February 13, 2009 • 9:18 pm
Recently, I posted about my attempt to kitbash two DPM Wilhelmi Mercantile kits into one, taller structure.
These photos show progress that is fairly rough and needs a lot of work and sanding and filling, but will give you an idea of where I’m going with this. For example, the gap on the left is actually caused because the right side needs to be sanded down.
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Filed under: Kitbashing, Structures , DPM kit, kitbash, Kitbashing, model, model kit, model railroad, model railroading, N Scale, scale model, scale modeling, structure
January 28, 2009 • 6:07 pm
I’ve decided to take a short break from another project I’ve been working on to do a little work with N scale Wilhelmi Mercantile kits by DPM, now owned by Woodland Scenics.
I’ve previously been working with relatively short structures — ranging on average from two to five stories. Since my overall intent is to model a major city, it’s about time I start expanding upward. My new rule for the foreseeable future is that structures must be at least 6 stories tall until I get a good number of these built.
The Mercantile kits are four stories tall each. Combining two structures gives you a seven story structure once the first floor storefronts are removed. Still not a tremendously tall structure, so I’ve spent some time trying to figure out just how many kits I should combine. So far, I’ve done the work to cut down two of the kits. I may order one more kit to make the structure ten stories in total.
One thing I’m pleasantly surprised with is that the Mercantile kit is pretty easily kitbashed, even with some of the detail on that structure that would make it appear difficult. I’ve been able to reasonable combine two kits and hide all seams and cuts.
The first floor storefronts are configured to look like two separate business could utilize the space — one large business and one smaller business. I think I’m going to make the small business a jewelry store, complete with light up display cases. I’m still undecided by for the larger store.
I’m on a business trip right now and won’t be able to post photos or more specific detail for the time being, but keep an eye out for more information as I move forward with this.
Filed under: Kitbashing, Structures , DPM kit, kitbash, Kitbashing, model, model kit, model railroad, model railroading, N Scale, scale model, scale modeling, Woodland Scenics
I’ve decided to put the art deco movie theater on hold for a bit because I need to order some supplies that I just can’t find at my local hobby store.
In the meantime, I’ve started the basic Walther’s kit for Al’s Victory Service. This typical gas station looks like a pretty well-crafted kit, but I think I can do some kitbashing here and turn it into a Mobil station.
I have a couple of different options here — either add the prototypical Mobil “barrel” front — or maybe add a canopy with rotating pegasus logo on the roof.
For now, I’m going to work on getting some of the basic assembly together and will post pictures soon.
So far, I’ve simply removed the pieces from the spues, cleaned them up and filled some molding pin holes with green putty.
More to come.
Filed under: Kitbashing, Structures , kitbash, Kitbashing, Mobil, model railroad, modelrailroading, N Scale, structure
