1:24 SCALE STRUCTURE KIT
Manufacturer: Model Geeks, 124 Roselawn Place, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Price: "The Pickle Barrel" cast urethane plastic kit $79.00 suggested list.
MODEL GEEKS PICKLE Barrel Beer Garden is one of a growing line of roadside structures representing the whimsical American architecture popular during the 1930s and 1940s. The entire shell of the model is a poured resin casting. The only parts you have to attach are the window frame/counter assembly and the roof details (also resin castings) so assembly takes only about fifteen minutes.
The window frame/counter did require some filing for a precise fit and you must drill two holes, one to attach the pickle, the other for the smoke jack. For some reason the 1/8-inch diameter brass tube for mounting the pickle was missing so I cut one from some brass tubing I had on hand. I also decided to mount the sign board and smokejack with .046-inch diameter brass rod reinforcing pins for durability. And I added a pair of tapered rubber faucet washers as base mounts for the smokejack and pickle support because they looked a little plain.
The most time consuming aspect of "construction" was painting. First I primed each piece with Krylon Gray Primer. Twenty four hours later I sprayed the barrel with Floquil Roof Brown and the roof with Grimy Black (to simulate old tar paper). I masked off the rest of the structure, then sprayed the back door and window frame/counter with Floquil Antique White. I brush painted the barrel bands with Floquil Old Silver and toned down the color by airbrushing on a very dilute coat of Grimy Black.
Next the sign board: Floquil Caboose Red. After the paint dried I rubbed the raised letters with a sanding block to let the white resin show through.
The most difficult color to find was a suitable green for the pickle. I finally settled on a green acrylic paint I found at an art store.
After I had assembled and painted the entire model, I sprayed on two coats of Testor's Dullcote. Then I cut the clear styrene window "glass" to size and glued it in place. I do think Model Geeks could have included some signs to suggest the kit really does represent a beer garden.
The resin construction and one-piece shell should make the model very durable for use outside. If you add some tables, chairs and, maybe, a couple of umbrellas you could create an attractive scene in a small area.
The mold work on the model is excellent and the quality of the parts is very good. Overall, considering the relatively high price and the virtual absence of detail accessories, I would rate Model Geeks' beer garden kit very good but short of excellent.-Dean Lowe
