Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, although there are a few familiar names and they will have seen this on another forum. I am looking forward to your feedback and criticism
I usually build models of selected portions of the street in 1/24 scale and then hand the diorama on the wall, like a picture.
This build is of a section of Bigelow Street outside a friends house in Cambridge MA.
this is the street in question
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages17.fotki.com%2Fv530%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreet003-vi.jpg&hash=6b447e3aee3c11dca4968ac32d84049d9276279f)
I usually takes lots of refernece pics (around 100 in this case) and also make doodles in a note book
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages53.fotki.com%2Fv545%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowSteetApril2010003-vi.jpg&hash=7b2df7f5ebcf139dfff283a66dad6d0c891a771d)
And then make a full size (1/24 scale) drawing so that I can work out composition etc
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages54.fotki.com%2Fv452%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowSteetApril2010001-vi.jpg&hash=7eb3c093cb82060d6c9018ce443a02f44ca459ec)
The measurments are then transferred to the base (3/4" plywood) and I start adding internal supports for the contours. These ribs are to give the road a crown.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages110.fotki.com%2Fv560%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowSteetApril2010002-vi.jpg&hash=07a1ddd87cf56b65c55821cda2f0a3a2e128544d)
And on the back I add some risers which will allow it to hang on the wall and also give it some height so that it "floats" rather tan looks like it sits flush.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages53.fotki.com%2Fv545%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowSteetApril2010005-vi.jpg&hash=9952a293b36ae07d8e3edd0385ccdda69077a5b6)
And the road contour is then planked with basswood making sure to give it some more height at one end
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages33.fotki.com%2Fv1073%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetApril2010009-vi.jpg&hash=a4584c10e465e66d90067007499b32e8a1d2fbc9)
And flat headed tacks are added (a la Hamilton) to hold plaster in place where the brick sidewalk will be
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages55.fotki.com%2Fv605%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetMay2010002-vi.jpg&hash=f6d79eeb6ea3c4247bebc9226e0dc4205e8e44fa)
There is more to come. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as the build takes shape. Thank you.
I gave it all a good shellacking to stop corrosion on the tacks and the seal the wood and added edging strips around the base
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages43.fotki.com%2Fv1505%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetMay2010008-vi.jpg&hash=363d60a30869798265e1d3ef49d48ed54d1327bb)
then made dam walls for ther plaster out of cardboard
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages47.fotki.com%2Fv1590%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJune2010001-vi.jpg&hash=af0d9a7a4d6bb3880880ce29c2ac4024d14b68ea)
and poured away
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages41.fotki.com%2Fv9%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJune2010002-vi.jpg&hash=e20194238c3590ed514fa617b4df6dc0b80c3bfc)
which was followed by the messy business of carving the plaster to follow the contours of the sidewalk
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages53.fotki.com%2Fv1610%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJune2010005-vi.jpg&hash=03d950cd45ae3b248ae55b39b34a16748fa73145)
And which was followed by drawing on the locations for each brick, which is trickier than it sounds.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages28.fotki.com%2Fv978%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2010001-vi.jpg&hash=5d529526a412e400cebbed15b23e7353efff2e17)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages53.fotki.com%2Fv1609%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2010002-vi.jpg&hash=b2ac6cc6262b715f2728cbd520c7bd286ff00326)
And the lines were then scored using the back of a No 11 x-acto blade
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages56.fotki.com%2Fv127%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2010005-vi.jpg&hash=76abe49fbf34e9ec1321067351df312027519ed7)
I could tell you were serious when I saw how you prepared the wood base. Not bad so far. -- Russ
I have seen your work.
You are insane.
Take it as a compliment, please.
Christian, excellent how to , so far. Takes grit and determination to layout and score that hydrocal and produce what looks to be a fantastic side walk.
mike
Welcome aboard!
The model looks very cool so far. Nice work on the bricks.
Thanks for the comments.
