Dim Byd: prefabricated…

Dim Byd, the joint project I am working on with Matt Owen has been a slow burn over the past few months but whilst Matt has been busy with the only structure on the layout I've been finishing off the baseboard and wiring up the track...

I was excited when Matt said he'd posted the model - and upon arrival set this up (above). It looks great, just as we both imagined. Seeing Matt's work in the flesh I was taken by how subtle his hand is, in both the finesse of the build - but also, the paint work and weathering. One thing wasn't right though, and we'd both mentioned it but had thought it might be ok - the door! Matt took dimensions for the pre-fab structure from similar buildings but we couldn't work out how a door might be inserted into the framework. 

Matt agreed I could gently re-work this element and so I suggested a small piece of styrene to overlay the top of the wooden door, and then some detail to suggest the door is in fact two doors... being overtly aware of how well he had portrayed the structure I worked with a very careful hand and added these in styrene. I decided to paint these in a tired, worn green. The plywood above the door is just painted, but the door itself was very carefully treated. I deliberately let some of Matt's finish show through, as if paint had flaked from the door - but also, I used a clean brush moistened in thinners to remove a bit of the paint from the planks to make the paint look a little thin in places. The result, I hope, matches the finish of Matt's work - and the main thing is he approves! More, we're both happier with the proportions. 

The next thing for Matt is buffers, and for me, the tree... we're taking it slowly, and enjoying working together. Until next time, more soon...

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