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Job's Modelling

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  1. Job's Modelling

    Christmas ……

    By Job's Modelling,

    When I did our weekly shopping I found this nice Santa.
     

     
    Light works on batteries and has a switch to put the light on and out.
    Santa was easy to remove. In this way a had a nice led light for the inside of my warehouse. I have to find a way to construct my building in a way I can put the light on when required.
     

     
    I started with the inside of the warehouse. I have finished one pile of wooden whiskey boxes and have to build more. There will also some barrels along one of the walls.
    The interior wall and floor are created with a seamless texture from CG Textures. The sliding door is from Scalescenes goods shed. I tried to find the right colors, so everything will go nicely together.
     

     
    I have managed to create a solution for the light. It will be placed in a opening in the side wall. I have made a small wall before the light. The white piece of card at the left side.
     

     
    I almost forgot. I have finished the front of the warehouse, see the picture below. As you can see I have also worked at the road in front of the warehouse.
     

     
    I hope you like the atmosphere and the building.
     
    Unfortunately I cannot finish the building. I want a figure inside the warehouse and have to order that by Dart Castings. Ordering 1 figure is too expensive for me. I decided to start designing my next diorama and see what figures are needed on that on.
     
    On Northall Dock I can start with the last warehouse and then finish the road.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  2. Job's Modelling
    The first edition of the warehouse of Roope & Voss is demolished.
     
    I have decided to make Northall part of Greater London. In one of the books of Ruth Rendell inspector Wexford is ‘recovering’ in Kenbourne Vale, Postal district W15. Northall will be Postal district W16.
     
    After this a wanted to give the premises of Roope & Voss a more London look.
    I found a nice description of a famous warehouse in Wapping High Street. I used this description to create a guide for the design of the definite version of Roope & Voss.
     

     
    Using the same basic design I started to build the warehouse.
     
    Creating stone surroundings was new for me. It also took a lot of time.
     

     
    After finishing the cottage I liked to give the doors of the ware house a more ‘derelict’ appearance. With a picture from internet and a bit of working with Office publisher I created this doors.
     

     
    Then I started with the card building of the ware house.
     
    I hope the picture below will give you a first impression of how the premises of Roope & Voss Wine and Spirit Merchants will look.
     

     
    I still have to do some windows before I can show you the final appearance.
    Also have to give some thoughts how to create a believable inside of the warehouse at the other side, were I have the open doors.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  3. Job's Modelling
    In the archives of the Northall Gazette I found a nice description of the cottage and the warehouse behind it.
     

     
    And some pictures of this part of the layout.
     

    View from the dockside.
     
     

    Birdseye view Farnshawe Ltd.
     
    This picture is made before I did some more work on the roads. I also decided to create a ‘NO ENTRY’ sign for the alley. The background is also still the try-out.
     
    I had to find out first some more information about how to place this traffic sign.
    With the help from Jules ( see his Mayshill layout) and the internet I found the information I needed.
     

     
    When the road along the dock is finished I also will adjust the alley and the dock road.
     
    Hope this gives you an idea about the eastern part of Northall Dock.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  4. Job's Modelling
    In one of the replies on my entry Street Scene Design was written: “Also bear in mind that in the 'fifties' these areas would still have 'flagstone' paving rather than the later concrete types - and they would be rutted & disrupted by vehicles. Road surfaces would often be of cobblestone or granite setts.”
     
    For the road surfaces I already choose for granite setts. For the pavement I didn’t make an decision. So after the reply I liked to see if I could create a flagstone paving with granite kerbs.
     
    As usually I started with a search for background information and textures. With this information I created some texture sheets for my pavement modelling.
     

     
    To see if it could work out I decided to build the alley between Farnshawe Ltd. and the warehouse of Roope & Voss Wine and Spirit Merchants.
     
    The kerbs I placed individually:
     

     
    Then I glued the individual cut Yorkstone flags in place. Embossed the pavement to create some depth between the flags.
     
    I made the underground for the alley. Glued the pavement and setts in place. Embossed the granite setts on the road and glued the small granite siding in place.
     

     
    Then I did some additional weathering with pigments and ash.
     

     
    The only thing left was to put the alley along the side wall of Farnshawe Ltd.
     

     
    The final result.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  5. Job's Modelling
    I had to find a solution for my the lighting and background of my APA-box diorama. Due my multiple chemical sensitivity I’m not able to do any soldering. So I have to search for other possibilities. I find this one of the most difficult jobs for my diorama’s.
     
