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"Easy Pickins"
- Thread starter Steve Ski
- Start date
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Thank you kindly, Gents. Yall are very encouraging and I appreciate the compliments. Sometimes it's like, "So why did I start this?" and then you realize you can't quit now, HA! I wish I could say these are all my ideas, but I'm piggy-backing off so many great dio builders it's not even funny. Laslo Adobe's books are very helpful, and YT vids, of course, and just plain stumble across something that actually works, lol.
Thanks, again, Gents!
Thanks, again, Gents!
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Lean-to/Shop Layout
Moving right along we have the basic layout for the lean-to/shop area. I will certainly need to make more grass tufts of the light green variety and some tall chutes as well, but this portion should be much less laborious. Once this area is completed with the Harley and Ranger locations tested, I will close this area out.
As you can see from these different angle shots there is a sense of something missing, at least to me there is. I’m thinking more tools hanging from the fence wall and some of the beam portions, plus I think the top of the barrel needs some kind of additional feature. I was thinking the smaller chain, but not sure. I’m open to suggestions if ya got em.
Glenn has found some great cluttered shop pics I need to dig into, but if yall got any more suggestions, let er rip. I need this shop area looking old and slightly neglected, dusted out, and as realistic as possible. I’m also considering a cobweb or two in the rafter beam support areas. In this scale this is very possible as it would not be too difficult to make, but I will forego the geometry involved in a larger web. That would be an interesting project I’m not really into right now, HA!
Thanks for watchin and please holler if ya got any suggestions. Cheers, Ski.
Moving right along we have the basic layout for the lean-to/shop area. I will certainly need to make more grass tufts of the light green variety and some tall chutes as well, but this portion should be much less laborious. Once this area is completed with the Harley and Ranger locations tested, I will close this area out.
As you can see from these different angle shots there is a sense of something missing, at least to me there is. I’m thinking more tools hanging from the fence wall and some of the beam portions, plus I think the top of the barrel needs some kind of additional feature. I was thinking the smaller chain, but not sure. I’m open to suggestions if ya got em.
Glenn has found some great cluttered shop pics I need to dig into, but if yall got any more suggestions, let er rip. I need this shop area looking old and slightly neglected, dusted out, and as realistic as possible. I’m also considering a cobweb or two in the rafter beam support areas. In this scale this is very possible as it would not be too difficult to make, but I will forego the geometry involved in a larger web. That would be an interesting project I’m not really into right now, HA!
Thanks for watchin and please holler if ya got any suggestions. Cheers, Ski.
paddy
Well-known member
Dead cheap and could be used as parts, scale is 1/10 but bikes come in all sizes, maybe a rusty frame or complete without wheels. includes a nice old pump, but you might be better to scratch the whole lot
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Now that would be a great idea, Paddy, but it's way the bloomin heck over there, and I'm way over here, HA!
Actually, they are available over here at double the price with delivery in mid-April, ouch! That might take up more space than I can afford, but that bike sure does look very tempting. I'm going to be limited to rags, cig butts/packs, small items. Glenn's got some pics of shops full of junk, so I'll be pondering more items.
Last edited:
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Beer Bottle and Clipboards, What the?
Yep, that about sums it up, alright. Needing more smaller items I’ve gotten some great suggestions, so back to the bench before anymore grass is placed. I made a loop-type clip board, then realized I also needed a standard spring-type clipboard as well. I printed up vintage French sale receipts from the net, cig pack labels, and some box layouts, but I will forgo the card board box. It doesn’t fit in the scene correctly and it’s too unrealistic in appearance. I really don’t feel like going through the trouble to make that item work, so on to the rest.
As you can see from the bench photo, I’ve made a small metal barrel for odds and ends, tools, etc., plus there is a hanging peg-board in there for placing tools across a 2x4 that will be placed between the heavy beams above the second fence rail. Plus, in that mess is a chunk of heavy sprue for a larger heavy pry bar, and more gears, whatever. There is a set of three horse shoes in there too, but they are slightly covered up. Those will hang by the gate entry, one on the ground, and all of them rusted up good. The empty beer bottles will be dropped in innocuous locations to add to a neglected shop appearance.
I still need to make several oily rags and get them placed, plus I do have a very small grape box on top of the large wine barrel, not photographed. I’ve gone through my kid’s old toys for broken mechanical items trying to find funky odds and ends that will fit the scene without too much suspicion. I’m running out of easy options, lol.
Lastly, I need to keep in mind the dust factor in the end so that everything has a decent coat of dust, but yet there is still a path through the shop for walking. We’ve all seen it, a well beaten path through a mess of junk with only enough room to walk safely. This won’t be that bad, but close enough to see that this place is very close to being abandon. That’s why I wasn’t concerned about adding anything atop the wine barrel outside. This winery has probably been shut down or the owner has ceased operations for a time, who knows.
So, if you have any more suggestions, please let me know. Yall have come up with some great ones, so don’t stop now, HA!
