Hello model builders,
Time for an update. For today, we’ll do a walk around and then look in, here we go:
The funny thing here is I have to wonder if you can even see what I did? I’ll say, it took a lot of time. What is it you ask? trim and glazing.
Maybe the most obvious part is a cornice, and less obvious, the many, many small pieces of strip material - it’s everywhere!! 
I’m going to say that while not immediately evident, it is important in the bigger scheme of things. Most of the little extra strips help to add depth and shadows which go a long way in making this not look like a single sheet with windows punched in.
Looking at these, my compulsive nature is pushing me to add some windows to the back wall over the garage. This is not a pleasant realization - in addition to being a slow process, it requires a surprising level of precision to keep thing square and in alignment with other windows etc. Tedious or not, I’ll probably do it! I even wonder about adding more building over some portion of the shop area too? it would look pretty cool - more to ponder I guess. The second floor looks a bit stubby as is - sht…and, as I cleverly used a rear parapet wall, naturally, it would need to be cut down to reflect the roof over the “new” room in the back - great…sht again.
Now, onto the interior, starting with the easy:
Easy might be the wrong word, as this is not easy per se, but adding framing to the back is something that will be more evident than in the front, so it’s important to do. And, if you skimp out, and fake it, well - guess what?? it’s pretty easy to tell if you do it the wrong way.
Now, on to the bigger problems, the front. Well, shoot…as predicted, not all that easy to see in:
So, here you go! it’s so easy to see 
Except, this image is pretty gratuitous, as it works because there are no (there are two) front doors…perfect, and if you step back somewhat:
Well, you can still see some of it - though, with the doors on, none of it will be seen - which is a bummer - and from the side door:
Perfect! except, the side door is not installed either 
And the reality shot, and as noted by @loncray, well we have some glare:
Oh what a treat, a lot of glare - if I hold the camera essentially on the “glass” well you get to see inside and plenty of…glare. The reason the glass is installed is that once this is wrapped in (walls built, siding added etc), there’s no way to get back in…so - the problem of seeing what’s in there remains.
@Dioramartin, well Tim, as it turns out, I was discussing the idea of using pictures for the interior with @Uncle-Heavy, but I made him swear to secrecy! I found several relevant pictures, but as they are in fact photos with no actual depth, I was concerned (haha - good use of time and energy) that you wouldn’t actually be able to tell what they were pictures of, and they would look flat if you could. But, my experiment above proves that you can’t really see flat or three dimensional objects anyway!
So, I’ll likely make up a hybrid, using at least some of what you see above, then cut up the photos and attach them to various shapes made from cardstock, providing some form - 
Back to the things I “worry” about - I am certain that if I don’t do whatever I do for the interior carefully, on the day I take pictures, for whatever unforeseen reason, you all know that there will be an unintended, crystal clear view to the interior! This happens surprisingly frequently, so at least I am aware of it!
I’ll have to wait a while before adding exterior siding as I ran out - as my great idea of using two board widths, means I now need to make another order, with…narrow boards…
OK, on we go and thanks for having a look -
Cheers
Nick
Silly question:
You may have provided this information already: Are there some stairs somewhere to access the second floor? Stairs “steal” a lot of floor area
Commercial buildings, and many private buildings, have a history of getting added to, getting partially rebuilt, add-ons and extensions. Sometimes without any real “architectural” consideration.
Small building extended sideways, added a floor, extended the second floor …
What if the second floor was extended as/when there was a need for more space and the addition was added without spending time/resources on changing the existing structure?
Maybe the windows are slightly different in style, maybe differing wall material, maybe even different ceiling height or a parapet wall left standing where it isn’t strictly needed anymore.
@Stickframe @Dioramartin Thanks for making me L.O.L.! A great way to start the day…
I agree that only once interior walls and doorways are in place, you can tell whether there is enough light to see what is in there…
Well I’m bamboozled & disarmed by your frightening attention to detail. Comparing you & I to the animal kingdom you’re like a pack of terriers, whereas I identify as a sloth. For example, in my Anthropoid project several members unearthed fantastically detailed period interior photos of the Tram system’s electrical booster station which was situated across the road from the attack on Heydrich. After 30 seconds consideration I opted for this…
No there’s no comparison at all, just sayin’ I went for stage-set and you’re going for…insert appropriate superlatives here.
