The Dark Side

Two sides of the same coin. Darth Vador

Return of the Jedi

The Repaired Styrene Structure

The structure measures 13 by 20 scale feet in 1/87 scale. I used board & batten sheet for the structure and added a stone foundation using some sort of stone sheet. I cannot say I remember the source for the stone sheet

I gave the foundation a black wash to make them stand out, and I reattached the stairs and readjusted the stove pipe with a drop or two of super-glue. The stairs were created with what looks like several layers of styrene strips.

I still haven’t come-up with an idea as to the purpose of the structure. Any ideas? What sort of business resides here?

This looks like this might be my last post for this year and although I would have liked to been more productive I have been more productive this year with my scratch builds than any other.

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Satisfaction Scale: 3 out 5.

Building with Styrene & My First Styrene Structure

I just found an arrticle entitled "Styrene and building your own buildings". It is a bit dated, the first post was back in 2013, however the thread provides some good advice on building your first stucture out of styrene.

This HO guage structure is one of my first attempts at using polystyrene for modeling. I would say this structure was built at least twenty-five years ago. It is freelance design and is made almost entirely from plastic sheet. I used cardstock for the roof and black constrution paper for the roof. It looks like it needs some repairs.

You Can Still Find Rocs on Margrave

“I had been sent to Margrave, a world in the first stages of colonization. I was twenty minutes out of Triangle Lake and on my way to the Wiggly River logging region flying at an attitude of thousand feet. It seems the equipment needed some adjustments. The system had been harvesting trees that were too young and I was sent to investigate and to make changes to the program settings.

I was in the back seat of my transport when the roc swept down on me, wrapped ten huge talons around my transport and swallowed it. Everything went black and the transport flew blithely on, ignoring the roc. The ride became turbulent when the roc tried to fly away and couldn’t.

I tried the radio and got nothing. Either it couldn’t reach out beyond all that meat around me, or my antennas had been broken off while making the way down the rocs gullet. As the roc settled down on a ledge, there didn’t seem to be anything I could do. I knew that the power would last for some time as long as I used it sparingly and I had an emergency food maker and other supplies, so I just hunkered down and waited for the roc to decompose. It took six months for enough of the roc to decompose to allow me to squeeze out between a couple of the rocs ribs.”

Safe at any Speed, Tales of Known Space, Larry Niven

Three for Tomorrow

Front cover art. 2019 edition can be found on Amazon

“Take a fast trip to three far-out worlds of the imagination. A world in which the credit card is king, and dept has enslaved all humanity. I world where a giant data bank controls the lives of every man and woman. And a world where land, air, and water have reached the final level of pollution.”

These scenarios seem to be written today. However, the following three authors: Silverberg, Zelazny, and Bush have proven to be quick prophetic. Their three short stories: “How Was it When the Past Went Away”, “The Eve of RUMOKO”, and “We All Die Naked” were written in 1969.

My Greeble Collection

I recently found this small plastic box and thought it might make organizing some small parts a sinch. THe box opens from both sides and has pretty good snaps on both sides.

The only small parts that needed organization at the time, were my collection of greeble.

Although you will find some kit parts the majority of my greeble consists of small bits of plastic; these are left over from projects. These small slivers of plastic might come in handy when I am looking for some way to add additional details to a project. Squares, rectanlges and other shapes can either be found or fashioned from these leftovers.

Corrugated Supply Shed Complete

I started this project on the October 18. It has taken sometime to complete. In completing this structure I realized that the corregated material does not hold paint all that well and I was forced to reapply the basecoat and subsequent dry brushing and weathering. I had other problems that hopefully can be hidden by carefull placement of the structure and by adding some scale greenery.

I used cardstock for the subwalls and covered these with metal corregated material. The loading dock was created from a couple pieces of scribed board from my junk bin. The foundation was created using two pieces of formcore that were glued together painted and dry-brushed. The three detail pieces (two skids and detail piece found inside the shed) are metal castings from my collection of the same.

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The update:

Satisfaction Scale: 2.5 out 5.

Updated on: 12/24/21 @ 3:03 PM (Details in the second paragraph).

The Ewoks Homes in the Trees

Ewoks were introduced in Star Wars VI, in the return of the Jedi. “Ewoks lived high among the trees of the forest moon of Endor. They lived in villages built between closely spaced trees. The basic design of a tree village consisted of thatched-roof huts built on primary limbs."

"These huts were high enough above the ground to be out of reach of predators. Suspended bridges connected the gaps between trees, adjoining distant huts. Knotted rope ladders allowed access up or down.”

