"Something old, something new..."

... Something borrowed, something blue. As the saying goes, I think I have that covered with this kitbash of one of the more iconic plastic structure kits of days gone by. Marketed under the Revel and AHM labels during my impressionable years, the Superior Bakery/Weekly Herald/Operating Engine House has always featured some of the best brick detailing ever to grace a model layout.

I have stashed away several new, untouched kits, as well as some previously kitbashed versions from my teenage years. For the most part, I abhor producing structures per the kit instructions, but I did want to take advantage of the quality of these kits. The prototype structures that I need to build don't necessarily mimic these details, so I decided that I could at least produce something that would serve as a nice background, non-rail-served industry.



Nicely detailed aged brick is a hallmark of these kits. So sad that today's mass producers (I'm looking at you Walther's) roll out the masonry walls that they do. Note that two joints are visible here, but when  painted ultimately blend in very well.

 

Some clean-up work was required to salvage some old pieces. Regrettably then, but thankfully now, it seems that I was partial to Goo back in the day.

 

The new blue and yellow walls join the middle reclaimed section, plus a couple of end walls to form a background structure that measures just about 3" x 22". 

 

End walls were made from both a new kit and a previously used one. They were  joined with the central portion of the original gable ends so they could be cut to form a parapet. The building footprint was cut from a sheet of .060 styrene and served to help erect the walls at 90 degrees and help pull the front wall assembly together.

 

Gator Board was used as a back wall and interior bracing for it's rigidity and stability. I'm not sure what adhesive is best to merge the styrene with the Gator Board, but I'm thinking Super Z RC-56, otherwise known as canopy glue. Thoughts anyone?... please!

 

Some .060 styrene was used to fabricate the roof and now a decision needs to be reached about its final topping. Since several of my other industrial structures have metal roofs (standing seam or corrugated) it would appear that it's between shingles or tar paper. Shingles could look great, but that's a lot of shingles! Again, thoughts anyone?



The walls dress up pretty nice with a coat of a very dull auto primer and await some weathering. The roof will probably end up with a long clerestory or billboard-type signage to enhance its verticality. Window frames will be decided down the road once the structure's location and ultimate purpose is decided upon.

 

So, what about the "something borrowed" part? Well this idea had rattled around in my head for a few years. I had always been intrigued with a little structure that I saw on Kip Grant's layout and a larger one on Tony Koester's. Turns out Kip had built a cut-down version of Walther's Leviathan Manufacturing, while Tony doubled it up. 

I liked the rhythm that the windows and brickwork created. And the modest depth is perfect for a shelf layout. So I improvised using parts of a model that I always loved to get something similar to one I admire now.  Kip and Tony's finished work is pictured below. My finished photos are still to come.
 

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 BONUS:  JUST  ONE  MORE  THING  BEFORE  WE  GO ...