The Spice

For years MRS Bunkermeister has been saving spice bottles for me.  Today it was time to put them to use.  I am going to save my various ground cover dust and crumbs in new bottles.  Each one gets it's own label.  It's not hoarding if the boxes are labelled. 

The old spice label is removed and the jar is cleaned.  WD-40 works very well to soften the glue.  Then a quick wipe down with a rag and some alcohol to remove the WD-40.

New labels are attached using wide clear packing tape.  Covers the whole label so it won't get wet or discolor.  Original labels are kept on some jars that are the original jars.

These are all shaker jars so I can sprinkle the powder onto the surface to be flocked.

Blended Turf is my primary ground cover, and I keep a separate jar for turf that was excess from a previous use.  That way each time it is applied the turf is fresh, unless I am going for a rougher look.

This turf by JTT is from Hobby Lobby, it is slightly different from the Woodland Scenics version.

Since this is my primary ground cover I also maintain a smaller container of it for handier application.

Various small rocks for a more desert look.

This is the tape I use, works better than regular office type Scotch tape because it is wide enough to cover the whole label and so keeps it clean and dry.
 

Smoke Tower

I purchased a 3D printed model of a forest service fire watch tower.

It is a bunch of mostly gray bits, no instructions but should not be too hard.

Made in China but they have a US address, and tracking says it shipped from China.  I don't know how that works.  I mocked it up for a quick view, not bad, I am considering buying another one or two.  You need three to get good triangulation on a smoke.

The roof piece is molded yellow and has obvious printing lines but given it's a roof it looks okay.

 No flash, lots of printing lines but since it is a "wooden" building they sort of look like wood grain.  I am happy with it.  Part of my US Forest Service Project.  I actually know a guy who does this kind of work, he gets a surprising number of smoke sightings that require a response.

Dollar Tree Building

This is a little building from Dollar Tree.  The opposite end of the cost spectrum from the Disneyland ornament.

Still a pretty good little building for what you get.

This building is about the same size as the Cinema from yesterday.

This building might end up on Main Street in Disneyland.

Or it may end up in some other part of my collection.

Dollar Tree went from ceramic buildings to plastic ones a few years ago.

That makes these more durable and easier to convert.

They are designed for use with batter powered tea lights.
 

Building Interiors

These are the most recent buildings I got.  It's a cute little house.

They have a bit of an interior and they came with furniture too.  Not shown.

The other buildings don't have an interior and not furniture.

Police station interior.

Fire station.
 

Buildings

Got some new buildings at my local Dollar Tree.

A bit small for 28mm but just right for 1/72nd scale.

Unless the 28mm guy is not a normal human.

Police station and fire station and construction shack.  All are false front buildings with no back on them.

 They would work well for a movie set, or add a box to the back and make them a full building.  I have not decided yet what to do with them.

Normandy Town

Welcome to Bunker Talk blog.  Today is the 5,000th post.  I hope you enjoy.

A quick set up of British troops entering a village in Normandy.

Germans are preparing a counter attack.

I have a small wire table on my gravel porch area.

So I threw down a few pieces of wood and grabbed some buildings.

And set up a little town.
 

Babs Needs Work

Time for the wings to be glued onto the fuselages.

Mass building sometimes requires mass supplies and mass tools.  I got these inexpensive plastic clamps at Harbor Freight Tools. They don't get used very often but they are essential when they do get used.  They last for years.

These metal clamps are a bit stronger and they get employed as in this case where this particular wing was a bit warped.  The extra strength was helpful.

All done with assembly.

Now my WWII Japanese air force has eight new planes ready for exterior painting.  But that's a blog for another day.

Airplane

More progress on my mass airplane build.  I am building eight of these models at the same time.

First all the parts were removed from the sprue and trimmed.  Now the pilots and interiors are painted and the fuselage halves are being glued together.

Models often have some tricky bit and by building them enmass I learn those lessons and apply them right away.

On this kit there are three pieces of exhaust, they are not seen once the engine is put together so I left them off.  Saved me 24 pieces.

Engine cowlings waiting to be put together.  They would have covered the exhaust anyway, so leave the exhaust off!

Furniture and Buildings

Another MPC building.  I think the vents under the window are supposed to be air conditioners. 

The sides!

The doors open and close.  Here is a flag installed on the roof.

60mm MPC soldier in front.

These troops are a good size for these troops.

Construction office is the same size.

Marx cowboy furniture inside the building.

I think it works well with these buildings.

ACW figures with the building.