Star Wars Fandom Ewoks

Screenshots are from Star Wars VI

Melanie's House a Sculpture in 1/35

Marcel Ackle is always cooking something new up. This article frm 2015, features the work he did while creating his Melanie's House. The process and the outcome are simply amazing.

Articles Pertaining to Creating Trees for your Layout and Dioramas

Below you find a small list of articles I have read about creating trees for your modeling needs.

Pine trees for your layout, Chris MC Chesney, Detailing Tips and Techniques from Model Railroader, 1993, page 29.

Creating realistic conifers, Laszlo Dora, Detailing Tips and Techniques from Model Railroader, 1993, pages 30-32.

Using weeds for woods, Lou Sassi, Detailing Tips and Techniques from Model Railroader, 1993, page 33.

Chapter 2: Tips for texture and trees, Dave Frary and Bob Hayden, 303 Tips for Detailing Model Railroad Scenery and Structures, Kalmbach Books, 1995; pages 21-26

Chapter 6, Tress, stumps, weeds, and vines, Dave Frary, How to build Model Railroad Scenery, 2nd Edition, 1991, pages 53-70

Africa’s Primeval Forests

“Africa is called the Dark Continent for one reason only: the vast equatorial rain forests of its central region. This is the drainage basin of the Congo River, one-tenth of the continent is given over to it—a million and half square miles of silent, damp, dark forest, a single uniform geographical feature nearly the size of the continental United States.

This primeval forest has stood, unchanged, for more than sixty million years. Enormous trees with trunks up to forty feet in diameter rise two-hundred feet overhead, where they spread their dense leafy canopy, blotting out the sky and perpetually dripping water to the ground below.”

Congo, Michael Crichton, 1980

Greebles

"Greebles is a fine detailing added to the surface of a larger object that makes it appear more complex and visually interesting".

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Greebles: How Tiny Details Make a Huge Star Wars Universe

Screenshots are from the Star Wars Triology

The Dagobah Swamp World

"Dagobah was the world that Luke Skywalker visited with his quest to find Yoda, the Jedi Master in Star Wars V. Dagobah is a swamp-covered planet characterized by its bog-like conditions and fetid wetlands; the murky and humid quagmire was undeveloped, with no signs of technology. Although it lacked a civilization, the planet teemed with life of common reptilian and amphibious creatures. "

Yoda'a home on Dagobah

Yoda. All images are from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Truly Inspirational Rust and Decay

The work of Eddie Putera is truly inspiring, he makes incredibly detailed scale models and miniature scenes, often depicting rusting and decaying things. Although you will be able to view a few of his creations on his Instagram page you will need an Instagram account to take in all of his published work.

The Millennium Falcon and Star Wars Trilogy

I have posted other images of the Millennium Falcon and perhaps I have even uploaded this very screenshot. I have always been fascinated by the imaginary space craft and especially the, Millennium Falcon.

The Star Wars Trilogy is a collection of four disks. It includes that first three episodes of Star Wars, including: Star Wars IV, A New Hope, Star Wars V, the Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars VI, Return of the Jedi. These iconic movies were produced from 1977 through 1983.

Although it has been awhile, I have seen all three of the original episodes, and more recently the prequels, and the sequels. The four-disk set also comes with a bonus disk of materials, which I look forward to browsing through.

A HO Gauge Tool Shed from the Scrap Bin

Is it any wonder I cannot seem to get what I start finished? The corrugated shed is just about completed; it needs a roof, and some weathering. Hopefully I can get this posted this month. I have been very busy these past few weeks; I am a bit behind with my posts this month.

The tool shed was fabricated from a 7 by 25.5 piece of scale board and batten, a small slab of scribed basswood and some basswood bracing, a piece of foam core, cardboard, some masking tape, and a piece of industrial towel. The structure measures approximately a scale 6 by 5.75’ in 1/87 scale.

The scrap piece of board and batten was cut into four equal widths, once the door way was cut out; the two side sections were braced and glued together using tacky-glue. I used masking tape on the inside of the door section before scribing. I found this keeps the very thin basswood from splintering while I am gingerly scoring the area for the door.

Once the glue had thoroughly dried I measured and cut a section of cardboard for the roof. I used the roof section as a guide for the piece of paper-towel, making sure that I made this piece slightly larger than it had to be. This particular paper towel has a pattern that very closely resembles shingles. I have used this technique before.

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Satisfaction Scale: 4 out 5.

Spooks in the Woods

The forest was filled with spirits.