Sounds like the hybrid option (2D & 3D) may be the best solution for interiors. Adding a couple of figures into doorways or in the rooms might help. Regarding the windows, another handicap is taking photos at raking angles through them to avoid seeing giant cameras/fingers reflecting 
Superb goes someway to cover it … 
Hello gents,
I’ve got a 3 part update - first, looking at the addition, then interior lighting, and finally, some interior parts.
First up, the addition. @Uncle-Heavy, yes, Robin, we’re on the same page here. The plan was to make it look like something was added along the course of time, and not just a bigger second floor - and the parapet, naturally, I went ahead and stripped it apart to get access to the the strip wood buried within for reuse, and reuse I did, but while pondering the new area, I wondered, if I were adding to this in real life, why would the parapet get removed? I’d keep it and avoid the need to rebuild the facade, so, yes, I rebuilt it! If once is good, twice must be a lot better!
And here we are! I used scribed sheet for the siding, and individual boards for the gable end. The windows are a different color and pattern than the others - why? because they were recycled from another project of course! But, the look fit the intent. And, rather than adding a regularly shaped area, I made something with a jog - allowing the “need” for a side dormer! I must say, this idea is a callback from making model rr buildings, where forcing interest is a common practice and I’m glad I did so! the purpose was to, well, add interest!
Then, thinking more about lighting the interior, while sitting in my actual shop, well, during the day, I never even turn on my lights. Why not? well:
I have huge skylights - maybe 5’ x 10’ each, and have lots of natural light - so, why not do the same on the model?
from afar, and from close:
For this, I cut a pair of big lights into the roof, then cut an opening into the second (or first floor for those not living in the US! ) floor to serve as a light well. Then to make it look less obvious, I put thin sheet of drafting paper over the opening, which serves as a light diffuser (not glued in place yet, as this was a test). But, the results work fine.
We now have light on the first/ground floor! I still have something of a glare problem, but it’s the lesser of evils when compared against a dark main floor!
along the way I added some toe kicks and push bars to the front doors.
And for grins, I did some indoor photo tests too, maybe less glare?
This worked out fine too - so, I’m calling this problem resolved. I drew some lines on the floor with a pencil to look like it’s linoleum.
Now, on to the interior. @Dioramartin, hi Tim, yes! I remember that building, and like it now, as much as I did when you built it! Unhappily, in this case, unless I went with @Tank_1812 Ryan’s idea of a vacant building (hmmm, maybe for another project??) well, I need more miniatures!! yes, @golikell Erwin, that’s for you!
I stuck with the hybrid approach, and think it was the right way to go:
We now have elements of an interior! thankfully Sprue Bros had a 20% off sale on Miniart kits a few weeks ago, so I purchased a couple of sets of mechanic’s tools kits, pillaged more from an old project, and yes, scaled, printed, and glued in place photos of tool racks! The central and taller white shelf racks are made of chip board, basswood, pictures and a few kit parts to add some dimensions in clearly evident places. If you look closely, you’ll see there is a low shelf on these two racks, which I might still add some bits to, but as the look ok as is, these might be about done. I’ll paint the wall behind the tall cabinet with the ladder white, like the rest of the interior walls.
I am still waiting for some strip wood for the siding, so that task will continue to wait. In the meantime, I’ll detail up the light well/diffuser and add a few things I know need some attention
OK gents, take care
Cheers
Nick
Exquisitely impressive as always!
The shop looks great. What time does it open? I could use a few things.
Excellent!
Those photo-tools definitely look like the real thing in this setting!
Whoa, wait a minute! I never opened that can of worms and refuse to be pulled into the minature quagmire!
I do love the way things work out, however!!!
I was thinking the same thing. I could use a new portable drill if they happen to go on SALE. 
—mike 
Hello gents,
Good! I’m glad the mixed images/details approach is passing the collective “eye” test!
I haven’t posted in the last few days because this has been slow going. A lot of actual work, but not the sort of thing that needed day by day updates. A good way to turn off even the most hardcore model building enthusiast - the task? installing siding. Woo-hoo… 
yeah…lots and lots of strips of siding. And, as I decided it would be a fine idea to use a pattern, wide, narrow, wide…well, it took a long time. Each part of the building now has siding, but for now, only pictures of the front and one side:
And that’s where it sits now. Still, more siding to add, and on and on!
Thanks for having a look
Cheers
Nick
A really beautiful building Nick … it really looks stunning and that inside is a spectacular