After six months as a sticky most are probably ignoring the Middlesex Contest with NO RULES and no prizes. As many of you know I model the Chicago area. Chicago is the candy manufacturing capital of the world being home to M&M Mars (there is even a station called Mars on the Metra Milwaukee Road West commuter line), Wrigley Gum, Tootsie Roll, Brach's, Affy Tapple, Fannie May and many others including the Ferrara Pan Candy Company on the Eisenhower Expressway and CTA line just west of the City near Oak Park (home of many magnificent Frank Lloyd Wright mansions).
Ferrara makes Lemonheads, Red Hots, Boston Baked Beans and many other candies produced by the panning method which employs machines that look like concrete mixer tubs. Starting with a small center the candy rotates in the drum while many layers of liquid flavorings, sugar and coloring are applied finished with a shiny coating of food grade wax.
My building is not an exact model of the Ferrara building by any stretch but by sporting the iconic sign it is meant to evoke this part of Chicago industry.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/35166810The real structure receives many covered hoppers which I presume carry sugar. I have seen photos with six hoppers in line for unloading.
My structure bashes the Atlas Middlesex Mfg kit with the Walthers Machine Shop to replicate an old structure who's economic life is extended by adding a new wing.
I apologize for the photos as I am no photographer. The flash has made all of the colors too intense and penetrates the weathering and makes it look overdone. The model is much more mellow in person (as am I).
Seeing the close up photos points out a number of touch up items that need to be done. I am still looking for handrails to make the steps OSHA compliant. Both building were painted with Tamiya spray cans, weathred with both alcohol/India ink wash and chalks then sealed with a craft store matte spray which I like better than Dullcote these days because it produces a much more flat finish even though the photos betray that.
So there it is. Let's see some more entries!
