I wanted to start with the arches, but then I noticed that this was not the right starting point. I had to start first with the road and the surface. The reason of this is mentioned somewhere below in this blog.
The asphalt road from Scalescenes is printed on Hahnemühle watercolour paper 150 g/m2 rough. I like the deep colour of the asphalt that I got this way. I always put the printer output on best quality and select the right type of paper. This will depend of what type of printer you are
The first job I had to do now was adding the windows behind the weathered factory wall. In the past I use a solvent free glue from Pattex. This time I used double sided tape from 3M, as David Neat advices in his excellent articles.
I had re-size the windows from Scalescenes first. I used window c form his excellent Arches and Windows TX00 kit.
After adding the windows I tried out how to create the final look. I had several possibilities that were usable.
I decided to build an inner wall wi
Next step is to weather the front of the factory before starting with the windows.
For weathering I used the following materials for the factory:
· Soft pencil pastels of Caran d’Ache. This on advice of an art shop in Nijmegen. They told me that these pencils had the most pigment. In the past I mostly used a mixture of a what dark pigments. On their advice I used this time some different shades of grey and grey/blue.
But every other good brand will work too.
· Coloured pencils for detai
First an introduction to the factory in the background of the diorama. Darrel Fincher is working here as a metal worker. In the archives of the Northall Gazette I found an interesting article about the factory.
Modelling progress (I had some extra time):
I’m very content with the use of bookbinding glue. Althought it is a little more work the result is much better. With PRITT glue I had always parts that I had to glue again. Applying a thin coat of bookbinding glue gives a good resu
This time I use a different approach for modelling a Scalescenes model.
I printed the PDF’s on fine art paper. In this case Lana Dessin 150 gsm. Beneath a product description:
“A perfect paper with light grain which makes every stroke of your pencil a real pleasure. Gelatine and surface bonded, it makes gluing and retouching operations so much easier to perform and the various weights available mean that you can choose the paper which best suits your own needs.
Acid free and age resista
After building the 3D sketch the final diorama box had to be build. I use for that a MDF “baseboard.” A friend of us cut baseboards for the coming time. Don’t be afraid you will see only this kind of diorama’s in the future. My granddaughter (6 years old now) asked me to build a railway on which a loco could run. So somewhere in the future I have to build a diorama in an APA box in which a train can shuffle around.
I bought her in the past a Toby from Hornby. This loco is the reflection of
For the figures I have found the right position. Now it is time to see of my design is right. A drawing on paper is always different than a 3D diorama.
Also the dimension of this diorama are totally new to me. So I have to get familiar to them. So I decided to make a try-out diorama.
The black & white diorama is just quick build. Not all the details are visible. I also have to make some small adjustments for the coloured version I have noticed all ready.
Here is the overview. Just three l
In a reply of last entry of station road I said that a milk-bar was a place where teenager could meet each other.
1950's milk bar date!
I mentioned the above “sorbet”, and it had a nice description.
The Knickerbocker Glories is a big glass of ice cream with strawberries, bananas, grapes and thick, whipped cream on top.
Today I made a nice Italian pasta meal with courgette. So I thought it would be nice to make the Knickerbocker Glories for dessert.
So this time some of m
After I had designed the basic plan for 'Station Road – Shops under arches' and painted my figures, it is time to find the right place for the figures.
On the map I marked the position of the girl and the boy.
So to give the situation some what more personal I made some notes by the figures to create more “living” persons from them.
This was an interesting journey. Reading the backgrounds of teenagers in the 1950's and the Teddy Boy culture in London and the UK.
So let me introduc
As I wrote before, for my new diorama Station Road I need some “top quality” painted figures. By top quality I mean the best I can achieve at this moment.
This is my second attempt painting a figure at my best at this moment.
I used artist acrylic paints, different branches. I uses opaque colours for the basecoats and half-transparent and transparent colours for highlighting. For shadowing a mixture of my base colour with Payne’s grey or black.
The base colours are diluted 1:1 with ma
After the evaluation and the reading of some literature about building a shadow box diorama I will try a different approach.
In his articles about creating a artful diorama, Ray Anderson mentioned that the following things will help any diorama:
1. Tell a simple story. You can hold the viewer’s attention for a minute or two at most.
After finishing Northall Dock and reviewing the title of the diorama scene should have been “going to the pub”
2. The figures should be “smal
I couple of weeks ago I was surfing on the internet searching for another possible lighting solution for my diorama’s. I left the website I was looking at in front of my computer, while I went to go for a shower.
When I came back there was I new massage in my Outlook. This was an order confirmation for the light I was looking at. My wife had just ordered them for my.
I dismanteled the lighting above Northall Dock to see the possibilities of this set.
First I made a new lighting frame
I have created the solution of the L-shape design I described in one of my earlier entries.
