Thanks to everyone for the great feedback. It is much appreciated.
Apologies I didnt reply earlier, but I've been away working for the past few days.
Painting is stunning, on par with your model making skills.
How did you paint the bricks? I always struggle to get the lighter colour on the mortar between the bricks.
It was actually fairly straightforward:
1. I painted the whole thing with Sandstone (B&Q smooth masonry paint tester pot). This needs thinning slightly with a little water over the brickwork, to ensure that it gets down in between the bricks. This then forms the mortar.
2. Once this has dried completely (overnight recommended as the polystyrene is non absorbent) I then drybushed the brickwork with Etruscan Red* (Sandtex masonry paint sample pot). This needs to be done at 45 degrees to the bricks so that it doesnt go into the mortar course. Gradually build up the paint on the bricks, rather than trying to do it all in one go.
3. I then randomly painted individual odd bricks using the Etruscan Red with a bit of dark brown or blue added. this gives a randomness to the bricks which looks much more realistic. Go and look at some (older) brick buildings to see what I mean.
4. Finally a light drybrush with the Sandstone to bring all the colours together.
*I used the Etruscan Red rather than Brick Red as it is a less intense (& slightly more orange colour) which seemed to suit older faded brickwork.
All the brickwork was painted before I moved on to the shopfronts/lock-ups etc.
Very nice. Those arches need some graffiti, however 
.
Good point!
NF logo on one wall and CND logo on the other - very 70's, and politically balanced as well! 
I wasn't sure what to do there. Grafitti makes them pretty time specific but as I have already put a few 70's posters on the frontages I don't think it really matters. They do currently seem very plain and empty. Despite the historical accuracy (
) I don' think NF logos are a good idea personally. I do get your point though.
For some reason or other I have missed out completely on this thread. This is all bl**dy marvelous.
I like the idea of homages to TV and film ... Universal Exports ... you aren't by any chance a Bond fan are you?
I'm looking forrward to seeing what you name the pub after.
My intention is to acknowledge various TV shows and films on the buildings. As noted previously, Cowley Road Tube Station is a nod to The Professionals. Universal Exports also seemed rather an obvious one to do. The other (slightly obtuse) reference so far is 'Smiths Fancy Goods'. Anyone old enough to remember Z Cars?
The Pub has me in a slight quandry
. Like many of you have suggested I had always intended to call it The Winchester (Minder). However, Mrs Overlord
suggested 'The Cock and Bull'. Totally ficticious (as far as I am aware) but made both of us burst out laughing.
(Or maybe she knows me just a bit too well
)
Further building considerations are: Towerblock/Flats: Nelson Mandela House. Department Store: Grace Brothers. Etc
Give up whatever it is you do for a living, and go into model-making for movies or museums!
In the current economic climate I might need to
. Thats the only way you could make money at it. Its just too labour intensive to sell at anything like a reasonable price as a wargames building
. Mind you, if I was doing it for a living, would I still enjoy it
.
I must ask when will we all be able to see this amazing display in the flesh so to speak. I there a convention or wargame event in the near future?
This has to be seen live, maybe a demo game for the rest of us to drool over. 
The first few buildings (see the ealier parts of this thread) will form part of a game in a weeks time. I intend to build a whole table worth of terrain over the winter and have thought about putting it on at a few shows (UK only I'm afraid
) next year. (All offers considered
)
Cheers
10 November 2007, 09:12:44 PM