I'm impressed with the standard of attention to detail. An excellent example of 'our' craft, although I must say I'm no where near your league.

I also like the concept drawing/s and layout process.

Here is another very detailed workshop

http://www.modvid.com.au/html/body_anders_bike_shop_details.html

That Bike Shop scenery is awesome too, Per. Are there other articles which dissect all the plant features in scenes like that?

Hi Stickframe: Your fabrication shop is mind-boggling. Great paint job all around. This would take forever.

Your diorama skills are to put it simply..breathtaking!
I could have sworn I was looking at photos of a real 1/1 scale workshop. Love the weathering and variety in the buildings too.

Any more updates Nick?????

Hopefully I can work on a few of the masters we discussed over X-mas break starting tomorrow... I'm off till Jan. 2nd.

This stuff is freekin awesome. Most of the groundwork pics for the bike shop we exactly like reality!! No difference for me. If you showed them to some one with out letting them know they were models...no way they could tell!!
This dio in this thread is heading that way as well. Dueling dios!
J

Hello- thanks for having a look - and your comments!

Ran, thanks. Yeah, I need to do the drawings just to get the ideas sorted out and to work through the concept. While the overall build changes along the way, at least i have some clue as to where I'm going!

Hi Per - Yes, Thanks! This fellow does some really great work - I've admired it for a while now - he is quite meticulous, and really nails the small stuff. I mentioned before, that i need to add "paper" - you can see by his work what I'm referring to - the small stuff (in the right places and in the righ color) really matters!

Hi Rick - thanks for dropping by - Yes, that bike shop is downright inspiring - he as the eye for it!

Jason, thanks, appreciate it! The paint and weathering really make a difference on this build - as the building, itself if not that complex, getting the "feel" of old and abused really comes through the color - glad you like it!

Matt - yes! - a few pics to add, but for now, of the MATV (a future "guest" in the shop) - the building will need to wait - but hopefully back at it sometime between now and new year!

As for the other - I think that is a great idea - and am interesed in seeing your progress!

Hi Jerry. Well, if i dont give up on this, I can hope that it's nearly as nice as the bike shop! that said...a long way to go....it is certainly a standard of excellence to admire -


Ok - on to the update - for today, only a few WIP pics of the MATV I'm working on - it will evenutally make it into the shop. You'll see, it still has some way to go.

The idea is that it is in the shop for a major overhaul - body parts, differentials, parts of the running gear torn down - and the truck up on jack stands.

You'll note the hull flipped upside down, with hypothetical interior framing - i recently saw an image of the interior of a MAXX Pro - and was characteristically similar. I'll also scratch build a couple of differentials - like the transfer case.

It has been mostly painted - but, I need to add details, add and fix, paint, weatherrng etc etc - please have a look.




As you can see above - mostly painted, not weathered, not glued - but, progress!



Sorry about the crappy pics - shot these on my way out the door to work -



although the major parts aren't finshed or glued in yet, you can get a sense of what I'm trying to do -



As for the "substitute" engine - it still needs some help - I think it "demonstrates convincing realism" - in english, is pretty good (it isn't really "that" close to the actual C7, but not altogether bad/wrong either, so, it will stay), but still need to add wires, hoses etc. I need to retouch the paint - these pictures are pretty good at higlighting mistakes!! and as for the weathering - im not sure yet - I might give the whole engine a heavily diluted life color "dust" wash, then go back with really focused grime in key places only -

Happy Holidays!

Cheers
NIck

Simply stunning. Nothing else needs to be said.

........ (= I'm speechless)

Its amazing!

Of all the very amazing things that have been posted here over the years, this may well top them all. Simply stunning.

Uh......wow?
J

Hello - thanks for taking a look!

Russ, Romain, Gary, Phil, and Jerry - thanks for the positive words guys! As you each know, these projects eat time and test patience!!! So, I really appreciate your comments.

Regarding the build - I made a big rookie move(!?!??!) I have cleverly started three discrete tasks at once - not a very bright thing to do!!!

