Grumpa Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 This diorama was built to house a Franklin Mint '69 Camaro, and given to my son as a 2008 Christmas gift. As the diecast was a gift as well, I felt that it needed something a little nicer than an AMT display case to display it in. I didn't actually finish it until June of '09, but he did get what the first few test shots show, and a Baggie of wood to go along with it. He's been kind enough to let me borrow it a few times to display at a couple of shows. I started with an "IMEX", 1/18th scale display case as the inside dimensions are just right for a 1/25th scale garage of this type. The first two photos show the doll house siding that was used and some testing of stain, paint and weathering. As an inch in 1/25th scale equals .04166 everything is pretty much to scale. There are 181 pieces of distressed, stained, and or painted pieces of wood contained in the structure, and 129 pieces of 1/16, .020 chemicaly blackened brass wire to simulate nails. Each "nail" was touched with the head of a Dremel and flatened out to give a "nail head" appearance. I owe this technique to Chuck Doan. The tool box, shelving, jack, and a few other details were pulled from the Fujimi garage tool kit. Other details were acquired from some of the great resin casters out there. A great deal of the details had to be scratch built using brass, wood, and several other materials. Coming from the model train hobby, and having built everything from "N" scale to 1/4", as well as a 1" scale doll house and furniture. I had become very familiar with suppliers of just about everything, but after a thirty-six year hiatus from building model cars. I was amazed at how much this world had changed and what was available to the modeler, but nobody makes a 1/25th scale "Budweiser" can so that I had to do that myself. Oh well! Some of the manufacturers that were used were. Doll House Miniatures, Northeastern Scale Models, Kappler Mill & Lumber Co., K & S Brass, Fujimi, Grandt Line, Ozark Miniatures, Jim's Printable Mini's, Evergreen Styrene, and several others lost to memory. The internet was used extensivly to pull signs and such. Including the January 2009 issue of Playboy. See if you can find it. Oh, I forgot, "Q-Tips". These were used to pull fibers from to duplicate "cob-webs". Another Chuck Doan idea. Hopefully I haven't bored you with too much detail. I hope that you enjoy "Can't Wait". test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 BEAUTIFUL, Mark, I love all the details. You must have had a blast putting this one together. It shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTMust Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Beautiful work Mark. Definitely on a par with some I've seen from the top dio builders. Love that peeling paint! But one question. Isn't the Franklin Mint Camaro 1/24 scale? If so, wouldn't it have been easier to build the dio 1/2" to the foot. Probably a silly question, but I'm just curious. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggon Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Absolutely excellent workmanship! I like the last shot the best, comes close to looking real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpa Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 Thanks guys for the positive comments. Actually Tony, the dio was built to 1/25th scale. Although the Camaro is 1/24th, the size difference is hardly perceivable, and any way, I had kind of a selfish reason. I wanted to borrow it from time to time for photos and to take to the occasional show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelmarknz Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 nice job .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTMust Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Thanks guys for the positive comments. Actually Tony, the dio was built to 1/25th scale. Although the Camaro is 1/24th, the size difference is hardly perceivable, and any way, I had kind of a selfish reason. I wanted to borrow it from time to time for photos and to take to the occasional show. I see. Makes sense to me. You're right... the scale difference is not even noticeable. Excellent job. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercman Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Another nice thing about this is if you keep the walls short enough you have a cover to keep the dust out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intmd8r Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 (edited) Great Job! The second last pic looks like my 1:1 grarage at home (less the classic muscle car). Edited April 17, 2012 by Intmd8r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyjunker1 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 this is a wonderfull open diorama done with so much feeling. i love everything about it. to cool for words a man after my own heart. just great. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpa Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 Here ya go James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 whow > really impressive dio !! so realistic !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixties Sam Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 That is great work! It looks real and makes me want to be in the garage working on a car! Excellent details and realistic weathering on the outside. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lower99 Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 These details! WOW!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Great work and a really cool idea to build that into a display case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 (edited) Yay me !....found it ! Thanks for the link Mark/Grumpa... and subscribed..for future reference. Thanks Edited September 3, 2013 by Joker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 That is a fantastic diorama Mark. All the little details really bring it to life. Great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpa Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Yay me !....found it ! Thanks for the link Mark/Grumpa... and subscribed..for future reference. Thanks Glad ya found it James. If you want some real inspiration, Google Chuck Doan. He's responsible for alot of what I have put into this. Thanks to all of you for the great compliments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaleauto Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Great job, I like the attention to detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie8575 Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 What a great idea to use a display case like that. Not only a creative use of materials, but very well done, too. Charlie Larkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasser59 Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 (edited) Everything about it is so well done but that shot of the window with the peeling paint and chipped siding blows me away. What method did you use for the peeling/chipped paint? Nicely done indeed. Edited September 10, 2013 by gasser59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the goon Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Beauty. Got to be my favorite diorama Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthsideous Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Looks great! I really like the weathering on the walls, doors and throughout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBENNA Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 totally awesome, really looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthsideous Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Beautiful work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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