    I use a led strips from IKEA with the following description: light temperature 2700 K / 30 lumen. This is enough for a APA-box. I have used them also for Nice Street (Urban Scene).
    This time the led strip is adjusted at the front of the box. Using some aluminium foil and transparent paper I created a diffused lightning. If have made additional strip of wood in front of the strip
     

     
    I think I can improve the lighting by using aluminium foil at the underside of the lid.
     
    I like to create some light inside my warehouse. Luckily Christmas is coming and I saw some small led strips on battery I maybe can use. I will buy some and try this out when I’m building the final warehouse. May also try to use a led strip from my Ikea lightning. The result of my lighting efforts I will publish in a later entry.
     
    First of all the choice of a background is I believe is personal and will depend on your personal preference. I have seen a lot of beautiful backgrounds in the RMweb.
     
    For the background I used two options in the past:
    A photographic background from Scalescenes – Bridge Street
     

     
    Painting the inside of the APA-box – Nice Street (Urban Scene)
     

     
    When I put the painted background in Diorama forum on the RM-web one of the replies pointed at the visible corners. I saw the same with I glued background in another APA micro layout.
     
    Then I remembered that someone used a background made of fabric. Because I like an one colour background I decided to try this out on Northall Dock.
    I used a blue-grey fitted sheet we normally use for the spare bed to create the background (advice: first consult the lady of the house).
    The fabric background is cut in size and fitted with two strokes of double sided tape.
     

     
    The fabric is just the try out. I first have to paint the APA-box. I wanted to do that this week , but I decided to wait with that until my wife is more recovered from a seriously concussion. Luckily she is improving step by step.
    Before I can use it as a definite background, I have to iron the fabric first.
    In this way I hope to capture an overcast sky.
     
    The cottage is placed were the warehouse of Roope & Voss is designed, to show the effect of the fabric background. The corner of the APA-Box is photographed.
     
    Any suggestions are welcome.
     
    Thanks for reading,
    greetings
     
    Job
  6. Job's Modelling
    Do you also have a lot of modelling pictures on your computer?
    What do you do with them?
     
    If they only are an back up then you can maybe use them. Mostly I buy a calendar for my office at work. This time I wanted to make the calendar a little bit more personal.
     
    Before I used the APA-box I built Bridge Street. Bridge Street doesn’t exist anymore as a layout. The only remembering are the pictures I made to follow the progress and to publish them on the RMweb for feedback. So I decided to use those picture to create a more personal calendar.
     
    The first step is take some time to browse through your digital photo archive. Make an selection for your personal calendar. I chose a theme: a walk through Bridge Street. In this way you create a calendar with not just pictures. But of course you are free to do it your way. The calendar gives an impression from the left side of the layout to the right side. In the picture below you can see my selection of pictures.
     

     
    And a discription of Bridge Street from the Northall Gazette by the calender pictures.
     

     
    It may be necessary to adjust the pictures with your photo program. I had to do that with some of my pictures.
     
    The second step is browse on internet to search a program that will help you to create your picture calendar. I used this one:
     
    http://www.calendarlabs.com/photo-calendar.php
     
    But I think there will be more.
     
    The third step is to create your calendar pages.
     
    Fourth and last step make your calendar and give it a place in your modelling workspace, home or at your office. You can also use it as a personal gift for someone else, maybe as a nice Christmas present.
     
    I’m sure you will get positive response when people see your calendar.
     
    Regards,
    Job
     
    PS:
    Bridge Street was a shelf layout with a single railway goods line in front of it. I don't have a total picture of the layout. But with these two pictures you can have an idea how it comes together.
     

  7. Job's Modelling
    For the building of Fanshawe Ltd I needed a rain pipe to hid the join in the alley.
     
    I already made a rain pipe using a 1,2 mm rod from Evergreen for a house on Nice Street. A texture is glued around this.
     

     
    For the warehouse I wanted to use a square Victorian rain pipe.
     
    I wanted to create it myself using a self-made texture. My journey on the internet began.
    I learned a lot of new English words connected to rain drainage. Finally I found a picture by CG textures that was usable.
    The white arrow is pointed to the rain pipe of choice.
     

     
    Then I started to create my texture.
     

     
    In the PDF you can see the final result.
     
