SPA Modeler

Very nice and quite a clean build!

I see the putty by the cab roof! It’s NOT invisible work! It can be seen!

Keep it coming Bruce!

Thank you, Lyle and Carlos!!!

This is looking fantastic so far Bruce !As Carlos said though, the putty is visible. I'm sure you'll be able to take care of that well.

I also recommend misting on some dirt and dust with paint and an airbrush like Carlos suggested. If yo look back on all my armor over the past year+; you'll see that was the way I 'dirtied' up my tanks and vehicles. That should give you an idea of how well that can look.

Duke! Duke! Duke! Thank you for viewing and commenting. Putty sanded. Texture fun times now with Mr Surfacer! Will sand a bit to reduce the roof but me likey the rough paper roof look. Thoughts?

The rough roof looks very good!
But I don't have any true referencies available, so my thought is purely subjective.
But in my opinion the foundation is there for further process!

- Kari

Yes, I think the guiding question for roof texture appearance is, what was the cab roof made from? But just for something just off the cuff and with zero reference, a powder finish, with just minimal texture might be one to consider. It’s not dead flat, nor shiny polished, and suggests a used working vehicle.

I want to thank each comment specifically—but first let me write in general a very humble “Thank you” to each of you. I have been struggling a bit finding the actual “Eureka!” moment from a photo or description. Duke, again thanks for your thoughts on weathering. Ditto Clint and Carlos. Kari, Thank you and yes, that is the perfect term: foundational approach (this may seem or be obvious but that was light striking right there, we do have multiple foundations for each stage). Thank you, Carlos for the “Eureka,” which is in this case—the design accommodates both an all-sheet metal cab or an all wooden one or parts of both. So I went to the internet for ideas. Here’s what I have found so far:

(A) This is the chassis, based off the Plymouth diesel design, which I highlighted in red. There’s an interesting piece or pieces of add on protective “armor?” I like that. I don’t know if I’ll add that but it’s one more original item that makes a specific impression, and can be used as a foundation for weathering (damage, rust, etc.).

(B) This is a wooden cab framed on a metal chassis, highlighted in green:



(C) A very similar aesthetic! Unaltered image, to make the type of carpentry used clearer:



This sets up the question, for me at least, of “Do I add the framing?” Clearly, the design of the kit is flexible in both directions. I know I am going in the wood cab (hybrid) route for a I suppose it would be a fictional logging railway somewhere back east, where the fellas took what was offered and made it work. Ingenuity on short lines is amazing! Look at this cab design here:

(D)

Sort of like the grandfather of the “Woody” station wagon, so to speak. Metal framing and wood paneling. It makes perfect sense for your approach.