Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Will's Sheds - To Complete a Scene

The two structures have been completed and all there is left to do is to add some details to complete the scene. You might have noticed the signs of the wall, Tim Speeks, Tinkerer, above the office sign. A tinkerer, in my view would have materials, parts, junk and parts, finished and unfinished projects all around. For this phase a three-sided pole barn will be added to the office side of the building. It will be crammed tight with materials and his gear. I can see his whole yard becoming full over time. Currently, I am working on a few DIY items for the addition.

Monday, February 9, 2026

Three Model Power Sheds

"You can never have too many small structures on a model train layout"; well we are going to test that one out. I found this kit on ebay and for a good price.I am looking forward to seeing just how much weathering and aging I can do to these sheds and shacks. If the illustratios can be trusted there seems to be a few details I am looking forward to seeing.

Three Structures and their Details

Although all of the structures are of board and batten construction they feature different types of roofs and there are two stove pipes included.

Although the three sheds are all small they come in three sizes.

There are many details like two set of fense, a turn-stile and another item that I am not quite sure what it is. Perhaps it will make a little more sence once I have built the item.

All in all I am am happy with the three structures. I only have a place for one of the structures so far, but these shacks will all have a place eventually.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

The Philospher's Stone

"Freemosonry, like Noetic Science and the Ancient Mysteries, revered the untapped potential of the human mind, and many of Masonic symbols are related to human physiology."

"The mind sits like a golden capstone atop the physical body. The Philospher's Stone. Through the staircase of the spine, energy ascends and descends circulating, connecting the heavenly mind to the physical body."

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Rosicrucian's Prophecies

  • "Jehova will redeam humanity by revealing those secrets which he previously reserved only for the elect."
  • The whole world shall become as one book and all the contriditions of sceince and theology shall be reconciled.
  • Before the end of the world God shall create a great flood of spiritual light to alleviate the sufferinng of humankind
  • Before this revelation is possible, the world must sleep away the intoxication of her poisoned chalicy, which was filled with the false life of the theological vine."

As found in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.



Keys of the Rosicrucians

Monday, February 2, 2026

Needed a Quick and Economical Cottege

I found this Heljan kit in storage, and looking for a quick build for an empty spot on my layou I have decided to build it.

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Miniature Oil Tanks for Six Foot Flats, 2 varieties

If my maths are correct this tank can carry approximately 32 gallons of liquid, which in this case is oil. Its diamter is 4.85 foot and its height is 5 foot. I built these miniature tanks to sit on a six foot miniature flat car.

Sunday, January 25, 2026

The Order Eight Franklin Square

The Order Eight Franklin Square

"One of history's best known magic squares is the order-eight square published in 1769 by American scientist Benjamin Franklin, and became famous for its inclusion of never-before-seen 'bent diagonal summations.' Franklin's odsession with this mystical art form most likely stemmed from his personal associations with prominent alchemists and mystics of his day, as well as his own belief in astrology, which were the underpinnings for the predictions made in his Poor Richard's Almanack.

As found in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Indominus Rex Collectors Card

For a frame of reference = >

Breed:Indominus Rex
Family: Hybrid
Height:6.7m (21.98 ft.)
LENGTH:16.9m (55.44 ft.)
Weight: Unknown

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Wills 4mm/ OO Scale Doors and Windows

Wills SS86 Scale Doors and Windows

Wills SS42 Doors and Windows

THese 1.76 OO, 4mm scale doors and windows work well with my HO, 1/87 scale structures. With my scratch building continuing I need all the doors and windows I can get my hands on. These Wills kits offer some nice alternatives.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

The Most Intriate Miniatures Made by Human Hands

This 1.14 hour video features makers from around the globe making miniature furniture to vehicles. We humans have been creating things in miniature since the dawn of civilization. This video is inspirational and interesting.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Will's Kitbashed Sheds

This is the Wills Garage, one of the three projects I wanted to complete. I have mixed things up by using some of the supplied parts. In addition I used parts that were in my inventory. I chose a different door for the office structure and a different roofing material for the other.

Since the two structures will be placed side-by-side I chose to use only one of windows. A three sided building will be added on the right of the office.

Monday, January 12, 2026

Save those Sprue Bits

It is not everyday that I find bits on a plastic sprue that are perfect for greeble. I don't have a clue as to how I may use these small cyliders of plastic, but if a need arrises I now have them in inventory.

Sunday, January 11, 2026

A Pola Watchmens Tower

Layout and assembly instructions for a Pola, HO512, a two story brick watchmens tower.

Although I have gotten side tracked and am working on two other structures beside the three I have already made a the post. I have always liked this structure, but was not inclined to use it considering it British prototype. However I have changed my mind and will make use of the structure anyway. Perhaps I will explain further in the future.

I do appreicate brick building and this structure was an easy build and I enjoyed putting the bricks.

The prosess is as follows. I give the model a good coat of grey or in this case I use white spray paint. Let the undercoat dry thoroughly and dry brush the structure with a color of chose. I chose burnt sienna. Make sure that you have only a little paint on the brush when getting started. You must insure that the paint does not obscure the morter lines. Patience will award you and don't worry if from time to time you over load the paint brush. You do want some variations of color.

