Palais Des Papes

[Mike Stamper]

Following on from The Roman Town, I've started on another model from our March holiday. The Palais is in Avignon and not too many miles from Glanum.

The building was the "home" of the Catholic Popes from the 14th Century for about 400 years when they returned to Rome.

This is another kit from L'Instant Durable and the details can be found on the first picture. The kit is similar to their usual pattern, with very few written instructions and seven pictures. This time I am writing the numbers on the back of each part - it's too easy to forget which part is which when leter construction is to be added to earlier parts.

I started this about a month ago but summer holidays and a break to make a different model have held up the process. The other model was a test for a friend of a new kit he's producing....... more when the launch is official.

Cheers
Mike

[B-Manic]

Nice star Mike. I really like these architectural models.

[cgutzmer]

thats great! keep the building coming :)

[Tim Crowe]

Another masterpiece!

Great weathering on these kits makes them less sterile.

Tim

[tazman3]

Mike, this is a model I have been looking for, could you pass on where you acquired this?

[Mike Stamper]

The kit is by L'instant Durable.

I ordered it from their web site - You have to send them a email telling them whick kit you want and they will reply giving payment details. If you've not visited their site you are in for a pleasant surprise !

Cheers

Mike

[B-Manic]

I just thought I'd add a link. They have some great looking models.
Instant Durable / English Version (http://www.instantdurable.com/ACCUEIL/accueil_franglais_menu.htm)

[tazman3]

Sorry, I hadnt' caught that Mike...I was just mesmerized. I love this kit...I have to have one. I'm working on getting an order together with a new modeling friend now...we both love arch. This one just cries out for extra details too...and it is weathered wonderfully...just a beauty. And you were right, their website did not disappoint!

Your construction is great MIke, I'm so looking forward to this as it progresses! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing!

[Mike Stamper]

Thanks for all your comments - most of the credit belongs to the designers. This is one of their earlier kits and so there is little input from computer graphics. In 1991 designers had to rely on old-fashioned pens and brushes.... or so it looks from the parts. This method has come in useful because on one part that shows – there is no colour, so I have had to paint more than just edges. Pic 24 will show where I have had to be creative – not one of my strongest points.

The part fit is good but there are a lot of awkward areas where parts have to be joined, so don't try this kit until you are confident with complicated models.
The other pictures show how the buttresses are made, the valley folds are marked and I have found that my home-made light box has been a big help – especially with the small “aprons” at the bottom of the walls.

So far the colours have been various shades of brown, so I am using a small dish with a “blob” of white paint on one side and a “blob” of brown opposite. In this way I can create the right shade for the edges more easily.

I am now about half way round the outside so was quite pleased with the progress …... until I realised the the other two sides are all buttress and so is much of the interior walls and there are are cloisters as well ;-(. It looks as if this won't be finished till Christmas, so don't be surprised if there no more pictures for a while!



Cheers
Mike

[B-Manic]

Lots of progress there Mike. The weathering on this kit is very good. I also like the way they extended the textures below the glue line. Very nice design.

[Mike Stamper]

My updates have been a bit slow lately. We've been on holiday and perhaps luckily found no models - Unless some one knows of a kit of Dubrovnik ;-)

I've not sent more pictures because all the walls so far have been generally the same. However, I have just reached a sort of milestone - I have completed the outer walls, although I have not joined them together because the inner walls have to be added.

The latest setion is variation of the outer walls but here I have to add the roofs and add this to the outer walls. On this subject, the instructions are "interesting" --- "Parts labled "Q" are quite tricky, so test fit before attaching to the walls" !

Parts Q are shown in the following photos numbered 50 and 51.

So, the next report will be either "here's parts Q sucessfully added" or "here's a picture of wastebin fodder"

BTW, on Sunday this week I will be joining a friend at a small model Exhibition, where we will be the only people with card models he specialises in Micromodels - If you can make it you may get to see a part finished Palais !

Letchworth Scale Model Showcase 2010 | Plinston (http://www.plinston.com/event/letchworth_scale_model_showcase_2010)

Cheers
Mike

[Tim Crowe]

The build is coming along nicely.

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday at Letchworth. That will make a total of three card modellers exhibiting.

Tim

[tazman3]

Wow, I want this even more now that I see it's size & beauty. Love, love love this kit...what a great job Mike. l-instant durable is going to owe you bigtime!! I think my friend and I are going to get 2 kits each...and we have another person interested! Haha!!

[AlanG]

Mike

I'd love to come along and see you at Letchworth on Sunday, but I have other commitments in Cambridge that day.

Model's coming along well...

Alan

[Mike Stamper]

The model may look good but it's definately very complicated - and the lack instructions don't help. Yesterday I glued part R2 toR1 then found that life would have been much easier if I has added R3 and 4 to 2 first. There are many cases like this. And trying to add the Q parts to the other part made buildings was like fighting with an eel !

Tim - I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Cheers
Mike

[Thomas Meek]

It's looking good, Mike. I love your build threads, and this is the best one yet.

Thomas

[rockpaperscissor]

A beautifully rendered building, and your asssembly is flawless. I've built a couple of models from this publisher and they are in a class by themself.

[treadhead1952]

Heck of a job on a complicated build there Mike. You are having entirely too much fun, especially without any "destruction's" to complicate things.

[carlos filipe]

Hi Mike:
A charming kit and you're doing a fine assembly. It can be tedious, isn't it?
I've been flirting with it for a while. As far as I could understand, the kit has interior detail and a section can be removed to show it.
You mention "lack of instructions". That puzzles me. You mean unclear instructions or simplu missing?
Rgds
Carlos

[Mike Stamper]

Jay, your words are prophetic. I had just finished the model and mounted it on a base. I caught the edge of the door and dropped the model, building side down ;-( One of the towers has bent and torn - and it's the tower at the front.

I decided to start on another model and return to the Palace at a later date.

Regarding the instructions. All there is are a few suggestions. The instructions are in a column under three inches wide and six inhes tall. There are even photographs of the completed model. The words say things like join all the pieces A1 to a A8 together then complete all pieces marked B. The sections go up to X all these should be joined.

Having said this, most of the sections are quite easy to follow. The main problm is that when about half the sections have been joined, it's like wrestling with a snake.

However, the subject and the great art work make up for the effort.

Cheers
Mike

[Tapcho]

Sorry to hear about the accident Mike, I hope you can rework the damages on the model. It's a beautifull model and you did a heck of job building it. Best wishes,

Tappi