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General Category => Dioramas => Topic started by: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 03:48:06 AM

Title: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 03:48:06 AM
Time for a new scene. This project is inspired by the work of Alexandre Duchamp, and from conversations with him and Gordon Ferguson. Scale is 1/20.

Some of of you who like browsing pictures of decay and "dead zones" probably know what/where this is. I took some artistic license, in the location of the proposed ladder distance from the end, as well as in moving the starting block, to the shallow end of the pool....so as to give the scene more interest. Shown is a rendering to lay out the massing, details and tile (actual scene will be set in base at an angle). One thing I can say after working on all the tile patterns/joints, is never hire a Russian to do your tile work.  ;D

(https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1234204_3308747173500_1567083487_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: SandiaPaul on August 25, 2013, 06:11:19 AM
This is going to be cool...can't wait to see it develop.

Reminds me of a Swiss friend of mine who had a tile guy do his bathroom...when the tile guy was finished he hustled him out of his house as fast as he could so he could get in there and adjust all the crooked tiles to be perfectly aligned.

Paul
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Chuck Doan on August 25, 2013, 10:00:09 AM
Alright!
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: finescalerr on August 25, 2013, 11:40:45 AM
Okay, I admit my ignorance. Where is its inspiration, what is its significance, and will it exhibit the usual decay? -- Russ
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Gordon Ferguson on August 25, 2013, 12:43:20 PM
Type in Pripyat into your search engine, it was the nearest town to the Chenobyl disaster when it's nuclear plant went into meltdown.

Decay, you name it its decayed!

Think this is the pool that Marc is basing his idea on

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: shropshire lad on August 25, 2013, 01:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gordon Ferguson on August 25, 2013, 12:43:20 PM
Type in Pripyat into your search engine, it was the nearest town to the Chenobyl disaster when it's nuclear plant went into meltdown.

Decay, you name it its decayed!

Think this is the pool that Marc is basing his idea on




  It's empty . That's a shame . I was looking forward to seeing Marc fill it with green slimy water with nasty things lurking in it .

   An opportunity wasted . Never mind , may be next time .
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: 1-32 on August 25, 2013, 01:25:45 PM
hey mark
i am really going curious about this theme ,green water , slime and old rubber duckies maybe.looking good.kind regards kim
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 01:50:36 PM
Thanks Gordon. I guess I should have posted some reference images. :)

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
Sorry chaps...no slimy water......something more along this line...with an additional secret creepy touch :).

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Mobilgas on August 25, 2013, 03:05:32 PM
I don't get it ??? Of all the cool stuff to model in this world....you pick a POOL to model???  I mean if your running out of idea's.  But I should talk I'm not doing ANY modeling myself  :-[   
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 03:26:07 PM
 ;D Craig,

The way I am seeing it, project like this in many ways requires as much skill effort and craftsmanship, and ingenuity as say building an entire kit or structure. Because of the the scale, and the amount of small detail it requires a lot of attention and thought, and due to the closer/narrower focus, it has to be done correctly, otherwise it will stand out. It is far less forgiving than a larger busier scene/model, where you can hide things amongst the mass of detail and surfaces. This type of project also allows you to more narrowly focus on a few specific skills/techniques that one wants to develop. Above all, it allows me to approach modeling and a scene, from a more artistic and crative POV and expression. Lastly, it is something different and unique...not something that has been done or seen a hundred-fold in one manner or the other. :)
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Mobilgas on August 25, 2013, 03:43:47 PM
Marc,    It sure will be Different & Unique.....which ever way you take it I know ill learn something new following along on this build  ;D
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: shropshire lad on August 25, 2013, 04:00:50 PM
Quote from: marc_reusser on August 25, 2013, 03:26:07 PM
;D Craig,

The way I am seeing it, project like this in many ways requires as much skill effort and craftsmanship, and ingenuity as say building an entire kit or structure. Because of the the scale, and the amount of small detail it requires a lot of attention and thought, and due to the closer/narrower focus, it has to be done correctly, otherwise it will stand out. It is far less forgiving than a larger busier scene/model, where you can hide things amongst the mass of detail and surfaces. This type of project also allows you to more narrowly focus on a few specific skills/techniques that one wants to develop. Above all, it allows me to approach modeling and a scene, from a more artistic and crative POV and expression. Lastly, it is something different and unique...not something that has been done or seen a hundred-fold in one manner or the other. :)

That's all well and good but it still needs slimy water . Just a teensy-weensy bit . You haven't done water properly yet , so now is you opportunity to have a go .
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Ray Dunakin on August 25, 2013, 04:04:42 PM
VERY cool project!

