Anglia105E

Thanks Peter, and I don't mind anything that fellow members might pick up on while viewing my photos. This process is very usefull to motivate me and consequently address any issues / errors / observations. Usually, I just need a little push to get things done ! Yes, as regards LED's, I shall probably end up using some for this project because the routing of fibre optic strands is a bit of a challenge, if I am honest. While I was sourcing the fibre optics on Ebay those LED's in a range of sizes did appear on my screen, but at the time I was locked into ' tunnel vision ' with the fibre optics. This is why I find all comments by members on MCM forums extremely useful. For the red lights on the front of the tram, I used a red Sharpie on the tip of the two strands. Would this work on an LED also ? David

Having added a mature oak tree to the diorama composition, and also the figure of a gentleman who is boarding the tram car, here are just a couple of photos to show the other side of the tram car. David

Very observant Peter, and you have picked up on two issues in particular . . . . Please allow me to explain. First of all, the 1:35 scale street lamps by MiniArt do not have a hollow centre to the post, whereas the 1:43 street lamps by Pico do have a hollow centre. I wanted to run a fibre optic strand up the post to the lamp at the top, but the MiniArt street lamp won't allow me to do this. Well spotted with the ' fishing line ' objects on the roof of the tram car. Those are the fibre optic strands that are linked to an LED bulb, which is strapped to the underside of the tram car chassis. Unfortunately, those fibre optics have to be routed through the passenger area, then up through the roof, and then back down through the roof to the interior lamps. I thought about how I might disguise those fibre optic strands, such as having a standing figure inside the tram. In some of the photo shots the fibre optics are not so visible, and they can sometimes blend into their surroundings. Thanks for pointing out these errors Peter, and I am aware that there are other errors too. This diorama is a work in progress, so there will be ongoing progress hopefully. David

These two photograohs show the 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II parked on the wet cobblestone road outside the town house in Geneva, Switzerland. This motor car model has been built from the 1:32 scale Pyro kit of 1967, and the Alfred Hitchcock figure is a 1:32 scale 3D printed figure by Shapeways. David

Just a few B&W photos, this time with added still water and fog effect. The process needs a little further refinement. David

Another beautiful crafted scale model Conrad and Yuko . . . . There is so much detail to see, and I am still looking ! David

Thank you Pat . . . . I am quite pleased with these early shots, and I am confident that I can create the wet cobbled street effect, such as immediately after a rainfall shower has occurred. The fog in a can is more difficult, and I was struggling a bit with the lighting source and angles last night. David

Here are three early experimental photos of the tram car diorama . . . These are B&W shots, with no still water effect or fog effect added yet. Thanks for looking guys ! David

Now that you have raised the question Karl . . . . I realise that my process of choosing the next build is as follows. I browse Ebay and start off by selecting my criteria for the search as ' 1:24 Rolls-Royce Kit ', then I search for ' 1:24 Spares or Repair ', then ' 1:24 Vintage Model Car Kit ', and if nothing comes up that interests me, I search ' 1:32 Rolls-Royce ', then 1:43 Rolls-Royce ' and various other Ebay searches realting to Dioramas, Figures and Buildings. I don't have much of a stash, nor do I list future builds, which is why I find myself browsing / searching on Ebay. As soon as something pops up that catches my attention, I study the description carefully and think about the price, and then go for it. Much detailed research follows the purchase, so that I know everything there is to know about that particular motor car. When you search on Ebay all sorts of stuff comes up, much of it not related to my search criteria, but the odd kit can be very interesting anyway. David

The tram car build is completed, and this one has taken 3 months and 10 days to finish. Now that both the Pyro Rolls-Royce and the tram car are ready, I can concentrate on the diorama and the photography. The Still Water will be applied around 24 hours before the photo shoot, and I shall wait until the canned fog arrives before applying the water effect, and also using the fog effect. The 1:35 / 1:32 diorama has been moved down from the top of the Hooper factory and the attached photos were taken in this new position. There will be some advanced B&W photography, as well as colour photography of this European House diorama very soon, and the topic will be posted in the ' Dioramas ' section rather than in this ' WIP: Dioramas ' section as a completed project. David

Such a beautiful motor car, and you are building this one in 1:8 scale too ! Good luck, Bruce. David

The 1:32 scale Pyro kit of the 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II ' Towne ' Car is nearing completion. Within the next day or so this model should be ready for the European Tram Car diorama. There are some finishing touches needed for the MiniArt tram car kit in 1:35 scale, and I am very much aware that these excellent MiniArt kits are designed and manufactured in Ukraine. The Pyro Rolls-Royce does have a partition window between the passenger compartment and the driver's compartment, which is a nice touch, and you don't get this partition window in the 1:24 scale Italeri Phantom II that I built. David

Thank you Pat, and I didn't know that. David

I might be wrong about the ' two ' stacks actually . . . . . There would have been only one stack if the engine wasn't a V8 or V12 ? David

I noticed the ' Diamond T trucks ' badge on the back wall in your two photos, and I remember the garage where I got my first job when I finished school at the age of 17 . . . . They had a Diamond T recovery vehicle and it was an absolute monster ! When the engine was started up for this truck to go out on a breakdown, the two vertical stacks were pumping out smoke and the sound was quite something. The engine was removed from that truck for an overhaul one time, and I had a close look at the internals of the engine. My job was partsman, so I had to source parts for the Diamond T engine. Happy days ! David

That is one extremely detailed diorama Conrad, and I can see that your wife has clearly put in many hours of painstaking work. Excellent ! There is so much to see in that wonderful model that I shall have to study it more closely ! David

You have some nice campervan builds there Carl . . . Also, you have packed a lot into a relatively small area of baseboard, which is a skill in itself ! Well done. David

Brilliant Pat ! The small group of standing figures looks very realistic in this shot. What a lucky find that TV camera was. David

Good idea to let her reduce the size of your kit stash ! David

Thanks Pierre . . . . . The random patchy effect of the still water adds a great deal of realism to this diorama, and here is a sample photo for you : David

Thanks Pat . . . . . When I looked at the diorama base this morning after 13 hours overnight, some areas of the cobblestones were showing through. As you say, the realism is good . . . . ' Wetness ' David

The Vallejo Water Textures Still Water has been applied tonight, and the product was quite nice to use. I need to allow 24 hours drying time, so all night Thursday and all day on Friday until 10:00 PM., for the self-leveling to work. Here are 7 photos taken at 10:00 PM Thursday. Once this diorama has become a ' wet ' scene, there is no going back to a ' dry ' scene ! David

That has all come together very nicely, and you must be well pleased the result. I second the comment by Mark, and this should photograph well. David

Apart from the Still Water application, the tram car diorama is getting close to completion. I have tested the Vallejo Water Textures Still Water on a section of 1:24 scale paving, and I am pleased with the result. The still water product will be applied within the next day or two. The three support posts for the overhead wire are super glued to the pavement, and the two lengths of copper wire have been super glued in place between the three posts. The two tram rails are now painted with steel enamel and the conductress figure is one of five figures completed. I haven't glued the roof onto the tram car yet, and if possible I would rather have the roof removable. Some passengers and crew need to be placed inside the tram. David

Welcome to MCM forums, Raymond . . . . . You have over 4,000 unbuilt kits in your stash ? !!! . . . . We thought we had a problem ! That is the most comprehensive and detailed introduction that I have ever seen on this forum. Thank you Raymond, and I feel that I almost know you ! David