So, here's the update - hope to post some pictures in the next few days:

1) finish the MATV - this is done and glued to the floor jacks

2) I'm adding more benches, desks and other small stuff - computers, books, magazines etc - stuff you see in a shop

3) this is the curve ball - for a variety of reasons I decided the roof framing should consist of wood bow trusses - yeah, good idea!?!?!! I seem to be on a quest to find the most tedious and complex construction techniques I can think of...you'll eventually see, these trusses seem to be in close contention for most tedious!!!

Ok - hope everyone has a happy new year!!!

Cheers
Nick

Outstanding work Nick! This is amazing! It is a pleasure to watch this build take shape. Your scratch-building, detailing and paintwork skills are all top notch. You sir are truly a master of the hobby. I eagerly look forward to seeing more of this incredible build.

Nick,

It's looking really good!!!! I can't wait to see more of the shop details!!!

I did manage to get stuff almost totally re-arranged in the workspace finally..

Jason - thanks for the nice words - but, not sure if I'm a "master" just yet! - but, am having fun with this build -

Hey Matt -THx! good to hear your work room is rearranged and ready to go -

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been working on a variety of parts of this build - somewhat foolishly, at the same time - this is not a great approach...

For this post, I'll do something of a walk around - outside, then in, visiting each new project along the way - ok, here we go, and thanks for having a look!





These are outide - looking in - you can see the MATV on heavy duty jack stands - and some hints of what's new



https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/28918/4frontofdesksmall.JPG" BORDER="0">

The two above are of the "floor desk" - ordering parts, home of shop manuals etc - almost all scratchbuilt stuff - computer, manuals, magazines etc -





This red bench and stuff was a fun build - many scratch built parts - the bearing press, vice, differentials (for the MATV), and the transmission, or in this case, differential lift. I added a few boltsn on the benchtop too -












A special tip-o-the-xacto goes to Per for these crates. As I closely looked at his pics, I noticed these crates - metal corner braces, hyraulic lines and all - thanks for the great images Per!











As you can see, I'm using bow trusses on this roof. All I can say is this has been pretty slow going! I've built each of the trusses for the front half of the building, but only installed the three in the middle (I still want hand room access to the rest of the front of the shop) - if you look carefully, you'll see the one directly over the drive aisle has no nuts/bolts/washers - it will serve as a girder truss supporting a second floor room - so, these won't be seen - otherwise, plenty of nbws(!!!!) and lots of short tangents nof basswood - next, came some shop lights - - the "lights" are Plastruct - these allow some lighs through and i thought they look cool, so, in they went!

Next project, will be a MAXXPRO, standard version being converted to the DASH DMX with the indecpendent, coil spring axles, rather than the older straight axles - this ought to be an interesting build....wish me luck on this one...

thanks for your comments and taking a look!

cheers
Nick

Sorry - these two didnt make it -try again





thanks for having a look

NIck

OK - now I'm really sorry - this is Per's crates:



sorry...
Nick

Nick,

Looking great! Really setting a standard!

This is one of the sickest (and I mean SUPER AWESOME!) builds and dios I have seen in a while. Every detail is superb. Please tell me that someone is doing a feature article on this build in one of the magazines. Keep it up.

As stated by most everyone else--a completely insane build. Very impressive! Not to sound critical, but where are the ( politically incorrect?) wall calendars? clocks and punch clocks?

Hi Matt - thanks...but, I don't know....there are already plenty of great builders here! Their work encourages me to push too!

Damon Ha! Thanks! - as for a "feature article" this is it, along with all the others posting here!

Hey J - politically correct or not, look more carefully and you'll find at least one of said "questionable" calendars!

Thanks for taking a look and your comments
Cheers
Nick

Hi Nick,

as Matt said, this is setting a standard...but one that only very few can meet!!
And Damon is right in so far as this project deserves a special treatment in printed form, a bit like Claude's Clervaux! Such books are invaluable as a source of information on one side and as a living proof of outstanding modelling quality, a long time after the original posts have disappeared from any server on the other!!
Think about it or get in touch with Claude to ask about his "problems". Not a piece of cake, but you don't give me the impression you are easily afraid!!

Apart from that, I'm still speechless (even more so!!). I know, I know, it's hard to believe with all the above, but I really am!!!!!!!

Cheers

Romain

Really really impressive!!

Your eye for detail is exceptional!

Love the pallets