discussion Steady, wait 'til he's right on the bridge!" A 1/72 diorama

[Guest]

Nice one Ron, those lock gates really look the part. This is going to be one of those really great dioramas that is a bit different from the norm. Cannot wait to see it come alive.

 

[spanner570]

Excellent looking water Ron, how many layers was that?I'm happy to show my (while bored at work) sketch, I will get a pic later

Stuart

John and Graham, thanks for your posts....Still some detail to do on the gates but they're nearly done....

Stuart, the first pictures are the same 'water' but re-cycled for different dioramas and 'cos I didn't need good reflections only three coats were used.....After the first thin primer/sealer one.

The last bunker shot needed 5 coats as I needed good reflections for some troops I had crossing the bridge at the other end of the dio. Sounds a bit of a ball ache, all those coats, but I like using gloss varnish as it's simple to use and foolproof....which is right up my street!

Ron

 

[Guest]

Your work always amazes me Ron. Im lost for words.

Andy

 

[spanner570]

Andy, thanks for your post, glad you like the model so far and sorry for the late reply. For the last few days we've been parked up in a little field right next door to a micro brewery called the Halifax Steam Brewery in a place called Hipperholme in Yorkshire. Never stopped raining, so what could I do? Heaven is a tiny brewery that knows how to make real ale!!!

Sorry I digress!

O.K., progress thus far peeps....

I've made a start on the water. This is just a couple of coats of a concoction of green and brown shed paint. Even after this initial treatment you can see how reflections and shadows are already forming.

I've also made two more 1/72 buildings. These are constructed in the same way as the earlier one, so I've spared you my going into detail again!lol I've just got the paper out and designed them differently to add a bit of variation. I was going to paint the roofs a reddish colour (Like my wrecked farm 'Sniper dio.) but have decided on dark for a change, to look more like slate, which is more common in Northern France.

I couldn't resist the temptation of wrecking one, as I figured that maybe the advancing armour got a bit 'Twitchy' and slung a round into it....Just in case! It's good fun making damaged buildings, as my imagination tends to go haywire.

I've also included a couple of general shots. In my minds eye I'm trying to create a little commercial area, hence two of the buildings are more 'warehousey' looking.

At the start I had only a vague idea what would go where and I'm afraid I used the buildings like a Rubiks Cube, shuffling them around, but I'm finally happy with this layout.

I've yet to add any detail to the buildings, so I will have a break from them and start to have a play with bits and pieces to start getting a bit of life into the model.....Sheds, general clutter, fences, that sort of thing.....

Now I have all the main buildings constructed, I am getting a far better feeling about the diorama and getting fresh ideas to incorporate into it...Sez he!

I hope you like this stage and thanks for taking the time to have a look.

Cheers,

Ron

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[Guest]

Becoming a bit of a gem Ron! The pictures taken outside make it even more realistic. A real pleasure to be following this.

 

[geegad]

wow another master piece i see you should start selling these bud you could make a packet i would buy one off you mucker...

 

[Guest]

Blimey Ron, great work! The outside pics really do look real! Brilliant work keep it up!

Stuart

 

[Ian M]

This is looking really great!

Ian M

 

[spanner570]

Thanks ever so much for your encouraging comments boys, I appreciate you taking the time to post.

John, thanks for the suggestion mate, I'm flattered you think them good enough to flog!

Here's a '2 inch' update:-

Almost every French town, village, even the smallest of hamlets has two very important structures....

One is a memorial to the fallen.

The other is a 'lavoir' (no, I didn't know what one was either, until a few years ago!) It's a place set aside for the public to do their daily washing. I've seen quite a few in France, a few are in a bit of a mess, but most are being restored, are great little buildings and usually span a stream or some sort of watercourse.

So first off, here is my 1/72 memorial I made last night.

