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UPDATE 10/08: 442nd RCT Go For Broke WIP

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Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
UPDATE 10/08: 442nd RCT Go For Broke WIP
Posted by Mic on Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:10 AM

Hey guys,

I haven't done a WIP in half a year or so (last one was a French barn dio that, ultimately, I  gave up on). I'm gonna try again, having returned to the hobby. Let's see if I can't complete what I start.

The 442nd RCT was composed of Japanese Americans, and have a pretty compelling story. I've wanted to work them into a project for a while. Basically, they volunteered their way out of the west coast internment camps to be one of the hardest-fighting combat units, earning 7 Distinguished Unit Citations. Over 20 Medal of Honor recipients.

Starting with a destroyed building facade:

Securing walls with dressmakers pins:

My favorite water-based super glue, works great with ceramic:

The base from Hobby Lobby. I wanted to have a separate base for the buidling, to make working easier. I ain't no mathematician, so I followed these steps to take measurements:

Next, for the flooring, I stressed some wood to lay the plank (TWSS [swg][:-^])

Next, I started with the wall support structures. I forgot to take detail shots of this phase, but I glued in studs and then "nailed" up some basswood:

Starting to paste up wall paper, and some woodwork will be added soon.

I will get to the baseboards and second floor when it is not such a beautiful day here in Austin. 60°, sunny, and mind-bogglingly gorgeous outside. For now, breakfast and tooling around is in order.

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:28 AM
that's pretty sweet mic!! Thumbs Up [tup]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:19 PM

~Well, yeah, impressive start. The floorboards(like the hang of your wallpaper too!) Looks like you have a solid plan in mind. Didn't get how the bit of history about the 442 RCT fits with what you're building, but I guess we will see.  ~         So what about the"French Farmyard Dio"? what happpened with that? (it wasn't Mini-Art's vac-formed Farmhouse kit by any chance?)

~wondering about that stuff, & following the build..............Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:37 PM

Thanks, Indy and CJ.

Indy, the barn that I built was scratched, with a WIP done within a former "forum life". It was going to end up in a dio that had a squad of germans yankin' some French POWs from it, being their hiding spot. Before I could finish the dio, I dropped out of the hobby for a while, sold the finished barn and figures.

Not much correlation between the 442nd and the building; the object of the new vignette is simply to have some GIs on the verge of clearing this wrecked building. I just wanted to add Hornet East Aisan heads to some GI figures I've had in the stash, to make it more interesting (for me, at least). Nothing special, just slowly getting back into the hobby.

Thanks again for looking in, guys.

Steve

 

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Monday, October 19, 2009 1:05 AM

~ OK Steve, now your completely kill'im me. Folks.... he's cleverly  masked one of the longest, most interesting build threads in FSM history behind a little 3 letter link "WIP" above. It's a freaking increadable

 UNFINISHED story!!  Where's the *&$#(@&^$*% ending ?

Go check it out guys, if you're like me and aint seen it. Man! it just ends.Yes I read through all 12 pages! *(and thanks, enjoyed it, too good to stop before the end, of which there isn't one....) wheres the part where you explain how you give up and sell the unfinished thing?

Well,,  if it's too painful forget it..on to the new build. I like new starts myself. Like the  The first day of school.....you haven't screwed anything up or forgot any homework yet...............

Indy

 

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Carmel, IN
Posted by deafpanzer on Monday, October 19, 2009 2:48 PM

It is GREAT to have you back!  I joined the forum last spring but I was following your French barn dio very closely for a while before I decided to sign up and participate in the forums.  I was truly amazed by your work that I had it bookmarked... my first bookmark I recall.  Looking forward to see more of your builds. 

Welcome back!

 

Andy

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 19, 2009 3:03 PM

Dang, Steve---I just realized this is you! I've seen your new avatar posting in a few forums but didn't realize that it was Steve Foster...Great to see you back! 

