The Gorre and Daphetid in Z Scale: Back At It

Back At It

Given that I'll take to leave my knee a check for the following four weeks (not count the post-surgical recovery), I'll get to focus on workbench tasks. So, please don't expect daily updates as I've done in the past; regrettably, there will be days to do when I won't be up to doing anything-even something fun. Anyway, the three RSLaserKits structures that I'd ordered for Daphetid Flats arrived, and it seemed like a "knee safe" project.

Daphetid Flats is my nickname for a row of building fronts I decided to add next to the Assay Office, tucked away in the very corner of the layout, to give Daphetid a more town-like feel; it also helps to trade with the awkward back edge of the layout. Based on the above image of John Allen's third G&D, among others, I focused on classical Western architecture, which RSLaserKits has in abundance. I chose three kits: #4022, Zelda's B&B; #4023, Dakra's Dry Goods; and #4030, Main Street Store.



To observe the project simple and straightforward, I didn't do much in the way of modifications. The sole significant modification was making the porch on the B&B shallower (above); had the porch been left unmodified, it would take nearly stretched all the way across to the tracks, and I required at least a token bit of street in presence of the buildings to make a town-like effect, however compressed.



Because I was merely using the shop fronts, all 3 were realised in fairly short order. As I worked on them, though, I had to inquire how many modelers have successfully completed these kits. It would seem they were reduced from larger scales, and therefore some parts were absurdly small while others were literally lasered out of existence (above). In particular, the cornice details for the Main Street Store (below) were almost too lowly to pluck up! Installing a dozen of them would be far more exercise than it was worth for a background building-one that's partially obfuscated by trees, no less-so I substituted a cut from a left part, giving me one (relatively) large part to establish as opposed to a lot of flea-sized bits.





I debated for some time over whether or not to clear the buildings. All together there were rather a few windows-some having interesting shapes-but I had but a fraction of an inch in depth available. The solution: an electroluminescent panel. Thanks to having done all sorts of lighting effects in the township on my James River Branch layout, I had much of live with-and leftover scraps of-EL material from Miller Engineering.





Illumination naturally called for making everything light-proof, since wood is notoriously translucent. This required multiple coats of black paint on the backs of the facades. The EL panel was cut as a one man to run the total breadth of Daphetid Flats. Using spray adhesive, I applied an orange warming filter to look down its garish blue-white color; this also diminished the light output considerably, which in this event was suitable for subtle lighting. To raise the consequence even further, all of the windows were glassy with frosted plastic for a diffuse glow.



Finishing followed my common pattern of a few light coats of grey primer spray, followed by chalk tints for subtle coloration. Given the elaboration of the detailing on these buildings-particularly the B&B-it was tempting to make them lavish, colorful paint jobs; I had to constantly remind myself these were background structures, and so the colours had to remain muted. Nevertheless, I did use a cast of sunglasses for the B&B woodwork, and I may go backward and highlight some of the woodwork on the former buildings later; I may also add a sign or two.



When I fired up the light for a test, I liked the result so often that it got me thinking around the Assay Office. But I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll light it, as it would be a pretty complex task to retrofit the construction with lighting given that it's sealed up and permanently bonded to a plane of Masonite!





Original Gorre & Daphetid image courtesy of Peter T. Prunka.