Hi All,
decided to start a new topic in the hopes of actually getting something finished... this photo is of a model I started over a year ago that kind of got left on the shelf but hoping that putting it here will help me make some progress.
The story so far...
this is a 1/43 diorama. 9" x 6" split down the middle to show the interior of a brick workshop and exterior of a corrugated iron structure. I purposefully chose 2 different structures to allow me to play with different materials. The brick and corrugated are plastic from Slaters Plastikard. The concrete floor is all 2mm mountboard finished with watercolour paints- don't know if it's called this in Europe and the US. Basically it is the 2.5mm card used for picture framing. Track is 2' gauge for displaying some of my models and I'll sit it on a battery powered turntable so you get to see both sides.
As you can see there is lots to do on both sides- doors and detailing etc etc.
As usual any comments/ suggestions/ criticisms welcome. I have to say I already HATE the finish on the corrugated iron- that will definitely get changed- hopefully without ungluing too many of the details that already sit in front of it!
James
Other side...
and one that shows the inside...
James, that last shot of the interior is particularly effective :)
Let's see how it transforms as you start to refine it. -- Russ
Well James, the modeling looks fine, so here's a stupid little criticism/suggestions ... or maybe it's just my personal peeve ... but I find the unfinished plywood edges around the base to be distracting. Would like to see those covered with some smooth card/stripwood/plastic and painted a neutral color. It's not as bad as pink or blue foam on the edge of a diorama ... but still a distraction ... or, again, maybe that's just me.
Meanwhile, the scene is shaping up nicely by itself and looks like it would serve well as a "stage" for other projects.
Cheers,
Dallas
Quote from: Malachi Constant on July 20, 2010, 03:52:05 PM
but I find the unfinished plywood edges around the base to be distracting. Would like to see those covered with some smooth card/stripwood/plastic and painted a neutral color. It's not as bad as pink or blue foam on the edge of a diorama ... but still a distraction ... or, again, maybe that's just me.
Well, be fair- it's an unfinished diorama. I would presume he intends to improve on that before calling it done.
Now , Dallas , if you had said that the flashing between the roof and the wall looks a bit dubious then you might have had a point . But , as Mr. Bexley says , give the boy a break and let him finish it !
Nick
Hmm ... let's see ... James posts some pix of a diorama that's shaping up quite nicely and specifically states that ALL comments/suggestions/criticisms are welcome. So I mention something that sticks out to me ... WHILE I happen to be thinking of it ... WHILE the project is still underway (ie, before it's too late) ... and that's jumping the gun? Hmm ...
Now I hope he completely finishes the thing as nicely as it shaping up, but leaves those edges unfinished and blames you guys! ;D
PS -- James, forgot to say that I really like the two-sided design of the diorama ... two separate focal areas that are at the same time integrated ... very clever. (Oops, is it too soon to say "clever" ... can I get a reading from the Bulgarian judges?)
:P Dallas :P
Great idea with the two-sided finish. It looks good.
rafters? Looks like its missing a ledger board or some sort of joist hangars around the inside perimeter. Without a ledger board the roof could collapse.
just an observation.
Philip
I like the two-sided design too.
Quote from: Chuck Doan on July 21, 2010, 07:02:21 AM
I like the two-sided design too.
Me too (or is that three?)
I had thought one time that a 'cool way' to display the interior of a building on a model railroad layout would be to have the layout edge slice through the building .. similar to this.
Not to astray from the subject but I remember an engine house made from (hydrocal). The manufacturer, maybe stony creek /russian river ?? used the same method of finishing both sides which is brillant! makes way for some wonderful detailing.
Philip
Guys,
thanks for the responses. All very valid points...
yes the edges are all unfinished. The diorama base will be framed in hardwood. There are also nasty edges between the brick side and corrugated and a nasty unfinished edge along the roofline that will all get treated somehow.
Philip- there would be no joist hangers as such- the roof trusses would rest on and pass through the walls. I may add some concrete blocks for them to sit on though (plenty of old warehouse structures just rested them on the bricks though there would likely be either an internal or external pillar to bolster the wall)- there will also be concrete/ blockwork fill between the rafters and concrete lintels and sills above and below the windows- thinking of maybe using some fine finishing paper to do this so as to have a bit of texture.
Chuck- I have often thought the same- my current 2' gauge switching layout will have a workshop at the front edge with the front wall missing- the added bonus on a module type layout being that it forms a natural end to the scene. Will post some pics of that when I get around to mocking up the building.
Thanks again for the comments- watch this space for some progress... but don't hold your breath!
Cheers
James
Took a couple of photos the other day of some interesting metal shutters. Noticed the 'pockets' below. Aren't these where joists went once? If so, looks like there was a space above each 'pocket' to slip the beam in.
James,
the sawmill diorama will feature "cut through" buildings to show the interiors of the boiler- and engine house with on the other site of the dio a cut through machine room of the workshop. This offers plenty of possiblities to show the insides.
Chuck's workshop is open, but not of the cut through type :D :D
Another good example is the boiler shop of the Beachley Dock layout.
Jacq
Ed,
thanks for the pic- some very interesting bricklaying in that wall- You'd get your hands slapped for placing bricks like that these days! Nice shutter too- I find buildings of a certain age regularly used this system of joist support and roof truss support- in the UK the joists were often built in to brickwork as the wall went up. The filled area above the joist pockets may be from installing or removing the joists/ beams or indicate that a larger size beam was once in each location. These days joist hangers or concrete pads for joists are standard building practice as Philip rightly highlights in his message. It should be noted that floor joists have a different interaction with a building compared to roof trusses or rafters.
Jacq,
been following your sawmill diorama- look forward to seeing the engine and boiler house- very inspiring. Do you have a link to Beachley Dock? I'm not familiar with it.
Thanks
James
James,
http://www.modelspoorteam.com/html/beachley1.html
Jacq
Hi All,
so, not part of this project but on the same theme of unfinished models I'm adding some pics here of some trucks for an unfinished Proto 48/ On3 dual gauge project that is languishing in my loft. These trucks are for a tank car I started scratchbuilding- will send pics of the tank when I find it! These are Proto 48 San Juan Car Co archbars with my usual mix of oil paint washes and dry brushing/ Bragdon Powders/ Oil paint 'gloop' on the wheels. Must get around to finishing the tank car body one day too!
James
Square on...
last one...
Now we know why you are an artist. -- Russ