March 4, 2024April 26, 2024 Diorama Build – ongoing This is an ongoing build with updates posted as and when. Scroll down for the latest updates.I was getting tired of not being able to enjoy looking at my locos and rolling stock. While I’m still deciding on where to build Trenton, I decided to make a 4×3 ft diorama.This should be interesting, I literally haven’t used any of these skills for 10 years.I had some code 83 track lying around so that was the start. It’s going to be some kind of urban location, a bit grim and dirty.I glued the track to the board with white PVA glue then I got my airbrush out, I was happy to see it was still working OK after sitting in a box for 10 years. That thing certainly makes quick work of painting the track.….and then I set about ballasting. I had forgotten how boring that is to do. I need to go over the rails with some rust colours. Now the ballasting is out of the way, what to do next?I’m still not sure what buildings will be on this diorama, but I know I do want a high brick retaining wall in the background.I always liked the Diorama that John Wiffen at ScaleScenes built.Image Credit – John Wiffen -ScaleScenesWith John’s diorama in mind, I used foam/card sandwich board, it’s very rigid, lightweight, and easy to cut. I’m pretty sure the ScaleScenes papers will be being used again.Above you can see the back wall cut to size. I’m going to cut a tunnel opening and use the Laser Cutter to create the tunnel portal. That way I can obtain a perfect opening shape rather than my ham-fisted attempts with a blade.The photo above shows the perspective that the Diorama will have. That Deltic is from my childhood. I remember getting it for my birthday in 1977. It still runs.As we all know, a retaining wall is usually sloped with buttresses, I didn’t want to just cover the 4ft of foam board with ScaleScenes brick paper, I wanted to give some depth and variation so after an hour or so using the Inkscape program, I created the shapes I wanted for the arches.I sent the file to the Laser Cutter and within a few minutes, I had 6 perfectly cut sets of arches. I bloody love that machine. I also created the sloping supports in Inkscape and cut those out too.You can see in the photo above where I’ve hot-glued the supports in place on one of the arches.Now I need to wrap the arches in more Scalescenes paper.It took 6 sheets to cover the foam board wall, and due to the nature of the cutting and pattern alignment needed, I’m going to need another 12 sheets to wrap the arches. Good job I printed out 30 sheets last time on my office colour laser printer.Update – March 12, 2024Back at the 4x3ft board. I have laid a fair amount of the ground material for the yard. Liberal use of the Woodland Scenics fine ballast was used for the yard.None of the buildings and items are “in-place” yet, I just wanted to see what viewing angles I had. You can see some of my 3D-printed items here. The coal staithes, Biffa bin, oil tank, buffer stop. All from the 3D printer. More on the 3D printer here. Update – April 6, 2024I’ve decided to add another siding to the Diorama.I just felt it needed a bit more “rail action”I glued the track down and then airbrushed with Floquil Rail-Tie brown and then a light dust with another brown to give some colour variation. Leaving that to dry overnight and hopefully ballast tomorrow.Ballast was added and I’ve added some 3D printed drainage ditch covers, also starting to detail the area at the end of the track to make it look disused. …and yes, I did spatter diluted black paint over the yard. I will need to clean that up. Update April 14th, 2024I printed out a tunnel portal on the 3D printer, sprayed a mortar colour basecoat with the airbrush, and now begins the job of dry-brushing all the stones. I’m not sure how the end result will look. Also from the 3D printer today, a couple of winch houses for the top the Tower Blocks. More on that build here.Also this weekend on the 3D printer I printed a point switch housing and some lineside trunking. Diorama diorama