    Rainpipe square.pdf
     
    And finally how I made the model:
     

    1. I cut out the texture with the header.
    2. I cut the header off the rain pipe and glued on a piece 1 mm card
    3. I cut out the header again and glued it again on a piece of 1 mm card, that could hold the rain pipe.
    4. Coloured the edges of the header black.
    5. I cut out the rain pipe.
    6. Glued the rain pipe under the header
    7. I cut out the total rain pipe
    8. Coloured the edges of the header and the rain pipe 9. Glued the rain pipe on place on the structure
     
     
    Picture of the rain pipe in model.
     
     

     
    I hope you find the model convincing.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  8. Job's Modelling
    Before I can finish the building of Fanshawe Ltd. I must decide what wall based street furniture I want to use.
     
    I spend a lot of time behind my PC searching for street names for Northall Dock.
    For Greater London there are several options. See the picture below.
     

     
    On Flickr there is a London Street Name Pool with a lot of pictures. I could skip all those modern type street name signs.
     
    I also tried to find names that refer to the scene of Northall Dock.
     
    For Northall Dock I will use the blue enamel signs. Not all street name signs are from Greater London, but they are blue enamel. After finding the picture I had to do some photo shopping to cut out the street names and resize them. I Used the brick height as a guide that means that the signs are 2 or 4 mm high in 4 mm.
     
    I chose for Northall Dock the following names and signs:
     

     
    Anchor Street will be used for the road along the warehouses.
    Canal Street for the alley between the buildings of Farnshaw Ltd and Roope & Voss.
    Waterford Road for the street along the cottage.
    The hydrant sign on the building of Roope & Voss.
    The “Bill stickers” sign in the alley.
     
    Next time again some modeling progress.
     
    Regards,
    Job
     
    PS.
     
    Today I had some time to model.
    And because I'm working on the premises of Fanshawe Ltd. I decided to put the name sign and the Bill Posters side on the side wall.
    I also created with the help of Publisher the Bill Posters is innocent "graffito" on the wall.
    Maybe not all perfect on the picture it will do in the diorama as later pictures will show.
     

     
    Hope you like my Post Scrip-tum.
     
    Job
  9. Job's Modelling
    For the members of the RMweb John Thaw fan club.
     
    I have followed the TV series of inspector Morse and became a fan of John Thaw.
    For my diorama’s I searched for names so I started to read some of the Inspector Morse detectives by Colin Dexter.
    I discovered that the personality of inspector Morse was more complicated in the books than represented in the series. I also discovered a nice link between inspector Morse and our interest in railways and railway history. You can read my discovery in the article about Fanshawe Ltd in the Northall Gazette. In this case I have used the name of inspector Morse and made him a provision merchant in Northall a long time ago.
    Morse Teas is a real tea brand in Canada and still available.
     

     
    And of course some pictures of my modelling efforts of Fanshawe’s premises.
    The two windows are resized textures from internet and placed to try out.
     

     
    Thanks for reading.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  10. Job's Modelling
    When planning Northall Dock I had the idea to build some stables along the now finished road. But when building a muck up I saw that the building did not hide the side of the main road as I wished. Then Scalescenes came with the canal cottage and I made the front and to put it along the road.
     

     
    The question:
    How to create the right derelict urban appearance for the cottage?
    So I left the front unfinished. When I have such a problem I mostly do the following with success.
     
    The Process:
    I put it somewhere in my head. Not really searching for an answer. Just waiting for a coincidence. Mostly when I don’t aspect it the answer follows in one way or the other. I have learned to keep my mind open for it.
     
    The Answer:
    For the diorama I was looking how I could model the alleys between the buildings. These pictures gave my mostly information about the road surface and the details in the alleys. Very useful, but one picture showed me the answer to my question.
     

     
    Then in the Card Modelling part of the RMweb there was an entry about a free download by Clever models. They make excellent American card models and textures in different scales but not in OO. After some support from Clever models I bought an O scale brick texture that I scaled down to 63% before printing.
     
    The garden wall is a Scalescene texture selected on colour. The garden wall will not be visible to well when the diorama is finished.
     
    The result:
    Here some pictures of my interpretation for Northall Dock.
     

     
    Road modelling is still going on. This is a slow progress that takes a lot of time.
     