Her are some details of the brick carving to give some more 3-d to the surface and create spaces for the tree-planter, gas hatch and water valve.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages50.fotki.com%2Fv1522%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2010006-vi.jpg&hash=d22f47a9c4c499e95717c0466e9fb6fd822f5b3a)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages54.fotki.com%2Fv1591%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2010007-vi.jpg&hash=c3cf1e8e251ad29999db6306c132f68050ad2e7c)
I used oils to paint the bricks. They gave a nice long working time and I have found I can control the surface from matte to a slight sheen which is what I wanted
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages17.fotki.com%2Fv308%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetSept2010001-vi.jpg&hash=347fdf4c8c1810eacc47a631a0b2c106a5796f18)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages17.fotki.com%2Fv1621%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetSept2010005-vi.jpg&hash=ff9276fbf36067fbec3a98052f2129255a34ce7b)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages114.fotki.com%2Fv271%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetSept2010003-vi.jpg&hash=c7d033b504bc467bddac0d0530c160d956d19b50)
I then had to give the bricks some texture so I placed a piece of sandpaper face down on the plaster and burnished the back of it. Then I stippled the surface of the plaster with a wire brush to give an appearance like this
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages108.fotki.com%2Fv105%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetMarch2011001-vi.jpg&hash=84565f6da5638b9367d0657a922dcc95cd1fef54)
I know that some dark washes will take care of the exposed white plaster.
Very nice brickwork NK and a belated welcome to the forum. You're going to fit right in here...
Paul
Excellent! I second what Paul said. They (whoever 'They Is') say that there is a thin line separating genius from insanity. The guys on this forum happily trip over that line regularly .. and from the looks of your 'brick work' you should blend right in! :)
Welcome N.! I know everyone here will appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail. I suspect this will turn out as realistic as your other work. An impressive start.
I have seen some of your creations on one of the 1/35 blogs, nice work.
I look forward to the results of this project.
Don
http://public.fotki.com/DonRailton/
Very cool so far, and nice SBS. Thanks. Look forward to more on this.
Marc
Very well done!
Since it was mentioned, is this similar to how you would do a 1/35 brick wall?
-Marty
Welcome aboard! This should be real interesting......great job so far!
Anders ;D
Thanks for the welcome guys. Hello Chester. Marty, I cannot see any reason why this would not work in 1/35 scale, I would give it a go.
The edging to the garden gave me a headache for quite a while. The prototype has a specific fleur de lis style top to it and I was not able to find anything that gave the right look. This was when I wish I had some CAD skills...any advice on this subject is welcome (what programme to buy autoCAD, Alibre etc etc, and how to learn to use it).
I found some dollhouse siding that had components that seemed useable
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages112.fotki.com%2Fv503%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetNov2010003-vi.jpg&hash=99e214fde25f1a908c77e56b4ad4463a83a28e81)
But it was 3x thicker than I needed
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages55.fotki.com%2Fv1604%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetNov2010004-vi.jpg&hash=352b29c3bdc2b9220a27999226fceed435601a78)
so I soaked everything in superglue and started cutting it up and then in half lengthways
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages107.fotki.com%2Fv71%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetNov2010006-vi.jpg&hash=799fba1b75e602dab7dac31a30e68fce617cb4e5)
And then I glued it all together to give me what I wanted which was 95% (at this point I had to give myself a perspective reminder) true to the prototype
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages54.fotki.com%2Fv210%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetNov2010010-vi.jpg&hash=4178f3ff730d81a5996665417eaf8cbec132a503)
Very clever reuse and adaption of the dollhouse fencing...
Paul
How did you cut such a fragile assembly? -- Russ
Russ, Soaking the parts in superglue before cutting was the key, it soaked right into the wood and consolidated it so that it was no longer brittle. I tried a few methods which involved masking tape as an auxillary support for the pieces, but it turned out that squeezing the parts between my fingers worked best and then I slowly cut with a razor saw foll. Once cut I placed the part onto some masking tape and smoothed it with an emory stick. It wasn't perfect but it worked pretty well.
If I were to do it again, I think I would make a set of CAD drawings and make up the parts as a photoetch sheet...the beauty of 20/20 hindsight....
nk?
You'll get hundreds of replies to your request for CAD software (as many as there are software companies) and I've been there.
I currently use a FREE program called DoubleCAd XT. This is a pretty basic program but will do everything you want to as a beginner. You'll also learn many of the CAD techniques with this. http://www.doublecad.com/Products/DoubleCADXTv3/tabid/1100/Default.aspx (http://www.doublecad.com/Products/DoubleCADXTv3/tabid/1100/Default.aspx)
Once you have tried this program, you can consider investing in one of the more costly ones if you need all the bells and whistles. I've used many of them and settled on this one as adequate for my laser cutting drawings for my kits.
Dave 8)
Hi Narayan, glad to see you posting over here.
Thanks for the link Dave. I appreciate the advice too.
Hi Chuck. Ken Hamilton told me about this forum, and I'm glad to be here.
