DalaGStanator's Customs, Mods and Experiments

Relatively similar in construction to the black saloon, but with a better and easier technique for the roof: gluing the "glass" panes first and only then adding supports. In addition, (crude, unrealistic) test seats were added as an afterthought. Subsequent models with interiors will have better seats and a few other details, many of which will be inserted before the panes. It became slightly too tall compared to the others, making it look somewhat like a jeep with old style mudguards before the roof was finished. New locomotives, coaches and railcars (and any other rolling stock with windows) should have the same upgrade.





An improved variant of the soft sided lorry, this time in red with my first try at making a tarpaulin: four cardboard arches with pieces of tissue glued over them, which I found works well for the impression of cloth while also appearing to be stretched. I decided to try it after coming across this tutorial by Sharpie's Fish and Phantoms, though I didn't follow the exact process or use any water (besides that in the paints). My only real problem with these arches is that the cuts were too small, which can be seen in the shot from behind. Better tarpaulins will likely use bent wires or boiled sticks of wood to make them stronger, with a bit more room on the inside. The previous lorry is also not wide enough to carry it. Here are both versions next to each other:






My last vehicle for the current batch is a 1936 Austin London Taxi, specifically Taxi 1 from Thomas & Friends. While a bit oversized, it did turn out closer to the prototype than the generic van (which was only inspired by it). It was first painted in a specially mixed dark turquoise to look like the ERTL version, but I went by the reference photos of the actual prop and it was definitely "just" blue. As such, the turquoise ended up becoming a base coat and made the blue by itself too dark. It has since been corrected by mixing a light blue with grey. Even though they can't be seen in the photos, the front license plate was duplicated by printing for the rear. Because I don't paint any of my rims, the fake cardboard spare wheel (also not pictured) has a silver rim to be consistent. Of my first three Sudrian background vehicles, it might be my second best after the covered lorry.