     
    In between I will give some thought to the final design of the warehouses along the dock. I can’t finish the road before I have done that.
    Regards,
    Job
  11. Job's Modelling
    To add some details to Northall Dock I did some research. As a guide I used the Hounslow - Street Scene Design Guide from October 2012. Although not the area I’m building it gives a good overview of how you can design streets and what kind of elements are used.
    From this guide I selected the following vertical street elements:

    Advertising signs and A-boards
    Bespoke Furniture
    Bins
    Bollards
    Boundary Railings
    Bus Shelters
    Street lighting
    Covers and gratings
    Surfacing as kerbs, milestones, channels, setts, brick or cobbling
    (war) memorials
    Street Name Signs
    Telephone Kiosks and Public Amenities
    Traffic and Road Signs

    For Northall Dock I selected the following:
     
    1.Advertising sings – ghost sign on one of the buildings
    4. Bollards
    7. Street Lightning – lamp on the wall of the central warehouse
    8. Covers and gratings – hydrant ground cover and wall sign
    9. Surfacing – small sidewalk along the warehouses
    11. Street name signs – street names for all the roads and alleys in the diorama
    13. Traffic and road signs – optional
     

    Some street furniture illustrations.
     
    The Hounslow guide describes also the colour that should be used:
    The colour of all street furniture should be Black, RAL No. 9005 (with the exception of natural wood) unless there is an opportunity to use good quality austenitic stainless steel, particularly in conservation areas or areas of special distinctiveness.
    I will also use period colour pictures as a guide.
     
    The most difficult for me are the street name signs. In my research on the internet I saw different types of street name signs in London. There is a nice set at Flickr. It wasn’t always clear to me in what period which street name signs were used. So I decided to use street name signs without borough names. If anyone can give me more information on this subject its welcome.
     
    Making pavements along the buildings asks for some new planning for the road and alleys. I think that I also have to make some more detailed designs for the two other warehouses.
     
    Some modelling progress , which goes slowly at the moment, again next week.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  12. Job's Modelling
    I started with the road along the warehouses. Progress is going slowly. After every step I had to wait for 24 for hours before I could do the next step:
    1. glued track on the baseboard
    2. spray painted the track with a primer
    3. painted the track with Humbrol acrylic rust paint
    4. painted the track with Tamiya gun metal
     

    road modeling progress
     
    Then I looked how I could to make the card road. I noticed that it take more time than I thought. Progress will go slowly:
     
     

    - Fitting the card
    - Fitting possible details
    - Embossing the road setts
    - Weathering the road  
    I also did some research to see how the road along the warehouses could be modeled. Found some excellent pictures from Wharf warehouses in London.
    I like to create as much as possible essential details in the diorama, because the details make it worth looking around. Looking at the pictures I noticed I had to do some further research on street furniture ( objects and signs). I have added two pictures to give you an impression of what I mean:
     

    Bankside - 1960's
     

    Warehouses in Clink Street - 1978
     
    Regards,
    Job
  13. Job's Modelling
    For the roads along the dock basin I use a granite road texture I found some time ago here http://www.btcomm.com/trains/resource/brick_n_stone/hocking_valley_pavers_med.jpgI had to resize it a little bit using the sett texture from Scalescenes as a reference.
     
    I had to build the road op with two layers of 2 mm card to get it even with the dock edge.
     
    On the picture you can see the starting point of the road.
     

    road modeling in progress
     
    With the embossing pen I scratched in every stone individually. I also tried to give the road surface a more uneven appearance pusshing a thicker embossing pen on some stones. Then I used a black color pencil to give the road some more texture.
    Later on I stopped using the color pencil and used Carbon Black pigment, which I dry brushed on the textures surface and rubbed in with a soft paper handkerchief.
     
    After varnishing the surface with a light coat I started weathering the surface with a few other pigments to get the final result. After I glued the road in place I gave it a final weathering, with my favorite mixture getting the dock edge and road together.
     
    I like the way you can work with pigments on a card surface.
    Two pictures of the final result. I hope you like them.
     
     

    dock basin, dock edge and road
     

    finished road
     
    Now I can start laying the track and the road before the warehouses.
    Regards,
    Job
  14. Job's Modelling
    For the building of my diorama’s I do a lot of research on internet. For railway modellers there is a lot of information available.
     
    My main interest in railway modelling is freight traffic and the social history of the period that I’m building, the late 1950’s. To give a right impression the use of daily live pictures is most important. Luckily I have found a lot of beautiful websites with a lot of pictures.
     
    But what about social media you could ask now. The most frequently social medium I use is the RMweb. Like to get inspired by other railway modellers and read about how the do their modelling.
     