I tried out the edging on the garden and compared it with the little crosses (right) and without (left)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages12.fotki.com%2Fv155%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJune2011001-vi.jpg&hash=b5434eb36dbb7278bf5aa1d7a68a21050dc1802b)
and although the crosses are closer to the prototype, they didn't look as good, so out they went and the edging looks like this now:
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages15.fotki.com%2Fv245%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJune2011005-vi.jpg&hash=47b4b8cd75a9a0e9ab230bd2ed53fda832ba93f1)
I just need to paint them and glue them in place permanently.
Hi, Narayan! Glad you decided to join us.
Guys, Narayan is way too modest to tell us he's a World-Famous Fine Art
Restoration and Lecture Guy who.....like....owns Harvard or something.
His street scenes are absolutely flawless and he'll no doubt class up this
place quite a bit.
Here's another one of Narayan's street scenes.
(used without permission, but he's too much of a gentlemn to get mad at me)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages32.fotki.com%2Fv1045%2Fphotos%2F6%2F698387%2F2502941%2FIMG_0319-vi.jpg&hash=d89ffc8e74a1cabcac4b1b9a01fcee116fdfea1e)
I'm glad he joined us too, but have been wondering all along just who "nk" was. Is "Narayan" his/her last name or first?
Dave V.
He rides a Vespa guys - so he fits right in!!!!!!! ;D
All that needs to be done now is join all those small dioramas together and run track through them!
OK I'll get my coat now. I know where the door is.
Dave: The Mystery Man is Narayan Khandekar and he really is a super guy and a great talent.
Here's a link to his Fotki albums (again, posted without permission...but he won't mind)
http://public.fotki.com/nkhandekar/
Welcome to the forum Narayan.
Interesting little concept pieces. I really like the focused study of something that most people would walk down on a daily basis and take no notice of what so ever. They certainly make unusual feature pieces for a collection on a wall. Thanks for the fotki link Ken. I'll be back for some further studies when time permits, but of the few shots I had a quick look at, there is some excellent observational modelling and re-creation of the various textures/tones. I can see these making a really interesting series on a wall, displaying the various environments we pass everyday.
Glad you could share this work here, and look forward to seeing more "snap shots" unfold.
Cheers,
Dan
Thanks for the intro Ken, and I am always happy for your to grab images from my fotki account. I really was not trying to be a mystery man at all. I'll get my signature sorted. Artizen I do ride a '63 Vespa which I have had since 1986...the smell of 2-stroke smoke....mmmmm. Thanks everyone for your comments and I'll have some more updates soon.
Narayan
I added the kerb stones. This took a lot more work than you may first think. The stones are long and thin and I wanted the snapped look of the granite prototype on some of them. So I cast plaster slabs, scored and snapped them, and eventually got some that didn't break. I also wanted some very worn ones too and I achieved this look by applying a plaster slurry to build up the lumpy look of a worn kerb.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages9.fotki.com%2Fv120%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetMay2011008-vi.jpg&hash=b17525a9f8731f51a81651688926195c5e9100ea)
I also applied "asphalt" to the street. To do this I glue down several layers of silicon carbide of various grits with Elmer's white glue. For the patch I masked it off and added a "fill" with a different mix of asphalt and ballast.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages57.fotki.com%2Fv80%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetMay2011010-vi.jpg&hash=5b2c56cd10c5a1a7bb87530138a519b28433dd0f)
I'm busy drinking tea and saving the used leaves so that I can dry them andf grind them up for the garden...more soon.
Nice N. I like how you included the drill marks for the wedge and feathers.
Chester you'll have to explain how the wedges and feathers work. I've always wondered about the splitting of granite.
I had a busy weekend with the model. I made the tall fence post and simulated spotty granite by scraping a 6B pencil lead over it and pressing the lead into the surface with my finger. I think it worked pretty well but we'll see how it goes when I apply washes to weather it.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages12.fotki.com%2Fv616%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011001-vi.jpg&hash=730b37a415cd81ee74420244a7dd3ec83e271373)
I also used very finely ground tea leaves to add as debris between the bricks. I used a mortar and pestle to grind it up and I pressed it into place my my finger.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages58.fotki.com%2Fv510%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011003-vi.jpg&hash=358308296171b685197fc1e9201968fe23c6fb3a)
And lastly I had a lot of fun with the garden. Its not finished, I still have a lot of debris and a garden hose to add, but I let myself wander off the path a little here use some artistic licence...especially as I cannot stand gardening, so I had to keep it interesting. I used dried green-tea leaves, geranium leaf stalks (These look very triffidy to me), dried grasses sliced up with a scalpel and bits from a pine tree. The tree is a weed I found in the garden and I reconfigured it a bit.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages57.fotki.com%2Fv496%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011013-vi.jpg&hash=f6989f99c62a2a027febcc100fc6283212dbac60)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages12.fotki.com%2Fv616%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011012-vi.jpg&hash=f87dfcb33d9a7cc63f874f7408f1b03173a0bc3b)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages108.fotki.com%2Fv613%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011011-vi.jpg&hash=f2656f5d9beb7847ddd3fd8eac21957f713b625d)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages110.fotki.com%2Fv629%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetJuly2011009-vi.jpg&hash=683fa94f763410ebc8531800df3b8876012a6500)
Foliage of any kind is a weak spot for me so I'll let others comment on it. I have to add though that the curbing and brick are great.
