This weeks part of the build is to show where we've added the decking, or planking, to the substructure, as I believe everyone but myself has built a wooden platform.
Since mine is concrete all I've had to do was cut some expansion joints and weather the platform. So I'm a week ahead of next weeks staining and detailing of the platform. However, I may add either a ramp or stairs to my build, maybe wooden stairs??

This is not necessarily where the platform will end up but it looks better than the island top in the kitchen.





Ok, let's see who's on deck.

nice looking concrete work Vulcan

My build is not just a loading dock as I wanted it to enhance the small size of the grocery store. It is to be a loading/receiving dock as well as a mini storage area.
I want it to look like it has been around for a long with little or no upkeep.

Ray,

Excellent work.

What is the finish/technique you used to get that look on the vertical planks - right side of third photo?

Excellent job Vulcan!

Ray, I like the way the bottoms of the boards are weathered more than the rest of the structure. Typical of wood close to or at grade level.

Kurt

Loco, I think those boards are spruce, anyway I painted the outside a flat white then when dry roughed up the finish with a fine saw blade to get the grooves, then went over it with the roughest sandpaper I had leaving just a little white.
The bottoms were roughed up some more to have a lot more wheathered look.
The planks were then dipped into an India ink and alcohol mixture.

Ray, that structure is really looking good. Great weathering techniques!

Nice build and nice technique, Ray!

That's ok by me, Gizzmo. You have to till the field before you can plant the crops.

Looking good!

wonderful stuff everyone!

ray, i'm in awe of your weathering of that wood ... a thing of beauty

vulcan, convincing work on both the expansion joints and the stains

gizzmo, love that look of rails sunk in planking or concrete ... coming along nicely

as usual, many came to the party but only a few are staying til the end ... where is everyone?

a late post for me, but i did get it in before wednesday! added the decking and started weathering work on a small section. sorry for the crummy lighting again, it doesnt really show the colors quite right on the weathering.

Sorry Guys, I'm falling behind...
This is my first weathering job, and I'm really trying hard not to screw it up, so I'm doing a lot of testing...even spraying a clear matt into cement..It turned out nice as a ground cover, but too grainy for walls.

I wanted to get the decking finished before it was attached to the base, and that hasn't happened either, but I'm still working on this thing.

Still here.
Kurt

Guys great job so far! Ray, your boards look fantastic.

Mine is drying i will post pictures in a few hours when i can take the clamps off.

OK, Here's a few...


Here's some of the vertical siding, and the concrete beyond.


I finally got the concrete to look the way I liked it. Apply a build-up of acrylic paint, wait for it to thicken, and screed it with a piece of stick wood. Wanted it to look like it was cast-in place concrete with ties as formwork, since it was what they had on site.


...and the tie retaining wall.


Kurt

fish, I think your weathering is excellent! Of course, I'm not seeing it in the natural light that you are but it still looks great to me.

Kurt, you are also coming along quite well!

I found this picture, which I think is an excellent example of weathered wood. Not saying that anyone needs it, but it may help someone.

here's what the modeler said was his technique:
Quote:
My treatment is a very simple one for just plain weathered planking. I do all of my distressing with a file card and exacto. I then put a wash of an acrylic dark gray and try to raise the grain for even more texture. When dry, I dry brush the high spots with a very light gray and white. And a final shot with some powders to accent wear marks etc. in olive green and tan. This may not be the most effective but I'm able to achieve acceptable results consistently. I should mention that I only model in 1/87 to date. Unquote.



I left the photo large for clarity. Sorry.

Looking great, Gizzi!

Looking good everyone!

Kurt, I like the details you included in your retaining wall.

Rand

Mine is done right here in front of me and i amm with my grandpop in Vermont for the convention and he doesn't have a digital camera for me to post the pics