Mile End Garage.

Im glad to see this is still in progress, looking good too.

Thanks both.

Ron, very kindly offered to make some signage for this and I was mighty pleased to accept. This is what he came up with. My printer colours are all to pot (pale) at the moment but you know, the faded looks kind of suits it I think.

The final version will be printed out as a decal methinks, mounted to a board with surround and then weathered.

Many, many thanks for your help Ron.  

Sign looks fantastic Al.

I am liking the sign. Seems just perfect.

Hi Al,

I think a nice new shiny looking sign would be a bit out of place, how the sign is now is about spot on perfect...

Andy...

I agree with the above, a fuller colour would look totally out of place.

I agree.
As I said to Al, printing it on glossy photographic paper would bring out the colour and the original detail,
but the faded look works better here.

If I can help anybody else, anytime, just message me.

Thanks for all your input guys. Much appreciated.

I think I'm going to print it on paper and use johnj's trick of weathering it by sanding the paper from the rear. Then mount it on a board with a frame. (also weathered)

Skid wrote:Thanks for all your input guys. Much appreciated.

I think I'm going to print it on paper and use johnj's trick of weathering it by sanding the paper from the rear. Then mount it on a board with a frame. (also weathered)

Al: If you are going to frame the sign, you don't even have to thin it. Just weather away. The edges are covered by the frame so the thickness is a non-issue.

Hope to see more on this soon Al, it deserves to be finished. Will be a fantastic diorama.

Thanks for the tip John.

Thanks for the compliment Gary.

OK, it's way past time to get cracking on this one again.

I have decided to give it a corrugated tin roof. When I visited JohnJ back in August, he showed me how he makes and weathers his corrugated sheets, so I'm going to give it a try.

First up is to make sixteen 8' x 4' sheets.

These will be made out of this stuff, which I got in the USA:.....



Once cut to size, it's laid on a sheet of corrugated plastic:......



And then the 'Valleys' are 'scribed' in with a blunted cocktail stick:



Just fifteen more sheets to make, then it's on to the weathering.

Great stuff AL, so glad your back on this. thanks for sharing the tips for the roof sheets.

Tin Roof Sheets looks very good. Love the sound of rain on that stuff. LOL

Been a bit tied up in the last few days but I now have all 18 sheets made. The weathering process will start tomorrow.

I like the idea, should be very authentic when there battered by the elements..

Good luck chap!

We have the most talented dioramists around! The roofing will be the topper to the scene. Sign is 'bout near perfect. Thanx again.

They look good Al.

You should have said you were doing them..... I have a corrugated iron "jig" already made I could have sent you down.

Thanks for the jig photos Colin. Much appreciated.

I did a couple of test pieces in the Mr Muscle drain cleaner. Left them in for three hours as per Johns instructions. Took them out and laid them on a sheet of kitchen roll to dry overmight. Then used a stiff brush to brush away the residue:





Things have been hectic this week and I haven't been able to string three hours together to keep an eye on the corrugated pieces. However, I should be able to do that tomorrow.

Then it will be on to the Bragdon weathering powders, that John also put me onto and got for me in the US.

A beautiful ugly finish, Al.

Thanks for the compiment Mike!!!

Brilliant oxidised effect Al.

Thanks Gary.

I finally managed to string a few hours together to keep an eye on the tin sheets/draiin cleaner, so that I didn't forget them and wind up with 'Lace'.





I think they turned out pretty good and I'm pleased with them. Next up will be to attach them to the roof and then get cracking with the Bragdon Powders.



I'd like to say thanks to JohnJ for showing me this technique when I was over there last year. Thanks John.

The metal looks great Al. Remember, with the powders "less is more".