87 replies to this topic

[Tony T]

Here's the start of my garage diorama...just glued sheet plastic (unused shower wall sheet!) with Tenak...garage doors are slide in right now...







Thanks to you diorama builders, and your photography, I was inspired!
I'll keep you posted as I progress...

[m408]

Here's the start of my garage diorama...just glued sheet plastic (unused shower wall sheet!) with Tenak...garage doors are slide in right now...







Thanks to you diorama builders, and your photography, I was inspired!
I'll keep you posted as I progress...

Great start Tony. Did my first diorama, "used car lot", with a lot of help from the folks on this forum. They will give you all the help and support that you need. Don't be afraid to ask. I wasn't.

[kevinm]

Very nice!! I must build one like that!! -kevin

[LUKE'57]

Lookin' good. Remember that in 1/24 that 1/2 inch equals a foot. That walk in door looks a mite low but the roll ups look pretty good. Don' want any stoop shouldered mechanics. LOL This is the first shop I did and the walk in door is a little too short here.

[Tony T]

Thanks...love the Hooters car...I think I forgot to take account for the frame I put around after...will have to fix that!

[Tony T]

Okay, so I took some time to resize the man-door...I had it almost 50% too short...anyways, I now have an scale 80" tall door! Thanks, Luke57 for pointing that out!



Here's with a few models, a coke machine, and a "Posh Spice" figure (sometimes you find cool stuff in the discount aisle!)




I'm still planning on putting trim around the doors, and possibly around the outer edges of the building facia...not sure if I'll go with a clapboard, brick, or stucco for the finish...still have to make a sign for the shop..."Mr. Rusty's....Shop"...not sure of the full name yet...

Any and all comments are welcome! Especially if it will help me at this point of the project (like Luke57 pointing out the too small door frame)...Thanks!

Edited by Tony T, 16 March 2008 - 10:57 AM.

[LUKE'57]

Wow! Now aren't you glad you enlarged the door. I LOVE tall women!! LOL
I got my first one too short when I added that plastic stip at the top after I had cut the opening. That little strip made it almost a scale foot too low. A little goes a long way sometimes.

If you haven't decided on your sign yet, you can work wonders with PaintShop, some typing paper, color printer and some balsa stips. You can even cover it with a sheet of clear plastic to give it that painted metal sign look.



A business card program makes a good basis for a neat little sign, too.

Edited by LUKE'57, 16 March 2008 - 03:03 PM.

[Tony T]

Thanks, Luke57...Yeah, she's s bit tall for 1/24 (about 1/22), but works fine...the door makes a difference for sure! As for the sign, I'll be working on that a bit later...just trying to decide on the name..."Mr. Rusty's___________ Shop" Opening Soon!

[Uncle Mike]

Thanks, Luke57...Yeah, she's s bit tall for 1/24 (about 1/22), but works fine...the door makes a difference for sure! As for the sign, I'll be working on that a bit later...just trying to decide on the name..."Mr. Rusty's___________ Shop" Opening Soon!

Aw, heck, Tony. I had that very problem at my shop...I just had 'em kick off those high heels, and related to 'em barefooted. Don't rebuild the shop, bring the girls down low...

[Mike Whatshisname]

Looks like you got that door down pat Tony. I like to use 1/25 scale figures to get an idea of how high a door or any other diorama part should look and your young lady looks just about right for that door.

[Tony T]

Thanks, guys...yeah, I just measured the door to my garage at home, and converted to 1/24th...put the Posh Spice figure in there just to check if I got it right the second time...first time, I measured, checked, measured...cut...thought nothing of it...glad Luke57 pointed it out now, before I got much further...otherwise I might have had to build a bunch of 1/43 scale models...

Edited by Tony T, 19 March 2008 - 07:11 AM.

[Tony T]

Luke57...a question about your #54 above...what did you use for the gravel road surface? Scale gravel, or kitty litter? or something else? Not sure if I want to go gravel, concrete or pavement for the lot out front.

[LUKE'57]

Luke57...a question about your #54 above...what did you use for the gravel road surface? Scale gravel, or kitty litter? or something else? Not sure if I want to go gravel, concrete or pavement for the lot out front.

Concrete or pavement is the easiest to do. Just dry spray some light grey for concrete or dark grey or black primer for pavement. I used three or four colors of HO ballast material from the Woodland Scenics railroad section to make the gravel parking lot for my shop. They also make some really neat adhesive to use with it that looks kind of like milk and is really easy to use. You just spray a coat on the place for the gravel and sprinkle the ballast on it. After you get the look you want then spray a few more coats on top of the gravel (it's a matte finish so it doesn't give an unrealistic shine) and you're home free. It's quite sturdy and holds up well to handling. If you start to lose some of the gravel then just spray another coat of glue on it. Some people use diluted white glue the same way.

[Tony T]

Great...I know they carry the Woodlands Scenics ballast at my LHS...will have to pay them a visit. Thanks, Luke!

[LUKE'57]

Glad to help. Be sure to post some pics when you get some gravel laid down. Lookin' forward to seeing how it turns out.

[Tony T]

You got it!

[Tony T]

Did some work on the Speed Shop last night...trim, door handles, a bit of paint, a couple of signs...concrete pattern is paper.



Sorry...We're CLOSED


Next up is to pick a trim colour, add the business signage, and to weather the front a bit...I guess I'll have to get some paint on the floor of the shop, too.

[Tony T]

Okay...so I've had a couple of thrashes on the Speed Shop over the last week...got the front about where I want it...got a plywood sheet cut, and primered...ballast next...built a wall mounted tire rack of wood, and an unfinished moveable tire rack of sprue...I'm pleased with the result...let me know what you think...

[Tony T]

Thanks Bill!

Here's a few more, with some additions to the scene...