Stained Glass

The ornate glass decoration above the storefront windows of the Ensminger Building offered me an opportunity to include a similar detail on my version of the structure.  As I noted in the post "A Fancy Facade..." I don't have the space to recreate the same pattern as the prototype.  However, I can create something that echoes the look of the real thing and for me that's part of the joy of kitbashing.  Sometimes the compromises we're forced to make due to the available materials and their limitations can lead to unique and wonderful results.

I used "Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker" combined with Daler Rowney inks to make my stained glass.  The inks are really strongly pigmented and somewhat translucent, though not entirely.  You can hopefully see the effect in the second image below.  I had painted the window "lead" using charcoal colored paint before applying the colored glass.  However I had to go back and touch up the lead after the glass had dried because it is quite runny and tricky to apply cleanly in such a small opening.

Blue and Yellow make many shades of Green

Still need to add the large plate glass panes

In truth this is one of those details I did just because I wanted to and "I'll know its there".  It will be mostly hidden beneath the large veranda directly above it.  While not perfect I'm pleased with the result.  If this structure weren't along the edge of the layout I might not have done this but I'm glad I did.  

The veranda and its occupants will be the topic of the next post.

Photo Finish

The photo studio section of the Ensminger Brothers building is mostly complete, lacking only window glass, final weathering, and perhaps some signage.  A fence running between the brick building and wood entry will be added when the structure is installed on the layout, but I'm getting ahead of myself.  Here are some progress images showing how I built the roof, added shingles and painted the structure.

I used dense file folder material for the roof panels.

Normally I don't like Campbell shingles but they work well here.

I chose an aged white and slate blue for the walls and trim, with a dark mudstone for the stairs and a lighter mudstone for the shingles.  The shingles and stairs received a dark brown wash while the walls received a mudstone wash.  I used charcoal black for the roofing paper, then lightened and streaked for an aged appearance.  

In the third image you can also see the brick walls have received a mortar treatment.  I sealed the paint then applied joint compound, pressing it into the mortar lines.  This can be removed carefully from the surface of the bricks using a damp sponge.  In this case I wanted a sloppy application as seen on the prototype so I was careful to not wipe away too much.  This stands in contrast to the clean look of the facing brick, though most of that brick is hidden by the veranda.

Speaking of the veranda, it received some paint as well.  Moss green for the base coat (applied with a spray can) and cactus green craft paint.  In this image the parts need a second coat of the cactus green.

 Up next, masking and painting the remaining windows and doors!  Entering the home stretch...

Fancy Facade Revisited

Something was bothering me about the storefront on my model of the Ensminger Building.  After staring at it on the workbench over a few days I realized it was the doors and windows.  I was really happy with how the small-pane inserts looked but not happy at all with the kit supplied doors and the precast two-in-one clear plastic nonsense.  The solution was to utilize parts from another kit then add more small pane muntins.  This not only more closely matches the prototype but unifies the storefront windows visually.

What follows is a sequence of images showing the step-by-step process of how I modified some N scale windows to fit the tall narrow entry windows, the new doors modified, and the assembly as a whole.

3x4 window cut down to 2x3

Side frame trimmed

Side frame reapplied

Original mullion removed, cut down window installed from behind,
 and a new mullion installed using styrene strip

Same process applied to central double door transom

Doors and side panels installed with kit-supplied entry ceiling