Well... new guy... about me and a few questions!

[Jim Gibbons]

Another thought, (and one I've used in the past,) is matboard used in framing pictures. It comes in a variety of colors, and greys and blacks make decent concrete or blacktop pavement. It can be weathered (adding oil drips, etc.) and "dirtied" up with pastels. Concrete slab joints can be scribed, and tar strips suggested with white glue mixed with black model jar acrylics (or just using artist's acrylics from a tube.) I used to get scrap pieces from a framing shop for next to nothing.

[thesnake87]

I think I have some around here actually. I wanted to make a "leveled" diorama for my larger shop. Because you know how most turn ins to parking lots are raised, I wanted to make that effect, with a curb and all. That's perfect!

[Jim Gibbons]

I think I have some around here actually. I wanted to make a "leveled" diorama for my larger shop. Because you know how most turn ins to parking lots are raised, I wanted to make that effect, with a curb and all. That's perfect!

You can also paint parking lines, etc. with white or yellow acrylics. A book of Architectural Standards from the library (or research online) will give you the standard length, width, and spacing of the lines. If you have an architectural scale, use the 3/16"=1'-0" for 1/64, and you can make a paper or thin sheet plastic mask to paint them.

Here's one link for architectural models and supplies. http://www.hearlihy.com/store/default.aspx?CategoryID=69&by=9&c=1 If you do some more research, you will find others. Most are 1/48 and 1/24, but will give some ideas. Another thought I had is paper models. There are an incredible number available, and many are free. If you save the PDF files, you can up/down scale them to give you 1/64, and can print out doors, windows, details, etc. One member here (I have to find the link among my hundreds of Favorites,) has a bunch of posters, signs, etc. available for printing out to use in dioramas. Again, all you have to do is calculate the scale differences to give you the % size to print at. Here's a great link to do that with: Scale Conversion Calculator In other words, using the calculator, and doing some simple math, something printed or measured in HO Scale (1/87) that is on your computer such as signs (See Mercman's link below), you would print out on your computer by scaling it up 136% to give you 1/64. Conversely, if you have something 1/24, you would print it at 37.5% (38%) to get 1/64. Get the idea?

Sorry, sometimes it takes my brain a little while to ramp up. I'm a paper modeler, too, so PM me if you need more info.

Ah, found Mercman's Photobucket link, Fun stuff for dioramas. http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/mercman51/Signs/

Edited May 16, 2011 by Jim Gibbons

[thesnake87]

Wow! Thanks a ton Jim! I'll be sure to use these resources for sure. I was actually thinking about getting most of my parts I can use together and starting a WIP thread in dioramas. I just need to finish my sketches. I'm also thinking about using Photoshop for making some custom signs too, so this calculator will help a lot. I'm really excited for this, hopefully my idea in my head turns out great with the help of you guys!

[jeffs396]

Welcome Jake!!!

[thesnake87]

Thanks Jeff!

Update: Just finished taking apart some cars for wheels and body parts. Hopefully I can get a hold of my dad's Dremel soon and cut them into sections and cut some of the quarter panels and stuff off the cars I'll use and grind the paint off of some cars for either repainting (like with a primer like paint) or leaving the "sheet metal" bare. Also got a bunch of my posters printed out too. Gonna start making drywall sheets tomorrow for my private garage build.

Edited May 17, 2011 by thesnake87