    The only other social medium I use is Facebook with a limited of “friends”. But lately I discovered that it could also useful to get information for building of my diorama’s. But there was also a lot of information which could be useful for some of you to find some time based information. Two groups I’m following at this moment on Facebook:
     
    Ghost Signs U.K.
    Hammersmith Palais Old Skool
    On my journey through the pictures of the last mentioned group there is a lot of time based information to find. To give you an impression below just some pictures.
     

    1910 - GWR Parcel van
     

    1933 - West Bromton Station
     

    1951 - Kensal Road
    This would be a nice urban scene.
     

    1960 - London Totters yard
    Such pictures give my information about the possibilities for modelling a horse and cart.
     
    Luckily temperature is now down in the Netherlands so I can go one with Northall Dock. In my next entry some progress on my road modelling.
     
    I hope you like this kind of information.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  15. Job's Modelling
    Still too hot for me and my card modelling.
    So you have to wait for some modelling progress.
     
    Basic materials for my card models
     
    For the making of my diorama’s I use textures that I print out.
    I know there is a lot of discussion about what kind of printer you should use.
    I use a HP Photosmart Office printer. For printing I use the following:
     

    - Mostly light crème drawing paper for walls
    - Water color paper for roofs, rough walls
    - A good quality printing paper for metal
    - The highest quality for printing  
    After printing and making the parts I varnish it with a water color varnish.
    After weathering I use an acrylic varnish.
     
    Pastels:
     
    In the past I used scrapped pastels to create my weathering powder. For this I bought good quality pastels from my art supply shop. The results of that was quite convincing as you can see on a picture of J. Baker’s Café in Nice Street.
     

    finished cafe at Nice Street
     
    Pigments
     
    I had already read some articles about the use of pigments. So I want to try them out on my new diorama Northall Dock. After finishing Northall Dock Basin is was convinced of the use of pigments. For the Dock Basin I used pigments from Vallejo and one from V.O.F Verfmolen ‘de Kat’ ( Paint Mill ‘de Kat’).
     

    Paint Mill 'de Kat'
     
    The Mill 'De Kat' is built in 1781, and after a partly rebuilding in 1960 it became then a paint mill.
     
    The pigments from the paint mill are much cheaper than from model paint suppliers. So I decided to buy some more pigments by my art supply shop. Got some money for my birthday.
     
    For the choice of colors I used the pigment color chart from Vallejo as a reference. Vallejo gives also a description of the use of the colors. The pigment color chart you can download from the website of Vallejo. The colors from the paint mill have other names.
     
    I bought some small glass jars. Made labels, with a description for the purpose, for every color I want to use.
     

     

    Pigment with label in jar.
     
    The use of pigments in this way will give me the following possibilities:
     

    - Use them as single pigments
    - Make my own mixture of pigments
    - Use pigments with PVA-glue
    - Create my own acryl paint colors
    - Use the pigments with other acrylic mediums.  
    Still have to buy some more pigments and some acrylic mediums and experiment with them.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  16. Job's Modelling
    Back from my holidays. I walked a lot in the fields and woods in the early morning and late evening ( before sunset). Made some useful grey sky pictures. Because of the sunny weather I did a lot of reading ( inspector Wexford), searching on Internet and following the blogs and forums on the RMweb.
    Last week it was to hot for modeling in Holland for me.
     
    So here is the entry of my result of my internet research on roads.
     
    For my Nice Street diorama I didn’t much research for the road surfaces.
    Pictures showed that:
     

    - Asphalt / tarmac was used for residential streets
    - Granite setts were also used for those streets  

    Asphalt/tarmac in Nice Street, granite setts in Angel Yard
     
    I used for both Scalescenes textures.
     
    For Northall Dock I wasn’t sure which what kind of road surface would be the right one. So I did some research on the internet. Because Northall could be a part of Greater London I concentrate on that area, but also used general information from other parts of the UK.
     
    From 1815 on important roads were macadamed, acclaimed as quiet, good- looking and quick to install. Macadam needed however a lot of maintenance.
    It was also not usable for tramlines ( and I presume also railways), these were laid in granite setts.
    After the World War One they started to give the macadamed roads a cover of asphalt.
     
    Also other roads got an asphalt road surface.
     
    At the end of the 19th century wood blocks, often tarred for preservation, were also used to pave streets. These were manufactured until the 1950s.
    Docks were embanked and walled for security and granite was laid on the quays: when new and not abraded, it was less slippery than cobbles for the horses.
    Also granite setts were used to pave roads.
     

    Track in granite setts in Liverpool.
     