Screenshots are from Seventh Son a magical fantasy story

The Power-wagons from Elamin 9

“Power-wagons, like the Meks, were originally swamp creatures form Elamin 9, were great rectangular frames slabs of muscle slung into a rectangular frame and protected from sunlight, insects, and rodents by a synthetic pelt. Syrup sacs communicated with their digestive apparatus, wires led to motor nodes in the rudimentary brain. The muscles were clamped to rocker arms which actuated rotors and drive wheels. The power-wagons were economical, long-lived, and docile, and were principally used for heavy cartage, earth-moving, heavy tillage, and other arduous jobs."

The Last Castle, Jack Vance

Strange Ships that Sail in the Skies

Here is a link back to Voyages Extraordinaries and a artilce they republished on their site "Strange Ships that Sail in the Skies". The article is reprint of a 1897 article that purported many fanicful and may I add whimsical "flying-machines".

New Project Considerations

My current project the corrugated supply shed is coming along and is almost ready to be assemblied and while I contemplate the greeble I would like to add to this structure I am also thinking about starting something new.

With all the junk bits I have in my wood materials bin I have been thinking on creating a board on board shack, a small dilapidated shack that might have housed a miner at one time. I don't know I have enough material in my two wood materials bins and may have to grab a full sheet of bassword from my board supply.

This is a start, but I will no doubt need more boards. These are cut to 12 scale inches wide in HO scale.

New Tools and a Small Tube of Epoxy Cement

I have been adding and or updating some of my tools, especailly tools that I use for hobby constructions. I found these precision screwdrives at a good price and I also picked up a few other screwdrivers for my bench. The item that I was most fortunate finding was a two part epoxy contained in two small tubes. I cannot tell you how many tubes of expoxy and superglue I have purchased that have hardened before I had a chance to use them up. I am building more now and that could account for my having less waste, but I am also purhasing small tubes of these adhesives when I can find them.

I will let you know what I think of these new additions once I have had a chance to try them out.

Author Starts Three Mini-Layouts at Once

With the start of mini-model train layout I am out looking for how-to's and some inspiration for my 3 by 3' HOn30 layout. There are a lot of details that I am still up-in-the-air about, but there are a few details that I am sure that I want include:

1. There will be at least one over and under section
2. The railway will make use of the motive power I already have on hand. The railway will feature steam and early diesel engines
3. The layout will model rural america in the late twenties to early thirties
4. Include at least one train stop

A Scratch Built Jet Propulsion Engine

This jet propulsion engine was created from a plastic bottle, some styrene strips and tubing, modeling expoxy, and some bits of metal wire. You will notice all its greeble and finished product is more than convincing

Another Structure From the Scrap bin

My collection of wood bits is about to overflow and I need to do somehting about that. Although this not the real reason I have decided to build my next structure out of wood, there seems to be several bits that have caught my eye and have perked my interest in building something from this box of bits.

You never know what may come to mind when searching through a box of bits like this, whether it be card/paper, wood, or plastic. I am fixed on at least one structure, perhaps two, in which I will introduce later on.

The Trolls Market Greeble

The Troll market in Hell Boy 2 is rich in details.

Between the lighting, texture, and scents your sences start to become overwhelmed.

All sorts of magiacal creatures visit the market. These nests await farries that frequently visit the market.

The grinder is avialable for those who need thier meat ground for the barbeque .

Besides the special set lighting that adds to the atmosphere the lamps add to the overall feel of the market.

You can never have to much light in an underground cavern.

I suppose everyone likes their noodles. Homemade noodles are the best.I heard they are a great side, best with a small rodent.

Pipes hang down from topside where the markets water, steam, and electric come from.

Hubcaps and rims? An iteresting collection. Perhaps these were here before the market was established.

There are many scenes that shout for your attention.

It seems like the reception is terrible down here, but that doesn't stop the trolls from staring at the blank screens.

The preceding screen shots are form "Hell Boy II"

A Teaching of the Bene Gesserit

“When religion and politics ride the same cart, when the cart is driven by a living holy man (Baraka) nothing can stand in their path.”

From the Teaching of the Bene Gesserit

Alternative ending of Dune

The Map Makers Shop

Once I got past the absurdity of the film and childish behavior of “Hellboy” I did appreciate the varied forms of creatures and the parts they played. Like I alluded to there were quite a few hellish creatures featured in this film and might I make another post or two featuring some of them.

Although there were many rememberable scenes, there is one scene or should I say series of scenes of the troll market. This section of the film featured many remarkable scenes and I found the troll market amazing. To think about all the thought and work that went into these scenes is remarkable.

Anyone of the scenes in the film would make a fabulous diorama, even done without its characters. Or at the least, you could fit any one of scenes into some project. Think of them as greeble. There is so much to see and to study in this section of the film.

I picked out one scene to start a new mini topic-the Troll Market. This post is from the Map Makers Shop:

Interior scenes of shop

Screenshots are from Hell Boy 2