Back Yard Garage

[Grumpa]

This diorama was built to house a Franklin Mint '69 Camaro, and given to my son as a 2008 Christmas gift. As the diecast was a gift as well, I felt that it needed something a little nicer than an AMT display case to display it in. I didn't actually finish it until June of '09, but he did get what the first few test shots show, and a Baggie of wood to go along with it. He's been kind enough to let me borrow it a few times to display at a couple of shows.

I started with an "IMEX", 1/18th scale display case as the inside dimensions are just right for a 1/25th scale garage of this type. The first two photos show the doll house siding that was used and some testing of stain, paint and weathering. As an inch in 1/25th scale equals .04166 everything is pretty much to scale.

There are 181 pieces of distressed, stained, and or painted pieces of wood contained in the structure, and 129 pieces of 1/16, .020 chemicaly blackened brass wire to simulate nails. Each "nail" was touched with the head of a Dremel and flatened out to give a "nail head" appearance. I owe this technique to Chuck Doan.

The tool box, shelving, jack, and a few other details were pulled from the Fujimi garage tool kit. Other details were acquired from some of the great resin casters out there. A great deal of the details had to be scratch built using brass, wood, and several other materials.

Coming from the model train hobby, and having built everything from "N" scale to 1/4", as well as a 1" scale doll house and furniture. I had become very familiar with suppliers of just about everything, but after a thirty-six year hiatus from building model cars. I was amazed at how much this world had changed and what was available to the modeler, but nobody makes a 1/25th scale "Budweiser" can so that I had to do that myself. Oh well!

Some of the manufacturers that were used were. Doll House Miniatures, Northeastern Scale Models, Kappler Mill & Lumber Co., K & S Brass, Fujimi, Grandt Line, Ozark Miniatures, Jim's Printable Mini's, Evergreen Styrene, and several others lost to memory. The internet was used extensivly to pull signs and such. Including the January 2009 issue of Playboy. See if you can find it. Oh, I forgot, "Q-Tips". These were used to pull fibers from to duplicate "cob-webs". Another Chuck Doan idea.

Hopefully I haven't bored you with too much detail.

I hope that you enjoy "Can't Wait".

test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot test shot

[Dr. Cranky]

BEAUTIFUL, Mark, I love all the details. You must have had a blast putting this one together. It shows.

[GTMust]

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

[Draggon]

Absolutely excellent workmanship! I like the last shot the best, comes close to looking real.

[Grumpa]

Thanks guys for the positive comments. Actually Tony, the dio was built to 1/25th scale. Although the Camaro is 1/24th, the size difference is hardly perceivable, and any way, I had kind of a selfish reason. I wanted to borrow it from time to time for photos and to take to the occasional show.

[modelmarknz]

nice job ....

[GTMust]

Thanks guys for the positive comments. Actually Tony, the dio was built to 1/25th scale. Although the Camaro is 1/24th, the size difference is hardly perceivable, and any way, I had kind of a selfish reason. I wanted to borrow it from time to time for photos and to take to the occasional show.

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

Tony

[Mercman]

Another nice thing about this is if you keep the walls short enough you have a cover to keep the dust out.

[Intmd8r]

Great Job! The second last pic looks like my 1:1 grarage at home (less the classic muscle car).

Edited April 17, 2012 by Intmd8r

[jerseyjunker1]

this is a wonderfull open diorama done with so much feeling. i love everything about it. to cool for words a man after my own heart. just great. B)

[Grumpa]

Here ya go James.

[crazyrichard]

whow > really impressive dio !! so realistic !!!

[Sixties Sam]

That is great work! It looks real and makes me want to be in the garage working on a car! Excellent details and realistic weathering on the outside.

Sam

[lower99]

These details! WOW!!!

[Tom Geiger]

Great work and a really cool idea to build that into a display case.

[Joker]

Yay me !....found it ! Thanks for the link Mark/Grumpa...

and subscribed..for future reference.

Thanks

Edited September 3, 2013 by Joker

[Ramfins59]

That is a fantastic diorama Mark. All the little details really bring it to life. Great job.

[Grumpa]

Yay me !....found it ! Thanks for the link Mark/Grumpa...

and subscribed..for future reference.

Thanks

Glad ya found it James.

If you want some real inspiration, Google Chuck Doan. He's responsible for alot of what I have put into this.

Thanks to all of you for the great compliments!

[scaleauto]

Great job, I like the attention to detail.

[charlie8575]

What a great idea to use a display case like that. Not only a creative use of materials, but very well done, too.

Charlie Larkin

[gasser59]

Everything about it is so well done but that shot of the window with the peeling paint and chipped siding blows me away. What method did you use for the peeling/chipped paint?

Nicely done indeed.

Edited September 10, 2013 by gasser59

[the goon]

Beauty. Got to be my favorite diorama

Mark

[darthsideous]

Looks great! I really like the weathering on the walls, doors and throughout

[RAMBENNA]

totally awesome, really looks great

[darthsideous]

Beautiful work!