    If you are travelling through London you could travel over wood, macadam, asphalt, granite setts, cobble and unmade roads even in the 1950’s.
    In early days, silver grey Cornish granites and some from Devon would have come via the GWR and tended to stay to the west side of London, the LNWR brought darker granites from North Wales, the GNR fetched setts from Leicestershire and darker granites and basalts from further North, but much changed once the MR gained access to London.
     
    In different parts of London you could see different colours of granite setts, depending of the Railway Company that served that part of London in the past.
    After reading about the development of the roads in (Greater) London, I decided to use grey granite setts for the roads on Northall Dock.
     
    Next time the first results.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  17. Job's Modelling
    I have built the Dock Basin.
    I wanted to opt for try-out no.4 acrylic paste, paint & varnish and a wooden pillar. But unfortunately my acrylic past wasn't doing the job properly. So I made a small change here. Instead of acrylic paste I used Gesso. Gesso is a base that is used to prepare the painting surface for acrylic paintings etc.
    The edge is made of separate build card edgings stones. On internet I found a stone merchant who had edge quay stones for sale. He also mentioned the size of the edge stones. I recalculated them for 4 mm to a foot: 19 mm long, 13 mm wide and 5 mm high. I made them 4 mm high, because that would make the way I want to make the track in the way easier for me.
    After I had completed the quay, pillars and the edge I gave them I first weathering. Then I gave it a coat of varnish for water color paintings.
     

     
    Next step was to paint the water surface. I gave it one coat of gesso, two coats of my mixture of Payne’s grey and Chromium Oxide Green acrylic paint and finally three coats of glossy varnish.
    After drying I started to give it a final weathering. I liked to give the alga along the edge of the water surface some more texture.
    Painting the water surface I hit on several places the quay. To hide this I made a mixture of PVA glue with greenish umber pigments. With a small brush I did hide the green water surface paint. In the still wet PVA paint I sprinkled some greenish umber pigment.
    Next step was to use some of the PVA paint to add some Woodlands burnt grass.
    Direct after applying I removed the supply of the burnt grass by knocking it off.
     
    The final result you can see in the pictures below.
     

    Basin overview &
     

    Basin detail.
     
    Below I summery of the materials I used:
    Dock wall and pillars: texture from Scalescenes
    Edge : seamless concrete quay wall texture from CGtextures
    Payne’s grey and Chromium Oxide Green acrylic paint
    PVA glue and PRITT glue
    greenish umber pigment from an art shop
    acrylic pencils: for instance green oxide, red chalk, sepia
    my scraped chalk mixture for general weathering: 6 parts white, 1 part brown, 2 parts black
    Woodlands burnt grass T44
    embossing pens
    and standard tools for card building.

    Next couple of weeks I'm going on holiday. Walking in the woods, cleaning up my head. So you have to wait for my next entry for a couple of weeks.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  18. Job's Modelling
    After I tried out several water texture possibilities I was looking for the quay wall texture I want to use.
    I had bought the dock edge pdf’ s from Scalescenes in the past. This has two options a concrete one and a stone one. I found the concrete one to modern for my diorama.
    CGtextures.com has a lot of nice textures. They have also some useful dock textures in their collection. I tried several but tried out the concrete one: ConcreteBare0280 (Texture: #35243)
    I decided to try out the stone wall texture from Scalescenes and the concrete texture from CG textures.
    Both textures are printed on water color paper to get some more texture.
     

    Concrete wall, concrete pillar with water try out no.1: paint & varnish
     
    I found that the stone wall looked to flat after printing. So I gave it some more texture using embossing pens. These are used mostly by people that make scrap cards.
     

    The stone wall before embossing …
     
    and
     

    after embossing with water try out no.4: acrylic paste, paint & varnish and a wooden pillar.
     
    Don’t mind the gaps between the water and the quay. There are there because a glued the quay wall on the try outs. The dock edge is just a try out to see of it will work out.
    I will use the dock edge color as on the pictures. Both pictures are now without any weathering.
    On my diorama I will use the stone quay wall for the following reasons:
    I like the embossed texture &
    the colour is lighter. That is one of the rules I mostly use. Building up the diorama with (when possible) light colours in the front and darker colours to the end.

    Regards,
    Job
  19. Job's Modelling
    Thinking..
     
