The Modeling Hermit

You are off to an excellent start. I can already see active attention to detail as well as fine quality of craftsmanship. I will be following this.

That is the absolute opposite of the purpose of my posting. I post, not to gloat of any perceived talents, but to encourage others to build and increase their talents. Your continuing to build your garage diorama is the best compliment that can be paid to me. Please do continue and be sure to share your project, that I might be able to enjoy it too.

Today I have the circuit breaker box completed and in place with conduits running from it. I also have the time card machine and card holder finished and hung. The walls are in the office and the personal lockers are weathered & fastened into place. Mr. Williams and a couple of his staff from Otto Ray Sing Classic Car Center are checking out my work. I certainly hope it passes their scrutiny. It would be quite embarrassing to fail the inspection of inanimate miniature plastic figures.

I am totally enjoying following your exquisite masterpiece.

The last couple of days brought in life chores, so work slowed on this. I did get the auto lifts pulled out and weathered/detailed, as well as getting the tire repair tools weathered and in place. I had to build a catch fence on the top level where the machine shop tools will go. I'm in the process of building a small crane to raise and lower equipment & projects between levels. I also have begun work on a dust collector system.

The last couple of days have been dedicated to railings. They look simple but are a real pain in the fingers and arms to install. They will get further adjustments and then weathering. The upper section will get 'catch fence' type railing. I have it pictured in my mind how I will build that, and it should be rather simple, but then, that's what I thought about the railing. It's actually starting to look like a shop, but there is much more to come.

Today's work consisted of building the abandoned circuit breaker box and getting it into place in the diorama.

I have the office area and the machine shop area both glued into place, as well as the steps. I have some of the lights placed; as of now, just run straight from the power source. When all the lighting is done, I'll add the sequencer and dimmer.

Today was painting, followed by weathering and some detailing on the office and lower level. Much more is needed there, but I did want to set the stairs in place for evaluation and planning. The white lines below the upper ladder show an extension to the landing for which the steps will ascend from. None of this is glued yet, and won't be for some time.

This is just set temporarily in place for evaluation. In looking at this, it's difficult to comprehend that there is over 12 hours of work involved in it. I'm not sure why I go to all the work to draft these dioramas out; I never follow them. Originally, this was to be an office on legs like the work area. That would have been dramatic, but this is more authentic looking. I didn't draft this out at all, and was designed as I built. We will see how much trouble I got myself into with it. The lower level is a storage room and restrooms, with the upper level containing the office.

I have some test fitting going on here. I've been working on the machine shop area (second floor) the last few days. I decided to completely redesign it from the original plan as I feel that the 'L' shape gives it more character, while allowing increased viewing area of the space below. I still have many more hours of work to go on it, but I needed to temporarily set it in place to make sure that what I'm doing is proceeding well. My next steps will be to prepare it for lighting and steps/railings. In placing this, I've been given the thought of building an elevator to move large parts between the two levels. I'm not sure where I would put it, but I'll let the thought percolate for awhile. I just found out that some parts that I need for it, that were supposed to be here today, won't get here until Friday or Saturday. I really don't like delays, but that's life. I guess that I'll have to work on the office area.

I think that I have found another modeler with a shrink ray. ? Your artistry is fabulous.

My hometown of Oskaloosa Iowa had an amazing 1/2 mile dirt track, with Eldon Iowa, about 40 miles to the southeast, also having a very good 1/2 mile dirt oval. Both ran stock cars; Oskaloosa on Wednesday nights, and Eldon on Saturday nights. What I'm picturing here is a representative of what could be found on those tracks back in the 1970s.

That is rockin' already.

Can I borrow your shrink ray sometime?? Your work is extremely fabulous.

Welcome back. I started building in December of 1959, and have models to thank for many times of easing stress. It's great to not only be able to calm oneself, but have a work of art to show for it.

Welcome

The Nomad is actually it twice. The one version is the model as a model, with the other being the model taken apart and rearranged many times in Photoshop to make it the kaleidoscope you see. This was a very early, rather forgetful, attempt at customizing. What isn't shown, is the one thing that I was focusing on, that being the stacked headlights as popular in the mid-1960s.

Bringing home a treasure. Mary, Curls, & Flo check out a barn find of what was a high school kids ride.

That is a very nice tribute.

This is fabulous work.

I hope you get a place to display it soon as it is quite an intriguing work of art.

Your attention to detail and quality of implementation of construction is immeasurably beyond words fabulous. I am most truly inspired.

I've been building old doors for the structure. I've included a closeup of one of them as well as it in the proximity of where it will be placed. It surprises me as to just how long these take to build.

That is beyond words amazingly fantastic!