Peterpools

Thanks so much Rob. Feels good to add something new to the forum and learn new tricks along the way. I've always been a weathering guy when it came to model railroading and just the opposite with aircraft modeling. Maybe my structure modeling will work its way over to future aircraft builds and I'll start to add some weathering to them now. I normally never take nor use cell phone photographs for my updates but just wanted to do this update asap. The images are a bit on the light side and the walls are actually a bit more weathered then then appear in the photos. Next update, I'll be back to shooting with my Nikon, focus stacking for sharpness and getting the images to better reflect the actual work. 🚂

Thanks Mike. You hit the nail right on the head and I dove in thinking the PE couldn't be that hard and I was so wrong. I'm going to pick up the Fletcher again not too far down the road and finish it, but a lot closer to OOB with railings and some PE. Agree 100% about the tools and over the years, I have collected a nice assortment of the better level of tools and excellent tweezers including the new ANZY tweezers. Will be following Robs and your advice about the Tamiya PE benders.

Thanks Dennis - terrific advice for sure.

Thanks, Rob for the advice and all the how to's techniques. A big part of my problems is just plain old age and just not able to do what I use to do, plus thinking the PE work couldn't be that difficult and I was dead wrong. I'll also be buying both of the Tamiya PE Bending tools to supplement the folding tool I now have and see how that goes once I pick up the build again. I decided to buy another Fletcher as a donor kit and slowly get back to the Fletcher, building it mainly OOB with PE railings, some PE and brass - just going to take time and go slow. Deciding to start building HO scale model railroad structures and share my bench time with these builds has they have re-kindled my mojo. Some of what I plan on building will go on my brothers model railroad and the balance will be dioramas for the display case and could be in O scale, not sure yet. I do have one of the O scale kit now in the stash and as a general rule, they are a bit pricey but incredibly detailed and very heavily multimedia. Just see how it goes.

Thanks Dennis, and very much appreciated. I've always had a soft spot for trains and model railroad and now I hope to combine it with my modeling. Since the structure is destined to be located on my brother's layout, I won't do a base or weathering now but rather on the railroad itself, once the structure is in place and its new home.

Thanks, Mike, sure looks like we're cut from the same mold. After months of knocking myself out, trying to find and alternate build and a way of getting the mojo working again, it was in my stash and 'past' all the time. So far, a ball of fun and can't stay away from the bench - just finishing this amount of work in such a short period amazes me. After the structure is competed, there will be more light weathering, looking for the used but not abused look railroads worked to keep their equipment, rolling stock and buildings in good shape. 🚂

Scott A model railroader at heart for sure. Love O scale myself and my last layout was On30 - O scale narrow gauge - long time ago. The outdoor handing railroad sounds pretty cool and you never know what or where it will lead - same with the Christmas layout. 🚂

THE YARD OFFICE FOS SCALE MODELS HO SCALE With the Fletcher turning into another mojo killer and my mojo floundering more and more, I was at my whist’s end and almost out of any hope of rekindling it. My brother a few years back started to build a model railroad and asked for my help in building some structures for his pike. Before coming back to scale modeling, I also was also a long time model railroader and loved building craftsman structure kits. I purchased a few kits and all just sat in the stash for a good long while. While feeling sorry for myself, my brother got me off my rump and to start cracking on a structure kit for him and so I did. I first needed remember how to actually build multi media structure kit in HO scale and decided the best way was to just get going and work things out as I went – and so I did. The Yard Office is a small kit and after hours of work and weathering the basic wood wall portion of the structure is done, in CSX colors for my brother pike. Next up is working on the hydrocal plaster walls and then when completed, joining the two major assemblies together and then getting to work on the roof. So far, my mojo is back and I’m looking forward to bench time and not an ounce of frustration. Since most of the forum members aren’t into structures, I’ll just post a few cell phone images of my progress. BTW, the loading dock is only being test fitted to make sure it actually fits up against the office walls correctly – posts and framework are up next on my build schedule. THE KIT SHOWN ON THE FOS SCALE MODEL WEBSITE Now my progress to date: The basswood walls built, castings added, weathered and assembled: Cleaning up the four hydrocal walls. A few nasty air bubble being dealt with and then is time to get down to construction, painting, castings, details and weathering. .

