The entire process in photos
The walls on this structure are very thick!!! I did add the bracing though. I don't think it's really needed. This is a very solid structure and extremely easy to build. The block work is fantastic!!!!
Bracing added.
I painted the whole structure with Floquil Concrete using my airbrush. Then I added the concrete oil paint mix before adding the red, yellow, and white paint. In the photo below, I masked off the bottom part that'll be red.
Here is what it looks like after pulling off the masking tape removing some of the red paint. You can see my oil paint concret mix above the red. No, it hasn't been painted white yet.
The next step was painting the sides white. Then, I pulled off the white paint with masking tape that allowed some of the concrete to show through from underneath. I weathered the lower half of the siding with an olive green color of oil paint to resemble that wet moldy green color you'll see on concrete when it's been wet for a while. Also note that I added some very thin basswood pieces inside the door trim and window openings to give my windows and doors a backing when I pushed them into the openings. This really helped installing the windows and doors.
I applied the Feller's Garage mask that is supplied in the kit. This really worked out quite well. Again, I peeled off the red using masking tape allowing the white and concrete to show through. I also used my steel brush and scrubbed off a bit more paint. I also added the yellow stripe.
I grabbed some signs off of Google images and fixed them up a bit in Photoshop and Printshop. I also added the bolt detail. What's holding the signs up if you don't add this detail.
Like I said in my opening statement, I made my own awning. I like the one in the kit but just wanted to change mine a bit. There is a garage near me similar to this structure with an awning like mine.
I added some blinds and signs to the main window. Everything else behind is very dark.
The chimney in this kit is really nice!!! The trim along the top edges of the walls are also very nice!!!
Here are some of the details that I made prior to installing the structure onto my layout. The pop and ice machines were made by layered photos on plastic pieces (such as the doors) and a plastic base.
Yes, I even added the florescent light tubes to my light fixture above the gas pumps.
The gas pumps are from a Walther's kit. I spent a lot of time painting them, adding the decals, and detail. The oil can display is from a City Classics gas station kit. I made the separate oil cans from Evergreen tube styrene. I can't remember the size but I can say it's very small in diameter.
Here is the photo I used to make my ice machine.
Here is my finished model version.
The photos I took and made to layer up on styrene. I made my plastic rectangular base first. Then I added one whole photo to the front of the styrene base. I then cut out some styrene pieces for the doors. I glued photos of the doors to these styrene pieces and glued to the top of the doors in my base photo. I made the refrigeration unit above from a block of styrene and added the photo in front. The vents on the sides were made from pieces of photo etched roof walk sections. I thought that detail worked out pretty well as seen in some of the earlier finished photos above. The last detail added was some small wire pieces for the door hinges and door handles. I also added the drip molding above the doors.
Another finished model photo.
Close up of the front main window and the top of some pop machines. The Pepsi machine needs filled!!!!!
A close up of some Pepsi cases I made using photos applied to the sides of plastic pieces from a Bush or Prieser kit. I can't remember which one it was. I'll look it up and add it later. I had to do some filing to get the right look. I added the handle opening on the side with a fine tip marker.
Well, this is it for now. I hope you enjoy. This is one terrific kit to build. I'll probably be adding a few more photos in the future. Thanks for looking. Tom Johnson