Cutting large pieces of granite here in N.E. is still done the same way for almost 200 years on job sites I see it done on. Drill a series of holes, put the feathers in which are no more than shaped shields and driving a wedge in between them. One moves from one wedge to the next giving only a blow or two with the hammer until you can hear the sound of the blows change pitch. At this point your granite is cracked and persuasion is delivered with a larger sledge hammered on wood to complete the break. My wedge and feather set is about 90 years old and quite a mess but I still managed to cut some granite with them just last year.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockremoval.com%2Fimages%2Fwedge_feathers_home.jpg&hash=b5b079fcee5aa51fa970a28435941c7bb68958bf)
Narayan,
your application of foliage, grass and trees is not doing justice to the refined stonework of the street.
I would sxpect a more fitting choice of materials, which are availabe comercially or can be made as shown in the book "We built a diorama II"
Jacq
Thanks for the info Chester. I will look at granite with a new appreciation. Jacque, thanks for the references. I'll look into it.
I did make this fence to put into the garden, but when I tried it out it unbalanced the composition...so into the spares box it goes!
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages56.fotki.com%2Fv168%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FVBigelowStreetJuly2011002-vi.jpg%3F1310055519&hash=9e5d594e60ea6dbcf885ebf6d2ee88d0629bd86c)
I'm getting into small detail stages now and its a lot of fun....
I needed to make a lot of very fine debris to fill the cracks between the bricks. I did this using tea from teabags that I saved and dried out after they were used to make tea.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages23.fotki.com%2Fv867%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011001-vi.jpg&hash=008d898dbe4fa364efc69ea28c9087b470e026fb)
I ground it up and sifted it to get the very finest particles
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages110.fotki.com%2Fv630%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011002-vi.jpg&hash=c9e7045c8d9334d3ff978f4697f5bef2327ac844)
and ground it again with a mortar and pestle to make the particles ever finer
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages15.fotki.com%2Fv230%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011003-vi.jpg&hash=b2788f51e23eeebcdbc992b01068d1f8d5384f27)
And then I spinkled it into the brick surface and rubbed it into the gaps with my finger. I also installed the water and gas panels andf the little sign post bracket (that are everywhere in Cambridge and which trip you over all the time) and added utility marking and weathered a little. I did change the place of the orange markings to improve the composition...I'll call it artistic licence.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages57.fotki.com%2Fv496%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011004-vi.jpg&hash=e157efce68f1717104cf0bddb79f5a5576a3234f)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages15.fotki.com%2Fv246%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011005-vi.jpg&hash=abe84be6b4b3cf1388347bccafa45300589d6962)
Satisfactory. -- Russ
The utility markings are a nice touch of extra realism.
I'm really impressed with the details.
The markings are perfectly done (I checked....I have a bunch in front of my house ;) )...so is the cast iron acces cap.
If I didn't know better I would say the phot with the blue marking, was the real thing.
M
Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. The utility markings are always there in Boston, its like the Big Dig never ended...
I have done some work on the street, the ghosts of parked cars after it rains, oil drips from leaky seals, more mark-outs (what does the white arrow mean?). I added the leaf debris. The leaves are actually from that location, and I dried them in the oven and used an old coffee grinder to chop them up. I glued it all in place with 25% elmers white glue in water. I made a nice discovery...if you add alcohol to the diluted Elmers solution, it breaks the surface tension and does not bead up when you apply it with a brush, and you can move it around with the brush if it moves in the flood of liquid. It worked like a charm.
