Anglia105E

Maybe that area is a bit too small for a flooded quarry, although a large pond would work. Like you, I tend to lean towards building a structure (no pun intended), but perhaps you do need a water feature of some sort? How about a small caravan site on your farm? I believe you call them trailers. Here is a photo that might help you. David

Such detail and weathering in 1:87 scale Charles . . . Your close up camera work is very good here. I find that my older Kodak M340 digital camera is much better for this type of photography than a modern mobile phone, and you can still pick them up on Ebay for a very reasonable price in UK. The iPad camera is of course really good, just like iPhone, but more expensive ! David

That is a very effective simulation of arc welding Paul . . . . and you got a good price on the LED's too. Well done ! David

Some truly marvellous work going on here Doug . . . Your 3D printing skills are already at a high level. The wheel spokes are impressive, and the 8K printer is clearly a mean machine ! Would that Delahaye be a 1:24 scale model car ? I usually 3D print 1950's Rolls-Royce car models, but currently attempting a 1950's steam locomotive for a diorama of mine. David

Oh I see now Harald . . . I understand that you mix parts from different figures to make the ones that you want. These are 1:35 and 1:32 scale figures of course, but I was talking about 1:24 scale figures that I need. These are much more diifficult to find, although the ICM company in Ukraine do have some really nice figures, such as the Henry Ford set of three figures for example. You have great skills in making these figures, and I admire your work. I do have the French Civilians set by Miniart, and I do like the Miniart products. David

You have more choice of figures in your part of the world Harald . . . and these three latest ones of yours are really good. I wish we had more figures to use for our dioramas here in UK . . . Those two figures outside the Church doorway, and the photographer are so realistic. The figures are painted well, and both the lighting effect and the camera effect work very well with this diorama scene. So interesting ! David

Here is a link to a further test video featuring the Hooper & Co. diorama . . . https://youtu.be/PkgYwmC_V8A The gentleman in the hat is standing at the office desk with his back to the window. At this window there is an intruder . . . preparing to enter the building. The intruder's accomplice is keeping watch at the corner of the building on the ground floor, while upstairs at the second floor window . . . . The carpet is disturbed and broken fragments of the window have fallen to the floor in disarray. David

Nice example of the Porsche model Gary . . . and I didn't know that some Maisto diecasts come from Thailand either ! The proportions of this car are all good. David

Currently, I am preparing a scene within the 1:24 scale Hooper & Co. building, ready to film videos that will be uploaded to YouTube shortly. These video films have background music, and show the interior as well as the exterior of the showroom building. The first photo of the following set shows the 1:24 scale building to the left, then there is a 1:32 scale Victorian terraced house, and the 1:43 scale diorama is furthest to the right of this photo. Inside the ground floor showroom there is a 1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, and upstairs there is a gentleman in the office. Here is the link to a test video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FCrk1RZdY ( thanks for watching ) David

I can see there is a lot going on in the scene now, with more figures added and the whole thing looks so real Harald. I like the black & white photo, which has a lot of impact (strength). The mechanic who is squatting down with his hands on the wheel and tyre is really good I think. David

You certainly know how to pick the best car models Helmut . . . What an incredibly realistic looking Porsche . . . I was aware of Ebbro plastic kits, but I didn't realise Ebbro also produced diecast model cars. This Carrera RS will look really good alongside your Bentley S1 . . . Well done ! David

Your Bentley S1 is indeed a beautiful model, and I have the maroon / gold version by Franklin Mint, as well as several Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I's. These two model cars are two of the best models that were made by Franklin Mint, and the detail is impressive. Your Bentley is Majestic Silver over Royal Blue, and the other version is Dark Cherry Maroon over Silversand ( metallic ). The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I is finished in Mason's Black over Oyster Grey. Sounds like you got a good price on this one ! David

A recent attempt to use the boot lid plinth from the ' toy ' Silver Cloud to create a mould, has resulted in the destruction of the master part. Thinking that I would be able to cast further plinths from such a mould, I carelessly melted the original part with hot glue. So it's back to the drawing board for the plinth part, and there are two additional issues at present, both of which are holding up completion of this build. The windscreen does not fit very well into the body shell, and also the radiator grille chroming has failed again at the third attempt. Three of the five surfaces of this radiator grille have a nice smooth chrome finish, but the other two surfaces have serious blemishes. All the work on the rear end of the Rolls-Royce has turned out nicely, which is more than can be said for the front end of the model. David