The yellow ware house has disappeared. I build a new warehouse for the builders merchant. It’s a pity, because I still like the yellow building. For those who didn't read my motivation I described in an answer on a reply of Mikkel:
“Let’s have a look at the colors: grey - roofs, road and sky dark brown - the building behind the cottage and the building with the Morse ghost sign "red/yellow" - the
The girl as posted in my last entry.
I have learned again. After reading the replies I tried to make the figure look “better”. After working on it I decided to give it a light coat of matt varnish using a spray. When the varnish was dry I screamed : HELP. It became very glossy.
Then I tried something totally different to see if I could correct it. I used pastel pencils, a pastel pencil eraser and paper eraser.
I liked to work with pastel pencils on the figure for detailing. The on
NO THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME!
This is about figure painting.
If you like some appropriate background music to this entry open the link below :
For my new diorama Station Road I need some “top quality” painted figures. By top quality I mean the best I can achieve at this moment.
The first step was to read chapter 5 of Sheperd Paine’s book How to build diorama’s. After reading I made a small painting guide for myself as a reference during my paint job.
I used artist acrylic paints, di
I’m still busy with creating the solution of the L-shape design I described in my last entry.
An other point of concern I mentioned in an early blog post. This has to do with the rule of thirds I use for the design of my diorama’s.
The white circles are all filled in, with the right amount of details:
Top left: the inside of the warehouse Below left: the visible unloading scene Top right: The name sign and the view to the alley Below right: the wooden pile at the corner of the d
Sometimes I have the feeling that I have to quit a project. I have my doubts how to get the result I like to achieve.
This happens to me from time to time — I feel like I miss the possibilities that can be used in the modelling world, and I start to worry. I’ve learned to deal with it, so that while it still comes up, I now have trust that I’ll be fine.
So what do I do when have my doubts and get back my motivation ?
I do this: I look at the things I have made. I look at Nice Street and
This I had to do in the beginnig. Painting the APA box. I found this weekend finaly some time to finish the painting I started a couple of weeks ago.
Now I had to take all of my models out of the box ant store them on the shelf.
The black shadow is a roll of painting tape.
This kind of paint jobs I don’t like because of my MCSD. I always get somekind of reaction. But on the website of Allergy UK I found some usefull tips. Now I put a cut union in the room when I have finished paint
Against the wall in the back of the warehouse are some empty piled up whisky.
The base for this boxes were some pictures from Flickr. I find that a beautiful resource for all kind of pictures.
With this pictures I made a pdf with the piled up boxes in 4 mm scale.
Untill now just the useall way of how I approach things.
But the backside of the boxes won’t be visible when you look through the door of the warehouse. So I didn't found in necessary to model them with full detai
For most of my life I did not think of myself as creative at all. Although I liked to draw when I was younger.
What I learned is that creativity isn’t something that you have or don’t have. It is something that you can nurture and develop. Most importantly, creativity can be a practice.
Here are the steps that I began using, and find I’m using every day, not only in my modelling work:
1. I believe in my creativity. This is the first step and probably the most important. Just begin
For the interior of the warehouse I wanted some (whiskey) barrels and crates.
Basic information I found on the very useful http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/00-app1/common.htm
After reading this basic information my research on the internet began.
Then I discoverd that whiskey also was shippen in whiskey boxes. Mostly with the name of the distelery on top of it.
With the pictures I found there were also sizes metioned.
17 x 14¾ x8½ inch is in 4mm : 5,6 x 4,9 x 2,8 mm.
22½ x 15
Although I like painting, I find painting metal figures still a difficult job.
I still have to find my way. In the pictures below the way I tried it this time.
Step 1: priming the metal figures with an undercoat.
Step 2: first cover with black paint
Step 3: second coat with black paint
Step 4: adding some basic colors
Step 5: adding some more basic colors
Step 6: dry brushing with paint.
Finished figures after adding some pigment weathering and a coat o
First some background information obtained from Edward Grimble :
“The company Grimble & Son Ltd is started in 1886 by John Grimble.
He was mentioned as a carpenter in the St. James, Northall, Parish register.
John Grimble started the company at his address at Orchard Road, where he had a workplace and did carpenters work for the local community. These works could vary from trimming a cart up to making a shed. His company grow out to a building contractors and merchants firm. He opened
After I decided to place Northall as postcode borough W16 in Greater London. I wanted to use also a personalized street name sign, approved by the Northall Council.
I found a good article on internet how street name signs have to be used and designed.
The most important design advices I have copied below:
“Street nameplates shall be of uniform design throughout the Administrative County of London and shall be constructed as follows:
(i) Of durable, non-absorbent material.
(ii)
In one of my entries the next question was asked:
“Job, a serious question - do you plan these dioramas over time or just see a scene in your mind's eye in an instant?”
To be honest there was no planning when I started with the building of Bridge Street. I just wanted to build a layout on which I could shuffle around with a shunting loco and some wagons. A single line from a “fiddle stage” to an industry using wagon cards and wagon bills. Because me lack of knowledge about the shunting p