Still to do...glue the tree in place, make a squashed Pepsi bottle and a lid to a Cedar's hommus container (the recycling guys always drop something on the street).... I should be finished this week. Hurrah.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages108.fotki.com%2Fv205%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011013-vi.jpg&hash=1fb24eea783d3e5ef5fc8fdab5696f7869b7d29f)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages17.fotki.com%2Fv284%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011011-vi.jpg&hash=18b942437803b6dc884f0380240a3541c14f2174)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages12.fotki.com%2Fv616%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011008-vi.jpg&hash=f5fb473c61562e5ff41df8d52c41df87d632a131)
Very nice work!
Flawless as usual, N. Great stuff!
(Is this destined to become another wall hanging?)
Is this a subtle commentary on your friends yardkeeping?
Really looking good!
Who would have thought a model of a street and sidewalk could be so impressive? -- Russ
That is really some great work. Realism at it's finest.
Jerry
I probably have crawled home on this sidewalk at some point.
Excellent work! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks guys. Ken, Yes this is another wall hanger. I have a couple of D-rings insstalled on the back to keep is sucurely hanging. Chuck, my friend's gardening abilities are minimal, so they did all the work, I just copied! BKLN it sounds like you went to Harvard or MIT is that right?
This one of Bigelow Street, Cambridge MA is finally finished. I added the last little details
Here are the garden hose, Pepsi bottle and a hummus lid
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages108.fotki.com%2Fv205%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011017-vi.jpg&hash=80a824bf7e707be97f7ca140897cf29d14e4732b)
The street sign anchor that trips unwary pedestrians
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages108.fotki.com%2Fv205%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011019-vi.jpg&hash=07415b988112f0f69b21ef29f382b1856fb03345)
and a shot of the road patch showing the specular reflection from the sealant around the edge. I am very happy to have captured this particular feature
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages107.fotki.com%2Fv780%2Fphotos%2F7%2F698387%2F8677520%2FBigelowStreetAugust2011021-vi.jpg&hash=c57224f1a0f0753e56fd77e82947624dc0cf1770)
The next two dios are drawn up and I will be starting them this coming weekend....stay tuned
Quote from: nk on August 24, 2011, 07:51:41 AMBKLN it sounds like you went to Harvard or MIT is that right?
That was a good guess, but I actually worked in Boston for a while.
I like the Pepsi bottle a lot.
You continue to dazzle us with this stuff, N.
Another museum piece. Can't wait to see it in person.
The Pepsi bottle is great! The diameter of garden hose just looks a bit narrow, relative to the bottle.
Dave
Quote from: DaKra on August 24, 2011, 08:58:06 AM
The diameter of garden hose just looks a bit narrow, relative to the bottle.
Dave, I think that there are a couple of issues here, the first being my crummy photography. In person, there doesn't look to be an issue in the scale of the hose. Also the Pepsi bottle is a big family sized bottle, not a fist sized slug. And lastly you are right, the hose is 0.1mm to narrow in diameter in scale which comes out to 0.09" too narrow in full size, which didn't seem a lot to me... Next time, I'll make sure to be bang on in my measurements!
Please be sure to shoot a few more photos of the overall diorama when it is hanging on the wall. And, while you are at it, be more forthcoming about the upcoming dioramas. This one has turned out to be most satisfactory. -- Russ
Great work! You can see things most people tune out. That's a special gift. Or curse, depending on your point of view.
Very nice! How did you do the crushed Pepsi bottle? It looks very authentic.
Thanks Russ. I'll get some snaps once its up on the wall. If you are in Boston, I have a couple of works on the wall in the Fogg's staff art show at the moment you could see in person. Russ the next two dios are: 1. 53rd Street outside MoMA, Manhattan and 2. The curved curb outside 121 Innerbelt Road Somerville, MA.
Eric, thanks. I definitely spend too much time looking at the ground!
Ray, I made the Pepsi bottle out of a piece of mylar. I cut it to the right size for a scale bottle, and then chewed up the mylar with a pair of pliers, to give it the the right dimpled texture. Then I made it into a cylinder and chewed it up some more with the pliers, and shaped it as it was being chewed. I twisted one end so that it looked like the squashed neck. I scanned a label and reduced it to the right size on Photoshop and printed it on a colour printer, cut it out, thinned the paper and stuck it onto the plastic bottle with some Elmer's white glue, and shaped it with tweezers. I took a thin little bit of yellow plastic and stuck it to the neck, so that it looks like the lid seal. It ended up taking about half an hour of fooling around. I wish I were more organised, like Ken Hamilton, and took photos as I was going so that I could post a step-by-step...next time.