I decided to try my hand at making a small diorama. I chose to do a lonely water tower. The tower is a Model Power kit that I built about a year and a half ago. I need to do some additional weathering to the tower and the shack. As you can see from the photos I have the track laid and the foam formed for the terrain. The tower and the shack are not attached yet. I just have them on here for perspective. I hope to add this to the layout when I finally get around to the rebuilding phase. [ June 14, 2005, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Tompm ]
Looks like a good start, looking forward to see the scenery progress. I working on a diorama myself, and haven't yet decided on what the scenery will look like, so maybe I should just wait for you
Thanks Jesper. Good luck with your diorama. I saw your first pictures the other day. Given how long it takes me sometimes to do things you may not want to wait around for me to scenery. I have been know to stretch a project on forever. I am hoping in the next few days to begin creating the hard shell. Will post some pictures when I am done that stage.
Ah, yes the infamous pumpkin. This object has gone down in family lore. I painted it for my wife a couple after we were married along with several other ceramic Halloween decorations. (Painting ceramics is other hobby I have and is where I obtained my supply of Folk Art paint from at first.) Every year for the last six or seven years the pumpkin was removed from its container that it had been carefully packed in the year before, only to be found to have something broken off of it. Mostly the head of the cat or the top of the broomstick are the culprits. Every year it is repaired. As a result it has become a testing ground for various types of glue. This past year the broomstick, the cat’s head, and a mouse (not seen in the picture) were all broken off. Since I have been experimenting with various glues in my modeling efforts I decided to conduct a little experiment and the pumpkin was a willing participant. I am happy to report that CA was the winner and all parts are repaired, except for this mysterious crack that has now appeared in the back of the pumpkin. Of course this experiment was conducted on the layout and the pumpkin has rested in this place untouched since mid November. Basically we got it together and are afraid and unsure how to move it with out it falling apart again.
Well I was able to get some more work done on the water tower diorama last night. I used the old standby of paper towels dipped in a very wet plaster of paris solution to create the terrain. Here a few more photos of the progress.
Here are some more progress photos on my water tower diorama. The rock castings are in place and the plastering is done. Now everything is ready for the first coat of paint. The structures are still not attached. Here is a close up of the water tower and shack. A couple of photos of the rock castings. The castings were made from Woodland Scenics molds. I used plaster of Paris for the castings. And one more parting shot.
Hey Tom, I think I know how the pumpkin got the crack in it!!!!!!!! Your progress is moving right along, looking good! BTW, what kind of roadbed is that? it almost looks like foam!!
Andy Thanks for the encouragement! The roadbed is Woodland Scenics foam roadbed. When I went to the LHS it was all they had in stock. So far it has worked well.
I had a good weekend working on the diorama. I was able to paint the ties and weather the rail some. I also got the ground painted. Lastly I was able to stain the rocks. They are almost done. I have to seal them and then hit them with a black wash to bring out the details. Next is to add some talus and weather it. Then comes the ground cover and attaching the water tower to the diorama.
Well the rocks are talus are done except for a final coat of Dullcoat or scenic cement to finish sealing and dulling the few shiny spots. Also I finished weathering the rails and ties. Although in the first picture the one track looks shiny for some reason. The water tower and shack have been weathered. The final coat of Dullcoat is drying on them as I took the photos below. I hope to attach them and ballast the track over the weekend. Here are some more progress photos.
I have now finished the weathering of the water tower and the shack. Next I finished the ballasting of the track and attached the water tower and the shack. Next will be adding the ground cover and a few touch-ups on the ballast. Here are some more progress photos.
Well I have been going like gang busters on the diorama these last few days. I was able to get the ground cover in place. I also added some telephone poles. I need to weather the poles once they are tight to the base. The glue was still drying on the ground cover when I took these pictures some that might account for the few discolored areas. I am rethinking my access road. Right now I used some Woodland Scenics Earth ground foam to form the base of the road. I was then going to go over it with some fine ballast to make a gravel. But now I thinking about attempting something else. It is amazing what a little bit of green can do for a scene. Next roadwork, more ground cover/foam, and trees.
Here we go with some more progress photos. I have finished the access road leading up to the pump shack. I have also added some ground foam/bushes. I even started planting some tress. Between adding the green ground cover and now the bushes the diorama has suddenly come to life to me. Now things will slow down a bit as I have to start making trees.
I have had a few questions regarding the size and overall look of the water tower diorama. The diorama is 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. This was not intentional it just worked out that way. The two scrap pieces of foam that I used made it that way. Heck I didn’t even know what size it was until I measured it when I took the following pictures. Speaking of pictures here are a couple pictures showing the overall size of the diorama as it sits on the temporary layout. Since I took these pictures I have added quite a few more trees and clump foliage.
Time for another update on the water tower diorama. I think I have finished planting trees. I also added some more clump foliage in various locations. Around the tracks near the water tower I added some “earth” to simulate some mud coming up through the ballast and some spilled coal. I also weathered the telephone poles. Now I need to add some details once I purchase, or find, or make some. And here are some pictures: An overall shot of the diorama. The spills around the tower area.
I have done a few minor additions to the diorama over the last few days. I have added some vines to the water tower. And I also added a milepost. After my next trip to the LHS I am sure I will have more details to add.
Tom: What did you do with the diorama? Did you finish off the edges or anything? Should be great for taking pictures. I certainly like the scene. It is what I think a lonely water stop should look like. Very nice job.
