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Continuing where we left off... the next phase of construction involves turning plain styrene sheets into something representative of the actual structure. My weapon of choice is photo wallpaper, made famous by Lance Mindheim. I often rely on Google Streetview for acquiring images from afar, since Iowa City is a two-hour drive for me, one … Continue reading J&M Automotive
Welcome to 2022! Let's start the New Year out with a structure build. J&M Automotive is an independent car mechanic located on East 1st Street in Iowa City alongside the industrial spur. The simple concrete block garage is probably the smallest single structure planned for The Hills Line. However, its small size allows me to … Continue reading Starting 2022
Model railroading, from a retail perspective, largely remains a cottage industry. While there are a growing multitude of large hobby conglomerates, most of the smaller items you see on layouts come from mom-and-pop operations. Those small businesses are helping me detail warehouses on The Hills Line, and it's always fun to see how these little … Continue reading In The Details
On the IAIS Grimes Line I was able to make significantly-sized photo backdrops work for non rail-served buildings, notably Reams Foods in Clive. For The Hills Line, I'm finding better success with building flats or partial structures. I'm chalking up the change to the difference in industries between the two locales. I used Pikestuff building … Continue reading A Thicker Backdrop
The Hills Line 