Frenchies Bar

John it looks super. Again I am enjoying this very much. learning a little more every update.

Looking good, John.
Like the smoker !

Got sidetracked for a while with grandkids being here for an extended stay and then with some illness, but things are back on track now and am making some progress.  The building walls have been assembled and the advertising signs installed.





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I plan on redoing the floor of the main bar next.  Seems I screwed it up the first time and have an unfixable warp.  Oh, well.....  Hopefully more progress to report in the next few days.

 

That's looking terrific John. The distressed signage looks perfect!!!

Looks awesome.   

Looking real good John. I agree with al ... the signs look perfect, with just the right amount of wear and tear on them.

Yes - agreed, Signage and weathering really looks fantastic

AAARRRRRRRRGGG!!!!!!!!


Remember that I said I make templets of parts that need to be repeated because it makes repeating parts much easier and cuts down on measuring errors?  That is still true, IF you make the templet correctly.  

Turns out I made a measuring error on the templet for the roof trusses.  The error was not readily apparent until I started to finish the roof.  Turns out the trusses are too short and the pitch of the roof is too shallow.  In defense of templets,  all five trusses have the EXACT same mistake.   

In any event I have started remaking the trusses.  This time I'll pay more attention to my ruler and protractor.   

Keep at it John. I am sure this will turn out fantastic. The photos look great.

At least now you have a lot of scale firewood!!!!

I hate it when that happens.  

The new trusses are done, but real life is now going to interfere. It is going to be about a month before my next update. Take care.

Okay, I'll wait right here.

Been making some progress over the last week or two.  Here's are a couple of photos of the removable portion of the roof.  





I make my own corrugated sheets and in the past, when doing aged metal roofs, I have used Radio Shack PCB acid.  This is a really NASTY ferric acid that I have never been comfortable working with because of the fumes and the possibility of a major accident.  On top of that, since the last time I made aged roofing we moved into a condo.  The neighbors are just too close for me to do the aging in the garage and the fumes just too much for me to do it in my hobby room, even with fans running.  Even more was the problem of getting rid of any excess acid as it is a hazardous material.

I happened recently to have read about aging aluminum with Drano Liquid and decided to give it a try.  I found that the Drano does work, but takes a great deal more time than the ferric acid.  For me and the metal I was attempting to age it seemed that about three hours in the Drano was enough to get the effect I was looking for.  I did find that placing the metal in the solution at bedtime and getting it out in the morning resulted in the metal becoming lace.   

After the metal has been washed and dried it will develop a white residue that must be removed with a wire brush.  The residue is rather loose and comes off easily.  You are left with metal that is various shades of gray and silver.  You can then color the metal with Bragdon powders or your choice of powders or paints ending up with a roof that is similar to that in the photo above.

I think the Drano does a reasonable job of aging the metal and that the best thing about it is that when done the excess just goes down the drain----after all it is a drain cleaner.

Next comes the floor of Frenchies.  I'm thinking of aged concrete or possibly worn linoleum.  Comments and criticism always welcome.

I think the roof weathering looks great. Just like so many old tin roofs I have seen.

That looks just perfect John. Well done.   

I remember you telling me about Drano on Skype. Can't find it under that name here in the UK, so, airline permitting and along with some Future, I may be bringing some back with me in August too!!! LOL

John, that is superb work all round. No wonder few such places survive, the combination of dry, old timber, oil/kerosene lamps or candles. Throw in some alcohol and you've got a recipe for fire.

Again, 12/10 for this one!!

Brilliant effect on the roof John, very realistic.

John, the roof weathering looks awesome and perfect. I love it. Keep this up, the level of detailing is superb!!!

Skid wrote:
Can't find it under that name here in the UK,

Its just sodium hydroxide I would presume, so buy anything with this chemical in it from this country.
Most cleaners are sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate and sodium chloride in some percentage or other, some cleaners actually have aluminium in them to help the chemical "heat" for the cleaning process.

Malt vinegar works for "deteriorating" soft ally bits, it is after all acetic acid, takes a while though, hydrogen peroxide will tarnish the surface initially but will eventually pit it.
If you have an old car battery, the acid in that will work very well on ally parts.

All info based on having a shadey past and 13 years in a chemical dyeworks.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the info o Dark one!!!

LOL

I've decided Frenchy need an icebox to keep his meat in for the barbecue . I want to build an old style icebox which is not any big deal, but I can't find any hardware. Icebox hardware is pretty unique. Anybody know a source for 1/24 scale??

I have seen hinges and handles and the such at Michale's in the doll house section. Not sure if they would work or not. Also not sure of the scale.