Where did you get that cool, resin ruined building? Haven't seen that one...

 

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Monday, October 19, 2009 4:45 PM

Wow, thank you boys. Nice to feel welcomed back. Actually, never intended to make big deal out of returning, happy to slip back in and start at the ground floor again.

Hey, Manny. The building is from LionRoar. When I saw it, I had to get it. IIRC, it wasn't that expensive. It's been sitting in the stash for a couple of years, and I decided to bust it out. Yeah, I've snuk a couple of figures in over in the Figures forum.

I'll get more progress shots up tonight. Trying to decide how to build a staircase. I like to see them, at least the remnants of them, in a two story building. Ties the rooms together (like Dude's rug Wink [;)])

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posted by IBuild148 on Monday, October 19, 2009 9:28 PM

HERE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just did the same-thing. Clicked on the WIP and read all 12 pages.

Where is the FREAKIN END???Banged Head [banghead]

It's like someone tore out the last page of a whodunit mystery. You gotta give us closure!Sad [:(] 

IBuildOne48

Teach modeling to youth!

Scalefinishes.com

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/NMF%20Group%20build%20II/Group%20Badge/NMFIIGBbadgesmall.jpg

 

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Monday, October 19, 2009 10:27 PM

LOL! Sorry, didn't mean to waste an hour of ya'll's time by linkin' that WIP. The only closure I got was when I closed the shipping box and mailed the beast off. I ended up with cash at a time when I really needed it, so all's well that sells well.

Spent a few hours tonight doin' this:

BTW, here are the figures I was talking about:

Actually gonna make 2 of these next dudes, one modified to be opening the front door of the building:

The Hornet replacement heads. I can't recommend Hornet highly enough:

That's all I got for now. If you're still lookin', thanks. As always, criticisms, comments and suggestions are most welcome. 

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    March 2004
Posted by Grimmo on Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:06 AM
mate, that is looking awesome! i would never have thought of using basswood like that. cant wait to see it finished!
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:52 AM
 Mic wrote:

LOL! Sorry, didn't mean to waste an hour of ya'll's time by linkin' that WIP. The only closure I got was when I closed the shipping box and mailed the beast off. I ended up with cash at a time when I really needed it, so all's well that sells well.

Spent a few hours tonight doin' this:

BTW, here are the figures I was talking about:

Actually gonna make 2 of these next dudes, one modified to be opening the front door of the building:

The Hornet replacement heads. I can't recommend Hornet highly enough:

That's all I got for now. If you're still lookin', thanks. As always, criticisms, comments and suggestions are most welcome. 

Steve

 

~It wasn't a waste of time Mate(takes a bit more than an hour to read through BTW)It's like I said, one of the best builds I've seen on this site,

 {besides the lack of ending}, that makes it kind of a modeling tragedy. Of course it's not like it was ruined-selling is a reward of it's own.

~The new base is takin shape nice. Great, great figures those S&T eh?(Got a few in the stash ere') haven't seen those converted much at all-definately never seen them converted to Asian. That should be something to see. Go ahead--rock this thread Eight Ball [8]

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Charlottesville Va
Posted by Stern0 on Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:44 PM
Good to have ya back! Looking great so far. Floor is fantastic and you have some fine figs, can't wait for more!Big Smile [:D]
Always Faithful U.S.M.C
Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Friday, October 23, 2009 1:57 PM

Thanks for continuing to look in here, boys.

Grimmo- thank you for your compliments. I love basswood, spend nearly all my spare money on it. I need to use some of it, to make a "holder" for the rest of it Wink [;)]

Indy, thanks... I know it's hard to get behind someone else's project when it's in such early stages, especially when you have your own WIP thread runnin', and I thank you for your continued support. It's inspiring. I'll get over to the Tunisia WIP shortly. When last I checked in, I was LUVIN' the work you were putting in to those vehicles.

