GTMust

What diarama forum Ed? I'd like to see it. Tony

Even though they will never be seen once the roof is on...... I couldn't resist adding the ridge beam and rafters!!!

A little more.......

Very nice!!!!!! Great imagination..... and execution! Tony

I see. Makes sense to me. You're right... the scale difference is not even noticeable. Excellent job. Tony

Okay..... so how the heck do you get in and out of that thing without breaking a few bones? By the way.... I love it!!!!!. Tony

Beautiful work Mark. Definitely on a par with some I've seen from the top dio builders. Love that peeling paint! But one question. Isn't the Franklin Mint Camaro 1/24 scale? If so, wouldn't it have been easier to build the dio 1/2" to the foot. Probably a silly question, but I'm just curious. Tony

Wow...... all those details!!! Incredible, Doc! Tony

This is a fun project.....! Since the last report, I've added a fence, the road surface. the grass parking area beside the work area....... and started on the porch. The interior of the window frames (jamb extensions) have also been installed... but you can't see them! I'm hoping to get some details of a typical 1900's hardware store interior for some interior detailing. Now I can get an idea of how the hardware store will fit into the street scene..... at either end. Tony

Very real looking rust....... great work. Tony

That's amazing Ed...... wonder why I have so much trouble with it..??? Gatorboard is great... but expensive! Another possibility is MDF, but the disadvantage is that you have to actually BUY the stuff....... I like FREE!!! Tony

Ed... you are the master and I bow to your expertise.... but you must be using a different Foam Core board than me! I use the Elmers 3/16" Foam core board for basic wall structures, but it twists up like a pretzel when used on a base after landscaping materials are applied! The same with any kind or thickness of Styrofoam insulation board... blue, pink or white. What kind do you use? Tony

These are great for simple starters..... but suffer from detail problems like skinny walls, etc. (not very realistic!). For the cost of one of these kits you could build a dozen or so garages or other basic structures from 3/16" foamboard. The main thing to master is scale, and using a VERY sharp knife to cut the foamboard. There are many threads in the forum explaining how to scale models..... and the internet also is a mine of information. I don't mean to put down the SMBC offering, but you will have to add considerable work to it if you want a realistic looking garage.

Foamboard will also warp if soaked when applying paint or landscaping materials. It can also disintegrate if you use any paints or liquids containing acetate, like laquer, that can attack the foam. Most materials have a tendency to warp when water is applied to a porous surface. This can be overcome by soaking both sides first and laying flat with weight applied until dry... or even using artists "Gesso" to seal the surfaces. But this is time consuming and expensive..... and doesn't always work! Personally I've found a very cheap solution.... check out you neighborhood for abandoned furniture like entertainment units, computer desks, etc., that have prefinished doors, sides or tops. You can usually find a size that suits your dio without cutting them..... but if not, you can cut them down to size with simple hand tools. These are made from a dense chipboard with a laminated paper surface that can be painted and glued with simple white glue from the dollar store. I've used a few now and had no problems with warping even when flooded for landscaping materials. They're usually 5/8" thick and if you're lucky, already have a woodgrained, prefinished edge.... another bonus! It's what I'm using for my Thomasville hardware store base. And it's FREE!!! If I see them laying abandoned by the side of the road, I'll pick them up anyway for future use, take off what I need and recycle the rest. Hope this helps.

Nice dio Dave! Tony

I think I agree with you Junior.... best to leave well alone! By the way... I have the tools... just nowhere to use them! (Note to self: Have to clean out the garage!) LOL! Tony

I took the plunge and mixed up a watery acrylic gray/brown/black stain, then applied it in varying consistencies on each of the individual siding and trim boards. I experimented by using a hair dryer set at the lowest temperature to speed up the drying as each board was stained..... and nothing warped! I then applied a similar watery black acrylic wash to the sidewalk using the same technique and everything stayed straight and level. After the black on the sidewalk was completely dry, I sanded it with a coarse grain sand paper in the direction of the grain until it became lighter and more of a gray, bleached color. I still have to apply more weathering and staining to the boarded work area. The rickety stairs are also finished apart from final staining, I found a 13" x 12" x 5/8" thick door from an old abandoned entertainment center and that has become my base. After locating the building on it, I've started to apply spackle to the areas that will be the road and the raised side yard. After a couple more coats and some sanding it should be ready for some landscaping materials. I'm not sure if I should leave the weathered look to the siding or apply a "peeling paint" effect.. What do you think? I must admit I'm a little nervous to try the peeling paint idea in case I screw it up after all the time I've already put into it! Tony

Randy... you did a great job converting the '79 Pace car to the '86 front end. I did a similar thing with my Monogram kit at the beginning of the Fox Body Mustang CBP. Yours looks really good! Tony

Nice detailing... I especially like the track surface and ground cover. Tony

While searching the web for some ideas for weathering my buildings, I came across this site from France that has some great ideas and tips. www.009.cd2.com/members/how_to/nouaillier_a.htm Tony

Can you post some pictures of your figures Dave? Your ideas sound very interesting. Tony

Thanks for the tip Maynard. The Luan plywood sounds like a perfect, non warping idea....... but how do you cut holes in it for windows and doors etc.? (Unfortunately I don't have a workshop where I can handle and cut a 4' x 8' sheet of ply into smaller sections... like walls and floors.) How do you do it? Tony

It's turned out great Geoff... and deserving all the praise it's rightfully getting! Tony

............ and a great example of how nicely detailed figures really help to make the scene! Tony

Thanks for the link Junior......... Once I get the wood stained, I'm going to try to add peeling paint to the walls. I think I can achieve that with a rubber cement technique I remember seeing somewhere? Or maybe just scrape some paint off to expose the weathered wood underneath? I'd better experiment first, though!!! Tony