This is absolutely fantastic... I just keep watching the pictures and I always find some new details... Great, great job

Randy, you continue to amaze me with detail that I for one wouldn't even have on a 1/35 scale kit, let alone 1/72! Could you maybe take an overall shot of the whole dio so we can get a feel for the size?

Cheers!
Stefan

Hi randy,

Somehow i missed your remark on the scale. So it's a 1/72 ! Even more impressive then!

I like your work wit the plasticcard on the front door. The rocks also look really good.

Great work!

Claude

Yo randy,

Amazing scratchwork you show here!

The panzer looks stunning with al the details on it. Hope to see this one finished.

Keep up.

Greetz Nico

Amazing job on the diorama. Your scratchbuiding skills are impressive!

Looking forward to see more

Hello Domagoj, Thank you for the comments

Hi Stefan, Glad you are watching! Will try to take a decent overall pic and post it.

Hello Claude, Thank you (was just on your blog getting ideas for roof tiles!)

Hi Nico, Glad you like it and I will finish sometime!

Hi Jesper, Appreicate your posting a comment!


Thanks, Randy

Hi Folks, Been a busy summer but I finally have an update on this project....

Finishing up on the doors in the loading dock area....









Trying out some broken glass but hard to see in this scale!! Still need to fill in some gaps around these doors and come up with some hinges...







This area needs a roof. Going with a metal frame with corrugated iron sheeting. Dipping the foil sheeting into an etchant for some damaged effects...

























It is tacked in place for now and I'll see if I'm happy with the damage as I go along.

Next up is to work on the small lift that is used between the floors of this factory.
Changed up a few things from the earlier pics of the winch. Going with an electric motor with brake driving the hoist gear. Found a German photo site , 'StahlArt', that features the work of Harald Finster. Got a cool reference pic on a hoist mechanism,,,,






















Making up the doors , pulleys and their conter weights. ...
















The lift in place. Nothing fixed yet as I play around with some wood framing and flooring as I figure out how the damage will look for this part og the building. ...

















That is all for now, comments are welcomed! Randy

no comments at all this looks great nice job

looking amazing... and it's packed with great details. an architectural marvel. thanks for posting so many views of your work. cheers, mh.

WOW - That's freakin' amazing! What an incredible piece of work!

I too would leave the window wall the way it is. Pulls the eyes inside (although it might obscure some details). With your obvious level of skill I'm sure you could deal with it.

Also, even after the battle, buildings had varying degrees of damage, you wouldn't have to overdo it to get your point across. Seems a shame to 'destroy' that! Unless you plan to crash a plane into the roof (or some such), you can go heavy or light, depending.

Keep up the GREAT work, we'll all be watching (no pressure!).

TJ

Amazing and inspiring work Randy. It is a pleasure to see your project progress.

Which museum will it be displayed in?!?!?

Thank you for sharing and giving us something to aim for!

Gideon

Great work, Randy. Very impressive diorama skills.

Looking forward to see more.

Great work Randy! You have superbe scratchbuilding capabilities and i love what you do

Cheers
Claude

Thank you, Henk, for commenting

Glad you like it MH

Hi TJ, Yeah, I think you are right about that wall. Thanks

Hi Gideon, Thanks for the kind words

Hello Claude, I appreciate your taking the time to comment, I know you are very busy!!

Hi Jaun, I am happy that you are following this

Randy

Hello all,

A small update:

Working on the ground floor stuff in the damaged part of the factory. Need to build the last piece of machinery along with some benches, shelves and general clutter.
Here are some more ref pics from "StahlArt' site, Harald Finster photos....










Although I am not modelling this machine I did love the wall details...





The floor lathe is a 'HO Scale' kit that has been modified....










Making up the belt drive system....

















Working on the lighting system and some wiring and plumbing details.

A poor man's lathe and acrylic rod for making light bulbs....























Having trouble at this stage of construction to get decent pics of the interior. My camera's limited depth of field can not keep everything in focus when looking thru the factory....
























The damaged wood is not the finished product, just there to give a feel .

As always, comments are welcomed! Randy

Hello Juan, Thank you for commenting

Randy

"Poor man's lathe" hey? looks really effective still and you open me some perspectives!
I really like the work you have ben doing on your machinery and electric system
-how did you do those "bulb circular protections" exactly? they look really very crisp..

Yo Randy,

scratchbuilding...just superb!

Keep us posted!

Greetz Nico

Amazing work and continued attention to detail Randy. Theres so much to see, no matter where you look.
I know you have your doubts about the window wall and it blocking what can be seen. The biggest problem .... and may be even more apparent is when the roof is added ... is that it blocks light and thus limits what can be seen. IMO, the windows will work like small box-dioramas ... where viewers will want to see through each and every window to see what details are visible through them. It might be worth considering some LED lighting at this stage to make sure everything is still visible?
Another thing that struck me wile looking through the thread, is the amount of timber used, especailly on the outside. This may be more common on US railroading scenes, but European buildings ... whether brick or stone ... would have used metal in industrial buildings of this era. The damper climate of Europe would steer this. I was thinking would it be a good idea to suggest painting the timber on the gantry crane and the staircase as metal but this might not possible either? Another idea would be add a roof much like the small metal frame/corrugated iron sheeting version you added on one of the corners. Would maybe look more realistic and be another stunning detail in its own right. No matter what you decide, I think you should consider if leaving the timber in its natural colour is the right thing to do. If timber was used it would be at least primed with some sort of heavy tar or similar to protect it from the elements ... much like telegraph poles. Natural timber finishes are not that common here.
Im sorry to nit-pick or sound like that ... my thoughts are meant constructively.

Hi JBA, Glad you like it

Hello Nico, Thank you for your continued support!

Hi Frank, Thoughtful opinions are always welcome. The window wall will be used, it does work to force the viewer to look closely at the interior.
Still thinking about lights
The roof over the tranfer crane structure is a great idea! The outside staircase already got replaced by a metal one on page two.

Thanks to all who commented, Randy