Dad-1 Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 Although like most I wanted a super large layout, but with almost no landscape scenic modelling behind me I needed to experiment. I may have been a confident scale aircraft modeller however this railway stuff was 'new' to me back in 2009. Since then I have always encouraged others to have a go. Why be an armchair modeller simply because you don't have : A) The space, B) The money C) Hands on experience. Lack of time is little excuse as small simple dioramas can be made in day, although mine have always taken months. I'll start not at the beginning, but in 2011 with my Carson's Quay which was around 15" x 10" although the exact size is irrelevant. I wanted to try a cobbled inset track, A hard water scene, and include some lighting. This was the extent of my planning - I prefer to fly free and get organic growth with all it's risks ! The intention was to use as much scrap, bits and pieces to keep costs very low. A small amount of preparation needed where lighting is to be included, wires have to go somewhere. Wall plaster was used for the dockside, then using a steel ruler and a sharp scribe cobbles were engraved. Messy, but gave me more, or less what I wanted. Card infills for workshops to fit into a couple of arches Quayside gantry made from plastic profile, this was the only item that cost me money !! The water colour was awfull and had to be changed Then to the final photos I took Should anyone find this sort of thread interesting I'm happy enough to follow with some of my more recent pieces. Dad-1 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 Looks great! You've modelled it all very well especially the quayside. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted December 10, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2018 Really nice modelling your diorama is looking great especially the water front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzer42 Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 I'd love to see some recent pieces as well. I find dioramas useful for detail ideas, as others have said that quayside is well executed and makes me think it can be done on 4 x 1 successfully. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetmorgan Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) I like the look of this one....I really will have to get on with my planned layout Carr Quays which I had planned to be a harbour scene in the 1970's. I just hope my painting and scenery efforts can make Wot Halt look right. Thanks for your comment and you are very right space is also at a premium as well as I live in a 1 bed flat so no room for anything...just glad I have an understanding boss and I can hide some of my model railway stuff at my workplace. Already made a start on a second diorama...engine shed this time so I'll post pictures of the building of that as well...once I have worked out a name for it Edited December 11, 2018 by jetmorgan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted December 11, 2018 Author Share Posted December 11, 2018 Ha, Understanding Boss ehh jetmorgan. Back in the 1960's I was rebuilding one of my rally car engines at work, hidden on the roof (concrete ceiling) of our office block. Those were the days !! Thanks all for comments & 'Likes' Off out tonight, but I'll add another of my earlier dioramas soon There is always a shortage of 'finished' photographs as I drift into the next project all too easily. Dad-1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted December 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 11, 2018 Dad-1 I look forward to seeing more of your modelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSWM Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Give us more... You know it makes sense ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 O.K, Lets try my 2014 diorama. A few different things to try. First a piece of ply, this was my odd bit in the corner. Nothing much, how about a theme, a one word theme "Bridge" It would only have a very short piece of track on a bend over a road. Such a bend would have the track with a cant - put some plasticard under one side of the track Not a good photograph, but you get the idea. This road was to be twisty and not flat. The only way I could think of achieving a half decent fit would be to make a paper pattern that I'd use to cut out a plastic section from a large, double size, Slater's sheet. Because this was going to be tight size wise I needed to make a pub that fitted the available space, an odd shape, but it worked. Styrene was used for most of the infilling between ply support, but I decided to use as much real stone as I could find that looked right. A fair old stock of various embossed plasticards was more than useful ! At this point things begin to come together. As usual I add a skin of hard wall plaster, usually painted with dark earth enamel partially to seal the surface. Early on I'd decided on lighting under the bridge and in the Fisherman's Arms. Once grass is going on it comes to life, and that (lack of) planning has not caused a disaster !! Then one last shot of it as near to finished as I think it came. As always I never quite finish !!! I love dioramas and yes I have had a couple of disaster, but you learn something every time, even if it's the limitations of your skill. Those skill shortcomings will only be overcome by trying and trying again.. Hope this has not been too