Abandoned ODDVILLE

[DIORAMAMAN]

fontgeek; This building is a combination of 2 or 3 different structures - the front from an old store in Michigan, the stairs and the side from an old gas-/service station in the mid-west and then bits and pieces from other unspecified buildings. To me this is the wonder of modelbuilding - one can combine the best parts of the real world.....  Thanks for your comments.

DIOMAN

[fontgeek]

Dioramaman, was this designed and built in imitation of an actual building, or was this a composite of several buildings or designs?
The coloring and aging look great in these photos!

[reddevildemo]

All I can Say is WOW. I now know just how long of a way I have to go in my skills to get to that level. Truely amazing and thank you for sharing.

[zzhamcbc]

 AFTER SEEING THIS, I AM INSPIRED TO GET A MOVE ON SOME OF MY OWN PROJECTS. THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION.

[DIORAMAMAN]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys - I appreciate them :-)

The pics was out of order for a while but I've tried to restore them - hope they will show more than red x's now...

DIORAMAMAN

[Anonymous]

Probably the best modelling job I ever saw. Fantastic!

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow! I've been in many old ghost town buildings, and you've really captured the true look of the decay, inside and out.

[DIORAMAMAN]

Hi Guys - and thanks for all the nice comments!

I'll try to go back in the archives and find some pics of this building during its construction as soon as I get a chance. One pic that I have right now is the one that got this build started. As I was surfing the web looking for intersting structures for inspiration I came across this:

Located in Kilmanaugh, MI, and photographed in June 2004. I just fell in love with the building, especially the facade, and got started.... This was late November 2005. As the building got on it's way I soon realized I had to do something about the depth of the building - as you can see, the original is quite big. So, with a few ideas from pictures of other buildings I got it shortened down to a more handy size. A few minor changes was done to the front too - different handrail and excluding the blind window on the top section of the wall.

The basic structure is build out of foamboard, about 5mm thick. Some walls were built using balsa wood ribs to make it hollow - something that only can be seen through the windows and doors now...

All the panelling is done out of .8mm balsa wood thats been cut into 5mm wide strips and glued individually. All windows and doors are scratch built using cardstock and balsa - window glass is various thickness of clear styrene plastic.

[ttrigg]

When I first saw this post, I wanted to say this was a hoax, but glad I didn't, as I don't like to eat crow!......

I too am waiting for the backstory of construction, with pics I hope.

[kstrong]

I'll echo the call for a description of the techniques. That's without a doubt some of the best modeling I've seen.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Very Nicely Done Indeed!

[wallyworld]

That has to be the most impressive photograph of a model I have ever seen in many a decade. I could not believe it was not 1:1.You ought to consider penning an article-I would love to learn the back story of it's construction as well as picking up afew tips.Unbelievable.

[DIORAMAMAN]

Hello Ray,

Thanks for the comments - yes, this model is for indoor display only due to the numerous details of various "not-weather-proof" material. It is a part of a larger diorama - see the picture below to get an idea of the scale and size. However a building like this could be put on an outdoor layout during dry conditions...



Happy building!

DIORAMAMAN

[Ray Dunakin]

Holy jumping catfish!!! That is one heck of a sweet model! Congrats on a job extremely well done!

I'm guessing from the materials used, that this is an indoor-only model, not to be used on an outdoor layout, correct?

[rpc7271]

Guess I will just leave all my models at home for the next model contest!

[Anonymous]

Truly amazing standard of moddeling !!! , It still looks like a real building to me , you are very talented indeed

[FJ and G]

wow, that's crazy! Hobbits would love that place. I cannot even begin to think about the work that must have gone into it.

[John Busby]

Hi Dioramaman
That looks so real I half expect to see a ghost in one of the windows.
how did you achieve so much realism.
regards John

[DIORAMAMAN]

Hi David, no this is the model! It sits on a larger diorama (60x125cm) - the pics were taken from a lower angle and just before sunset to get the right lighting - placed on top of the car left the background in a non-disturbing distance. I'll post e few other pics eventually that will proove the fact that this is a model :-)

Happy building!

DIORAMAMAN

PS! Thanks for the nice comments by the way.... ds

[FJ and G]

Dioramma,

Those are photos of buildings that you intend to scratchbuild. Am I correct?

[Anonymous]

You sure its a model ?- very impressive indeed . Makes my efforts look very poor

[DIORAMAMAN]

Hello Guys,

This is the first topic I'm posting on this Forum and it's just to show a little of what I'm up to when it comes to structures and scenery. I'm in the progress of including a passing track in G-scale with a 2-6-0 and a few cars...

Built out of foam-board, balsa wood, styrene - weathered to have that abandoned and left behind look....

Comments appreciated

Happy building!

DIORAMAMAN