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
P.S. Once this shop is done then the fun begins again. I’ll be adding some hanging moss from the rafters once the roof gets installed, following Lazlo Adoba’s tutorial.
www.bookworldws.co.uk
adobaminiatures.com
adobaminiatures.com
Yep, that about sums it up, alright. Needing more smaller items I’ve gotten some great suggestions, so back to the bench before anymore grass is placed. I made a loop-type clip board, then realized I also needed a standard spring-type clipboard as well. I printed up vintage French sale receipts from the net, cig pack labels, and some box layouts, but I will forgo the card board box. It doesn’t fit in the scene correctly and it’s too unrealistic in appearance. I really don’t feel like going through the trouble to make that item work, so on to the rest.
As you can see from the bench photo, I’ve made a small metal barrel for odds and ends, tools, etc., plus there is a hanging peg-board in there for placing tools across a 2x4 that will be placed between the heavy beams above the second fence rail. Plus, in that mess is a chunk of heavy sprue for a larger heavy pry bar, and more gears, whatever. There is a set of three horse shoes in there too, but they are slightly covered up. Those will hang by the gate entry, one on the ground, and all of them rusted up good. The empty beer bottles will be dropped in innocuous locations to add to a neglected shop appearance.
I still need to make several oily rags and get them placed, plus I do have a very small grape box on top of the large wine barrel, not photographed. I’ve gone through my kid’s old toys for broken mechanical items trying to find funky odds and ends that will fit the scene without too much suspicion. I’m running out of easy options, lol.
Lastly, I need to keep in mind the dust factor in the end so that everything has a decent coat of dust, but yet there is still a path through the shop for walking. We’ve all seen it, a well beaten path through a mess of junk with only enough room to walk safely. This won’t be that bad, but close enough to see that this place is very close to being abandon. That’s why I wasn’t concerned about adding anything atop the wine barrel outside. This winery has probably been shut down or the owner has ceased operations for a time, who knows.
So, if you have any more suggestions, please let me know. Yall have come up with some great ones, so don’t stop now, HA!
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
P.S. Once this shop is done then the fun begins again. I’ll be adding some hanging moss from the rafters once the roof gets installed, following Lazlo Adoba’s tutorial.
Lets Build Diorama!2 - Bookworld
Lets Build Diorama!2 Let's Build a Diorama 2: Terrain & Vegetation is written by László Adóba and is published in a slightly-bigger than A5 format. The book contains 80 pages and has more than 300 color photos. The book is divided into 4 sub-sections
www.bookworldws.co.uk
Books
adobaminiatures.com
Adoba Miniatures - Figure Bust Book Model Modeling Vignette Diorama
Adoba Miniatures - Figure Figure Painting Bust Scale 1/10 75mm 75 mm 1:35 1/35 Fantasy Warrior Book Model Modeling Vignette Diorama Step by step
adobaminiatures.com
So many ideas, just let it flow Steve! 
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Base Work Completed
Well, almost. I just need to make hanging moss for some of the rafters and secure the lid. However, before the lid can be secured the Ranger needs some dirt and dusting before he gets locked in, as well as securing the Harley to its mount. This is getting closer to the finish line.
Here we have the general placement of all the gear and tools, etc., before gluing in place. Everything appears to have worked in concert with the Harley and Ranger, so there were not any alterations to the final positions of anything. It all seemed to mesh just fine.
Now you can see the final appearance of the lean-to, loaded with all the gear and tools, but you can also see the oils spill marks on the ground, the small amount of grass poking through the fence at the bottom, and some debris from the tree and yard out front. I made use of some coconut shell shavings for the debris; it worked just fine.
You will also notice the cigarette butts and empty cig pack on the ground and a few empty beer bottles. I am attempting to catch the appearance of neglect in this shop, as if nobody has paid any attention to it for some time.
A closer look at the debris and oil spill marks, plus the half dead grass clumps, etc.
One last look at the finished outside of the lean-to and roadway. It’s not easy to see here in these photos, but the roadway and floor of the shop have a darker tone to emulate a damp atmosphere. This all happened when I shot spritzes of 90% rubbing alcohol to secure the pigments. That was another unintended consequence that actually worked to my advantage. So, we Ruck On!
After the hanging moss has been made and all the figures have been dirtied up and secured, final pics will be taken and this huge pig of a dio will settle into its future home, it’s final resting place in the curio cabinet that I built specifically for large base dioramas many moons ago. Wow, what a long time coming, but we’re almost there.
Thanks for watchin and holler if you see something I might have missed at this late stage of the game, lol.
Cheers, Ski.
Well, almost. I just need to make hanging moss for some of the rafters and secure the lid. However, before the lid can be secured the Ranger needs some dirt and dusting before he gets locked in, as well as securing the Harley to its mount. This is getting closer to the finish line.
Here we have the general placement of all the gear and tools, etc., before gluing in place. Everything appears to have worked in concert with the Harley and Ranger, so there were not any alterations to the final positions of anything. It all seemed to mesh just fine.
