Making My Shenadoah Valley Diorama (1 Viewer)

UKReb said:
You still at it :D I also had US on a Union water bottle and I portrayed the Alamo in bright sunlight instead of a pre-dawn pitch black cos I guess I wanted you guys to see it.
My movie recommendations also garner some doubts as well.
I could go on but I'm pretty resilient :eek:

Reb
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Reb,
This one's the only accurate time-of-day pic I ever made!
 

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Now the other thing is that by 1864 most of the wood fences were up in smoke in the armies' campfires. The stone walls are great for lining the valley pike and if you can add some slight elevations to the diorama, you get the geograghy of the valley.
 
1879fanatic said:
I'm sorry Scott...I meant "Settle down, Francis"!
Mike
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Actually it's......

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Mike,

Thanks for sharing this with us. I wait with great anticipation to see how your dio comes together over the coming months.

Mark
 
Here's the rest of the pictures that I didn't get a chance to post last night due to an internet interuption. This picture is a view looking toward the south east corner of the diorama. In the foreground will be the Valley Turnpike Road which will be lined oon the far left with split rail fencing. What will become the intersection of the "Pike" and the farm lane can also be seen. The farm lane is just that - a lane that gives access to the Spengler farm and their fields. The white square is where I plan to place the 18th/19th century farm house with the chiminey side facing the Turnpike. A plank fence will run from the back of the farmhouse enclsing the washline and wash house within the farm yard.

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This is a picture view looking toward the south west corner of the diorama and toward the ruins of the Sonner manor house. My story line is this: The Sonner house suffered an accidental fire just prior to the war destroying most of it. With the on set of the war, the lack of man power and supplies made it difficult for the Sonners to rebuild as quickly as they had hoped. Judge John Sonner was called to Richmand, Va. to work within the new Confederate government adminstration. His wife and children were taken in by a relative who lives in Strasburg. The Spengler family agreed to take care and watch over their property in the interim. In the upper portion of the picture you can see the Sonner's family garden which is enclosed by a rock wall.

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This is a picture of the Springhouse and livestock pasture of the Spengler farm. Its basically looking toward the north east. I believe the spring catalog gave some strong hints that perhaps livestock (sheep) will be in the future offerings for the farm so that is why I created this area.

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As far as elevation goes, I plan to leave the area flat. Although I know this is not realistic, however as pointed out above, this is certainly not meant to be an historically or for that matter a geographically accurate detailed layout. Its meant to be a "playtable". Also, its only in a 4' x 4' square area. in 1/32 scale this only respresents a 128' x 128' area - that's not even 50 scale yards per side. The presence of elevation changes in such a small area would be minimal.

I also thought about landscaping as I have done with my past dioramas using CelluClay, sand, turf, etc. But again, I want this to be more of an active area where I can change scenarios and move my figure sets around easily. For this reason I have decided to paint in the grass, road, dirt, etc. for the appearance of such. AS I can afford it I will augment this shortcut with the great looking foliage scenics that Ken Osen creates.

I hope I will end up with a pretty nice looking "glass of water" which I can feel is "half full" instead of "half empty". More to come . . . . :):D
Mike
 
Wow Mike you have really put a lot into the storyline and explaining what is what and who is who. I think it is brilliant and look forward to watching this thread develop over the coming months.

Great Stuff !!!

Scott
 
thebritfarmer said:
Wow Mike you have really put a lot into the storyline and explaining what is what and who is who. I think it is brilliant and look forward to watching this thread develop over the coming months.

Great Stuff !!!

Scott
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Thank ya kindly Scott.

Also thank you to: Mike, Damian, Pat, Vick, Reb, Mark, Jeff, Andanna, and Titus for all your kind remarks and encouragement and also your understanding of what I am trying to create.
Mike
 
mestell said:
Thank ya kindly Scott.

Also thank you to: Mike, Damian, Pat, Vick, Reb, Mark, Jeff, Andanna, and Titus for all your kind remarks and encouragement and also your understanding of what I am trying to create.
Mike
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Hi Mike,

You are very welcome! Like Scott, I believe the story line you are creating is an exciting and thoughtful one. It adds much to the scene you are developing. I shall be following your progress with great interest and pleasure!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :)
 
Mike, can wait to see it completed, I'm positive it's going to be great!:) I'm a bit conufused, when you say your planning to paint the dirt, and green? Are you going to just paint brown for dirt, and green for grass, kinda like a Thomas the Train tabletop???:confused:

Vick
 
Lewey Gun Vick said:
Mike, can wait to see it completed, I'm positive it's going to be great!:) I'm a bit conufused, when you say your planning to paint the dirt, and green? Are you going to just paint brown for dirt, and green for grass, kinda like a Thomas the Train tabletop???:confused:

Vick
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Vick, in a sense yes :D;) but I do hope it will look a little better than a Thomas the Train tabletop :). If it doesn't then what the heck - I'll try something else. My thought is to paint grass and dirt areas the same colors/tones that are on the WB figure bases. The table is now painted a green called "grassy field" which is just way to bright of a green. I'll see how it goes - that's the fun of it.
Mike
 
mestell said:
Vick, in a sense yes :D;) but I do hope it will look a little better than a Thomas the Train tabletop :). If it doesn't then what the heck - I'll try something else. My thought is to paint grass and dirt areas the same colors/tones that are on the WB figure bases. The table is now painted a green called "grassy field" which is just way to bright of a green. I'll see how it goes - that's the fun of it.
Mike
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Mike if your plan doesn't work, I'd suggest finding some of green fabric such as used on this duck, using a hair clipper cutting away the areas for the roads, airbrushing painting the roads brown, and then the weight of the scenics should hold back the grass:)

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Vick
 
Decided to wait Mike untill you've finished posting your photos and plans. Seems you've got it well under wraps and looking forward to seeing it when it's finished and set up......The Lt.
 
Thankyou Vick for the idea. I am also very tempted to ask Ken Osen for a quote on four 23" x 23" custom made scenic bases incorporating his wild grass, road, lane, pathways, etc. - The thought of the expense gives me goose bumps :eek: but it sure would be cool looking :cool:

Hey LT, how are you doing tonight? Thank you for the thoughts.

Here's another picture I just took. Sometimes all that is needed is a good backdrop picture to add some interest to a dio.
Mike

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Lewey Gun Vick said:
Mike if your plan doesn't work, I'd suggest finding some of green fabric such as used on this duck, using a hair clipper cutting away the areas for the roads, airbrushing painting the roads brown, and then the weight of the scenics should hold back the grass:)

Vick
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Or maybe hitting a dollar store for some sand or cheap sandpaper that you could paint over, but still have a little bit of texture in the end.
 
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