Hello model builders, an update with some progress shots, first though:

Hi Cheyenne = yes....the actual "Feat" will be for me to finish this one in a way that's even close to the concept!!

Hi Mike - thanks for taking the time comment!

Hi Jason, the funny thing on this build, is I'm not much of a sci fi guy either - i just like the setting and concept of this, and it looked like it might be interesting to try and build!

Hi Bob - thanks for dropping by - hope you like the show/build!

Hi Ron - yes, this build...is going to, and is already requiring a lot of figuring out what to do as you go....but, that certainly keeps it interesting

Hi Giovanni thanks for taking the time to drop by and comment! Hopefully you find it interesting as we go!

Hi Patrick - no secret at all - the foundation is Woodland Scenic hydrocal - I mix in some Vallejo color as I'm blending it, so it becomes integrated - this allow for chipping etc without resulting in "bright white" gaps in the surface should a chip occur. The weathering is a mix of india ink and rubbing alcohol shot on to the surface from a spray bottle then quickly mottled with a wide, cheap paint brush - give it a go -

And, Matt! yes, you found it! thanks for checking by!

OK - on to some progress.

After looking at pictures of these buildings, they appear to have two primary characteristics:

First, the basic form reflects typical turn of the 19th century western commercial buildings - generally masonry or stone, but with some ornamentation - ok - I can do that.

Second though, the traditional building has an added "machine" layer - that is pipes and wires, plus architectural elements and features that are clearly additive - and not intended to blend in per se with the rest of the building - not quite as easy to figure out???

None the less, I'm giving this a go:





As this is going to be a pretty big build - I don't want it to weigh a ton - so, I'm trying a new material to me - corrugated plastic as wall panels - so far, so good, easy to use and light. Then reinforced with some basswood, and cork sheet for the facade.

Next,





Above, you'll see adding pieces of bass wood and cork sheet for some relief







After work, I've been adding more elements...an attribute of the "machine" element of these buildings are cables and wires - above you'll see the first layer. This is just four pieces of wire, added in succession - glued down and brackets added later - but, the building needs more!







And above you see more! not quite done yes, but getting there. The idea is the wood and cork is all masonry and the rest metal - you can already guess where this will go with weathering! The mesh panel is there for a few reasons - it allows me to visually narrow the street, without looking heavy, it adds variety to the skyline, the mesh might cast a nice shadow, and, it looks cool!

Ok - that's all for now, thanks for checking it out -

Nick

We have several "modern" buildings in my town that make use of various mesh systems similar to what you show here.

I think it looks right on target!

Don't forget the rooftop wind generators and the large diameter externally mounted HVAC ducts and tubes. (I do realize this is a work in progress with many more items you intend to add.)

Best Regards

The alley behind your place of business. Who is the female with the nice legs. Inquiring minds want to know. Nice project BTW.

Very cool Nick , you're on yer way !!!

Yes the screen is a very good addition , also like the facade dormers - sweet .

OK,I don't know how I missed your last update and now I have two to drool over. Holy crap man,I can't work 1/10th as fast as this and it looks freeking great!
Your concrete stuff is specially good I think. The building is shaping up nicely. My buddies in Europe use something called "blue board" or sometimes called "balsa board". It can be scribed and carved easily and it is light like styrofoam. I can't locate any here though. Maybe you can?
J

Hi Nick ,

impressive update my friend and a taste of joy to watch . I admire your craftmanship .

Kurt

That's some nice progress. Can't wait to see the next installment.

I'm thinking where you will place the blimmp. What? No blimp? Crap...

Despite that, you're doing a hell of a job!!!

Pure genius! ... I love the mesh panel idea! I think what you've described will work very well.

—mike

So the "jersey barrier" (around here they call it K-rail) and the sidewalks are all Woodland scenic Hydrocal? Cool! Gives my little mind cause...

Looking great!

Jerry,
Do you think "blue board" is just a high density foam sheet like they use to insulate vaults (why a burial vault needs insulation, I'll never know...)

In the far back corner of your local Home Depot, you can find foam sheet up to 4'x4' in a variety of thicknesses... you stack them up in every diminishing sizes to do mountain ala the railroad guys... but I suspect you know that... using liquid nail or Super 77 between the layers gives you a great base and you can carve away to your hearts delight!

I think blue board may just be the higher density version.

I tried some stuff I got from Lowes and it didn't work for me. I could not get it too "carve" because it acted like the normal styrofoam.
Didn't mean to hijack the thread here.
J

Not hijacking unless it goes on and on... but any info about carving foam etc works.

I would never have thought of cork board with a corrugated backing. Really creative thinking!

Hi guys - thanks for having a look. It's getting there - so far, the big challenge is coming from figuring out how to catch the right look for this - I don't think I want to get into adding lights and only viewing in the dark - so I'm looking for ways to add shadows and visually close the space....nice speech eh? At least that's the story behind the concept of the build - we'll see.

Michael - yes, you are on the mark - and I know from your builds, you have one heck of an eye for detail! You're right, I'm still adding stuff...funny enough, this is the smallest, and least "descript" of the buildings....right...

