Hi folks,

Like many I probably have more ideas than space when it come to dioramas. With that in mind I wanted to create a slightly larger and more 3D generic scene to photograph some kits on.

I've chosen a setting from Great North Roads, their GNR 024 French Street kit.

This one is made from dental plaster and I'd been contemplating buying it for a while now.

The idea is to creat a generic background useable in any period during the war. I've clean up an old base to mount it on, although I'm making enquiries about a slightly more up-market one.

I think this has enough variety to produce an interesting setting. The parts are nicely detailed although the rear and one side of the supporting wall are a blank canvas which can be positive or negative depending on you view.

Anyway here's the kit I'll be working on.



Al

Look forward to seeing this Alan. Are you going to join in the Urban Dio Campaign? It doesn't end til next march.

Hi Pat,

Thanks that would be fun. A picture of the base about 12 3/4 by 8 3/4.



Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

You can see a review of the kit parts here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/6745

Got underway yesterday. I'll need a little polly filler around the joints, so I'll have to dig that from whereever I put it away, in the mean time got on with the fun part.

Set it on a recycled base I cleaned up a bit. I off set the angle as the last dios I built all looked a bit square.



I've been working on the cobbles and pavements mainly.









Al

Coming along well, I like the subtle undertones in the road(s) and sidewalks. Really nice.

Hi Scott,

Thanks. Any thoughts on the colour the building would be?

I've tried this combination but .....


Cheers

Al

I like it so far, looks great!


Cheers, Ski.

Alan- stunning job on the sidewalks and cobbles- they are very realistic looking. I think the building color is a good start but, in my humble opinion, it is too light right now. I think it needs darkened up as if it was brand new. Then weather the crap out of it !

Hi Steve and Karl.

Many thanks for the feedback.

Karl, I'm thinking it would have looked more worn and would have had some kind of fire/smoke damage to it. Also considered partly boarding up one of the windows and possibly some kind of plank across the door entrance. I haven't moved into the back of the building yet but would a house like this have had wallpaper or just have been painted?

Thanks guys.

Al

Nice color. I lived in an "Altbau" in Berlin. So did many of my friends. I rarely saw any wall paper, and thinking back, that was probably only in "Neubau" flats. Typically, the Altbaus were painted halfway up with one color, usually some sort of enamel, with a second color above it - especially in the kitchen and bath, although my living had this treatment as well. And yes, it WAS original.
The wallpaper most Berliners use is called "Raufaser." It's two thin sheets of paper with sawdust sprinkled in between. It's very popular stuff as it hides a lot of the blemishes in the older walls, and you can paint it whatever color you want. They actually made a movie about this stuff. Anyway, I don't think it was around back then. What would look nice is a tile coal burning oven in the corner.

Hi Robert,

Many thanks for that info very helpful.

Last of the updates for today. Added a bit of smoke damage and wear marks. I think a drain pipe down the RHS of the building would help break up that part, I could use some spur or plastic rod for that.

As you'll see I've only done the floors in the building, need to have a think about what and where. Looks like I'll need to add part of a ceiling/floor too.

I haven't yet decided what to do behind the wall, if ihe base had been an inch longer it would open more options there.














Cheers

Al

This is a cool kit - you're doing a great job with it. Cheers

Thanks Greg.

Al

Very Cool !!!!!
Comeing along nicely, I Like it !!!

milvehfan

Alan- definetly looking better now with the smoke staining on it. If there was a fire burning from the bottom to the top there would be a lot more smoke damage going upward from the bottom windows. < Just my two cents!

Yo alan,

Looks like sharp stuff the kit you use...

Nice color setting. Nice job on the smoke stains.

Keep up!

Greetz Nico

Nice job Alan!

I always liked the pre made diorama bases.

Hi Alan!

Nice painting , looks good .

For the insides, there is really only space for the floors and some small furniture, so..
Rubble, rubble :-) and don't forget to ad a a lot more bricks.
As the wall is made of bricks, i suppose the inside wall is also, the "break" zone should show a bit more of the brick design, loose bricks, broken but loose.

Claude

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for the feedback, more useful stuff to think on there.

Apprerciated.

Al

Hi Guys,

Put some base paint on the inside of the building.



and added a drain pipe made from spur and rolled lead for the fittings on the front




Al

looking good Alan, i really like the colours you chose. look forward to seeing how the whole scene looks once finished. cheers, bd.

Hi Bruce,

Many thanks for looking in.

Al

Hi Al,
What'ya doing with the windows? and maybe more smoke stains on the outside.
Maybe put a triangle of lawn behind the wall.
And why is your Jeep in a saucer
Tom

Hi Tom,

I'll probably part board up the windows. Grass and a part climber on the wall is my thinking there.

Does anyone do good weeds?

Jeep in a saucer is a new style of dio followed by tank on a plate . Seriously though, It's an old kit I was thinking of repainting and tarting up a bit.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Cheers

Al

looks really great love it...