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Started building a new project, this is a machine shop in O scale with a full interior. Building walls are from a limited edition Downtown Deco kit "Kozak's Machine Shop". They were assembled as per the kit instructions, I sealed the inside joints where the panels meet with drywall compound which was smoothed out. Planning on a plastered interior since the kit has no brick detail on the inside faces.
This building will have a full set of Western Scale shop machinery installed which means reworking the entire roof system to allow it to be lifted off without disturbing the overhead drive belt system. Western Scale based their machinery on that used in the Sierra RR's machine shop. The first piece that I have nearly complete is the car wheel borer, next up is the radial arm drill. These are very nice pieces with great detail just time consuming to clean and assemble, there are 60 pieces in the radial arm drill.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
I look forward to this build. Please keep the photos coming.
Dave
Got the building sign painted on the front of the shop, still have to weather it but that will come when all of the weathering is applied. Inside the walls have a two tone paint scheme with medium gray up 4'3" from the floor and a light gray above it. On the machinery, the radial arm drill press is starting to be painted, while the smaller of the two lathes was begun.
Note that the base board is larger then the building as I am planning on an addition to the rear and a materials rack on the left side.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Installed the concrete floor in the main building today, then laid out the rear addition and put in it's floor and foundation. Addition is going to be wood construction with it's roof also removable so full wall studs and blocking.
Finished up with painting the "concrete" foundation on the main building along with the "concrete" architectural details.
Also finished up with the painting on the radial arm drill. The layout on all of the various machines will be similar to what was used in the prototype Sierra Railroad's shop which is very similar in size.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Added a couple of small "mounds" to the otherwise flat base board with drywall spackle. Once it was dry and smoothed out with a wet paper towel it was painted with "soil" color paint then real dirt was sprinkled on for the basic ground cover. Other work today consisted of painting some of the doors and windows getting them ready for "glass" installation tomorrow. Front portion of the base will have asphalt put on it, using the Arizona Rock product which is mixed into a paste with diluted white glue and applied with a putty knife.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
This is gonna be swell....
Some up close (perhaps too close) photos of the first two machines. The green piece is the radial arm drill press. The gray is the wheel borer. I even detailed it with a brass builders plate designed for HO scale which fit perfectly on the front.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Some better shots of the first two machines, on the car wheel borer you can see the brass HO scale locomotive builders plate that I thought looked just right for this machine.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Now on to some of the modifications that are needed on the plaster kit detail it for a full interior. The kit had a lip on each of the window openings designed to hold the Grant Line window castings in a uniform position, this was carved off and replaced with 60x60 Evergreen strip. Since the windows were not a tight fit 30x100 Evergreen strip was added to three sides to fill in the gaps. On the inside of the window opening 20x125 trim was added to finish out the windows. Only difficulty on all this is each opening is a slightly different size so all of the pieces have to custom cut and fitted.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Last shot shows three of the windows completed.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Nice work, Matt. What did you use for the window glass?
Jim windows are glazed with .05 Evergreen. The "broken" panes are made using a sharp #11 blade drawn repeatedly in a random pattern over the point of impact.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Some early shots of a bank of storage shelves. These are scratch built using scale 1x12s. Each unit is 3' wide and these are 8' tall. If you look close there is an open drawer on the left hand unit. In the next one over are some bins which I am in the process of filling with small "screws/bolts"
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Next are a couple of shots of pieces that are being worked into the Texas & Great Plains machine shop. O scale. The signs are ones that I made and printed. They include a couple of pin ups, newspapers, can labels, invoices, book bindings, and one of my favorite signs for "Nipples in Cartons". Second shot is of one of the jacks, note the tiny "45", numbered to insure that it stays where it is supposed to, ie. the machine shop not borrowed by the roundhouse crew.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Set the asphalt paving at the front of the building. This is Arizona Rock's product which is mixed with a diluted glue to form a paste which is then put on with a spatula. It can be sanded smooth if needed. If you look between the doors you will see a blue spot which is a manhole cover being protected with painters tape till the product sets.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Phenominal Detail!!!
Can't wait to see more
nice looking details keep us posted.
Dave
Some more progress shots.
First up are three of the wall storage units. Each is scratch, details are a mixture of commercial parts and scratch. Note the letter on the shelf on the middle unit along with the invoice on the right unit. All of the labels are printed on the computer and are period for the transition era.
Next up is the smaller of the two lathes going into the shop. It is currently being painted, base coat only at the time of the photo.
Last shot shows some of the details that have not been installed yet. There is even a letter in the typewriter.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
Next are some building shots.
Front door with both the transom and door opened.
Detail shot of the asphalt paving at the front of the building.
And overall shot showing the large doors in the process of being installed. They are hung on three working hinges each.
Matt Dillow
MD Custom Models
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