1/64 Farm Diorama

[Anglia105E]

That is a very effective simulation of arc welding Paul . . . . and you got a good price on the LED's too. Well done !

David

[PHPaul]

Thanks, I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

[PHPaul]

Time to play with the diorama some more.  I have this roughly 10x12 inch area available for development, but I'm pretty much drawing a blank as to what to do with it.

Thinking primarily in terms of a structure of some sort seeing as that's one of my favorite things to build.  Appropriate scenery will work too.  Mulling over the idea of a pond or flooded quarry in that regard.  

Suggestions appreciated.

[Anglia105E]

Maybe that area is a bit too small for a flooded quarry, although a large pond would work. Like you, I tend to lean towards building a structure (no pun intended), but perhaps you do need a water feature of some sort? How about a small caravan site on your farm?  I believe you call them trailers. Here is a photo that might help you.

David

[PHPaul]

Based on some suggestions from another site, I'm seriously considering a limestone quarry with an abandoned stone crusher.

The quarry would be right on the edge of the layout and flooded.  Sort of a "cut away" view.  Flood the quarry with epoxy resin and put some junk and silt on the bottom with maybe a few fish and other aquatic life.   You'd be able to look into it from the edge.

Sort of like this ^^

The idea would be that the quarry was MUCH larger but extends out of view.

Edited December 15, 2022 by PHPaul

[PHPaul]

Started on the quarry.  First step was to carve out the basic shape.  The entire diorama is built on 2 inch styrofoam insulation board glued to a masonite table top, so carving is just a matter of a sharp razor knife.  The various levels represent slabs of (whatever...) that have been quarried and removed.

Then the naked styrofoam is covered with a layer of plaster of paris.  This will allow carving of finer detail without crumbling and also accepts paint or stain much better.  After the plaster sets up hard I'll do a little carving here and there, hit it with the first wash of color and glue some debris/talings to the bottom.

The quarry will be surrounded by chain link fence, which I make using brass rod for the frame and pieces cut out of a laundry bag used for washing "dainties".  Once trimmed and painted it looks REALLY authentic IMHO.  The fence will be rusted, bent and sagging when installed.

Edited December 17, 2022 by PHPaul

[Anglia105E]

I like where this is going Paul . . . especially with the chain link fence, which will be realistically ' rusted, bent and sagging ' .

It is not often you hear of plaster of paris being used these days . . . good for you !

David

[PHPaul]

Plaster of Paris may be my favorite medium!  The entire lighthouse scene is plaster minus the plastic lens and railing at the top.

[PHPaul]

Quarry is colored and the aquatic growth and bottom litter in place.  Waiting on my epoxy and tint to show up from Santa-zon.  

Also working on a smoke house and a small family cemetery.  Pics as things develop.  (Ooooo, bad pun...)

[PHPaul]

The family plot is pretty much done.  When the glue is cured and everything is solidly in place, I'll probably do a little more detailing in terms of flowers and such.

[Anglia105E]

Nicely done family cemetery plot, so just waiting for Santa-zon I guess.

David

[PHPaul]

6 minutes ago, Anglia105E said:

Nicely done family cemetery plot, so just waiting for Santa-zon I guess.

David

Thanks!

Pretty much, yup.  Epoxy is here, tint is supposed to be here by Friday.  Meanwhile, working on the rock crusher for the quarry and the smokehouse.

Edited December 27, 2022 by PHPaul

[Anglia105E]

I have just 3D printed 34 parts for my steam locomotive build in 1:43 scale ( O gauge ), which has taken 14 days over the festive period.

David

[PHPaul]

Good thing we can just hit "print" and walk away, isn't it?  

[Anglia105E]

1 hour ago, PHPaul said:

Good thing we can just hit "print" and walk away, isn't it?  

This is just one of the wonders of technology from this year 2022 . . . What might they come up with next ?

David

[PHPaul]

Second pour on the quarry.  That's taken within moments of the pour so the bubbles haven't all risen to the surface just yet.  One more pour should do it.  Destructions say to wait 4-6 hours between pours.  Have an electric space heater running as my basement is usually around 55°F in the winter.  Bit cool for epoxy...

 

[Anglia105E]

1 hour ago, PHPaul said:

Second pour on the quarry.  That's taken within moments of the pour so the bubbles haven't all risen to the surface just yet.  One more pour should do it.  Destructions say to wait 4-6 hours between pours.  Have an electric space heater running as my basement is usually around 55°F in the winter.  Bit cool for epoxy...

 

Some nice colourisation going on there . . . The second pour should bring satisfying results.

David

[PHPaul]

Couple of things didn't go quite to plan on the quarry.  The last pour bubbled on me (I have an idea or two on how to fix that) and the material I used to define the front edge bonded to the epoxy.  I thought it was slick enough that that wouldn't be a problem and didn't use any sort of a release agent.  Oops...  Trying various methods to remove it as I REALLY want a view through the front edge.

I'm working on an old belt-driven rock crusher that will be parked inside the fence, rusting away and sinking into the ground.  Also need to add a bit to the fence as I didn't visualize quite enough area for the details I have in mind.

I tucked a smoke house over by the woodlot.  Not finished yet, need to trim out the roof and add the chimney and firebox, plus detail around the building.

Edited January 4, 2023 by PHPaul

[PHPaul]

Turns out that a little heat was all that was needed to remove the material from the edge of the quarry casting.  Now I see a couple of bubble lines from the separate pours.  Sigh...

Smokehouse in place and details around the foundation.  Working on so other stuff like rusty buckets and maybe a bench.

[PHPaul]

A quick video tour of the overall layout.

[Anglia105E]

Excellent video Paul, and there's lots to see in this diorama of yours . . . I like to tinker with YouTube videos, which is yet another enjoyable aspect of our wonderful hobby !

David

[PHPaul]

Thanks.  I need to look into a better tripod so I can pan more smoothly and get a steadier shot.  Now that I have an idea of how to go about it, I may re-do it with commentary and pauses on various scenes.

I can see where one could disappear down the Videography and YouTube rabbit hole!

[Anglia105E]

21 hours ago, PHPaul said:

Thanks.  I need to look into a better tripod so I can pan more smoothly and get a steadier shot.  Now that I have an idea of how to go about it, I may re-do it with commentary and pauses on various scenes.

I can see where one could disappear down the Videography and YouTube rabbit hole!

This is a link to one of my recent test videos on YouTube, and I am not using a tripod, so not smooth !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FCrk1RZdY

David

[PHPaul]

Nicely done hand-held work!

That sort of variety and focus on details is what I'm aiming for on my next one.  I ordered a better tripod today.  I was aghast at what you can spend on a video tripod!

[Anglia105E]

1 hour ago, PHPaul said:

Nicely done hand-held work!

That sort of variety and focus on details is what I'm aiming for on my next one.  I ordered a better tripod today.  I was aghast at what you can spend on a video tripod!

I did try mounting a very small spy camera on the rolling chassis of a 1:43 scale model car . . . The chassis was pulled along the roads and streets of the diorama with fishing line, so that the line was not visible on the video footage. By using a nail that was hammered into the baseboard on the far side, I could have one model car being pulled in the opposite direction to the ' camera car ' . . . The second car appeared to be driving towards the camera, and then passing by. This experiment did work surprisingly well at the time, and the two cars were attached to the same piece of fishing line.

David