This is the last thing I'm making this year. It's the Gunsmith's Shop from BattleFlag. I'm really impressed with the way it went together. It does take a bit of thinking about before starting, when you're not very used to building laser-cut models. But having done the requisite cogitating, it went together very well indeed. It still needs a few things doing - a proper base, more weathering, window panes, perhaps an interior - but is otherwise done. There is next to no cleaning up required with these models. The fiddliest bit is fitting the (optional) shingles to the roof (you can just glue some battens to the roof, to make it look as though it's finished with tar paper), but once you get into your stride, they just become a bit tedious! I decided that they looked too plain, so I looked at some photos of real shingles on the web, then set in and highlighted them - yet more tedium!! This has ended up being a 'newish' building. I'm going, I think, to build a little town - and the buildings will, I hope all be different ages, with different amounts of weathering.
My lad and I are watching 'Deadwood' on DVD. The language is more than a little, er, salty (I reckon the '18' rating is largely down to the language), but it's a good drama, and looks very realistic. I'm reading 'Draw: The Greatest Gunfights of the American West' too. This has lots of potential ideas for scenarios, as well as being a fun read - providing you're of a slightly macabre mindset!
Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!