Hi Kenneth - about the girl - I'm surprised you have been the only one to mention her! She is only there by chance, but her presence is pretty strong!

Hi Cheyenne - yeah, all the materials....your public pool build really inspired me to dig deep into the supplies to find interesting stuff - blending traditional materials with, less so...thx

Hi Jerry - glad you like that concrete - it's not hard to do - I figured this approach out on my truck shop build - sort of forgot about it, but, now it's back! As for the blue board - I've heard of it too - but can't find it locally - or, I need to order it in big sheets, which I don't want. I like the pink board for stone work and plaster walls, but it's a bit of a headache - I can only find it in 1" thickness - so, I have to carve it in half - makes a mess! And is rarely square - so, the thin blue might be ideal!

Hi Kurt - my distant, mad scientist brother! Glad you're dropping by! This one will take a while - still a few vehicles and of course, the dreaded figures....ugh -

Hi Matt - thx for dropping by!

Hi Edson - the blimp, yeah...piece of cake....uhh...wait! I'll call Kurt! He can figure that out!!! Haha - thanks for taking the time to check in -

Maarten! Nice! Now - let's see if I can keep going?!?!

Hi Mike - glad you like that screen - as a design guy as you are, I appreciate your buy off!! Thanks!

Hi Patrick - yes, the barricades, base for the light/communications/data thing, and foundation are hydrocal - the sidewalk is basswood - check out the early pictures and you'll see what I did. I hate the mess that comes with plaster! Like pouring pancake batter all over the build! I admire you guys who can tackle plaster sidewalks and streets! It's more stressful than it's worth to me!

Jerry and Patrick - as I'm still not into building the MATV, figures etc - don't worry about talking materials! I found the corrugated plastic at my local art store - it looked square and rigid, is light - so I thought why not try it? Seems to work fine!

I've got to say, the art store (there's a Blick's store nearby) and the blue and green haired kids working there are both great! All sorts of unusual materials to try, and the staff seem to enjoy helping out! Who would have guessed? They have steered me towards many interesting ways to get the look I'm after - recently including acrylic, pumice gel - really nice for groundwork!

Ok - I need another cup of coffee!
Happy model building
Nick

OK - back with an update -- I've had a fairly productive last several days and building one is shaping up.

Please take a look:



As you can see above, I was well on my way to thinking building one was about done - then, I took some pictures for this post, and figured out, well not quite done. As some of you might remember , I like to take outdoor photos of a project - nice light etc - but, if you're not careful, you can get all sorts of weird and distracting out of scale things in the image - cars, people, dogs and so on....so - if you look above the sight line is evident. The current building coming right along, but the red line...that would be the wall of a future building - and the gap, the area for unwanted distracting things to show up and ruin a photo. So - i concluded this building needed more.



Before going on to "fixing" this building a photo of the roof - remember this detail now...unhappily, you won't see most of it later! Michael - i will figure out how to get a few of those fans in play - just not on this building...



And the building, with more building! The MATV you see above, isn't an MATV - I scratch built a JLTV - its only there for scale reference - and it wont be used on this project....











and there it is -windows still to come - but, I did get it primed, and I believe it looks adequately ominous:





Yes, into the paintshop, and then the weather shop!


Thanks for having a look!

NIck

I like the awnings and I especially like the sun screen mounted off the roof on the entry side of the building.

Amazing... just amazing... Architectural Digest should be calling.

Yup! you've got that right buddy! The way you've got the building's protrusions overhanging the street gives a sense of encroachment on every inch of remaining space!

—mike

I agree,I don't know the mechanics of why it is,but the static building somehow adds tension to the scene. I don't know if it is by design or not but it's brilliant.
J

That building looks really neat and is something original. It just seems to have a "Sci-Fi vibe" to it . I can imagine all the soot caking the walls and the electrical wires being strung out from that building.

There are also a few (resin) options for 1/35 Sci-Fi figures if you're looking for any to populate the street...Industria Mechanika and MAiM's cyborgs.

Hey'ya Nick , aint it fun to construct a futuristic building using parts from the spares box , your own building codes and designs .

Results can be endless .
You've achieved a brilliant future inner city chic with a hundred things to peruse on the one building let alone the rest to come .
When you populate the rest of the build with more structures like this [ please add the open front cafe ] this will look properly like a dirty futuristic mixture of slum , ghetto , business district habitat .
Can't wait to see more !!!

Have you mulled over the prospect of a multitude of neon signs , maybe with grain of wheat lighting under tinted acetate .
Would certainly be a chore but would also certainly rock .
Not trying to tell ya what to do , just can't control the visions in me melon when I look at construction projects

Glenn

LOVE not like...the way this is evolving!
Exactly the right atmosphere (if you ask me) for what you want to achieve.

my hat's off!

Mark

Oops , almost forgot , have you checked out the www.modernarmies-in-miniatures.de site lots of applicable figures .

Hey Stick:

Just sharing a little architectural reference from around my area. It is all way too "clean & pretty" for your Bladerunner environment but it may offer some additional inspiration.

Mike









All photos copyright Michael Koenig

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