Well, we are into the fall (modelling) season, can you believe it? We hope you and your family enjoyed the summer, and are looking forward to some fine autumn days.
As the weather cools off, many of us turn our attention to some modelling activity indoors.
We usually try to include content in this newsletter to cover all the scales. However, this time we'd like to dedicate most of the coverage to highlight a series of new N scale projects we spent the summer designing and have now released.
So apologies to our HO, S, and O scale customers ... We hope you will take a moment to appreciate our accomplishments in creating the following new "fiNe scale" products.
To the N scale modellers ... thank you for your patience, positive response & support as we developed these additions to our product line. We heard your voices through email & at many of the shows.
We challenged ourselves and set a new bar in fine scale detail, content & flexibility with these kits.
Our ITLA products in all scales will benefit from these new features!
Stay safe out there & enjoy your modelling time!
Topics Covered In this Newsletter ...
"On The Bench" - setting a new bar in detail, content & flexibility. Introducing our new "Super Detailed" N scaleAllstate Machine kit, and additional Detail Kits
"Modeller's Corner" - Jay Cox shares hisBrick Painting techniques
Thank you for your patience, positive response & support!
The following kits are available now on our website...
N Scale Allstate Machine kit
A Fine Scale, Super Detailed, Modular kit
N Scale Allstate Machine kit WITH the 4th & 5th Floor Extension Module
N Scale Roof Top Detail kit
N Scale Loading Dock kit - Wood Deck
N Scale Loading Dock kit - Stone / Concrete
N Scale Loading Dock Interior kits
1. New N Scale Products
N Scale Allstate Machine kit
A Fine Scale, Super Detailed, Modular, Laser cut wood kit.
Capable of building in multiple footprints.
Full-Walled "Build Version #1" shown above
Laser etched, scale brick surfaces on solid (non-warping) MDF wood
ITLA Modular Design strategy enables this kit to be built in 1 of 12 footprints– from Full-Walled structures to Background Flats
Full - Walled versions up to 6.25"L x 5"W x 3"H
Shallow Relief versions up to 11"L x 1"W x 3"H
Open Back Flat versions up to 21.6"L x 1"W x 3"H
Precision Laser cut scale sized Window Frames in two styles with pre-cut glazing
Loading Dock includes ... Distressed Wood Decking, Pallets, Crates, interior bracing, position-able steps
Roof Top details include ... Water Tank, HVAC Ducting, Exhaust Stacks & 3D printed Cyclone Vents (by "Miniprints.ca")
The deck surface is "pre-weathered" distressed wood using our "3D" laser etching process.
The Understructure & Staircase is finely cut from "Laser Board" with etched bolt details, internal bracing, and tab 'n' slot construction. Staircase with fine scale railings & individual step treads allow easy access for your N scale workers, and is position-able.
Dock dimensions are 3 5/8"L x 5/8"W x 5/16"H... representing approx. 48'L x 8.5'W x 54"H in real life.
N scale "Concrete" or "Stone" Loading Dock & Staircase Kit. Your choice, build 1 of 2 ways.
The deck surface is cut from "Laser Board" with section lines in place.
The foundation is "Stone" etched in MDF wood, which can be reversed to represent a "Concrete" surface when painted.
The Staircase is also etched in MDF wood and reversible for a "Concrete" look. Finely cut scale hand railings allow easy access for your N scale workers.
Dock dimensions are 3 5/8"L x 5/8"W x 5/16"H... representing approx. 48'L x 8.5'W x 54"H in real life.
A Pairof N scale Detailed “3D” interiors that fit all ITLA Scale Models' N Scale structures, or can be used behind any manufacturer's loading dock doorway.
Like our HO & O scale kits, many different interior configurations are possible with the individual Pallets, Ladder, & Crates included.
The rear wall of crates can be cut apart and rearranged for a different "look" across multiple copies of this kit.
In our Sept. 24th Newsletter, we introduced you to Jay Cox. He's a Tulsa Oklahoma area, operations-based HO scale modeler. Jay has embarked on what we called a "Monumental Re-Build" of his former DPM plastic "Senese's Biscuits" structure, rebuilding it bigger & better, using our HO Industrial Wall Module Kits.
Jay shares with us his technique to colour his bricks.... "I wanted to attempt a different approach to the brick work on Senese’s Biscuits due to the size and scope of the project. While I have used pre colored mortar as a starting point on several projects before, all required a dry brush technique to make the mortar look authentic.
Photo 1 - My approach was to start with a thin coat of "rattle can" flat white paint as the base. (A thin coat in order to retain the depth of the mortar joint.) This white is to represent old lime mortars.
Photo 2 -The next step is a dry sponge technique (a first for me). The application was much quicker than a dry brush for me. I selected two colors of (acrylic) red with enough shade difference to create the product range I was looking to achieve. I found that working both colors as you move through the panel before either color has a chance to completely dry, mixing as you apply, provides a nice believable range of brick color. The positive thing about this type of sponge-on-painting is you can correct areas where you applied the brick paint too heavily and covered the white base coat mortar joint with the following mortar application Photo 3 - After I complete the paint work on a set of panels, I set those aside to dry for about 24 hours. I then apply a thin coat of "rattle can" spray flat (matte ) to hold the craft paint in place. Photo 4 - Once dry the additional application of white mortar (Pan Pastel Titanium White) is dusted into the joint with a medium stiffness brush. You are actually forcing the weathering powders into the joints not smearing them on the surface of the brick.
Once that is complete wipe off the excess weathering powder and wipe of the surface with a damp paper towel. Don’t flood the surface with water just dampen the face. The white lifts off and leaves a nice-looking mortar joint. "
Continued from Jay ... "The neat thing about this type of mortar application is the opportunity to choose your mortar color ... create grey, black or buff mortar joints. Starting with your choice of flat "rattle can" spray paint and finishing with the appropriate color of weathering powder.
The concrete color on the structure is Matte Deep Gray by Krylon. I thought it provided a nice dark cement color representing some of the old structural concrete structures from the 30’s.
The first section is almost ready to stand up and glue." (Photo below)
Thank you again Jay for sharing your "Monumental Re-Build" with us, and these painting techniques. Your technique allows for fast coverage of large surfaces, and provides multiple colour tones.
Your photo above conveys the "feel" of an old, well used, rail served structure...we love it!
Our Etched Brick wood surfaces allow those paint colours to be drawn in, providing for a realistic masonry texture. Plastic surfaces will only allow those paints to "pool" on top.