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Bexley on August 25, 2013, 07:29:46 PM
Looks like a sauna I once built for a Very Important Chicken.
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Malachi Constant on August 25, 2013, 09:05:20 PM
Well, it don't cost nothin' to follow along ... so, what the hell ...

Let's see where the slimy old pool goes ...  ???  8)

Good luck with yer weird project, man!  -- Dallas
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 26, 2013, 12:16:46 AM
Dallas: LOL  ;D
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: finescalerr on August 26, 2013, 12:35:13 AM
I suppose you'll try to finish this one for the narrow gauge convention, too .... -- Russ
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 26, 2013, 12:44:12 AM
 ;D
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Alexandre on August 26, 2013, 03:40:02 AM
I love it. I love it when my name's written bold but when it's Marc who's doing all the hard work.
:)
Seriously cool work.

BTW : Azure is the name of this swimming pool. Лазурный

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Gordon Ferguson on August 26, 2013, 04:03:52 AM
Quote from: Alexandre on August 26, 2013, 03:40:02 AM
I love it. I love it when my name's written bold but when it's Marc who's doing all the hard work  ;D


Likewise, and I can talk a good game.

Mind you inclined to agree with the question of "why"

Can't understand why  you did not just do a Tiger tank, or something from the Rio Grande with antlers and chains for some variation  ;)
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 26, 2013, 04:13:44 AM
Gordon...I guess if I have to I could always work on that boring T-34 thing ("Water Lilies"),...or something like a road roller. :P :)


Marc
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: jacq01 on August 26, 2013, 04:29:08 AM
Marc,

cool. Will the result get that faint green light in the dark as it in the contaminated area ?

Jacq
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Guy Milh(imeter) on August 26, 2013, 06:19:51 AM
Waw !!! Can't wait to see this come together !!!

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: TRAINS1941 on August 27, 2013, 02:49:44 PM
Quote from: finescalerr on August 26, 2013, 12:35:13 AM
I suppose you'll try to finish this one for the narrow gauge convention, too .... -- Russ

Give him a little time he still could make your last book!!!

Jerry
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 27, 2013, 04:26:17 PM
Quote from: TRAINS1941 on August 27, 2013, 02:49:44 PM
Quote from: finescalerr on August 26, 2013, 12:35:13 AM
I suppose you'll try to finish this one for the narrow gauge convention, too .... -- Russ

Give him a little time he still could make your last book!!!

Jerry

Ha!...for once I actually finished my stuff for the final mag before/by the deadline. Now it's some other guy, to still finish. :D

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: nk on August 28, 2013, 09:24:15 AM
Marc, This is a supercool project. This kind of decay is a very compelling subject for a diorama. I am very excited about the building of this diorama.

A little off topic, but related: Have you checked out the recent batch of photos of huge abandoned buildings in Detroit by Marchand and Meffre?

Also there are some great photos by Robert Polidori of grand Cuban buildings in disrepair, New Orleans after Katrina and flooded art galleries. Beautiful haunting photos.
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Mobilgas on August 28, 2013, 07:27:52 PM
Detroit ??? I was down there last week had to go to the VA Hospital for a appointment.  Didn't bring my camera or my 40 cal....so I didn't do any running around in the HOOD
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: finescalerr on August 29, 2013, 12:54:58 AM
I would assume the 40 caliber is a Glock rather than a machine gun. -- Russ
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: jim s-w on August 29, 2013, 03:37:56 AM
Quote from: nk on August 28, 2013, 09:24:15 AM
Marc, This is a supercool project. This kind of decay is a very compelling subject for a diorama. I am very excited about the building of this diorama.

A little off topic, but related: Have you checked out the recent batch of photos of huge abandoned buildings in Detroit by Marchand and Meffre?

