The Attack of the 60ft Spider from Mars!

[Hroth]

Prelude

Earlier last week, I had been rummaging in the attic and discovered a box of 2mm scale trains, ranging from Lone Star OOO push-alongs, Trebel-O-Lectric and mid 70s conventional N gauge from a long dismantled layout.

I've submitted Cakebox Challenge entries in 3mm, 4mm and 7mm scales but nothing in 2mm, which is a pretty glaring omission, I think you'll agree! Foe a moment I briefly considered using the OOO push-along material for a final entry, but clearly it was too late, seeing as the quickest of my previous entries took nearly 3 months to get from the original idea to submission.

So there it stood, until three things happened over the last weekend.

1. I watched the GMRC on Channel 5
2. Stubbby47 presented his excellent quick-build cakebox challenge
3. I had a lightbulb moment while shopping on Sunday

Here's the scenario:

A locomotive and its train are passing a signal box, approaching a roadbridge (deliberately made not wide enough for the statutory bus), when a Giant 60ft Spider from Mars plunges down the embankment to attack it, in the spirit of all those daft late 50s horror/alien invasion movies.....

The diorama will be constructed entirely from a single cereal box, some plaster bandages, paint, flock and the remaining lichen from other entries.

The railway is represented by:

• A signal box
• 4 pieces of OOO push-along track
• A Cattle Wagon
• A Jinty locomotive

and to wrap things up

THE SPIDER!

Constraints will be as follows:

Buy nothing in, apart from the Spider
No scale-specific construction materials
Minimal "realism"
The end of the week!

Photographs of the construction will be posted as it progresses.  If I get it finished by Thursday, I'll submit it for inclusion in the Challenge.  Otherwise it'll stay here as a bonkers idea that didn't quite make it!

Let the struggle commence!!!

 

 

First, there has to be a PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 8, 2018 by Hroth

[009 micro modeller]

I like the sound of this. I've collected a bit of Treble-O (push-along and some unpowered rolling stock from the electric series) in the past. Of course if you build it and leave it in a dusty corner you may find a very realistic spider moves in on its own! My only slight concern is that there are only 4 days to go...

[Andrew Cockburn]

Seems like an interesting concept, certainly something a little different! In fact, this does remind me of a kit which I seem to recall used to be available from Airfix many years ago, ie a diorama based on, as far as I recall, a 50s (or was it 60s?) sci-fi/horror movie, only in this case the "monster" (again if memory serves me correctly) was in the form of a giant lobster-like "nasty", descending upon some low-relief buildings. A bit scary! But back to the present, I look forward to seeing how this venture turns out,  & good luck re beating the deadline.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Andrew Cockburn

[Hroth]

Progress Report #1

 

Luckily, I was able to do some work on the basics this morning.

 

The raw material for the diorama!

 

3 pieces of card cut from the box and glued together for a bit of stiffness.  The outline of the layout drawn in on top.

 

First dry run of track, signal box and rolling stock.

 

The Road Bridge!

 

From the rear - more evidence of the cereal box...

 

Cutting side former.

 

Bridge and cutting side positioned to check appearance.

 

And the railway items added for further checking!

 

 

Onwards!!!

 

 

 

 

Progress Report #1.1

 

Plaster bandage applied to cutting side.  Looks good but boring, so no photo.

Guests arrived this afternoon, so tomorrow is probably out, unless I can sneak some modelling in.....

Next spasm will involve paint, much paint on all surfaces and a bit of drying time.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Hroth

[Hroth]

Progress Report #2

 

 

Being a quiet afternoon, I've had at it with paint, flock and lichen....

 

I used artists acrylics as they were to hand.

 

 

 

First I painted the baseboard

 

 

 

Then the bridge

 

 

 

Then the cutting side.

 

 

 

Putting them all together with the railway stuff...

 

 

 

A bit of flock for the grass and lichen for hedges and bushes and it looks ok!

 

Once everything has dried, I'll tone down the lichen and rub some weathering powder into suitable spots.

 

 

 

A different view, through the bridge.

 

 

[Hroth]

Progress report #3

 

 

And FINALLY!!!!

 

INTRODUCING.........

 

 

 

 

 

The Attack Of The 60 Foot Spider From Mars!

 

 

 

 

In Glorious Technicolor and CinemaScope!!!

 

 

 

(Whaddya mean, you thought the spider would have 60 feet?  Its an arachnid, its only got 8 legs!  But it IS a scale 60ft across. I measured it...)

 

[Hroth]

Anyway there you have it.

 

I'll add a couple of finishing touches tomorrow when its a bit drier, then photograph it properly, edit up the statutory 200ish description and send it off to PP before its too late!

 

Phew!

[009 micro modeller]

Looking good. Are you ballasting between the tracks or leaving it to be more in keeping with the Lone Star track? An interesting fact about the initial push along stuff was that it was based on Hornby and Triang 00 reproduced at half size, complete with 8.25mm gauge rather than 9mm.

[Hroth]

Looking good. Are you ballasting between the tracks or leaving it to be more in keeping with the Lone Star track? An interesting fact about the initial push along stuff was that it was based on Hornby and Triang 00 reproduced at half size, complete with 8.25mm gauge rather than 9mm.

The intention is to present it as it is, flat colours are more appropriate to the push-along models and the track is "pre-ballasted", sort of...  I just tried to make the grey look similar to the track colour.  I was going to use some Treble-O-Lectric stock as it looked more "interesting" then I found out/remembered the gauge difference...