boring. Dad-1 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted December 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2018 Another nice diorama Dad-1. Your modelling skills are really good and I can’t wait to see more of your work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 Had a short break ...... Dealing with 'Club' stuff. One item has been finishing my diorama for the club competition that we held on 18th. Now that's over I'll add a few pictures. This one started because I needed somewhere to put my completed greenhouse kit. This had been laying in the loft for more years than I'd like to admit too. What it needed though was some plants, No way was I going to try and reproduce identifiable greenery, just some colour. Where DO you put something like this ? I thought, Ahhh ..... a diorama, perhaps no railway content ? Heck I'm supposed to be a railway modeller, better have something. Just a siding ending at the bottom of the garden ? The webbs on a piece of Peco code 75 rail were cut and the sleeper spacing corrected. Having loads of plasticard a small cottage developed, all scratch built including my window frames. Trouble was it didn't feel quite right. I decided to extend by the cottage and add a small stream. During this time I also made a Ratio van kit for a friend, he does SR and using that van I decided this must be Hampshire. Need a couple of trees and water in the stream. Water weed ? For my first attempt at that I stuck some suitable coloured embroidery threads at what was to be the bottom. It then got left for months before I added the Aqua Magic. Now I have to find space to keep another diorama !! Would you believe I have a 16" square of ply here and ideas are flowing - Whats's next ? Go on - If you have any scraps of ply, create a scene, great winter entertainment !! Dad-1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 When I say any little scrap of ply I really do mean it. 3 days before my clubs 2014 exhibition I heard a 12 foot layout couldn't make it ! Could I do something ? This with no railway stuff was done mostly during the exhibition These things DO have a use - sometimes Dda-1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 O.K. Those last postings were from Christmas eve and were historic pieces. I had the urgent need to half make something as I was down to do Scenic Modelling at out Winter exhibition on 12th January. My mind was quite blank, but on the bench was the Railway Modeller freeby van body ....... must be able to do something with it ? A few bits of scrap were joined together to make a suitable base for a farm scene. For personal reasons called Topp's Farm and to include a small pond. Partially made to allow me to lay some grass during the show, in between conversations !! A little sand, matchstick & fishing nylon fencing, with the Aqua Magic pond. We ended up with this with an actual cost of nothing as all done from spare stuff laying around. Having said that the horses and carts were items I'd been making for the clubs "Westbay" Layout. Fun to make and dates on the pictures show how long it took to reach this stage ........... Time well spent ? Note how slack the fishing nylon becomes when stored in a cold damp shed. It will go tight after 24 hours indoors. Dad-1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu70 Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Hi Dad-1. It’s great to see you back, your modelling skills are really good and I like what you have built. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Some nice modelling here Dad-1 You are absolutely spot on - if you don't have the space, it's better to build a diorama or micro layout, rather than just dream about a layout you can never accommodate, or more likely, you will never have time to complete..... Building these little dioramas helps to improve and hone modelling techniques, and if you are unhappy with something... you haven't lost a great deal either. Why not have a go at a really small micro layout now? Perhaps even one without any pointwork, so it can be very small Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted February 20, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2019 Dad-1 your diorama,s are nicely done, I enjoy watching them develop. I think micro layouts are diorama are fun to model especially when you don’t have a lot of space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 (edited) On 12/12/2018 at 20:34, Dad-1 said: O.K, Lets try my 2014 diorama. A few different things to try. First a piece of ply, this was my odd bit in the corner. Nothing much, how about a theme, a one word theme "Bridge" It would only have a very short piece of track on a bend over a road. Such a bend would have the track with a cant - put some plasticard under one side of the track Not a good photograph, but you get the idea. This road was to be twisty and not flat. The only way I could think of achieving a half decent fit would be to make a paper pattern that I'd use to cut out a plastic section from a large, double size, Slater's sheet. Because this was going to be tight size wise I needed to make a pub that fitted the available space, an odd shape, but it worked. Styrene was used for most of the infilling between ply support, but I decided to use as much real stone as I could find that looked right. A fair old stock of various embossed plasticards was more than useful ! At this point things begin to come together. As usual I add a skin of hard wall