I used my little mate as a scale and a 50p piece for the base shape. The coin proved too small, so I scaled it up on some paper and this gave me a bigger base. The 50p base I plonked on top to give a step up. The stone work is scribed with my modelling knife. The column is made up of four pieces cut at 45 degrees and stuck together to form the four sides. The cross is a rather ornate cocktail stick I found in the 'Junk' drawer, with a nice bit of turning on one end. I tried to do a bit of pretend name adding with a safety pin but it didn't work too well, but it still looks as though 'summat is rit'. The finished model is painted in water colours.

I've included one shot of the thing on the dio. to check it's not too big, it looks o.k., but a bit naked just plonked there!

I hope you like it....Next up the lavoir!

Cheers boys,

Ron

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[papa 695]

Now your just showing off Ron :laughing: Great work as usual Ron i'm just in awe of the work you have done on this give's me insperation to try better on my builds and Diorama's

 

[Guest]

it's all these little things that combine to make a great diorama, this little monument is a brilliant idea and well and truely looks the part (even if it is just plonked on the base).

The lavoir was normally attached to the side of a building wasn't it? or am i thinking of the semicircular fountain things???

in any case i seem to remember reading somewhere thats where our word "lather" originated (just to throw a random geeky comment in)

Anyway i'll stop wafflin' and await the next thriiling installment

 

[Guest]

oh my flippin goodness what an awesome built of scratching,10/10 for that

mobear

 

[spanner570]

Thanks for the great comments everyone, it's great to get such nice posts. I hope you are getting as much fun out of the build as I am, and also getting a few ideas to use in your own future projects.......

Colin, I think you mean those ornate half circle stone water troughs with the water coming out of the wall, whatever, at the back....or indeed those circular fountain thingys.

Lavoirs are small, rectangular open plan buildings, usually on their own where a water course is available. This is channelled through the middle of the structure and the washerupers would kneel either side of this moving water and do the washing.

Some are really ornate and some disgusting, but all have a character. I've seen them wedged between houses and also in very atractive settings, such as village squares. I would imagine they were the focal point for all the gossip!

There are some fine examples of these gorgeous little buildings on Google Images and wikapedia.....makes the start of my paltry effort look very second rate....

Cheers,

Ron

 

[saguy]

hi there Ron ... i must say u r really pulling out all the stops on this one - it is looking magnificent

Where do u park all of your dio's once completed and have u a got a picture of all them in their present "display" area.

rgds

lindsey

 

[spanner570]

Nice to read your great comments Lindsey, thank you....

Someone posted a general question about diorama storage a while back. For my part, no one in my family is the slightest bit interested in my 'Hobby'. My friends get that blank 'Ron's a weirdo' look when I mention how I spend my spare time, so....

Once I've finished a diorama, I take a few pictures of it, show my good buddies on here, then it's usually scrapped or recycled, if I can....Not much point keeping it for the above reasons. Sad, but there you go. Better than just slinging it in the loft, never to be seen again!lol

I would have dearly loved to get anyone in my family interested and show them how, but to no avail.

Anyway, enough of my prattle, any news on your projected 'Street dio'?

Cheers,

Ron

 

[Guest]

right I had a look on t'interweb and I now know what these big wash basins look like

get to it young man!!

also .... how about selling your finished stuff on evilbay or summot ... people would buy it I'm sure. I mean at the end of the day it ain't that bad

other people do it and make enough off their sales to subsidise the purchase of new kits.

 

[yak face]

Brilliant stuff going on here matey , loving the monument and the buildings . Cant wait to see the water appear , this is going to be a show stopper. You ought to try putting one on e-bay , im sure there would be plenty of people willing to pay for quality stuff like this. cheers tony

 

[Guest]

I`m with you Tony,make a few pounds for the next models lol

mobear

 

[Guest]

Brillant work Ron!

You are doing an exceptional diorama my friend (like always). You are an inspiration for most of us!!

Can't wait to see it finished.

Polux

 

[Guest]

Excellent work Ron. Cant wait to see that lock full, keep it coming mate.

Andy