Sunday, April 21, 2013

Shizuka Building: Rooftop Terrace




While I like the overall look of the KATO building I purchased, I wanted to add something to it to make it different than the thousands of them that are out in the world right now. So, a kitbash was in order. :)

My plan was rather simple. I got a TOMIX corner stores pack and thought that it would fit nicely right on top of the KATO building. It was a bit of a crossed finger situation - I wasn't sure that the corner store would fit on top. I was lucky in this case, it fit perfectly.

With all the windows in the corner store structure, I really needed to do something with the inside. There are various little details on the rooftop of the Kato building (another cool thing about the Katos) so I used them as inside details for the corner building. It worked out well. I was able to add printed details to them and it fit well.





The addition of the people and printed details was huge. The windows of the corner store are so large that you really need to add things to the inside or it just looks like a big, empty shell. You get two corner buildings in the Tomix pack, so I'll have to detail out the second building in the same way.




I still need to address this phantom door in the back of the corner store building.




The first round of external painting. I'm trying to sort out what will go above the top window. I think I might use some styrene with the square pattern grid on it on the large square space of the rooftop, then paint the blocks to make an interesting design. I think that will finish the front nicely.


I need to go back in and clean up some of the rush job I did on the roof. I was dashing to get it done before bedtime, so it's a bit wonky in some places.   It does look like a lovely spot to get some Shizuka photos from up high. :)



I've also added some additional printed "poster" signage to the building walls as well. It seems like quite the thing in Japan. With the exception of the Blade Runner poster, they are real ads from Japan.





The KATO building connects to the base, but I just set it on top for the sake of photos. :)


There is an issue with doing hobby time the way I've been doing it of late. I'm trying to fit in time to do this work, but the way I have to wedge it into my life at the moment makes for some sloppy work. heheheh  I try to pace myself and make an effort to get things done cleanly, but I'm also trying to complete small projects in one session. I hope to have a little more breathing room in a few months along with an actual area to set up projects and actually leave them out to work on them over a few evenings.

Cheers!

5 comments:

  1. Excellent work! Unless I'm mistaken, the poster in the last shot is "Puffy," my favorite J-Pop band. Glad to see you're having so much fun with it.

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    1. Ha! I think you're right - Puffy AmiYumi. Saw them at the Filmore ages ago. :)

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  2. Woo! A great try, and thanks for the sharing. I may try this combination in the coming future too!

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  3. Hello,

    There is some great stuff here. I am building an N gauge layout my self, and will keep in mind this design.

    Regards

    http://kokutetsu-jnr.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Grand - hope it helps!
      I'm a new follower on your blog. It looks like I can get some info from you as well.
      Cheers!
      ~M~

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