Red318

That's a really nice job, nice paint too, At first I couldn't figure out what was going on with those tail lights.

Good choice, PM sent

Interestmg, these little compacts really do seem to work much better than anything else in 1/25. Your diorama set up is perfect right light, all the shades of green. I love it.

Nice build, that green really suits the car. Good photography too - what did you use for the photos?

That interior looks really good, a very neat build.

I thought exactly the same thing! I can just see it entering the ring, doors falling off, steam coming out and the horn sounding. I've no idea what it is though.

Wow! Never heard of that one. It looks like a fairground ride.

I did a test shot on an offcut of foamboard to glue some DAS clay. I used spray on carpet adhesive and it worked okay with no effect on the foam, and quick drying time.

That is impressive! How tall is the model? Any issues with warping etc?

They are excellent David aren't they . I can also recommend the book "Fill 'er Up!: The Great American Gas Station", which despite the title covers a lot from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and others.

Ellen, Ed Thanks for the pictures, these are absolutely dripping with atmosphere and that Pontiac dealership is amazing, but I don't think I've got the room for that in 1/25! Plenty of ideas though and I'm amazed by the variation in "standard" designs. Watch this space for my updates once I decide what it's going to look like.

Vietnam Vet67 , thanks for this, another really useful photo and another variation, with no canopy and the pumps a long way from the building, maybe in a drier state where land was cheaper. The glazing in the shop is also different and appears to have glazing in the end wall. I like the "Registered Rest Room" sign - who did they register with? Lots of ideas here and I've ordered a copy of the book. I've got the basic structure done in foam board, now I need to decide how the details will look - here's a couple of pics of progress so far.

Thanks for this David. I'm beginning to wonder if there was a standard design but different construction methods used as each photo seems to show slight differences and modern restorations may not be as the original. That said the period photo on that Henry Ford site is the best I have seen for real working garage clutter. It's given me some ideas to create some atmosphere. I'm using DAS clay on foamboard for the first time on this quickie project, as much to see how it works as anything else. I'll start a build thread once I get the chance to take some pictures.

Looking really good David, I hope you'll be able to show us some shots of the big event.

I'm looking to do a quick (by my standards) build of a Walter Teague design Texaco gas station. I can't tell from photos if the green stripes around the building are applied individually directly onto the wall or if they are mounted on a separate panel first. Can any one help or provide detail photos?

PM sent

Superb work. I bet inside's got that old car smell.

PM sent, interesting one.

Looking good David. . With white hair that first figure would be identical to my first boss. The Henry Ford figures look the part too. David

That really looks "period", the interior colour is spot on, I can smell that leather.

I doubt they got £10k then. I was in Potsdam, just outside Berlin in '91-'92 and you pick these things up for nothing, some were just abandoned in car parks. Absolutely awful to drive by western standards, in every respect. I nearly killed myself in my one and only drive in one as I had seriously overestimated the brake performance. They're still an environmental hazard as the Duroplast bodies don't rust or decay and are extremely toxic. The model however is excellent, no Trabi ever looked as good as that!

Interesting stuff David. I can't ever see the FX3 being produced as kit and the FX4 from Revell never really looks right to me. Is the Fujimi version the same kit? Your plan to convert the Tamiya Toyoda sounds challenging. On the subject of conversions have you looked at the Italeri Phantom II?. My local model shop has had one on the shelf for months and I am tempted. It may be too old and more of the "Maharaja" style for your diorama but a conversion to more traditional bodywork might be feasible. I love Heller kits, very good especially for their age although the way they put the bodywork together looks like the designers all went mad.

David, that size is for the canopy, the actual diorama will extend beyond that. It's really designed as a backdrop for showing off models on the club stand at shows, having a single line of pumps, unlike the Mk1 version. I've also found Andy good to deal with, sensible prices and I may be tempted to the Minor van.

The Mk2 gas station is in its early stages. It's based on the prototype at Gulf Ravensthorpe in Yorkshire. The company that built the canopy sent us prototype measurements etc and we've got the brand guidelines from the Gulf agent in the UK. So far it consists of 5' x 1.5' 15mm aluminium/aluminum frame. My co-builder is back in the UK this weekend after working abroad so I may start a build thread. Is the Minor Traveller one of the resin bodies from Andy Swindlehurst? I'm working on a Mini pickup from him at present but it's very hard work.

I don't know how I've missed this thread so far - excellent work I really believe dioramas are a must for displaying models. I'll be following this with interest whilst working on my own gas station mk2 diorama. Have you looked at Seuthe smoke generators - they are used for model railways and may be more adaptable? David