As my last update to this was the beginning of May and over the last 10 months since I joined the site, several people have asked to see an SBS of how the buildings are constructed. I have procrastinated long enough. As this building is a part of the WIP, I am posting it here rather than the Masterclass. I begin by cutting the corrugated cardboard shapes for the building facade. This building will be Greco-Roman architecturally, and will house a Roman/German Historical museum.

You will notice that after the facade is assembled, the lower part is much too long. That is because when I build the base, I start with a wooden frame. I screw a sheet of plywood onto the bottom, then vary the heights of the framing and the interior bracing. I use model rail road board to “skin” the top which will then have a rolling hill effect that will vary from place to place by as little as one inch, (25mm), and as much as 12 inches, (300mm). It gives the diorama that extra effect of topography. Cities built on a perfectly flat terrain are rare. Click on images to enlarge.

Here is the matt board cut outs ready to be veneered to the corrugated cardboard facade.

Here is a shot of the base of “Logistics” and the square, triangular and rectangular holes cut for placement of the buildings. The buildings will then set down into those holes and I can be assured of their being “true” to the base. The large hole on the far right will be the resting place for this building. Click on images to enlarge.

Next, I cut the matt board, a material found in either framing shops or art supply stores, to the shape and then veneer them to the corrugated cardboard structure using carpenters glue. The strength this gives the structure is surprising. I have buildings built like this more than thirty years ago and still look the same as the day they were built! The stairs were made of long strips of bass wood, then cut to fit each stairway. Balsa and bass wood strips were used to begin the gable for the planned statues. Also, some trim from doll house materials. Note the bare cardboard under the steps. That is the part that will lower into the hole on the bas and rest on the plywood beneath. Click on images to enlarge.

Next, I cut some more cardboard and matt board for the sides, upper structure and roof.

I have added architectural shapes from my large stash. Over the years, each time I see something that could be useful for my buildings, I buy them. They have been from so many different sources. Doll house parts, parts from lumber companies, decorative wooden trim. picture frames, things I scratched and on and on. From the beginning, I put them in rubber so that I can cast them whenever I need them. Here is a shot of one shelf unit that is for these parts. There are two. I also have two large cabinets filled with RTV molds for this stuff. Click on images to enlarge.

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Here, I have attached the sides and upper structure. The mosaic on the gable was made with Milliput and several Andrea 25 mm Roman figures. Then I gave it my standard base coat of Testor’s camouflage grey. It is a good base color for grey stone, granite, etc, because it is an earth tone without any of the unwanted blue tint. Another good base for buildings and concrete streets is Humbrol Matt 72. I see concrete simulated with gray paint a lot. The only time concrete is gray is when recently poured. In a short time, it becomes a color almost perfectly matched by Matt 72. I buy it by the case! Note the coat of plaster on the side and top. The entire building has received that treatment. The stones are then engraved in the plaster. Click on images to enlarge.

Here is a close up of the gable.

Here is the base coated facade. The Roman corinthian columns? A buddy of mine got married in the 70s. After the wedding cake had been eaten, I talked his wife out of the columns. I’ve been using them ever since. There were actually three sizes, it was a tiered cake, all came in handy from time to time. Click on images to enlarge.

Here is a triumphal arch that is connected to the museum building. Again, same type of construction and shapes from the stash, plus three Andrea roman figures. The mounted figure on the top. Click on images to enlarge.

A close up of the top. Click on images to enlarge.

Some cracks in the upper structure added as a result of a prior bombing raid. Then various washes of raw umber and some burnt sienna.Click on images to enlarge.

This is it in it’s current state. The burned out upper floor, also a result of the Allies flying thingies, shingles added. These were from the 135th Construction Battalion company, I once owned. It had so many architectural products and my dream of never having to scratch all this stuff as I did in all previous dioramas. Unfortunately, the new owner seems to have discontinued producing the kits. I believe they still have some stock as it is on their web site. This building, as the others, is not finished, maybe another 20% left to go. I think this shot does give you an idea of how it will look. Imagine tons of rubble from this and the destroyed building across the street. The blown up Panzer IV will be sitting in front. The nine Sherman tanks from the Fourth Armored Division will begin here emerging from the arch and the line will run the full length, (8 feet, 2.4 meters), across the front of the diorama.

p.s. You will note the difference in the quality of the photographs. All but the last one were taken with a Nikon digital bought in 2001. It cannot approach the technology of this relatively new Canon
G-8. Click on images to enlarge.

Hope you like it!

Bob

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 6:32 am and is filed under "Logistics" Building SBS.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.