PHPaul

Back in March of 2020, a poster mentioned finding some straight round files in sizes appropriate to modeling: See this post I PM'd him, but he hasn't posted in a long time. I've looked all over - McMaster-Carr, Amazon, Micromark, Ebay - and can't find any straight files. Tapered Swiss-pattern, yes. Straight - no. I'd REALLY like to have a set. Does anyone have a source?

This appears to have wound up under the wrong heading somehow... Edit 2: Oops. Misread the thread title. Mods please delete.

Works for me!

Version 2 got some scale issues fixed, some details removed and others added, and a better paint job. The original was gloss black and it looked overdone. This one is flat gunmetal, much more realistic IMHO. Still not perfect, but plenty good enough for a diorama viewed from 3 or 4 feet away.

The metal roofing is from Northeastern Scale Lumber. HO scale is close enough for the diorama which is actually S scale. Corrugated Metal Roofing in various scales.

After looking at Version 1 of the steamer for a few days, I decided to start from scratch and build V2 using more 3D printed parts. I redesigned some pieces and tweaked others to correct scale issues. It's assembled and in paint now, I'll post pictures in a day or two. Meanwhile, I'm adding details here and there on the diorama. I added an abandoned cellar hole near the sawmill. My thinking is it was the original cabin on the farm from back in the 1800's. As such holes often do, it's collected some random junk. I built a dilapidated shed to park the steamer under and added a coal bin next to the shed, using Black Diamond Coal Slag blasting media as the coal.

Black Diamond Coal Slag blasting media makes excellent scale coal. Probably best for S (1:64) and HO scales.

World-class weathering! I've owned a few Chevy/GMC pickups of that era and you nailed it. I saved a couple of those pictures to give me a goal for my next build.

Thanks, everyone. LONG way to go compared to most of the posters here, but get a little better with each project.

Yeah, it's weird. Something happened on my website, haven't figured it out yet. I'll upload them here.

Finally finished the NEAPCO 4WD conversion on the 5 window. Fireball Model Works Ford F250 4wd kit plus wheels and tires, Model Car World laquer in Forester Green, wired and plumbed engine. I see with photographic lighting that I didn't get the paint all the same tone (not enough coats I suspect) but other than that, I'm pleased with the way it came out and learned a few things.

Apparently, you're familiar with the Volunteer Company I used to be part of... VERY nice work!

I picked up a MPC "Deserter" kit intending to use the 4WD components to build a 4WD conversion for a '50 Chevy 3100. (Details Here. ) I decided to go a little more realistic with a 4WD Kit from Fireball Model Works, so the Deserter kit just sort of sat there. Got bored and decided to build it as a redneck beater just for giggles: In addition to prototypical rust (I've owned a few Chevy trucks...) I added some scale beer cans on the floor of the cab and some junk in the bed. I finally sprung for a 3D printer and printed the concrete blocks. BTW, apologies for my earlier indiscretion. Pictures of the offending decal were left out of this post.

They're in the chicken coop behind the house. There are actually some in the yard now, hadn't received them when this picture was taken.

Was going to post some pictures of the finished steam engine, but after looking at them, I'm not happy with the paint. Some sanding and re-painting will be needed.

I searched this forum and the WIP diorama forum and didn't see anything on this topic. If this is old news, my apologies and moderators please delete. To create what I consider to be very realistic stone walls, I pour a slab of Plaster of Paris in appropriate dimensions and let it cure to a "soft set". Then, without removing it from the form, I scribe the stone faces into it with a dental pick. A couple of tips to enhance the realism: 1. Follow the wall builder's maxim of "Two over one, one over two." That is, set the stones so the joints fall over a single stone on the bottom and not over another joint. 2. Scribe the joint in a "V" pattern, beveling the joint to both sides. This will create greater relief and make the stone faces stand out. After you're happy with the scribing, apply a wash of black watercolor. The wash can be quite dark as it will turn grey over the white plaster. This will soak into any imperfections and help the stones to stand out. Next, apply washes of earth tones (umbers and browns work well) to random stones. Then go back and lightly trace the joints to remove the wash and get some of the white plaster back to simulate mortar. You may wish to add some fine ground foam for moss and some chalk mediums to simulate mud splashed up on the lower courses.

Working on a 1:64 model of an Advance-Rumely steam engine for my diorama. Wheels, stack/headlight, front axle and pedestal, steam dome, water barrels and coal box all printed on the 3D printer. The rest is built from various plastic sheet and shapes. Took 4 tries on the rear wheels and 3 on the front to get results I was pleased with. I initially tried to print the wheels and spokes as a unit on the rear, but the spokes didn't always connect to the rim as they were unsupported during the print process. Then I attempted printing the wheels in two halves so the spokes were supported by the bed of the printer which worked, but gluing them together was problematic due to delicacy of the spokes and warping of the rims as they cooled. Wound up printing the rims separately and printing 4 sets of spokes (inner and outer for two wheels) on the bed and printed the spokes bigger than I really liked so they weren't so delicate. The stack came out perfect first shot, as did pretty much everything else. Long way to go yet, but it's getting there. Looking at the picture, the stack/headlight print looks a little out of scale - too big. Might scale that down a bit and re-print it. I've been getting reports that some folks can't see pictures linked from my website. Link if you can't see the picture: http://www.eastovershoe.com/diorama/steamer/steamer3.jpg bee

Very realistic photography, David!

Got the printer Tuesday night late - a day EARLY! Amazing, considering the season and the 'rona. Other things got in the way until Wednesday afternoon, then I put it together, figured out a couple of minor issues with the software and printed a pre-loaded test object. VERY impressed with the finish. While waiting for the printer, I did enough of the tutorials on TinkerCAD to have a basic grasp of it and designed some parts for the steamer. First attempt at printing my own designs. The front axle/pedestal came out well enough to use with a little sanding. The rear wheels were about 90%. Problem was the spokes. The ones that printed directly on the print bed were fine, but the "top" ones didn't have enough support and didn't connect to the rims, along with strings everywhere. Time for Plan B: Re-did the wheels in halves so both sets of spokes printed on the print bed. MUCH better. A bit of sanding and we're good to go. I'll clock them so the spokes alternate and glue them together

My next project/challenge in 1:64 - an Advance-Rumely steam engine to run the thresher. I invested in an entry-level 3D printer to make some of the more complex parts. I went with a Creality Ender 3D V2 and I've been learning TinkerCAD while I wait for it to arrive. I've designed a few parts and sent the file on a couple to a friend to print on his printer as a test of my design. Already learned a couple of things. Being as they're VERY small parts (10mm cubed on one) I'll need a finer nozzle than the one that comes with the printer. Haven't even got it yet and I'm already ordering mod parts for it...

Wow! VERY nice! Lots of little details that really make the scene come alive.

Thank you. I'm not entirely happy with the weathering. I tried something new for the green moss/mildew effect and I like the color but the coverage needs work. There are a couple of other minor glitches that I'd do differently next time, but overall I'm pleased. I think my next project will be a steam engine to drive it. I'm gathering information now.

Thresher is pretty much finished. May redo some of the weathering and paint the drive belts to stand out a little more. Now for a steamer to power it...

Thank you!

Here's where I am as of today. A few more details on the top and the right side and it'll be ready for primer.