Victorian Build - The Undertakers - revisited.

[Thunderchicken]

Hi all.

I started this build over two years ago!    Rather than resurrect the old thread here's the link:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=60137.0

Events outside the hobby prevented me from finishing it, but over the last few months I've been tinkering with it to get it finished. There's still a lot to do but I thought I'd post a few progress pictures to show you where I am with it. I'll post more detailed pictures soon.

I've got a tad more weathering to do and some glaring gaps need filling. I'm not happy with the gate so I'll be re-doing that. I also want to add much more detail to the yard and I'll be asking you clever lot for advice with that soon.

Anyway, here's a few pics. Suggestions and/or advice is always gratefully received.

I haven't decided on signage yet so it's looking a tad bare. Street sign to be added too:




The gate that I'm going to alter or change altogether:



A view of the rear elevation. The soil pipe needs finishing (amongst a few other things) :

 

As mentioned in my original thread, I went for more detail than usual with this build (curtains etc.). It wasn't too time consuming so I'll probably include that sort of thing in future builds:



I'll post some pics of the yard soon as I could do with some advice on how to finish it.

[OSHIROmodels]

Absolutely top hole old bean 

cheers

James

[FramFramson]

Nice to see this come out for finishing.

Will anything else be added to the main door/picture windows? I know you mentioned the signage is to come, but they seems like could use something beyond what I assume is a white spotted curtain texture. Perhaps a small card in the corner of the window? Or a darker line meant to represent the low edge of the curtain with hints at an interior at the bottom of the window? Or even just some slight shade lines to imply waves in hanging curtains?

Reason I'm asking is that the flat white texture of that curtain material looks fine on the smaller windows, but comes out rather flat and plain on the main window and front door - almost like it's just wall instead of window. Adding a small touch or two to break this effect would bring the place to life (horrible pun only half-intended ).

[Steve F]

Oh, my goodness; that's nice.

What is it you don't like about the gate?

[pocoloco]

Wonderful build, it already looks amazing! 

You should do these for living

[uti long smile]

Amazing!

[Damas]

Lovely indeed! 

[orm1]

Brilliant always look forward to your builds

[Dr DeAth]

Stonking! 

[Constable Bertrand]

Oh my, ThunderChicken, what a thing of beauty!!!!!!!
     that is certainly diorama quality!

Cheers
Matt

[von Lucky]

Lovely. The gate is fine. Maybe straight edge on the top (definitely keep the handles).

[DELTADOG]

Man thats really awesome! It fits perfect to the brewery You´ve finished a time ago. 2 Areas spot my attention because they just look a bit off in some way.

The first is the Assemby gap on the corner between the Wall with the Absinth sign and the front wall. It looks not finished somehow.
The second thing is the white on the wall. Its seems too brite imo. Maybe its the picture, but for an era of coalfires all around it looks to Mr. Proper like I would guess.

Non the less an unbelievable good piece of work!

[FifteensAway]

Very nice, very.  And if you plan to put a supply of 'boxes' in the yard, perhaps some child sized ones if you're going for circa 1900 or earlier.  The biggest impression left with me, and very moving on one level, after visiting Bodie, California (a 'living' ghost town) was the undertaker's having so many child sized coffins ready to hand. We forget how pronounced child mortality was even in the developed west just a few short generations ago. 

[Thunderchicken]

Gentlemen, thanks very much for the comments 

Fram, that's a good point. The curtains are locked into the build now and I can't get to them but I'll bear that in mind for the next build. I'm thinking about using some clear decal paper to add the undertakers name to the windows... as long as it's not too fiddly and stressful 

Matt, sometimes I think I add too much detail for the wargaming table. I could probably turn these builds out a lot quicker, but then that would take away most of the enjoyment.

Pocoloco, it's a thought that's crossed my mind after a bad day at work, but the speed I build these at would leave me destitute! 

Deltadog, those gaps will disappear as part of the filling I mention in my post. You're right about the white looking too bright but trust me it is weathered. My pics seem to come out rather bright and it obliterates most of the weathering I have done. Thanks for pointing it out though.

Fifiteens, good point. A fellow LAFer cast some coffins for me and some smaller ones will go on the 'to do' list.

As for the gate, I just think it's not detailed enough. I might add some more pronounced framework and maybe stencil some writing on to it. Maybe that will take the frown away every time I look at it.

Thanks again chaps!

   

[Malamute]

Bangtidy.

Just a thought, maybe model the gates as open. No real changes to make to them that way.