It's late in the day and too dark for photos, but I got some green cellophane when I visited my mother recently. Sadly, the red was gone. And, even more sadly, I learned that Jo-Ann's fabrics is gone, so there's no nearby source for gel film. So, today to move forward an inch, I bought Crazy Glue and a second heavy duty X-Acto knife. But there was no time to work on sash window experiments or spray paint the parts with primer.
Regardless, I'm rather excited about the sushi roll that I grabbed for lunch. It was undistinguished tasting and entirely forgettable, but the bottom half of the packaging is a terrific blue-purple transparent plastic. It's just screaming "Hey you! Yeah, you with the soy sauce. Clean up this green horseradish and try me for simulating the stained glass!" Due to the ridges, embossed lettering, and slanted corners, I'm not sure that there is enough plastic for all of the windows. But if the color and thickness work for the stained glass window sections, getting more will be easily and enjoyably solved.
I'll say it again: there's something to be said for augmenting a diner with free food-related modelling supplies. It's not intentional but there's just so much great wooden (birch) and plastic stuff at hand. For example, I've been eyeing plastic utensils and Greek yogurt containers. Specifically, I've been analyzing the curves and ridges of their respective handles and bottoms for possible diner counter tops and matching footrests. The end of the handle of a plastic knife would make a great scale sink if there's room for one. And, some utensil handles have a texture that could pass for a classic diner "boomerang" pattern -- if you squint just so that is ... I call it "Squint-0-Vision". Given the vagaries of having a carpet layout, Squint-O-Vision is the only way to go on my railroad.
Sadly, I've heard nary a peep from the mom and pop business in California where I ordered the 1/4" scale stove, refrigerator, coffee pots, and miniature cookware 'way back when. I'm bummin'
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Tomlinson Run Railroad
