apply light coat of Poly Scale Antique White (or Pactra Hull Red) with stiff, short bristled brush, pushing the brush forward and back to build up color. If worked a lot, more of the underlying gray will come through, achieving a thinning paint effect. On some boards the paint was “scuffed” on fairly thick. After drying for a few minutes, come back with a sharp toothpick moistened in water and pick away at the thicker areas of paint to represent peeling paint. Some boards treated with light application of Silverwood after painting. Also applied dry-brushed Mud (yellow) to some boards.

Nail holes: Dip sharp dental pick in Floquil Black paint and poke into siding. Come back quick with brush dipped in paint thinner and remove most of the black in direction of wood grain.

Metal parts generally undercoated with mix of Floquil Rust and Roof Brown. Colors brushed on or sprayed on from Floquil or Testors spray cans. Weathered with Rust-all, Bragdon powders.

Details

Lots of commercial castings used, most modified in some way or another. Partial list: 

Berkshire Valley (formerly Chooch): Tires, tire pump, compressor parts, misc. cans, spout for drum.

C.H.B. models: tools, vice, screw jack, overhead belt pulleys.

Evergreen Hill: Tires, radiators, wheels, brooms, batteries, engine blocks, floor jack, funnel.

Grandt Line: 55 gallon drums, radiators, electrical boxes, oilcans with spouts, headlights for main sign, office stove.

GRS: Welder, micro lights and shades.

Mackenzie (Bill Roy): wheels, engine parts, steering wheels.

Master Creations: Hit and miss engine (with SS Ltd. flywheels).

Pacific Short Line: welding tanks, Jerry can.

Revell: Tires and misc. parts from old 1/48 scale truck kits.

Structure Co.: Mailbox door (rest made from styrene).

SS Ltd.: Model T engine.

Western Scale Models: Drill press (modified).

Watch parts (gears and spindles).

Fan belts made from .005 styrene. Oil cans cut from .080 brass rod. Hoses made from solder or annealed brass wire.

Gas pump and Lubesters

Gas pump body from old damaged Chooch casting. New base disc cut from styrene with NBW’s applied. Upper cylinder cut to length from glass medicine dropper. Cylinder base and cap modified from styrene scrapbox parts. Gallon indicators made from N scale etched brass fencing material with computer printed numbers applied. Brass wire used for tie rods and misc. plumbing. Tomalco pipe fittings used. Pump handle and excellent nozzle from Backshop.  Hose from annealed brass wire. Lubester tanks made from Evergreen styrene. Pumps are modified from Berkshire Valley (Chooch) castings. Left hand pump handles cut off and cast-on tie rods sanded off. New brass wire tie rods applied and new handles made from styrene mounted to right side. Handle lock made from .005 styrene.

Signs

Red Oak signs printed on computer using Microsoft Word. Laminated with Scotch magic tape and glued to styrene sheet with spray adhesive. Lettering on canopy posts are dry transfers. Color logo signs from Microscale decals applied over .005 styrene, sprayed with Dullcoat and trimmed to shape. Weathered with Bragdon powders. (Note: Texaco signs aren’t available from Microscale anymore) 

Tow Truck

Started with old Wheel Works 1934 Ford pick-up kit. Cut off bed section and sanded cab roof and hood for better fit. Chassis and wheels came from 1/48 German Ford military resin truck kit from Squadron Mail Order (Note: these kits are imports and are available sporadically. Call for availability.) Cab interior enhanced with gauges, pedals and Mackenzie steering wheel. Evergreen frame channels added, held on with brass wire U-bolts. Tow rig made from Evergreen styrene, brass rod and C.H.B. gears, pulley and hook. Toolbox and jerry can mount made from styrene. Mirror and taillight from scrapbox bits and brass wire. License plate from Revell ‘32 Ford sedan kit, sanded thinner. Sprayed with Floquil Reefer Orange paint which was color sanded to thin out. Fenders painted with Poly Scale Engine Black.  Weathered with Bragdon powders.

Fordson Industrial Tractor

Excellent Mackenzie kit built almost straight from the box. Added scratchbuilt manifold, coil box and front spindle detail. Gas tank and front wheels removed for service. Note rust streaks around the radiator cap, a common feature of frequently overheating Fordsons.

Lighting and Welder

Interior lighting via G.O.W bulbs, and flourette bulbs (available from Walthers-often used to illuminate passenger cars). 1.5 volt micro bulbs and shades from GRS used for visible lights. Grandt Line speeder headlights used for main sign light fixtures. Welder from GRS. Uses radio to provide random welding effect (if a strong radio signal is available!)

Thanks everybody, for all the help!

Chuck Doan

2004