Agreed, I'll b following this with a lot of interest.  On the subject of abandonded buildings etc someone sent me a link to these images of Birmingham snow hill

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/195963771/in/set-72157594227939322

More here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/sets/72157594227939322/

Cheers

Jim

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: mad gerald on August 30, 2013, 01:32:21 AM
Quote from: Mobilgas on August 28, 2013, 07:27:52 PM
Detroit ??? ... Didn't bring my camera or my 40 cal....so I didn't do any running around in the HOOD

... this gives me the association of a remake of "Gran Torino" ... (SCNR) ... BTW: if it's not Glock, it may be Walther S&W I presume ...  ::)

@Marc
1/20 scale is pretty huge ...  :o ... in comparison to 1/35 scale (your usual scale) ... how will you do the tiles then? Using paper/card board again? Or tiles en miniature? And how are you going to get/make this "dull luster" of old pool tiles? ... bookmarked ...  ;D

Cheers
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 30, 2013, 09:52:30 AM
Thanks for all the kind words, interest an input. Narayan, I will definitely have to check out some of the refernce material you mention. I do have what are probably several to ten thousand clipped images of abandoned and desrted urban places a good number of them here in the states, including detroit. (I actually was thinking of going there for a weekend, just to take photos)

Gerald, the tiles have been a conundrum, and something I have been discussing pro's/cons and issues with, with Gordon and Alex, the installation has to walk a fine line between accurate and neat tile work, and shitty soviet craftsmanship.....large fields need to be even and regular, while edges, details and corners are a bit more of a haphazzard mess. My first thought was milling the larger aresa in styrene, and then doing the individual tiles for areas of odd cut pieces, and poor edges.....this was however quickly abandoned, as my mill is manual, and all the tile patterns are staggered.....and my skils are ok, but probably not good enough to be perfect in a large field of regular sized items, where being a just a hair off would be immediately noticeable.  So I started thinking about laser cutting, and laser etching...but the material for laser use I had seen till now all had even a slight surface texture....which would not work on glazed smooth tile........But as luck would have it, I ran into a fellow at the convention that does extremly fine Nscale and even smaller laser cutting, that is really nice an clean, and he said that there is a type of signage plastic, that can be laser cut and etched with no over-burn (like many of the paper/board type materials) and it wont , melt from the laser, so as per discussion with him the plan is to send him a test CAD file in the next couple of weeks and he will do a piece, to see if it works for my need.
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: mad gerald on August 30, 2013, 10:53:39 AM
Marc, thanks for your explanation.

If the tiles are going to be laser-cut ones, IMHO styrene is not easy to handle, but you could use acrylic (don't know the correct term in english: acrylic resin or acrylic polymer??? I guess here it's also known as PMMA [Polymethylmethacrylat]) ... may be, it's similar to the signage plastic this guy mentioned. Only disadvantage is, that the laser leaves some recess looking (and feeling) like traces of (gun) ;D powder, which can be removed with spirit/ethyl alcohol. Advantage is, that acrylic has a more dull side and a more semi gloss/matte side - IMHO the latter seems to match the appearance of a tile surface. ::)

Cheers

Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 30, 2013, 02:32:52 PM
Thanks for the plastic info. It is definitely not syrene. I am not worried about the finish being dull or satin.....actually of both are equally smooth I would limely prefer the dull, as the entire piece willbe primered and then painted (primer sticks better to dull)... if it end up being the shiny side, I would likely dill it with fiberglass pencil anyway.

Because of the primer coat I am not concerened with any burn discoloration either. All that matters is the consistant width of the grout and tiles.

Any variety variation in burn depth is also not a problem, as I am planning to physically "grout" the tiles with a yet to be decided filler material...likely the lightweight patching compound, or something else that will tint or later stain to the proper coloring.

The finished tile surface will be achieved through painting an clear coat.
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: shropshire lad on August 30, 2013, 02:55:35 PM
Quote from: marc_reusser on August 30, 2013, 02:32:52 PM
Thanks for the plastic info. It is definitely not syrene. I am not worried about the finish being dull or satin.....actually of both are equally smooth I would limely prefer the dull, as the entire piece willbe primered and then painted (primer sticks better to dull)... if it end up being the shiny side, I would likely dill it with fiberglass pencil anyway.

Because of the primer coat I am not concerened with any burn discoloration either. All that matters is the consistant width of the grout and tiles.

Any variety variation in burn depth is also not a problem, as I am planning to physically "grout" the tiles with a yet to be decided filler material...likely the lightweight patching compound, or something else that will tint or later stain to the proper coloring.

