Building a small shinkansen diorama for a close friend WIP

[dgrafix]

So far I have got the basic layout down. I am planning to do some water in that depression and have a lightbox backboard with mt fuji backlit.. (or may end up with a photo).
I am going to use one of the Tomix front car museum models (static model) of an N700 nozomi.
The tree was made with one of those Polaroid 3D pens. Im hoping to turn it into a cherry tree.
..to be continued (she has no idea it's coming but she loves Japan lol)

 

[dgrafix]

Made some progress over the weekend, still need to add more processing to the rocks,( a black wash and white dry brush).
For the pool I'm going to try using resin and just a slither of microfiber as a small waterfall.
Was quite pleased with my little cherry tree too

 

[dgrafix]

Almost ready to start working on the water feature. Anyone any experience with using modpodge glossy on resin? I am hoping it will bond ok. I was thinking to make a kind of greeny blue edges going to dark for depth and then mixing a greeny brown resin for the pour.
Never used resin before so am a bit nervous lol.

 

[dgrafix]

Bit more done tonight, did some post paint process on the rocks which I am getting happier with. You can't see it here but the dark area of the "waterfall" (still engineering that lol!) is covered in modpodge gloss to make it look wet.

Still totally undecided on the tunnel bricks though, should they be light? Red? Sandstone yellow Or same as rock face?
I want them to stand out... but not too much.. I guess in reality they would be cut from the same stuff as the cliff.. or would they?
Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Old 97]

A lite red portal brick would be just fine.
Natural color matching works fine too.
Either way, your work is impressive.

 

[dgrafix]

A lite red portal brick would be just fine.
Natural color matching works fine too.
Either way, your work is impressive.

Thank you I will try both and see what i get (the beauty of acrylics lol).
Obviously the train will eventually be the centerpiece but i would like the brickwork to "pop" without exploding so to speak.
The rails will have a darker brown wash on them too. I thought i could rely on the primer i used on the foam, but on the metal it seems to have turned into an odd yellow .
...Note to self, "polyestyrene primer no good on metal or gravel".

 

[dgrafix]

Ok.. I am at the stage where you pray the resin dam holds
...scary moment of truth (or at least the next 24 hours wait!

 

[dgrafix]

Yay the dam held and have been experimenting with the modpodge waterfall. Need to get rid of that rough lip too.

 

[Old 97]

Paint the lip to look like waves....

 

[Rico]

Tres cool!

 

[dgrafix]

I made the water with a crystal resin pour and then covered it in modpodge gloss splodges for the waves. The foam is basically
REPEAT:
-a layer of mpodge
-a thin stranding of cotton wool set in podge
-Wait till tacky
- cover with more podge and then wait till dry..
UNTIL satisfied==true

Same for the waterfall, done on some baking paper separately and peeled off & trimmed. Any foam that is too glossy can be treated with some titanium white on a dry brush.

 

[Smudge617]

I made the water with a crystal resin pour and then covered it in modpodge gloss splodges for the waves. The foam is basically
REPEAT:
-a layer of mpodge
-a thin stranding of cotton wool set in podge
-Wait till tacky
- cover with more podge and then wait till dry..
UNTIL satisfied==true

Same for the waterfall, done on some baking paper separately and peeled off & trimmed. Any foam that is too glossy can be treated with some titanium white on a dry brush.

Amazing work, I'm sure your friend will be more than happy with it.

 

[dgrafix]

Will need to trim it a bit when the modge is dry, but am liking the result so far
Still don't know what colour to do the bricks though

 

[Old 97]

Still don't know what colour to do the bricks though

My heart says go with a lite red.

 

[Old 97]

Tres cool!

Tres Bien!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jaz avalley]

Almost ready to start working on the water feature. Anyone any experience with using modpodge glossy on resin? I am hoping it will bond ok. I was thinking to make a kind of greeny blue edges going to dark for depth and then mixing a greeny brown resin for the pour.
Never used resin before so am a bit nervous lol.

I understand that mod-page is a much loved item, so hopefully it works, never done resin so cannot advise their either, so I will watch you

 

[Jaz avalley]

Oooh I like the resin, and the cotton wool trick is new on me, I will likely try that, looks good.
mix white and pull in the wet ‘water’

 

[Jaz avalley]

Will need to trim it a bit when the modge is dry, but am liking the result so far
Still don't know what colour to do the bricks though
View attachment 183216

The tunnel ‘bricks’ are very likely to be shaped stone, a light rad could be sand stone a common enough stone, BUT can wear out, O would expect a granite much harder wearing to be more likely, so a grey. That said look at tunnels and find what colours would be correct then choose, a light red would certainly look nice,

 

[dgrafix]

The tunnel ‘bricks’ are very likely to be shaped stone, a light rad could be sand stone a common enough stone, BUT can wear out, O would expect a granite much harder wearing to be more likely, so a grey. That said look at tunnels and find what colours would be correct then choose, a light red would certainly look nice,

Might try something like this..