Building display dioramas

Discussion in 'Scenics' started by York Paul, Jun 2, 2019.

  1. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Whilst we are waiting on suppliers of parts to continue the loco test builds for Highlander Models; and me not being someone to stand around letting the grass grow under my feet I started making a scenic diorama for Toto's sales shop which loco's can be displayed on. This diorama setting will basically consist of a double track on an embankment and a steel girder bridge crossing over a small river, the bridge will be made from bits of brass etch offcuts and I shall use my usual creative flair on the ground cover which will include small bushes and long grasses. The scene is located onto a piece of sterling board reinforced to prevent warping and measures 50 inches x 18 inches... so it will be suitably robust to stand up to the rigours of shows, no doubt the Highlander Models Storage and Cartage Dept will be suitably able to deal with all the necessary logistics. So I've made a start on the bridge form using offcuts of moisture resistant MDF and some styrene which begin forming the shape of the embankment. Photos taken this afternoon.




     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2019
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  2. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    This is looking very promising. Another masterpiece underway. :thumbs: it will take top honours on the Highlander Models trade stand.

    Cheers Yorkie

    Toto
     
  3. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks Toto, I guessed when you gave me creative license to build something a bridge and an embankment might work well particularly if a small river was included... that type of scene always seems to go down well with an audience. Anyway the PVA is still drying and I need to get hold of some more styrene packing tomorrow so I can get on with forming the ground contours. Progress pictures to follow as the scene emerges. :thumbs:
     
  4. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I'll look forward to seeing the scene emerging. I like the idea of the bridge being made from brass etch. It will be interesting to see.

    Toto
     
  5. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    3D prin...

    I’ll get me coat.. :giggle:
     
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  6. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    :avatar:
     
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  7. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Been in the workshop and checked the mdf bridge former... its dried rock solid now and I'm very pleased with the result so far, also after a bit of research and consultation with Gary I've just ordered a few sheets of English Bond brickwork from L Cut Creative which I can then trim to size and laminate over the mdf former. Then for me the exciting part comes when I can get to build up the embankment shape and start the "Nature" layering process and masonary weathering technique as shown us by Gary in his tutorial. Thanks again Gary for all your advice and help.:thumbs: Progress build photos to follow once materials arrive and developments occur.
     
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  8. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    I'm looking forward to see how you get on with your brick work, let alone your bridge. Keep on with the updates.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  9. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Toto's gonna like this bridge Gary cos I've got a couple of super detailing tricks bubbling away in the background which hopefully will enhance the new diesel kit range for authenticity settings in publicity photos. I've also commissioned a couple of extras which will add as nice touches to the scene but won't say anymore at this stage until its all been firmed up. On another note Lis my partner is doing her art open studios again this year and so I'm going to include a couple of scenic dioramas in it as sculpture pieces... let nobody ever say model railroading is not an artform. Anyway I'm going for the challenge.
     
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  10. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Bit more done today, using pieces of styrene packers cut into approximate shapes and glued in place with PVA I started to create an armature for the trackbed shape, this will dry overnight and when completed on both sides I'll add a layer of self adhesive scrim tape and backfill with a thin layer of multi finish plaster to get the ground shape I want.



    This little gap to the right hand side of the bridge is going to be a culvert gulley.


    Now just for fun a couple of thin ply pieces laid out as a bridge deck gives us an impression of the bridge.


     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    This is going to be good. Really coming together nicely.
     
  12. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    You ain't seen nothin' yet :avatar::thumbs:
     
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  13. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Well my sheets of English Bond brick arrived from L Cut Creative yesterday morning which really is lightening fast since I was only discussing the product with Gary the day before. I need to alter the sweep of the bridge wing walls since I've made the trackbed and embankment slopes from styrene now, I've also modified how I am going to place the pilasters and plinths which sit at the top of the abutment walls and anchor the corners in place, once complete this will determine the positioning of the steel beams and parapet rails. Some more pictures tonight showing what I mean.
     
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  14. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Being it on.:thumbs:
     
  15. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    So at about 4.00pm this afternoon this is where we had got to with construction, I'd altered the bridge pilasters and plinths to look more the part and I'd plastered the trackbed with Multifinish, the embankment sides had received a first coat of plaster to hold the styrene pieces in place and scrim tape had been pressed into the wet plaster to add strength and prevent cracking.

     
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  16. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Drip fed ... exciting. :avatar::thumbs:
     
  17. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    You're not kidding Toto about drip fed... this damn computer keeps updating and won't let me add the next few pictures:facepalm: try again now and see what happens
     
  18. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    So a bit later on a second coat of plaster was applied to the trackbed to smooth things up a little.


    Then the embankment sides were firmed up with more plaster and a profile sculpted... its a bit like being back in art school :avatar: Once all this has dried any unwanted nibs and dints can be sorted with a surform.

    And finally for today I layed down a wet coat of oil paint to start to form the river bed, now the technique I used was basically this for anyone who wishes to follow my way of working. Firstly I applied a dull greenish undercoat all over the river bed which was quickly followed by a thin pour of dark brown gloss paint. Once the brown paint had started to pond I stippled the brown along the centre of the river bed to suggest the deep part where the current flows, it wasn't long before the two different paint structures merged together where they met forming a natural looking feathering effect... much better than swoshing everything with random brush strokes.


    Now this is drying over night and tomorrow I shall start cutting the brick laminations to the bridge then spray with gloss part to waterproof the thin card fibre. Once this is done I'll turn attention back to the river bank using a wet pour of plaster. Remember you saw my work first on Platform 1 and not any other database click happy website.:thumbup:


     
  19. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    So let me guess the name for the diaorama ....... Another Another Bridge, or maybe Another Bridge the sequel.

    Nice work Paul

    Paul (the other one)
     
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  20. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    :avatar: never really though about a name... Highlander Bridge ?
     
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