Now you can see the final appearance of the lean-to, loaded with all the gear and tools, but you can also see the oils spill marks on the ground, the small amount of grass poking through the fence at the bottom, and some debris from the tree and yard out front. I made use of some coconut shell shavings for the debris; it worked just fine.
You will also notice the cigarette butts and empty cig pack on the ground and a few empty beer bottles. I am attempting to catch the appearance of neglect in this shop, as if nobody has paid any attention to it for some time.
A closer look at the debris and oil spill marks, plus the half dead grass clumps, etc.
One last look at the finished outside of the lean-to and roadway. It’s not easy to see here in these photos, but the roadway and floor of the shop have a darker tone to emulate a damp atmosphere. This all happened when I shot spritzes of 90% rubbing alcohol to secure the pigments. That was another unintended consequence that actually worked to my advantage. So, we Ruck On!
After the hanging moss has been made and all the figures have been dirtied up and secured, final pics will be taken and this huge pig of a dio will settle into its future home, it’s final resting place in the curio cabinet that I built specifically for large base dioramas many moons ago. Wow, what a long time coming, but we’re almost there.
Thanks for watchin and holler if you see something I might have missed at this late stage of the game, lol.
Cheers, Ski.
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
That is going to be a show stopper Steve! Going to make it really hard for anyone else to out do you.
Can't wait to see figures in here. 
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Thanks, Brother.
Wow, you're right, MP. After all these years on and off, it's finally come down to "placing" those figures. Sheesh, may I not suffer from post-dio depression when the time comes, lol. I'm only 12 years into it, what the heck, right?Can't wait to see figures in here.
Wow, it's been that long,...................
Greg Kimsey
Well-known member
Mind blowing! Cigarette butts? Really? Who thinks of that? The detail is staggering Steve! Just...wow
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Thanks, Gents!
Thanks, Greg. That credit goes to another, because I never thought about it, but it sure does make a difference. I'm just waiting for someone to catch the tax stamp on the French pack of cigs, lol. A little out of date, but who cares, right?
Thanks, Rhino. That is what I'm shooting for, minus the judges, keep the eyes moving about the scene. I gave up on competitions for the simple fact that,.......well, you know where I was going with that, lol.
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Hanging Moss Effect
Here we have the hanging moss effect completed. I think this will work fine considering it won’t be a main focal point. When working and shaping these strands you’ll find they stick to everything, every tool, every surface. Trying to keep them separate without breaking what you’ve already done takes a little careful working and practice. The camera was having a hard time focusing, so some of these pics a slightly blurry.
I used cotton wading, or what could be considered a bandage plug, of 100% cotton carefully separated and pulled apart. Following Laszlo Adoba’s instructions on painting and adding the small amount of flock, this was only a matter of learning how to handle it.
In an effort to not over-do the effect, or leave it too sparse, figuring out what looks real and what doesn’t, that was the big question. What is enough, or not enough? Personal preference takes precedence, so have fun with it. I am pretty happy with the underside photos as it is now, so I’m calling this portion done.
I can see this effect coming in handy for quite a few projects with derelict structures, mid-evil scenarios, old abandoned Louisiana plantation houses, etc. Your imagination is the limit, so this effect is worth investigating on your own.
Figure and rig prep is next on the list, so onward to finish this up. Thanks for watchin.
Cheers, Ski.
Here we have the hanging moss effect completed. I think this will work fine considering it won’t be a main focal point. When working and shaping these strands you’ll find they stick to everything, every tool, every surface. Trying to keep them separate without breaking what you’ve already done takes a little careful working and practice. The camera was having a hard time focusing, so some of these pics a slightly blurry.
I used cotton wading, or what could be considered a bandage plug, of 100% cotton carefully separated and pulled apart. Following Laszlo Adoba’s instructions on painting and adding the small amount of flock, this was only a matter of learning how to handle it.
In an effort to not over-do the effect, or leave it too sparse, figuring out what looks real and what doesn’t, that was the big question. What is enough, or not enough? Personal preference takes precedence, so have fun with it. I am pretty happy with the underside photos as it is now, so I’m calling this portion done.
I can see this effect coming in handy for quite a few projects with derelict structures, mid-evil scenarios, old abandoned Louisiana plantation houses, etc. Your imagination is the limit, so this effect is worth investigating on your own.
Figure and rig prep is next on the list, so onward to finish this up. Thanks for watchin.
Cheers, Ski.
You cultivating moss now? What is that stuff, did I miss where you taked about it? It looks real. 
Steve Ski
Well-known member
Lol, that would be something, wouldn't it, lol. I asked my boss, she reminded me that some of the vitamin bottles have cotton plugs for shipping. This plug had long strands, much easier to work with than round cotton balls. I hope that helps, MPYou cultivating moss now? What is that stuff, did I miss where you taked about it? It looks real.