    After I put the poem to the entry last I week I started to think about the ….. (dots)
    So here is the answer in a nutshell. The inspiration came when I traveled by train with my wife over the new line through the Flevopolder to Groningen.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Holliday …
     

    As a boy in the late 1950’s I got on vacation with my parents to a place in the north of the Netherlands in the province of Groningen. After going from Utrecht to Groningen with the electric express train we had to change train. The last part of the journey was with a blue Diesel Electric 1. I still can hear the sound of the diesel engine and smell the diesel fuel. I think this was the starting point for my interest in trains.
    Of course I got a model train ( with my brother) for Sinterklaas (your Santa Claus) . Then there was a period in which I developed other interests: art, literature, music and social history and girls.
     
    Model railway experience…
     

    Then I became an armchair modeller. Until I read an article about Fremo. I joint in and build my first modules. Within Fremo I learned about modelling, way bills, wagon cards and real freight traffic with shunting on the country stations (mostly German). Learned to think about what kind of goods come in and are send away.
    Unfortunately I had to give up Fremo, for several personal reasons.
     
    Card building ….
     

    In May 2007 I met Peter Genttle from the 3 mm Society with beautiful card build structures. I was most impressed. We did that day a lot of talking and on a certain moment he said: “I like to walk around a little bit. Can you stay here. You can build that slate roof further.” When I said I hadn’t the experience he sad: “You have to start once, why not now.”
    It still took some time before I really started with my first structure from Scalescenes. Using the kits made it not necessarily to create the walls the Pendon way. Just print out and you can start following the instructions.
     
    RM web
     

    Here is the first model I build and published on the RM web to get feedback.
     
    I get a lot inspiration and feed back here, which I still much appreciate.
    So this is my tribute to all those that helped me to get to this....
     
    Sometimes it is good to stop and think about how did I got to this ….
     
    Regards,
    Job
  20. Job's Modelling
    The poem is my free interpretation from the first part of the poem “down in the deep water”. The original poem is to be found here: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/down-in-the-deep-water/
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    This is the first time I made several try outs before I start modelling a part of my diorama. On my first water surface I just used black paint and several layers of varnish. For Northall Dock I wanted to see if other ways would give a better result. So for the dock water I tried out several methods I had read off.
     
    I started to make 5 rectangles (7,5 cm square) from Artist canvas on board from I artist supply shop. They all got a different approach.

     
    The colour I used is a mixture of Payne’s Grey and Chromium Oxide Green acryl paint. I gave them all two layers of the mixture.
    Two rectangles got a thin layer of Acryl modelling paste supplied with an oil paint pallet knife.
     
    Most parts got a two layer finish of glossy varnish for acryl paint.
     
    1. Paint & varnish
     
    2. Paint & PVA glue
     
    3. Paint, PVA glue & varnish
     
    4. Acrylic modeling paste, paint & varnish
     
    5. Acrylic modeling paste, PVA glue, paint & varnish
     
    For the water on my diorama I will use the Artist canvas board as a base. I don’t have to prepare it for the Acryl based material I use.
     
    Hope the pictures show the different approaches. For the final choice I already have eliminated no. 2.
     
    Next job will be to decide what kind of quay wall texture I want to use. Will make some try outs first.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  21. Job's Modelling
    From main scene to diorama design.
    “Just build what you can see”
    After the design of the main scene and his most important details it was time to plan the whole diorama. I made the other buildings from scrap card. This gave me the opportunity to see of the basic plan was alright.
     
     
     
     
     
    The other buildings
    I planned two other warehouses and a stable. After my first trial I discovered some problems with the balance of the warehouses and the height of the stable. To solve this problem I made two changes:
     
     

    · The roof top line of the warehouses is now on the same height
    · I scrapped the stable and did put a higher, not yet defined, other building  
    All the white buildings in the picture must have their final design, keeping in mind the may not ask to much attention from the viewer.
     
    The quay
    With the planned height of the quay the roofs of the warehouses almost touched the lid of the APA box. This would give problems with the design of the lightning. After using two cars I realised that the quay was very narrow, so I made it a little wider.
    So I reduced the height of the quay to about 1,8 cm.
     
    Viewing point
    When the diorama is finished to a black box you can’t see to the back through the alley’s. I hope they give the diorama an extra dimension.
    The not defined building in the front makes that there is a view block to the right, so you can’t see the side of the APA box on eye level.
     
    Some pictures of the final design
     

     

     
    Suggestions are welcome. It is always possible to make changes in this stage of the design.
    Regards,
    Job
  22. Job's Modelling
    Design
    As you could see on the drawing I designed three warehouses.
     
