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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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 Posted - 11/23/2003 : 5:48:37 PM
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I began construction on Majestic Hardware last weekend and posted my initial comments on page 60 of the General Discussions thread. Several members asked me afterward to begin a separate construction thread, so here it is.
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As I mentioned in my initial comments, the window openings in the laser cut foundation walls are approximately 1/64" too large. As a result, there was a very noticeable gap between the window frames and the edges of the "block" walls. As can be seen in the photo below, it didn't matter how or where I positioned the window in the openings.
Initially, I thought about shimming the windows with small pieces of stripwood. But today I decided on a different course of action. I filled the gaps with Elmer's "Redi-Spack Lite." After it dried, I cleaned the mortar courses with the t-pin and stained the filler with black alcohol. I still wasn't happy with the overall appearance, however, so I touched up the window frames with Armor Dk. Green and painted the filler (mortar?) the same. The gaps are gone, and any noticeable imperfections can be hidden with detail castings and/or weeds and vines.
So now I'm ready to assemble the foundation walls and then begin adding corner posts and bracing to the front and side walls. And that will do it for this weekend. 
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 11/24/2003 : 3:08:44 PM
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A very short update. I glued the foundation walls and "floor" together last night. Everything went together just fine with no problems. Also, my "repairs" to the window openings look much better than what appears to be the case in the photo above. As usual when I'm at the lake, I had trouble with lighting for the photos. (And having a heavy, overcast sky outside didn't help matters any! I really need to buy a pair of inexpensive reflectors.)
And that's it until next weekend.
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
Visit the Central Missouri & Southern
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TrevorCreek
Crew Chief
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Posted - 11/24/2003 : 4:16:38 PM
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Hi,
Here are some pictures of the S scale Majestic that I built for Bar Mills displays. Hopefully the pictures will help those that are currently building it.
If there are any specific questions, please feel free to ask.
Frank Bernard
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Country: USA
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 11/24/2003 : 6:04:31 PM
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Thanks for the photos, Frank. These will be a big help! 
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
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Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 11/24/2003 : 7:13:10 PM
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Frank,
As they say, "a picture is worth ..." Many thanks!
Bruce
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Bruce |
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Country: USA
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/01/2003 : 7:02:25 PM
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Well, here's my weekly update...
I decided to experiment with several color combinations before starting on the main walls. So I used the scrap siding sheet for one of the wall pieces that had been cut out. I already knew I wanted to use black alcohol as the base weathering color, and I applied that first. As soon as it went on, I knew I was going to have to brace the walls to prevent warping and curling. So that became my first step.
The kit includes 5 pieces of 3/16 square stripwood for bracing, but I decided to add even more bracing just to be safe. So I used a rose pruning shear to cut "popsickle" craft sticks to length. I used several pieces for each wall and glued them with waterproof wood glue. I may have "over-braced" the walls, but I decided to take no chances.
The staining on the lower portions of each wall's back was to prevent curling in the areas that could not be braced. (Those areas fit over the foundation - bracing would prevent that.)
While the glue dried, I went back to my color experiements. When I finished, I decided to semi-dry brush the walls with Ceramcoat's "Barn Red" (over the black alcohol stain). After that dried, I dry brushed Apple Barrel's "Indian Red" over the Barn Red to create the appearance of chalking barn paint. Once that had dried, I used the scratch pen to create peeling and flaking paint along the clapboards. The trim, which is not in these photos, is painted with Apple Barrel's "Brown Oxide." Finally, I used my pin and pin vise to create the nail holes every 4 scale feet apart. All 5 wall sections were painted in the same manner, although 4 of them still need to have the nail holes added.
Also, since I had the camera out, I tried to get a better shot of the block foundation and windows.
And that's it until next weekend. 
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
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Country: USA
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wslco
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 12/01/2003 : 7:17:30 PM
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Greetings from Oregon. Mike your walls look teriffic (as usual). I did want to pass along a tip I learned  , for what ever it's worth. If you brace with strip wood, like a 4x12 and glue on the 4 side, you can put your braces in a lot of tight spots and the braces won't bend at all.
