Silo Art

[GeoffinOz]

In Victoria, Australia. we have an art trail taking in art work on about a dozen Grain Silo’s around the Mallee Region, mostly farmers pictures.

I thought this would be good as an inspiration for a Cake Box Challenge model and also my homage to the Girls from the UK who were evacuated here during the war, “my Mother-in Law was one” and joined the land army.

So. off I go on another CBC without finishing the Parcel Service, will finish that before October.

This one will be 8" wide x 6"deep x 8" high to get a couple of silos in.

The track through the Mallee region in Victoria is being regauged from Broad to Standard, so I will have new track, concrete sleepers and ballast with a road gang working on spreading the ballast, also, I have to make up my mind about the back right corner, what to put there?

[Mikkel]

What a nice and unusual idea. As for the corner, maybe a couple of large trees as per the photo to soften things up?

[NHY 581]

I would also replicate the background Geoff. The dark moody sky really sets off the artwork.

 

 

Rob

[Guest ShildonShunter]

Geoff a fantastic idea for your CBC will watch with interest.

[GeoffinOz]

What a nice and unusual idea. As for the corner, maybe a couple of large trees as per the photo to soften things up?

 

Good idea, will have to practice large trees, only made small ones before.

I would also replicate the background Geoff. The dark moody sky really sets off the artwork.

 

 

Rob

 

Have to find a suitable picture to use.

[Andrew Cockburn]

An interesting concept, I look forward to seeing how it develops.

Edited May 11, 2018 by Andrew Cockburn

[GeoffinOz]

Well, a bit of progress, I am having a go at making a tree.

First a copper wire armature

 

Then coat this with a mixture of grey paint, PVA Glue and plaster filler.

 

Looks a bit like a monster from SiFi movie.

The trees are different in Oz, they keep their leaves and shed the bark,

I might have to smooth the main trunk a bit and then add leaves.

[Guest Saltburn]

Geoff i like what you are planning to build on your cakebox. That is a monster of a tree really like how you have modelled it..

[GeoffinOz]

Geoff i like what you are planning to build on your cakebox. That is a monster of a tree really like how you have modelled it..

 

Just measured the tree, it is as tall as the Silo so might have to cut it back a bit.

[Andrew Cockburn]

The tree looks very effective, even though it is currently bare, and it does indeed look a bit like a sci-fi monster!

 

I've only ever tried my hand at "home made" trees once or twice before myself, and with varying degrees of success, but I dare say I may have another crack sometime in the future. I guess its rather more satisfying to make your own trees etc. as opposed to buying ready-made items or kits, while in common with other "home-made" items, structures or whatever, it also saves a bit of cash at the local model shop into the bargain.

Edited May 22, 2018 by Andrew Cockburn

[MAP66]

I think your tree looks pretty good Geoff, I need to make a tree for my CBC entry so I'm watching with interest. Not yet decided on wire or maybe sea foam.

I like the Silo concept, have you thought about how you will get the art work onto the silos - I'm guessing it will be images of Land Army girls from WWII?

 

Mark

[GeoffinOz]

I think your tree looks pretty good Geoff, I need to make a tree for my CBC entry so I'm watching with interest. Not yet decided on wire or maybe sea foam.

I like the Silo concept, have you thought about how you will get the art work onto the silos - I'm guessing it will be images of Land Army girls from WWII?

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

This is the first time I have used the wire for a tree, seems quite easy, but our trees in Oz are more open than yours in the UK

Another picture of the tree, pruned down at the top

 

Another coat of the plaster mix applied after a light sanding

More sanding to be done yet.

The land Army Girls picture came from the Internet, a few tries to get it the right size, the Silo's are the tube a backscene sky came in, cut down to look about right

Have to bed the Silo's to the ground yet.

 

My Mother-in-Law was a child evacuated to Oz in the War, she joined the Land Army when She left School, before returning to the UK at the end of Hostilities.

Edited May 24, 2018 by GeoffinOz

[MAP66]

Hi Mark,

This is the first time I have used the wire for a tree, seems quite easy, but our trees in Oz are more open than yours in the UK

IMG_4293A.jpg

Another picture of the tree, pruned down at the top

IMG_4295A.jpg

 

Another coat of the plaster mix applied after a light sanding

IMG_4299A.jpg

More sanding to be done yet.

The land Army Girls picture came from the Internet, a few tries to get it the right size, the Silo's are the tube a backscene sky came in, cut down to look about right

IMG_4297A.jpg

Have to bed the Silo's to the ground yet.

 

My Mother-in-Law was a child evacuated to Oz in the War, she joined the Land Army when She left School, before returning to the UK at the end of Hostilities.

Geoff

 

For a first attempt of a wire tree all I can say is it looks 'bang on' to me, can't wait to see it painted and with some foliage added. I think I will have ago at this method.

Well done for figuring out a way for getting the images to fit onto the silos at the right size, as it now looks quite similar to the original artwork from the photo on your first post.

 

Looking forward to your next update.

Mark

[GeoffinOz]

Bit of progress with the tree, 

Added some branches and old foliage 

 

Found a commercial branch to fall on the track,

Gum trees are prone to dropping branches in times of stress

 

Added green leaves by sprinkling with flock, spray with hair spray.

More flock, more hair spray. may have over done the green.

still needs some paint on tree base, lots of brown at ground level.

Then need to attach to CBC Base

[Marly51]

Love the tree Geoff! I still need to practice more - mine are kind of generic so far!

[HonestTom]

I love the entire concept of this entry. It's something I've never seen done on a model railway before, but it's such a great idea.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Very nice, I did a very basic Australian themed silo layout for one of the earlier RMweb competitions. I used Pringle tubes to create the silos, yours look superb with the images on. good work on the tree

[GeoffinOz]

Some more progress on the Silos, Roof and control cabin made from Scalescenes Painted Corrugated panels,

 

 

More work done on tree, took off some foliage

 

Tree planted in corner, have to finish ground and paint lower trunk brown.

Broken branch might need a clean up crew to remove.

 

Just to see what it looks like with Grain Wagon and ballast wagon.

[Andrew Cockburn]

Looks like its coming along nicely, if it were me, I'd leave the broken branch as it is, I think it looks rather realistic.

[GeoffinOz]

Latest update.

The work crew have arrived with a ballast wagon to top up and some are thinking of removing the dropped branch

Chief engineer is checking his drawings to see if everything is in the right place

will have to get someone to remove the spare I beams

Edited July 23, 2018 by GeoffinOz

[steamtoy]

I really like what you have done with the two silos the tree work looks great. I have yet to have a go at making trees. This is a great looking cakebox challenge.

[GeoffinOz]

Last Post for the Silo Art Entry.

Had to fit in a cake box, pity I can't get a cake box here so I made one

the size is 8" x 6" x 8" high

Close up of the work crew checking the ballast and wondering how to remove the fallen branch. An Engineer is checking his plans

A Grain Train has just passed. 

 

The wagons are both new and I have not weathered them yet, can't make up my mind if they are old or new.