     
    The story
    The warehouse of Roope & Voss Ltd will be the main scene. The story behind the Roope & Voss Ltd – Wine and spirit merchants can be read in the article of the Northall Gazette.
     

     
     
    The Warehouse - from the Dutch architect Peter Potter (1854 -1918)
    The building is just quick build to see of:
    · the scene is convincing
    · the building has the right appearance
    · the colours are right
     

    Detailed picture of the scene.
     

     
    Main scene through the viewing opening.
     
    Question
     
     
     

    · What kind of stone can be used for a canal side dock?
    · Is normal brick work an option?  
     

    Regards,
    Job
  23. Job's Modelling
    For Northall Dock I try for the first time to create the scene inside out.
    I asked myself the following questions:
    - What is the story behind Northall Dock ?
    - What will be the mean scene ?
     
    The answer to the first question will be answered in another entry.
    The answer on the second question is: a loading scene by a warehouse.
     
    First some background information about the used model:
     
    In the late 1940s production of the 'Jen-Tug' began. It was a 3 ton articulated vehicle, available with a wide range of trailers, including a flat trailer, a wire-sided trailer, a box trailer, a tipping trailer, a shallow tipping trailer, a high-sided trailer, a swan-neck trailer with winch, and a container.
    The cab had an Austin A.50 four-cylinder, overhead valve petrol engine, with a capacity of 1.5 litres, and an output of 50 b.h.p. at 4,400 r.p.m. It had a built-in four-speed synchromesh gearbox, a Borg & Beck, single dry-plate 8 inch hydraulically operated clutch, and was mounted on an easily removable sub-frame. It also had powerful Girling hydraulic brakes with 11 inch diameter drums on both the tractor and trailer, a Jensen patent tractor coupling, operated from the cab, and a turning circle of 22 feet.
     

     
     
    A 1950’s picture of a Southern Jen-Tug
    The 'Jen-Tug' became quite popular, and was supplemented by an electrically-powered version, the 'Jen-Helec'.
    The vehicles were made at West Bromwich, and also in Jensen's factory at Stoke.
    Info from:
    http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Transport/commercial/Jensen.htm
    On this website more info about Jensen Commercial Vehicles.
     
    Below the model I build as the central scene for my new diorama.
     

     
    First I gave the model a finish with a mat varnish, after I had added the load and lorry driver.
    Then I weathered it with pastels and pigments.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  24. Job's Modelling
    After Nice Street my wife asked my to design something with water again.
    I had done that before on my first attempt with the Scalescene factory and an Inglenook shunting puzzle.
     
    So I decided to build Northall Dock.
    Quit a challange in an APA box. I want to build something more than just a quay and a ware house.
    My starting point for the design were two pictures.
    One from John Atkinson from 1890 and one from Edward Hopper (not published here)
     

     
    The information on Northall Dock I found in the archives of the Northall Gazette.
     

     
    I also made the design for the diorama. First on an one to one scale to be sure it would fit.
    Afterwards I made the drawing. It is still possible I will make some adjustments when I'm building the scene.
     

     
    Next stage is to design the main scene.
     
    Regards,
    Job
  25. Job's Modelling
    “My aim in creating a diorama is to capture the essence of an urban, railway “connected”, scene in the late 1950’s”
     
    After building building Bridge Street I covered it with plastic against dust. This meant that it wasn’t visible any more. I also have to keep my hobby/work room as much as possible dust free because I’m very allergic.
    After a visit by Ikea I saw the APA box. After reading the user guide I decided to buy one to see if it was possible to build a convincing diorama in it.
    On an American website I found some information about how to create an interesting diorama. Later on I found a free e-book on diorama / black box design from Sheperd Paine, who builds mostly military diorama’s.
     
    First of all I started to describe my theme:
     
     

    · British Railways (Western Region)
    · 1955 – 1961
    · Urban surrounding in an fictive neighbourhood
    · British Railways (Road Service)  
    After this I described how to design the diorama in the APA-box.
     
     

    1. Dividing the base into thirds. (see diagram )  

     

    2. Dividing, if possible, the height into thirds.
    3.. Try to place the most important elements where these lines intersect (red crosses).
    4.. Design from the inside out. First arrange the main scene
    5.. Make sure your topic is suited to a single viewpoint.
    6.. Use the figure arrangement to create the rest of the scene
    7.. Decide on the size of the viewing window
    8.. Make a planning of the lightning  
    Below the main scene of urban scene. I would call this diorama Nice Street now.
    More about Nice Street in a later entry.
     

     
    Main scene.
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