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Hey y'all. I had a plan a couple of years ago to build some old o NASCAR replicas that I couldn't find in kits (https://www.shamblesmodels.com/race-cars-2.html). This 66 Merc is one that I started, messed it up with filler trying to get the 'trim' and emblems off, and decided to just wreck it. So, It's got the race car dash, but the rest is gonna be pretty stock when it slams into that tree. I've had pretty good results using thick gauge aluminum foil over the 'crashed' model panels, but it's tedious. I've reinforced the A pillar so I can buckle the roof a little. The skinny parts on a model have a tendency to shrink or all but disappear when heated along with the larger panels. After years of experimenting on flat tires, I've found that a hot plate works pretty good. It'll stink up the house and set off the smoke alarms, so I do it in my vented paint booth. Remove the wheel from the tire and insert a 7/16" socket. That way, the inside of the tire and the plastic wheel stay round. I keep some aftermarket 'steel' wheels to replace the chrome wheel when the hub caps fly off in the wreck. I use a 1/4" drive socket extension for the 'tree'. I'll add new photos as the wreck progresses. .

I am now calling this one 'completed', although I never can keep myself from adding things to my dioramas. I wanted this to have a dark moody atmosphere, yet still portray an enjoyable place to work. This necessitated the need for lighting, which I have found even adds more to the atmosphere. I only wish that I could add the sounds and smells. What follows are the 'tour' photos. This was an enjoyable project, and I thank all of those who followed during the construction in the WIP section. I now have another diorama where I can display models for photography, so this is not the last you will see of this diorama. I want to give a big thanks to dannyi, whose work in progress diorama from 2010-2013 was a big inspiration to me. I spent several years looking at that amazing work of art, and thinking that I should work up the courage to try my own theme based around his. I encourage everybody to slip over to the WIP-dioramas section and look up the diorama by Dannyi. A work of art that good should not be forgotten in the back pages of the section. I post this to encourage all who view it to start building one of your own. Don't wait 14 years as I have done. Get started. If I can do it, you can do it.

I don't know if this is old news, but it's something that just occurred to me to try. I was yakking over the fence with a visitor when I got to looking at the moss growing out of the cedar boards. This time of year, the stuff is everywhere and comes in a wide variety of forms and colors. Very detailed and visually interesting. I grabbed a putty knife and scraped a couple of samples off and set them on top of the furnace to dry. After a little trimming for size and structure, I glued them to my 1/64th scale diorama as Hosta plants around the house. I really like the look. Not sure how durable they're going to be, they might dry out completely and turn to dust. If so, I'll try some different ways to preserve them.

Hello from Central Arkansas… I've built models on and off for longer than I care to remember… I am currently building a "Full Size" 1965 Chevy C10 doing a frame off rest-mod… I started on this project back in 2012 and due to the scope of this project I decided to build a scale model of the truck I am aiming to build… Since the first 65 C10 model, I've built a number of other models during the winter months and plan on building another 65 C10 that will be closer to what I am actually building… Due to the number of models I've built, and seeing some other Dioramas that other truck enthusiasts have built, I now want to tackle a Diorama… While searching for diorama supplies I found this site… So here I am, and I look forward to sharing some pics of what I've built and my diorama as it begins to come together...

Just bought the book OLD BARN, by Sebastian and Ignacio Perez from MODEL JUNKYARD. I am going to try to build a rural gas station diorama this winter. The question for you is where do I find the wood necessary to build it? They provide a list but no sources any ideas out there? Thanks in advance for any help, love the wonderful work you all do. Walter O'Brien Rutland VT