SternO- I'm glad to be back, doin' what I'm obsessed with doin'... thanks for the kind words!

Here is my update as of last night; building a staircase. A little ashamed of how basic this looks so far, I swear I'll clean it up "in the mix", as we say in the recording studio. One day, I would like my measuring and mathy skills to allow for a "real" staircase build, with realistic supports and all. Until then...

This set of stairs will be partially exposed- both as a design, as well as destruction. The stair steps will get decent covering; this frame is acting as the support for what will actually be seen. If that doesn't make any sense, my next update should illustrate what I'm talking about. I have a Friday night off, with girlfriend away at "Ladies Rock Camp". Very excited about getting to stay in on a Friday night and model. What does that say about me????

Please feel free to comment, criticise. I encourage constructive assistance.

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: ladner BC Canada
Posted by stick man on Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:08 PM

That house looks realy cool! great work!

Smile [:)]

I'm 15 and I model I sk8board and I drum what could be better.
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:42 PM

~ Steve, first...Ladies Rock Camp ! What exactly is that? SSounds facinating !

~Just come on over to the 'ole thread when you feel like it, There's lots more to build, no real paint on anything yet, anyways.

~Your stairs don't look too special yet.  I'm sure they will shape up. We have every confidence in you, Buddy. I once worked as apprentice to a Master Carpenter, who built solid , custom, continuous hardwood staircases, for some of the nicest homes in Malibu,ect.  I'm  talking about continuous hardwood handrails too, complete with all the matching scrolls, volutes, and bells and whistles. He was a mad-genius . Quite a nut. Maybe you have to be to do that kind of math. He would spend a day or two on the math, and anywhere from 1-4 days making full-size templates out of thin ply-wood. Even after all that calculation, adjustments would need to be made during our installation, 2-4 months later, after the parts had all had wood selected,planed, replaned,cut,glued,clamped,cut again,milled,routered, joined,glued again,sanded,sanded,sanded(my main job)and heavy on the ect,ect. You get the picture. Cool job, but easier ways to make a living.

 ~Hope you got something done Friday, but even if you didn't...so what? Work at an enjoyable pace, Man, no worries. The more I read, the more I'm finding we seem to have in common.  I used to like to go out too. Married now, I have a better excuse to be a home-body, but man I used to rock too. Among my many careers I worked in a pro band (also in the South). Now I'd rather stay home and build models & Dio's. Alot less heartaches

Peace..............or War..................Whatever you're into                    

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Sunday, October 25, 2009 6:30 PM

Thanks Indy and stick man.

Ladies' Rock Camp = women who are interested in playing in a rock band, but never learned an instrument. They lock 'em in a room for a weekend, teach the basics of forming a band, chosing instruments, writing songs, then performing (the big rock show tonight... in about 1/2 hours, actually... better get movin')

Here's some progress shots of the stariwell:

Some trim / baseboard work for the foyer:

Time to run... hope everyone had a peaceful weekend!

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, October 25, 2009 7:14 PM

~ Now that's lookin SWEET

 I knew it would. My women was gone Friday night too, but just to her parents 2 hours away. I've been trying to get her Dad into modeling since they retired him from racing(NHRA) and sold his dragster. He says he cant deal with all the little fiddly parts. Old man went out and bought a 1:1 scale '29 Ford Pick-up Basket-Case ! That'll keep him busy a couple years! As, for me, it's all on my thread........Cya later

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Carmel, IN
Posted by deafpanzer on Monday, October 26, 2009 9:33 AM
WOW!  Amazing!  Thumbs Up [tup]  By any chance I can hire you to remodel the stairs in my house?  Looking real good so far...

Andy

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Northern Va
Posted by psstoff995's lbro on Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:40 PM

Fantastic Mic!

Really excelent work Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

-Will young modeler Test fit master
  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Friday, October 30, 2009 1:42 PM

Wow, Mic, that's some very impressive work, even more so that it is in scale rather than 1:1.  Is that balsa, or another type of wood?  The stairs look very good.

