​Working on the construction site this week.
First, new signboards and decals

​I am continuing the work on the construction zone (next to the tower crane). This area is stuck between the train and the tram tracks, so it has a strange curved shape.
I have prepared more photo-etched parts this summer, for the scaffolding and the fence. The building frame is made of Evergreen styrene strips and beams.

Part of the first photo-etching project, I built a tower crane, which will be the focus point of the new construction area. The tower crane is largely inspired by a real crane, the JCL008II.

The workflow is as follows:

1. Design 3D objects in Autodesk Fusion 360 using the Sheet Metal functions
2. Generate a flat pattern and export it as a DXF file
3. Convert the DXF files into SVG files
4. Import the SVG files of the flat patterns and put them together into a single document, which is sent for photo-etching.

I am experimenting with photo-etching to make highly-detailed parts such as catenary poles or steel platforms. The parts are first modelled in 3D in Autodesk Fusion 360 using the Sheet Metal module. Fusion 360 is a powerful CAD/CAM/PCB professional tool available free of charge for personal use (check https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal).
These are a few examples of objects designed using this software.

​The pavement is made with TGW (Tsugawa) NDP-1 New Plastic Design Paper - Brick 50, airbrushed with Tamiya XF2 Flat White 96% + XF1 Flat Black 4%, then unevenly dry brushed with Tamiya XF66 Light Grey (which appears very blue), then weathered with AK-Interactive Neutral Grey Wash AK677 diluted in AK049 Odorless Thinner. That's not exactly what I was going for (I have tried many things, still learning here...). It looks darker and "older" than what I wanted, but I like the large tiles. Let's say it's a pedestrian shopping street that has been recently renovated using large "fancy" stones.

The custom made decals are quite large and require a lot of patience!

I have purchased and just received this CY700001 2set 1/700 Scale Model Ship 0.55mm Black Anchor Chain.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002942018738.html
​

​It's meant for a model ship but I think I can use it to build a fence similar to this https://www.sunpole.co.jp/supply/post-8159/
The chain link diameter is 0.55mm = prototype 82mm. Maybe a bit large, but should be ok.

​By the way, if you are looking for examples of different types of fences, there are 100 pages of photos in the landscape catalog here:
https://www.hokusei-kogyo.co.jp/catalog/

I have scratch built the sign board and other roof equipment using Evergreen styrene.

The trucks and vans are from

• Tomytec The Truck Collection Sagawa Express Truck Set
• Kato 23-651B Toyota Hiace Super Long
• Tomytec The Car Collection Basic Set N2

The side door of one of the vans has been cut open and the vans have been fitted with custom made decals.

I decided to rebrand and expand the small truck terminal (Tomytec 069-2 Modern Truck Terminal). The expansion is done using Greenmax 2187 building kit, which is extremely flexible and easy to customise.
This is the first stage of the construction.

This shows how I painted the Tomix tram tracks to give them better look.

I decided to make a new set of vending machines for the east tram station (and other places in the city). They are build from multiple layers of styrene, transparent polyester and printed photo paper.