Lofty's Square Foot - Bufferstop Challenge

[Lofty]

It looks like a couple of other members are up and running so I had better enter the fray.

Way back in 2008 I made a little photo backdrop, the details of which can be found on my workbench page: Link .

Or Youtube Here

I thought that I could build an up to date version. One of the tricks of building small is to do it on an angle, the diagonal of a 12 inch square is a few inches longer than 12 inches.

Step 1 - The mockup:

[Dad-1]

Hi lofty, Interesting.

Where I'm thinking about keeping as much open space, for just - Well an open space.
The open space is for the sorts of things that get left laying around.
I've just had delivery of some 3D printed buckets, thinking a part squashed rusty bucket,
puddle of water and rubbish like that.

I've not been thinking too much recently of making any cameo scenes, but this will
(I hope) waken me up

Geoff T.

[blackcloudrail]

Aha! I like that, the Bufferstop Challenge includes a bufferstop.

[Lofty]

I am hoping that I can build this with stuff that I have kicking around already. It's not really 'no cost' because it has all been bought at some stage.

I do not have any suitable base that measures the requisite square foot, but I do have quite a few scraps, some of which are off cuts and some that has already been used:

The piece at the top of the picture was part of a back scene, by the time I square it up I can get two chunks of 12" x 5" which will become the back of the square:

I found a piece of 6mm ply which one trimmed is just about long enough to become the trackbed:

At this point early on in the journey all I have a general idea of what I am trying to achieve, small details can evolve over time, the main 'must have' is for higher ground behind the track and lower in front of it so that any pictures are 'looking into' the scene

[Phred]

Looking good.

[Dad-1]

Lofty,

When it comes to using scrap I think Blackcloudrail has us all beat !!
Mid Jan is a long way off, I'm still thinking and trying experiments.

Yes low cost not zero cost and the ability to pinch free standing bits off an existing layout
is very tempting. My view is I'll try not to use anything bought specifically for this project.

Geoff T.

[Lofty]

A little bit of progress,

The frame is simply wood and PVA so we have had to wait a fair bit for the glue to set.

At this stage I am not 100% sure what's going to be behind the track. I thought that a little bit of a stream would enhance the front corner though.

A method as old as the hills to construct the slope in the fore ground. Strips of card from a cake box is hot glued to the frame.

Over the lattice is a couple of layers of bits of paper towel soaked in watered down PVA, overnight this will dry to a nice hard shell.

[Lofty]

Slowly working my way through the hard landscaping:

[Lofty]

A bit of general purpose household filler added to form the frame for a rocky outcrop:

A covering of cheap acrylic craft paint and the donkey work is done, now for the detailed scenics:

[Phred]

Coming on in leaps and bounds! I wasn't expecting anyone to tackle a multi-level diorama.

[Lofty]

Lots of family around, so not much chance to progress very far very fast, but we are slowly meandering along:

[aleopardstail]

Lots of family around, so not much chance to progress very far very fast, but we are slowly meandering along:


24-11-24-01.jpeg

love the rocks, how did you paint them?

[Lofty]

Sorry I missed this question at the weekend.

The base for the rocks are common household filler. Once dry I give it a coat of cheap acrylic craft grey to seal it, once that is dry I wet the surface and apply tiny amounts of acrylics to individual surfaces, with plenty of water it really dilutes and is almost transparent, the trick is to build up in very thin layers.

[Mountain]

Sorry I missed this question at the weekend.

The base for the rocks are common household filler. Once dry I give it a coat of cheap acrylic craft grey to seal it, once that is dry I wet the surface and apply tiny amounts of acrylics to individual surfaces, with plenty of water it really dilutes and is almost transparent, the trick is to build up in very thin layers.


24-11-27-01.jpeg

You really are doing well!

[Dad-1]

Mountain, You are watching the 'Master' of grotty.
Lofty, somehow subdued for you, something slightly
different ?

Geoff T.