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Rick
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/01/2003 : 9:04:06 PM
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Frank, That is some excellent modeling and photography. Thank you for posting those pictures.
Mike, looks good so far.
I'll have to peek in on this thread more often, wouldn't want to miss any of the pretty pictures.
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All the things that others want for me...
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dag514
New Hire
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Posted - 12/03/2003 : 10:39:33 AM
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Mike,
Just saw your photo from Monday with the posickle stick bracing. Thanks! Why didn't I think of that? Recently picked up 500 of them for $1 for my kids to mess with, and here I've been using expensive 3/16 basswood for bracing. Well, I learn something new every day.
Just registered; thanks for the great forum.
Joe
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Joe D'Agostino
Manasquan, NJ USA |
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| Posts: 2 |
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/03/2003 : 11:39:15 AM
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Thanks, guys. 
quote:
Originally posted by dag514
Mike,
Just saw your photo from Monday with the posickle stick bracing. Thanks! Why didn't I think of that? Recently picked up 500 of them for $1 for my kids to mess with, and here I've been using expensive 3/16 basswood for bracing. Well, I learn something new every day.
Just registered; thanks for the great forum.
Joe
Thanks, Joe, and welcome to RR-L. Glad to have you aboard.
Are you building Majestic also? If so, don't hesitate to jump in with your own progress updates. I'd love to see how others are approaching the kit.
I'm just working on my version of the model on weekends, so my updates will only be once a week.
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
Visit the Central Missouri & Southern
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Country: USA
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dag514
New Hire
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Posted - 12/03/2003 : 1:25:18 PM
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No, I don't have Majestic yet. I did just get Red Bird Taxi with the expectation of working on it over holiday vacation, so I am glad to see a construction thread starting up on that one.
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Joe D'Agostino
Manasquan, NJ USA |
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paulbrockatsf
Fireman
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Posted - 12/03/2003 : 4:15:28 PM
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Mike,
I like what you have done so far. Your foundation looks good. Thanks for the tip on the window openings. I like your color choice.
Frank,
Your model is fantastic. I like your color combination of dark & white paint. What color is the bottom part?
Joe,
Welcome!! Glad to have you in the forum. Feel free to jump in any time.
Paul
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Edited by - paulbrockatsf on 12/03/2003 4:21:12 PM |
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Country: USA
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Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/03/2003 : 5:39:27 PM
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Joe,
Welcome to the fourm. You will find that NJ modelers are well represented here. I'm looking forward to leaning more about your modeling.
Bruce
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Bruce |
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Country: USA
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belg
Fireman
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 Posted - 12/03/2003 : 6:16:45 PM
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Joe, another Jersey boy in the mix that's great. My family goes to Point Pleasant and Ocean beach unit 3 every year (when its a little warmer of course). Welcome aboard and post some pictures of your work/layout when you can, we all love to see new progress photos.
Pat
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Country: USA
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Rick
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/04/2003 : 07:53:24 AM
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Joe,
Welcome to the forum. Nice to have another Jersey modeler here. As the others have already stated, please post some pictures of your work when you get the chance.
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All the things that others want for me...
Can't buy what I want because it's free... |
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Country: USA
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/08/2003 : 10:48:04 AM
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Well, here's my Weekend Update:
I don't have much to report and no photos this time. I spent yesterday afternoon cutting and lifting the clapboards on all five pieces of the exterior siding. It was time consuming but worth the time spent. I also finished adding the nailholes and got a start on installing the "12 pane" windows.
I'm still not sure what I think of "peel and stick" windows. (The first time I encountered them was with a SW kit, and I wasn't sure I liked them then either.) With the first window for Majestic, I wound up using ACC to attach the lower sash to the upper. I'm not sure I like doing that either, so I will do some experimenting next weekend before going ahead with the other windows.
That's it for this time.
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
Visit the Central Missouri & Southern
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Country: USA
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