New York Street Scene

[Joel Freedman]

Here's the street with manhole covers, grates and the first couple of coats of paint/stain.

[Ray Dunakin]

Sweet!

[Joel Freedman]

Spent the day building up the first of the fire escape landings. All styrene and brass. So far so good. Just 5-6 more to go.

[Joel Freedman]

Ok let's file this one under stupid/crazy. I scaled down pictures of cigarette buts and sanded down the backs so they were transparent. Then I rolled them and glued them over .12" wire.

Way too much work for the effect. I did the same for a coke can which I like better.

The last picture shows just plain wire painted with white and medium flesh tones and I think I like these cigarettes best.

[Ray Dunakin]

Nice. It worked pretty well for the Coke can, but yeah painted wire is the better route for the cigs.

[finescalerr]

I can't believe you are devoting considerable time and talent to creating detritus a janitor long ago should have swept away. Go stand in the corner. -- Russ

[Chuck Doan]

Nice details! Maybe crazy, but not stupid.

[Malachi Constant]

I can't believe you are devoting considerable time and talent to creating detritus a janitor long ago should have swept away. Go stand in the corner. -- Russ

Nice details! Maybe crazy, but not stupid.

What he said .... and what he said .... you're certainly crazy ... but doing a great job of it!

Curiosity question:  What's the time-frame or intended era of the scene?  Cobblestones can suggest a long-past time ... but do survive in some places ... Coke can and cigarette butts with filters look modern ...

[Joel Freedman]

Good question Malachi,
I think I'm aiming for late forties or so. I guess that does mean the coke can has to go. I really should try to be consistent. Thanks for pointing it out.

OK I'm waiting on those brick sheets so I think I'll move on to the second major storefront. I've decided to try and copy this faded/peeling store.

[Ray Dunakin]

What a great looking old relic of a building!

[Joel Freedman]

Finished up the landings for the fire escape. I like the interesting diagonal braces on the sides. I've never seen them before but they are prototypical.

[Ray Dunakin]

Nice work, on a complex piece.

[Joel Freedman]

Well I did a lot of work on the new storefront. I took all the measurements directly from the photo and built it totally from scrap wood except the decorative trim on top which is a casting for a dollhouse. The peeling paint is a mixture of dry brushing and the excellent Chuck Doan technique. The sign and newspapers are all downloaded from the net and printed onto actual newsprint.

Unfortunately when it was finished I put a figure next to it and the left hand door measures out at about 5' tall oops. I'll have to re work it a bit but it's a good start.

[finescalerr]

Don't rework it. Just add a sign that says "Midgets' Entrance". -- Russ

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow, that looks great!