What's the shark gonna do with it?  I don't know, I guess he'll eat it.  Saw one eat a rockin' chair once...   

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Everett, WA
Posted by Schnobs on Saturday, October 31, 2009 10:37 AM

Wow Steve this really really fantastic!  I bought a really nice townhouse in 2005 and I am from North Dakota and could frame and finish at birth so I put in all the base board, and crown molding myself and had a blast doing it.  I also have put in stairs but to see it at this scale and in progress is just mind blowing!

I will have to sit down with a cup of coffee and read your previous WIP.

Cheers!

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Saturday, October 31, 2009 1:06 PM
Awesome work- Love the history, and with a powerful title like that, I was looking forward to this one before I even saw the progress.  And very, very glad to have you back, I too didn't get the new name/avatar connection. That barn was an amazing WIP, glad you got some money out of it at least. That was a large project- I've noticed as you've got back into it, you've kept it much smaller- this looks to be a nice size and it's really coming along well!

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Saturday, October 31, 2009 1:42 PM

Boys, I wanna thank you all for your encouragement and kind words about the new build.

I have been rethinking my approach to this one. If that building got nailed, I just don't think there would be this much left intact. I was planning on building it destroyed, but I dont think it is a plausible scenario, as it currently stands. A high explosive round takes off the entire top of a building, and I model the ground floor with wallpaper still hanging? What was I thinking?!? Shock [:O]\

I'm gonna do some modifications and get back to ya'll.  Again, thank you for following along.

Steve

 

 

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Saturday, October 31, 2009 1:44 PM
 Citadelgrad87 wrote:

What's the shark gonna do with it?  I don't know, I guess he'll eat it.  Saw one eat a rockin' chair once...   

"farewell, and adieu, to you fair Spanish ladies..."

 

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Everett, WA
Posted by Schnobs on Saturday, October 31, 2009 2:23 PM
 Mic wrote:

Boys, I wanna thank you all for your encouragement and kind words about the new build.

I have been rethinking my approach to this one. If that building got nailed, I just don't think there would be this much left intact. I was planning on building it destroyed, but I dont think it is a plausible scenario, as it currently stands. A high explosive round takes off the entire top of a building, and I model the ground floor with wallpaper still hanging? What was I thinking?!? Shock [:O]\

I'm gonna do some modifications and get back to ya'll.  Again, thank you for following along.

Steve

 

Steve don' redo or rethink anythinghis is very plausible.  Whn I was a youngoy in North Dakota a Tornado took our Garage right off the cement foundations and left the car wtihout a scratch on t and pails and boxes stacked up where the inside wall was and it was perfect except there was no Garage!

My Dad's comment was God D@mn It I was goingo paint that Garage next week!

Nature and Explosions do wierd things!

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Saturday, October 31, 2009 4:47 PM
 All the guys I've ever known that do 'struction, never cared if they we're on a job to do DEstruction or CONstruction.....either way it's work....in fact, if you get a job doing DEstruction, you're likely to get a call-back to do some CONstruction.                Do as you see fit there 'Quint !

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Sunday, November 1, 2009 5:14 PM
Good to see you back at it, along with some inspiring work.
Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:21 PM

Thanks for the votes, guys.

I've been workin' on this thing a little here, a little there. I think I'm gettin' it looking more like I had intended: FUBAR

This is the first layer of rubble (the roof cross-beams are not permanently attached yet):

I will prime this, paint some hard-to-reach spots, and then begin another layer of destruction on top of it. Mainly, the second floor (including the handrailing that would have lived up there, on the "balcony") and then the roof parts. Prime all of that, then paint the thing for real.

Thanks for looking in.

Steve

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:05 PM

~ MOMMA !  

The ART of Destruction! Thats some beautiful uglyness there buddy, No small task. still follow'in......Indy

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

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