plaster, usually painted with dark earth enamel partially to seal the surface. Early on I'd decided on lighting under the bridge and in the Fisherman's Arms. Once grass is going on it comes to life, and that (lack of) planning has not caused a disaster !! Then one last shot of it as near to finished as I think it came. As always I never quite finish !!! I love dioramas and yes I have had a couple of disaster, but you learn something every time, even if it's the limitations of your skill. Those skill shortcomings will only be overcome by trying and trying again.. Hope this has not been too boring. Dad-1 I love the composition of this diorama! Scenic features offset at angles create so much more interest Marlyn Edited February 20, 2019 by Marly51 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 Thanks for the comments guys, Marly51 appreciates the rather random shape, but my first diorama was very simple, however it was made for a purpose. That always begs the question what is a micro layout, and should a diorama have live and perhaps animated elements ? My first try was to produce a DCC programming track, intended to be a donation to a newly formed DCC orientated club. In the end I kept it, and it's still sitting in my loft. Deliberatly 1 metre long to accept one yard length of Peco track. As usual I wanted to 'Try' something, here you have safety railings made from straightened out paper clips. Cheap enough, but I had to make a jig, or I'd have never soldered together, bent to order - the local lads out having fun !! This is the non-viewing side. No I don't like lollipop trees either, but being 'Free' from someone they were used. My first attempt with Deluxe Products where I used their two-mix resin solid water. A small amount of food colouring to give me a greeny effect. Back then I was into blue diesels, here was my first kettle alongside the inevitable Oxford Diecast tractor, weathered to look used. Obviously just the 'cameo' centre, I still like this photo an ideal place to photograph ones favourite locomotive ! It's a long time ago, but I'm certain it cost just a few pounds. A shortge of money shouldn't be seen as an obsticle to creative modelling. To shatter an image of an affluent fussy modeller, that Hornby 06 IS STILL one of my favourite locomotives and I have at least 80 ...... I may add another diorama at some time - It will one of my failures, because we all have failures. Either something went wrong, or just wanting to achieve something beyond ones skill levels !! Dad-1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted February 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2019 Hi Dad-1 I think simple is great. It’s amazing how much you can do with a simple micro/diorama. I like what you have achieved and the idea of using paper clips for a safety fence is brill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Beautiful ingenious work! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad-1 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 O.K I said I'd be honest - Not everything works out right and here is a failure. A failure in as much as I pushed the ideas beyond my skills and patience. The result is a small square that may yet still have some potential. Back somewhere in this thread someone suggested even smaller dioramas have a possibility. Well this was to be an 8" (200 mm) square. Showing a canal-side tramway, by an abandoned building with a hole in the roof. It was to be in winter with a part submerged barge in a partially frozen canal ........ easy, I wish !! I'd just finished a Roxey Mouldings Tram which wouldn't over-fill the available space. I made the tramway track by filing Peco flat bottomed code 100 rail to fit with a 1.0 mm gap and attached directly to the ply without sleepers. This was later sealed in with hard wall plaster. The abandoned building had to fit onto the back resulting in a very irregular shape Roofing timbers were from various bits of plastic, I had with loads of individual slates cut from thin plasticard arranging so as to leave a gaping hole. At this point I decided I couldn't make a canal barge and just abandoned, small rabbits and all !! How small is an 8" square ? Here with a Fairburn Tank sitting on. I have since found someone (I've forgotten who) that could supply me a partially submerged barge. It's just a little too long, but I can always trim slightly. That leaves me with the problem of filling with a suitable water onto which I could perhaps float some thin acetate to represent ice ? I could always have binned it, although I hate admitting defeat and currently can't find the enthusiasm to do more. A little grass was laid when I thought perhaps I could forget the snow and ice and make it one of the perpetual summer scenes most models are based on. So currently a failure in my books, should I press on, could I finish ? Dad-1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Looks very promising. Personally I would like to see it finished but sometimes I think we have to put projects to one side and come back to them later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hesperus Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 First rate modelling, just a shame that the barge is too big. I think it would still be too big for the space if you cut it down. Could you use a half submerged rowing boat or small sailing boat? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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