Friday, January 9, 2026

Selly #604 Old Time Crossing Shanty in 1/87

Although the crossing shanty is now out of print, as are the rest of Shelly's metal figures and detail parts, some can still be found online. I found several copies of this skulpt here. This is a white metal kit. I have built several white metal kits in the past and they are fun and satisfying to build.

As soon as I saw that this product was available I was attempted to make the purchase. The $20 price tag was a bit high even so I might have sent for one, but when I saw $10 for shipping, this was the deal breaker for me.

It looks like a great kit, but I have other crossing shanties and even have another two story shanty which I am currently working on. Another note, this kit origanly sold for $3.00 in the US. It is amazing how prices have gone up.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Songs From Babylon Berlin

"Babylon Berlin features music in German, Russian, Yiddish, and English, with popular songs like "Du bist alles" (You are everything) by Woods of Birnam capturing themes of longing and connection ("I was alone in my dreams... Today I saw you standing at my door"), while other tracks like "Frilingvint" (Spring Wind) explore hope and finding love amidst the era's chaos, often with poetic lyrics about nature (swallows returning) and home."

AI

German lyrics

Ein Tag wie Gold,
in den Adern 100.000 Volt,
eine Nacht, wie Samt und Seide!
Ein Tag wie Gold,
ihr habt doch alles, was ihr wollt,
eine Nacht, schöner kann es nicht sein!

Zwei Schritt’ nach links,
zwei zurück dann nach vorn.
Jetzt oder nie,
wir sind zum Tanzen geboren.
Alles bebt, alles lebt,
hak dich ein.
Kann es sein, dass wir verrückt sind?

Ein Tag wie Gold,
in den Adern 100.000 Volt,
eine Nacht, wie Samt und Seide!

Leben, ist es nur ein Traum?
Schön wär's, ich glaube kaum,
dass es wahr ist.
Pass auf, weil man sehr leicht vergisst,
nicht bleibt, wie es ist.


Grüße nach Moskau, Paris, und nach Wien.
Wir winken euch zu,
alles kommt nach Berlin.
Alles schrill, jeder will, allen war immer klar, dass wir verrückt sind.


Ein Tag wie Gold,
was übrig bleibt, das wird verzollt.
Ein Schimmern,
denn was kümmern mich Bilanzen,
lass uns Tanzen!

English translation

A Day Like Gold
A day like gold,
100,000 volts in my veins,
a night, like velvet and silk!
A day like gold,
you've got everything you want,
a night, it couldn't be more beautiful!

Two steps to the left,
two steps back to the front.
It's now or never,
We were born to dance.
Everything shakes, everything lives,
hook in.
Could it be that we're crazy?

A day like gold,
100,000 volts in my veins,
a night, like velvet and silk!

Life, is it just a dream?
One could only hope, but I don't think,
that it's true.
Be careful, because it's easy to forget,
things don't stay the way they are.

Greetings to Moscow, Paris, and Vienna.
We wave to you,
everyone is coming to Berlin.
Everything is shrill, everyone wants, everyone always knew that we are crazy.

A day like gold,
what is left is declared.
A shimmer,
cause what do I care about balance sheets,
let's just dance!

Lyrics by https://lyricstranslate.com/

Babylon Berlin is one of best TV series I have seen.The series was filmed in Germen with Germen actors and includes a host of characters. It depicts Germany before Hitlers take over. There are a few dubbing choices. I chose Germen with English subtitles.

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Monday, January 5, 2026

Crafting a Miniature Steampunk Cafe

It is amazing just how much intricate work went into this project. The Espresso and Gears: Crafting a Miniature Steampunk Cafe project is made up of multiple materials and it is the work of a true artist. The page features a guided tour of the build that explains the materials and methods of the build.

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Let's Complete these Structures

I have many half-done projects that I have packed up for another go at them. I am assembling another small model train layout and will need a few more small structures, so I have taken these half done structures out of storage.


Full sized plans for wooden water tank.

I really do not remember when I started this kit from Durango Press. It is a light craftmens kit that came with loads of metal parts. I have the basic structure complete, but still need to add the roof. After applying the metal roof I will deal with the metal detail parts. You might have noticed that the surface of one side hasn't been finished, That is because the building prototype was built into a hill. A thought just came to me, I could add a stone surface to this area.

This a Will's Garage Kit in 1/76 scale. "A 1930's style garage and petrol station." Although the 1/76 scale is slightly larger than 1/86 scale, 1/76 seems to blend into my 1/87 scale railway.

As you can see the on the picture to the suppliers webpage, the kit provides some basic detail parts and detailed panels, doors and roof parts.

Ratio 507 Grounded Goods Van Body. The grounded box car will fit perfectly on my layout. As you notice, there is very little to do in as far as construction, but there are a few details like a table, chairs, ladders, and wood planks.

Most of these parts are either still conected to the sprue or are at the bottom the box. Some like the table and chairs need to be constructed while other details need some weathering.

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Skinjob: A Short Animated Fan Made Blade Runner Film

Happy New Year


Skinjob is a fan created short film. It features some nice choreographed scenes and great audio effects. It is best viewed on the largest screen you have.