"Which Plastic Kit is That?" -- (Gotcha! It's Paper!)

In mid-July, I went to Madison, WI for the IPMS 2024 National Meet. In a display-only room, we had six tables of paper models, and a lot of plastic modelers came to see them. A lot of them said, "I was told I HAD to see this."

The photos are my build of Yoav's 1/32-scale Israeli F-15 paper model kit. I included it in the display at Madison. Over four days, I was asked at least a dozen times, "Is that the Tamiya or Revell kit?" (Gotcha!) I had fun explaining that even the pilot is made out of paper.

Clever Models Steel Utility Shed kit - 1:87 scale

Clever Models'  kit calls for assembling the cardstock walls with corner tabs and cardstock formers. I laminated the 65# cardstock walls to 0.5mm card (cereal box), cut off the tabs, and braced the walls inside with stripwood for a sturdier structure. I used two pieces of stripwood for the door guide. The card just wasn't stiff enough. The finished building measures about 3"x4". Build time was about 3 hours.

Atlas Crossing Tower kit -- 1:87 scale

The Ripon Model Railroad Club is set in modern times -- no need for crossing towers. But I had this old Atlas kit in my stash. So I decided to build an abandoned crossing tower. Why the RR hasn't knocked it down yet is anyone's guess, but there it is. I built it straight out of the box, weathered it with craft acrylics, and added cardstock weathered tarpaper roof and corrugated metal panels from Paper Creek. It's no contest model, to be sure, but it was a fun 2-evening project.

Campbell Scale Models' Through Truss Bridge -- Wood Kit - 1:87 scale

I built this for a branch line at the model railroad club. It is pine(?) and basswood stained with Hunterline's Dark Brown weathering stain. I also used Tichy nut-bolt-washer (NBW) castings (the kit-provided castings looked too small), steel wire, and Atlas Code 100 rail. Build time: about 25 hours. It's a nice kit, reasonably priced, and with a little effort and patience, it makes a fine-looking bridge.

Scratch-Building Dexter's Dead End in Paper & Card -- part 3

 At this point, I've gone "off the route." The third building in FSM's Dexter's Dead End is a small garage. I decided to do something different. I scratch-built the little hubcap shop from Bar Mills' "Raglan Road" kit. I based my model on photos of the one built by Vilius Biliesis. The wood siding is from Clever Models, the corrugated metal and rolled roofing are from Paper Creek. Doors and windows are from photos of Vilius' model. Roof details are from my scrap box. Hubcaps came from a photo on the Web. The ladder is scratch-built. The model is about 3½" x 1¾" and it was fun to build. 

Scratchbuilding Dexter's Dead End in Paper -- Part Two

The second building in the FSM Dexter's Dead End kit is the painter's supply company, with a newsstand in the lean-to on the side. I built it from scratch in HO scale using diagrams from the FSM kit. The wood walls are from a barn siding sheet I made from a photo of a local barn. You can download that sheet  here). The shingles on the staircase are from Clever Models. The roof paper is a free download from a gaming site. I've long forgotten which one.

Windows and doors are from my digital parts box.  The roof details come from Fine Scale Miniatures and Tichy Train Group. The ladder is scratch built. The newsstand interior is a photo from the Web. Building the model took about 10 long evenings.

I also made a new sign for the tire company building (Part One).

Scratchbuilding "Dexter's Dead End in Paper in 1:87 scale --- Part One

 

On ebay, I bought the instructions and templates for Fine Scale Miniatures' "Dexter's Dead End" (FSM Jewel Series #8), and I collected as many photos as I could find of the finished diorama. Some came from FSM, some from Vilius Bileisis' "Modeling Endeavors" blog, others from unknown sources.

My model is mainly paper & card, with some details (platforms & battens) of basswood. Wall and roof papers came mostly from Clever Models. Doors & windows came from my "digital parts box," and chimneys are from Tichy. It is an almost-exact copy of the FSM kit, with a few "cosmetic" changes. Building it took about two weeks of long evenings. 

My plan is to build the entire diorama as created by George Selios. I have two smaller buildings yet to build. I will try to finish the diorama in time for the annual model train show in Milwaukee in November. I've reserved a table there to display my paper scale railroad models.

This photo from Fine Scale Miniatures

I'm always looking for more instructions and templates from FSM, Bar Mills, FOS Scale Models, and other craftsman kits. If you have any sets to sell, trade, or lend, please let me know.  Originals only, please, no copies or scans. Copyrights matter.