LITERALLY DEAD IN THE WATER The Fletcher has been nothing but frustration and my zeal to build a ship to rekindle my building mojo worked for less then a very short spell, plummeting as I struggled with the intricate PE. Following Tamiya’s instructions for the build sequence and trying to cross reference each step to the Infinity and Eduard instructions turned out to be a lot more difficult then I originally bargained for. At my stage of the game the delicate PE pieces are just too small and way too delicate to work with plus a fair share has already been fed to the carpet monster. My PE success rate with the PE has been dismal, even with the simple flat pieces – locating them accurately and squarely in place on the deck has been a challenge and frustration at best. I have finally realized that both my eyesight and hand-eye coordination, isn’t what it once was and unfortunately isn’t getting any better with time. The Hull The kit was first released in 1996 and now 28 years old, it’s not quite the precise engineering marvel we have grown to expect from Tamiya, as there are thin mold and seam lines, some visible injector pin marks, all needing to be removed. Hull Red – what color is it actually? Tamiya calls out for XF9 Hull Red but unfortunately that is for the Japanese Imperial Navy and not the USN. After discussing it with Kevin and doing a lot of research, the correct color is: USN Navy Anti Fouling Norfolk 65. I settled on buying the correct color from Mission Models Paints as my main online vendor carries it in stock. The Infinity instructions showed the 22 ‘rope guides” needed to be removed and when done, then the deck was glued in place. I decided to just leave the Tamiya molded anchor chains on as I would avoid a lot of damage to the deck removing them, a concession to my newbie status. Dealing with the 1/350 delicate and tiny PE has proven to be something I just can’t handle and decided to bite the bullet and not use a good deal of the expensive PE I bought. I’ll concentrate on the railings and see how that goes at the appointed time. Photos to follow a bit later. I ruined a number of molded parts trying to either substitute PE for them or removing all the details for PE details as well. Now I need to see if I can replace those parts through Tamiya Customer Service or will need to buy a donor kit. Until I resolve the replacement part issue, the Fletcher will sit on the sidelines.

Rob Amazing work and the gas tank: OMG, the white gloss paint looks fantastic. Thinking about the rims, you absolutely made the right decisions. No question Carl hit it right on the head, this surely is one kit you need to stay two or three steps ahead to see where and how the parts and assembly together.

John Nice choice for your next build and your 109 collection might be coming close in numbers to your Corsairs and Mustangs collections. Some mighty nice progress. Wonder why Revell had to re-invent the wheel when it comes to the wing assembly.

Rob Quality, precision, care and pride in turning out the best kit possible. I'm sure these factors are part of their design and manufacturing process and a big reason as to why their kits are so brilliant.

John Absolutely did.

John Amazing work as always - perfectly done.🏆

John Absolutely stellar build with your P-40 wearing a perfectly done NMF. Incredible work as always. 🏆

Rob Looking simply brilliant. It's almost impossible at this stage to tell the difference between the kit and the real deal.

Scot Nice progress on the rudders and completely agree all should have been one solid piece.

Sounds really good John ... you're on an incredible roll.

John Amazing progress and your airbrush work as always, is first class.

Rob Absolutely a demanding kit but there is no question, the finished model will be well worth all the hard work and effort.🏆

John Agreed ... nothing like a well engineered kit to keep the juices flowing and the enjoyment factor in high gear.

John You're rolling along at your normal clip and the level of your work, is as always, top shelf.

Rob Looking absolutely amazing ... and the details; incredible.🏆

John Nice choice or your next build project. Will be following along for the entire journey

Carl Awesome book and agreed on the Tomcat - she is in a class by herself.