[009 micro modeller]

The intention is to present it as it is, flat colours are more appropriate to the push-along models and the track is "pre-ballasted", sort of... I just tried to make the grey look similar to the track colour. I was going to use some Treble-O-Lectric stock as it looked more "interesting" then I found out/remembered the gauge difference...

You may be alright with that as it doesn't have to move so potentially it could balance on the rail. I think the stock you've got suits it though.

[brianusa]

Funny you should bring up spiders.  There is a particularly large one here that is harmless but looks about the same size as the one in the picture.  However as I am into O, its not so fearsome but he visited the layout but didn't stick around long enough for his close-up!  The question is now though, where did he go?

 

Brian.

[Hroth]

Funny you should bring up spiders.  There is a particularly large one here that is harmless but looks about the same size as the one in the picture.  However as I am into O, its not so fearsome but he visited the layout but didn't stick around long enough for his close-up!  The question is now though, where did he go?

 

Brian.

You know that spot at the back of the layout where the running is a bit hit-and miss? 

[009 micro modeller]

Funny you should bring up spiders. There is a particularly large one here that is harmless but looks about the same size as the one in the picture. However as I am into O, its not so fearsome but he visited the layout but didn't stick around long enough for his close-up! The question is now though, where did he go?

 

Brian.

I remember watching a documentary once about spiders in Australia. They had all the poisonous ones, obviously, but I think it was mentioned that one of the most deadly is large but fairly harmless - crawling out from spaces in cars and causing people to lose concentration and crash.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Prelude

 

Earlier last week, I had been rummaging in the attic and discovered a box of 2mm scale trains, ranging from Lone Star OOO push-alongs, Trebel-O-Lectric and mid 70s conventional N gauge from a long dismantled layout.

 

I've submitted Cakebox Challenge entries in 3mm, 4mm and 7mm scales but nothing in 2mm, which is a pretty glaring omission, I think you'll agree! Foe a moment I briefly considered using the OOO push-along material for a final entry, but clearly it was too late, seeing as the quickest of my previous entries took nearly 3 months to get from the original idea to submission.

 

So there it stood, until three things happened over the last weekend.

1. I watched the GMRC on Channel 5
2. Stubbby47 presented his excellent quick-build cakebox challenge
3. I had a lightbulb moment while shopping on Sunday

Here's the scenario:

 

A locomotive and its train are passing a signal box, approaching a roadbridge (deliberately made not wide enough for the statutory bus), when a Giant 60ft Spider from Mars plunges down the embankment to attack it, in the spirit of all those daft late 50s horror/alien invasion movies.....

 

The diorama will be constructed entirely from a single cereal box, some plaster bandages, paint, flock and the remaining lichen from other entries.

 

The railway is represented by:

• A signal box
• 4 pieces of OOO push-along track
• A Cattle Wagon
• A Jinty locomotive

and to wrap things up

 

THE SPIDER!

 

Constraints will be as follows:

 

Buy nothing in, apart from the Spider

No scale-specific construction materials

Minimal "realism"

The end of the week!

 

Photographs of the construction will be posted as it progresses.  If I get it finished by Thursday, I'll submit it for inclusion in the Challenge.  Otherwise it'll stay here as a bonkers idea that didn't quite make it!

 

Let the struggle commence!!!

 

 

First, there has to be a PLAN

 

Plan 1.jpg

 

If only I had seen this thread earlier. There was a magnificent specimen on my kitchen floor this morning which had to be removed before wife saw it. You could have had it for free.

[GeoffinOz]

I remember watching a documentary once about spiders in Australia. They had all the poisonous ones, obviously, but I think it was mentioned that one of the most deadly is large but fairly harmless - crawling out from spaces in cars and causing people to lose concentration and crash.

 

That would be a Huntsman spider, some are as large as your hand, hide behind the sun visor in your car, scare the living daylights out of you but don't bite you, they hunt other spiders so we don't kill them. check the visor before driving off

[Andy McV]

Love it - get it entered pronto!

[F-UnitMad]

In Glorious Technicolor and CinemaScope!!!

What??!!?? Such extravagance!!

 

For an authentic '50s Sci-Fi B-movie look you should do it in black & white!!

 

Grainy black & white at that!

[Hroth]

Sigh

 

If I must.....

 

 

 

[F-UnitMad]

That's better!!!

[eastwestdivide]

Needs a film poster treatment??

[Hroth]

All done and dusted, its been submitted...

 

Just for completeness, the finished scene:

 

 

Looking at the film poster, I wonder which famous actors, then taking their first steps in the film world, would be embarassed today by the performances of their callow youth?

Edited October 10, 2018 by Hroth

[PhilJ W]

I do notice that the spider has only two eyes, IIRC they usually have more eyes than they have legs, I suppose he saves a fortune at Specsavers.

[eastwestdivide]

I do notice that the spider has only two eyes, IIRC they usually have more eyes than they have legs, I suppose he saves a fortune at Specsavers.

What's the wildlife equivalent of rivet-counting?!

[Alex TM]

Absolutely hilarious, and brilliant!

[eastwestdivide]

...Looking at the film poster, I wonder which famous actors, then taking their first steps in the film world, would be embarassed today by the performances of their callow youth?

Possibly the comedian Robert Webb.