The finished tile surface will be achieved through painting an clear coat.

  So something like this wouldn't be of use to you . Would it ?
http://www.dioramadebris.co.uk/135-scale-12-paving-slabs-mould-1350013-17-p.asp

Nick
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 30, 2013, 04:51:33 PM
Nick, I have that mold, and thought about ot...but the slight irregularities, combined with a slightly rough and porus surface would cause me more grief than I want...never mind having to hand set and space the pieces fairly accurately. :)
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: shropshire lad on August 31, 2013, 01:19:32 AM
Quote from: marc_reusser on August 30, 2013, 04:51:33 PM
Nick, I have that mold, and thought about ot...but the slight irregularities, combined with a slightly rough and porus surface would cause me more grief than I want...never mind having to hand set and space the pieces fairly accurately. :)

  I didn't think it would be suitable , but you never know . As for spacing the tiles , do what real tilers do , and use matchsticks ! Or the scale equivalent .
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on August 31, 2013, 03:11:36 AM
Quote from: shropshire lad on August 31, 2013, 01:19:32 AM
.... As for spacing the tiles , do what real tilers do , and use matchsticks ! Or the scale equivalent .

Yeah...thanks...been there and done that :) .....technology marches on . :)
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: Peter_T1958 on September 01, 2013, 11:42:46 AM
Hi Marc

Some guys here are doing a heck of a job and one thing is for sure: you are one of them!
If, for example, 20 years ago somebody had said that there will be a guy doing a swimming pool diorama some day, he would have been declared insane!

I'm absolutely hooked on that subject and your project and for that reason I googled therefore a lot this weekend. It is hard to believe but this pool remained operational until 1996 for the workers in the power plants !!!

I found here [http://www.neqo.be/]some good reference pictures (Chernobyl -> Pripyat-> Swimming Pool) and a breathtaking 360° panorama [http://www.neqo.be/360/PoolPripyat.swf]

I am eagerly awaiting the next update ...
Peter


Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: narrowgauger on September 02, 2013, 07:54:26 PM
Hi Marc

what I want to know is the method you are going to use to develop the prototype nuclear pollution on the model.  After all Chernobil cannot really be depicted without at least some heavy water in their pool.

have fun & stay cool
BernardS
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: finescalerr on September 03, 2013, 12:46:56 AM
Only you would think of such a thing, Bernard. He's going to sprinkle it with Strontium 90. Now go stand in the corner. -- Russ
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: mspaw on February 13, 2014, 12:22:25 AM
Marc-

Have you made any progress on this build? I was wondering if you would be interested in having parts the layout milled from acrylic sheet. You certainly could get a nice tight not to mention hard surface. Ive done some small work with 0.5mm tooling and at the scale you are working at i would think that should work. Just a hint of radius edge to the tiles if that's appropriate. If nothing else id love to see what could be done as a small test.

All the best.

-Michael
Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: marc_reusser on February 13, 2014, 02:01:06 AM
Michael,

Welcome to the forum.

Between real work, and my Parakeet attention span, I haven't made any progress on this. Your input and suggestion is definitely very interesting and tempting. Let me come up for air on what I have going, and I will drop you an email,...definitely interested in discussing this option/approach, as I still would like to do this project. Thanks.



Title: Re: Azure (The Dead Pool)
Post by: mspaw on February 13, 2014, 01:20:29 PM
Marc-

Sounds great. Ive recently bought a house and am just getting around to setting the shop back up. The mill should be live here in a few weeks and then I could run a small sample test. If you wanted, give me the measurements in mm for a section of tile and Ill cook something up just as a proof of concept.

I was also thinking that you could cut a small modular block of tiles, say 4x4 and make 6 slightly different versions and then cast dupes. Then you could mix and match with no apparent repetition, and it would be much easier to lay than all individual tiles. If the tiles are a square aspect ratio they could be rotated as well for a bit more variety.

All this being said, I really don't know how much variation you need, I'm sure it would be slight.

And on the topic of beautiful decay; if you guys haven't seen  Romain Veillon's photography its worth a look for sure!

http://romainveillon.com/gallery/industriel-2/

I seriously want to model up a small section of a control room or any of his other subjects. Beautiful work for sure.


-Michael