Westlake Publishing Forums

General Category => Dioramas => Topic started by: jshack on September 26, 2015, 07:55:26 PM

Title: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on September 26, 2015, 07:55:26 PM
First let me say Hello.
New to the forum, lot's of talented craftsmanship here. Hope to pick up a few tips and tricks.
This is a little diorama I've been working on, still much to do.
Thanks for looking.
Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Ray Dunakin on September 26, 2015, 08:07:45 PM
Welcome aboard, Jeff! That dio looks great so far. What scale is it? Are the buildings kit, kitbashed, or scratch?



Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Allan G on September 26, 2015, 08:16:35 PM
Hello Jeff. Your Diorama is excellent. Hope to see more.....Allan
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Chuck Doan on September 26, 2015, 08:22:22 PM
Me too!
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Design-HSB on September 26, 2015, 10:11:28 PM
Welcome Jeff, that looks promising and would like to learn more.
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: jshack on September 27, 2015, 03:32:23 AM
Thanks all.
Ray, it's HO scale, structure kit is Merchants Row 1,painted and weathered. Roads and sidewalk are craft foam painted and textured. Ground cover is from a fellow modeler, don't know where he got it. Store bought trees. Signs where downloaded and sized to fit. Built on a 2 inch piece of ridged foam.
Allan, I'll post some more pictures, try to get them a little bigger.
Helmut,  what questions can I answer?
Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Barney on September 27, 2015, 11:13:16 AM
Welcome - just keep it coming
Barney
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: Design-HSB on September 27, 2015, 11:29:00 AM
Hi Jeff,

most of the questions were already answered by you.
Only your photos are unfortunately very small and so I can not see much actually.
Perhaps can the once larger images with 800 pixel width adjust and even detailed images that would be nice.
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: jshack on September 27, 2015, 12:15:42 PM
Helmut,
Still learning the finer points of posting pictures, thanks for the suggestion.
Same pictures, larger size.
Same as in original post hopefully larger.
Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: jshack on September 27, 2015, 12:19:02 PM
That worked.
A couple more.
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: TRAINS1941 on September 27, 2015, 01:08:47 PM
Welcome Jeff.  Better pictures second time around.  Hope to see more of your work.
Looks like your off to a good start.

Jerry
Title: Re: New member, Hello
Post by: jshack on September 30, 2015, 04:39:17 PM
Couple new pictures. Added a fence along the side drive, needs some weathering. The foam road needs some touch up. Vehicles need weathering.
I plan on adding power poles and a couple street lights sometime.
Are we really ever finished????

Enjoy, comments and suggestions welcome.

Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on October 10, 2015, 09:25:47 AM
A little more work completed. Downspouts and scuppers started. What do you use to age copper?? I would like them to not look new?


Jeff

Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: Ray Dunakin on October 10, 2015, 06:19:56 PM
If you want it to look like aged copper, there are chemical solutions you can use. One is sold under the brand name, Sophisticated Finishes.
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on October 11, 2015, 02:59:14 PM
Thanks Ray,
Will have to look for this at the craft store.
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on October 20, 2015, 04:22:48 PM
Hi everyone
Some progress pictures.
A little more work has been done. Scuppers and downspouts installed, I wound up mixing some colors together and was happy with the results.
Scuppers are cut from the head of a wire tie, downspouts are 18 gauge copper wire.
Service mast in position, not permanently attached yet. This was made from the tube that attaches to a carb cleaner can.

Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: michael mott on October 20, 2015, 05:54:58 PM
Hi Jeff
The downspouts look good, what I am wondering about is the darkened areas under the windows, what would cause those areas to be darkened in that way?

Michael
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on October 20, 2015, 06:15:46 PM
Michael,

Dark areas are supposed to be weathering from rain, dirt, and the elements. Maybe I need to tone it down a little. There is also some on the rest of the building, and on the road.
Trying to make it look like it's been around for some time, not brand new.
Thanks for the compliment on the downspouts.
Jeff
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: finescalerr on October 21, 2015, 12:24:58 AM
I guess I thought you still planned to paint and weather the structures. Apparently I was wrong so I would take Michael's thinking a step further: Before things move forward it might be good idea to find photos of buildings that look the way you want your models to look. Examine them carefully and try to reproduce their appearance in miniature. If you see subtle effects and have little or no idea how to reproduce them, ask the guys here. Everybody is willing to help. -- Russ
Title: Re: New member, Hello. Merchants Row diorama
Post by: jshack on October 21, 2015, 04:11:12 PM
Russ,
Structure is painted, will need some touch up from handling during construction. I was modeling it after an actual building similar in size, style, and era. see attached.
Weathering may need to be toned down some.
Thanks for the tip.