The reason that this big diorama is taking so long

[bob letterman]

Just so you guys understand why Logistics is taking so long to finish. Things keep coming up! I just got a call from Jefferson City, the Missouri State Capitol. There is an historical grist mill about two hundred years old that has just been designated a national monument. The state wants to commission me to build a miniature replica of it for it's accompanying museum. A weird scale, 3/8th inch to a foot, which works out to something like 1/13th scale. They want it to have a cutaway and show the interior and how the thing operated. They have assigned an engineer to make drawings of the apparatus as the mill was gutted about 70 years ago, for me to replicate. I have tentatively agreed to the commission, depending on just how much detail they want and, of course, how much they will pay. They assured me it was in the four figure range but that's a big range.

Here is the only photo they have sent me. The model will be approximately 3 feet tall, so you can imagine the other dimensions. I am thinking about 2 to 3 months, so that effectively takes that much time away from my big dio!



Looks relatively simple and easy. The devil is always in the details and I want to see the engineers drawings before I commit.

Bob

 

[jknaus]

James

 

[MrT]

That could be interesting.

Terry

 

[TomN]

Yikes!!! Wonder why the model has to be so big?

At 1/24 it would still be impressive and you might find some available parts to use.

Tom

 

[moon puppy]

Someone who's not into modeling probably came up with the scale.

So...what could we call the Campaign and we all join in, 3 month max build time. The "ain't no freak'n way I can make it" build?

Would be an impressive build for sure, I'd have to figure out how to road trip out there to check it out.

 

[Adam Baker]

Very cool!

 

[Sherman 18]

Now that is going to be some scratch building! :coolio

Keep us updated

 

[SA Dave]

Thats going to be Great :woohoo:

 

[Scrodes]

Wow, that will be one hell of an undertaking.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I believe the 3/8 inch is an architectural scale. Still not a good scale for a model though. Tom's suggestion has merit if the scale size could be discussed. Heck the standard doll house scale is 1/12th if I remember correctly and that might be an option as well.

Big congratulations on the commission!

I am sure it will be a master work like always!

 

[bob letterman]

Wow, that will be one hell of an undertaking.

Actually, not at all! After checking the dimensions, it would be very similar in size to this one I did back in the early nineties. This was called "Comrades" and was 1/16th scale, not so different to 1/13th. My concern is that the engineers will come up with some really complex mechanical equipment in the interior of the building. Not because it will be difficult, but because it may be time consuming taking more time than what they will be willing to pay!



Bob

 

[bob letterman]

I believe the 3/8 inch is an architectural scale. Still not a good scale for a model though. Tom's suggestion has merit if the scale size could be discussed. Heck the standard doll house scale is 1/12th if I remember correctly and that might be an option as well.

Big congratulations on the commission!

I am sure it will be a master work like always!

Thanks!

Right on both counts! 3/8ths is an architectural scale. Actually, I would defy anybody to spot the difference in 1/12th and 1/13th scale products, especially in doll house products which are notoriously out of scale anyway! So, in the interior and exterior, there are products I can possibly use from doll house mail order firms!

I was able to convert some doll house furnishings to use in this diorama which was 1/16th scale.

https://www.modelersalliance.com/forum/bob-letterman/1369-decision-at-fontainebleau

When I started building dioramas back in the 70s, there was never any commercial products available in any scale back then, so I had to scratch everything. Worse to worse, I can still do that. I had to scratch 95% of everything on the last diorama I finished anyway!

https://www.modelersalliance.com/forum/bob-letterman/147429-sayonara-finished-delivered-dec-12th-2013?start=156

Bob

 

[RichB]

It may not be that big.

Recalling memories from my architectural design classes, the scale 3/8" = 1' (12") works out to 1" = 2.67' (32") which would make it 1:32 in our scale modelling terms.

1/13th scale would translate to about 59/64" = 1'.

Museum exhibits are commonly 1:24 or 1:32 for a small to medium size building with limited or no landscaping.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[bob letterman]

It may not be that big.

Recalling memories from my architectural design classes, the scale 3/8" = 1' (12") works out to 1" = 2.67' (32") which would make it 1:32 in our scale modelling terms.

1/13th scale would translate to about 59/64" = 1'.

Museum exhibits are commonly 1:24 or 1:32 for a small to medium size building with limited or no landscaping.

Cheers,
Rich

Thanks Rich, math, and fractions in particular, has never been one of my strong suits! The height of the real building is 62 feet. The information given me was that the plexiglass top and base were already made. The plexiglass top is 35" (H), 30 inches (L), and 27 inches (W). If 3/8ths is actually 1/32nd scale, and I'm not disagreeing with you, then in scale, the building would be approx. 23 inches tall. That leaves a foot of air space above the model.

Looking at your math above, it seems perfectly logical to me, no clue where I came up with the 1/13th scale?????

I will be working with an engineer so, I'm certain I would have got the correct measurements for the miniature building, but I appreciate your input. It answers some questions for me that were puzzling!

Thanks,

Bob