Welcome to MCM Forums, Sean . . . I am from Derbyshire, England UK, and building Rolls-Royce model cars in 1:24 scale and 1:32 scale. David

That is one BIG project you have there Michael . . . 1:8 scale E-type Jaguar, V8 Ford engine, Gulf racing paint scheme . . . I really admire what you are attempting, and clearly you know exactly what you are doing. To some extent, it must be so enjoyable not to have to follow any rules, or even the instruction sheet ! I am sure that when you finish this build, this car is going to look absolutely F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S David

I think your whole diorama is wonderful, Harald . . . and sometimes blurry and slightly out of focus is good. I understand that the colours in your diorama photos are important, but have you considered Black & White photography ? My Kodak camera has a setting for B&W, which can be very effective for vintage cars and also old buildings. Nice for 1950's period shots. David

This was something that has been on my mind recently, and I was thinking now that the outside temperature has dropped below 13°C the spray painting will have to stop for the Winter . . . Currently it is around 8°C outside, and obviously it will drop to below 0°C at some stage. As Rick suggested, maybe we have to use paints with airbrush that don't emit fumes. I have to open my Velux roof window in the loft workshop when spraying paint, but it will be way too cold for opening windows ! David

Interesting update, Charles . . . Your idea to use a photographic backdrop inside the building is a technique that I have not used when building my dioramas, but I might just consider doing so . . . This technique does work for you on this model, and it is a good way of apparently extending the interior. The exterior lighting works well also for your truck dock / bay. I suppose the difficult part of using such a technique is matching the floor colour, and the lighting in the photo subject. David

Beautiful paint colour scheme on your build Andreas . . . I have built one of theses Hudson Hornets by Moebius, which was the 1953 car, and I have one more the same still inthe sealed box. As you discovered, the fit of the parts in these Moebius kits is excellent and everything goes together really well. This is how scale model cars should be produced . . . Moebius are the best in my opinion. Even the instruction sheet is a piece of art work in itself ! Your 1954 Hudson Hornet is very nicely done, and I can see that your polishing is done to a high standard. Plenty of good chrome work too ! I ordered my Moebius Hudsons from a company in Germany, on Ebay, and the price was very good with quick delivery to UK. David

Your figures and the car are really good Harald . . . All your hard work and attention to detail has paid off, and now you can place these models in your wonderful diorama . . . You must be very pleased with the result. David

The spare wheel panel from the Franklin Mint diecast model is slightly too large for the Revell car, so I have produced some drawings to calculate precise measurements for this panel. Previously I have made the panel from thin card, but this time it will be made from thin styrene. The boot lid number plate plinth has been removed from an early 1960's toy Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud that I bought on Ebay . . . This was a 1:25 scale model car, so slightly smaller than my 1:24 scale Revell model, but the number plate plinth seems to have the right proportions for the boot lid. David

Printed out the number plates and test fitted front and rear bumpers. The boot lid handle is moulded into the plastic on the Revell / Minicraft kits, so I decided to scratchbuild a proper handle for the boot lid. I used a short length of 30 amp fuse wire, bent into shape, then drilled two holes in the boot lid and added a locking barrel made of square styrene rod, filed off and rounded the edges. The handle is not yet glued in place, so this can be chromed. The number plate / reversing lamp is the Revell part, but I might use the Franklin Mint lamp that is more realistic in detail. David

Before commencing the polishing process, I put together a mock up of the Silver Cloud model, by test fitting the body, boot lid, bonnet panels, a spare radiator grille, interior seating tub, chassis, front and rear axles and wheels and tyres. The car looks pretty good at this stage of the build, and the daylight shows up the Velvet Green paint finish nicely. Most of the work in progress photos are taken under fluorescent lighting usually. David

I find that I usually spend around 2 or 3 hours in my loft (attic) workshop, actually building models, but I also spend a great deal of time at the planning stage, which includes studying reference photos and Google searching on the computer. Sometimes I am held up while waiting for paint to dry overnight for 24 hours or longer, in which case I work on some other aspect of the same model. I do try to work on only one model at any one time. Being retired, and also having an understanding wife who likes gardening at her allotment, this allows me to go up to the top floor of the house whenever I get the opportunity. One build usually takes around 2 months, but the current Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud build is going to be way longer than 2 months. David

Oh I see . . . I understand what happens ! David