Hi all,
Here is an other one attempt with MiniArt vacuum diorama kits



As I wanted it to be a square diorama, I add some plastic to extend the kit's base, to fit exactly at the surface plate of my wooden display base.
Then, this part covered with soil, dust and brick ruins, so was not necessary to copy the engraved base at this point - it is not so easy
Also, I added some parts of an inside stair - what else would be there when the door is on the air?
BTW, I have bought this super kit, that enables me to include many-many stair steps at my next dioramas



Concluding, I decide to use the kit's vents, even if they made me upset with their very thin plastic, that melts at their fitting points - a lot of putty used over there indeed
Actually I have made from scratch a lot of these vents, before, using aluminum foil, or cigar metal cases for the cylindrical ones




And they look good IMO. But the corner part here was not at my ability to be scratch-builded - at least, this time.
So, enjoy some pictures of the progress.




At the next images you may see the plaster I usually use to cover all the ruined buildings.








And here is the most of the plaster brushed away.








Then I use to black primer my plastic buildings. I think that the black base-coat gives more dramatic sense (letting it as part-visible) when adding the final colors, later.






Stay tuned for the next part

That's awesome! Well done!

Hi Dimitris,

Nice work on the build so far. This will be fun to follow.

Cheers

Al

Very nice work Dimitris!

I will be staying tuned for more!

—mike

Very nice! I love Miniart products!

Hi Dimitris,

Very nice project and good choice the Miniart damaged factory. I like how you've managed the ventilation ducts and their supports.

My suggestion: to add a little more rubble, inside and outside the building. A damaged building made of bricks produces a lot of rubble all around.

Then, I fully agree to primerize in black. Go ahead with the job...!

Cheers

Giovanni

Wow!!!!!!

No words!

Regards

Alvaro

I can only repeat what everyone else said!! Well done! These vac buildings are not easy to work with but you know how!!
J

Why is it my Miniart kits never look this good?
Top job, looking good.

Hi, Dimitris:

Thanks for sharing your in progress shots. It already looks amazing. I'm curious why you use the plaster. Is that to fill in some marks in the plastic or to give a rough appearance to the bricks or something else?

I'm looking forward to seeing this as you move forward.

Cheers!

Chris

Hi all,
Thanks for your kind words.

@Chris
I use the plaster as it helps me at many things.

Firstly, as you said, it "gives a rough appearance to the bricks" or wherever I want to be so.

Then it helps me to cover the fitting issues at the visible join points of the walls. I have to say that I also use a lot of putty over there, and a strong mix of molded parts of plastic sheet into a very strong solvent
But the plaster is doing the best work over all the other attempts, as it gives more realistic ending at the ruined walls.

An other use of the plaster is to cover the "blackheads" where have been damaged, for example when I was trying of remove them with a cutter.

Concluding it helps to the integration of the ruins I have added near the building.

One more thing...
The coat of plaster is made by sprinkling it on wet, with diluted white glue, areas.

Cheers

Dimitris,

That is an excellent model!

I have this same kit in progress. I am foloowing this with interest!

Dimitris your work is stellar sir! I will have to try your plaster process on my next build as it seems to cover over a multitude of sins as it were....

I also came very close this week to buying the same kits, well the one almost got was the metal stairs....

I have plans for my next work and think they will fit in well. They look great on you project. Looking forward to more pictures, and I like your explanations too....

Dave

Dimitris,
Awesome, just awesome. A little help on the plaster; do you use a normal mix or is it thinner than usual?

Cheers,
Rick

Once again, thanks to all
I think many of you use a thin plaster when scratch building brick walls.

Here is another small secret:
I also use this thing at my ceramic parts/copies of cobblestones and brick walls. It is doing a double work there. It fills the small bubble holes
(sorry I have not a decompressor), but covers the tinny bubbles themselves too

@ Rick
As I wrote it is a construction industry product.
Using the Google translator it says on its label
"Special fast setting restoration and repair mortar. It contains white cement and sand" which is removed by me with the sieving, so what is left alone is something like fine powder.
I wet the surface with very diluted white glue and apply the powder over it.
Maybe a video would help some time
Because among others, the most of the work I am doing ...is by hand and a very sharp old brush
In case it has come very hard, I wet the brush (or my hand) with pure water and this is very useful.
The plaster is very visible at the following images.




Hope all these help.

Cheers

Excellent work Dimitris.

In this photo, what are the products used to make the sidewalk, curb and cobblestone street?

Hi Ryan,
These are 1:16 copies using the excellent molds from www.dioramadebris.co.uk
I have invest a non insignificant amount at their products

Awesome...I can see why. What product do you use for the molds? I am wondering if Aves clay shay could be used.

Ryan,
Don’t forget I am in Greece and your at the US
So what I can find here may differ of what you have available there.
I use a kind of Plaster of Paris or Synthetic Plaster of Paris for use in Relief Casting. They call it Giluform (you may google it, as it is a trademark) and it comes in two colors, teracota (the red brick color) and pure white.
It is very hard indeed and dry fast.
As I have no managed to find some cheap pigments to coloring this plaster, I use the teracota one, as it is for the bricks, and the white one for all the other castings. Actually I use a little amount of …black dry tempera for coloring it as gray cement.
If the amount of color is too much it start to loose its capacity to be hard enough.

Here is some progress too: “the basic painting”. Hope to finish with oils and pigments soon.






Cheers

Some times I just don't understand MiniArt's concept of architecture. In this case the entry door is at a higher level than the windows, requiring a landing and steps, both inside and out...for what purpose? But excellent building (modelling) techniques!

Hi Dimitris,

A couple of things I'm noticing:

The broken brick edges look a bit too smooth and I may even be seeing some residual mold seams.

I really like the rubble on top of the inside vent ... maybe you could do something similar on the window sills ... especially the top one? And if you're into it ... a bit more rubble at the building's base.

Just wondering: Will there be a vehicle included in the scene? If so, I hope it's not too large or hanging off the base, so as not to take all the focus away from the factory.

All said, this is extremely nice work — keep at it!

—mike

Here we are again
First of all I appreciate all your suggestions, tips and comments.
I know some times the scenics we make have some issues with reality, but the theatrical stage view (a friend posted this, above) is what I do like to recreate in scale.
BTW, I just finished this diorama but ...when a factory is leaving ...an other one is coming



Yes, you guess right, just another adventure at the Vacuum World of MiniArt is waiting for me
So, after ...5 layers of washes, some pigments, some corrections with paint over them, and here are the last images of this project
Enjoy them and have fun
Cheers

Very very nice!!!!

Great show!!!!

Congratulations!

Cheers

Romain

Hi, Dimitris. Thank you for your inspirational work. Nicely done - i was following the topic from the good beginning. Warm Regards.