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Chuck Doan
Crew Chief
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 Posted - 10/24/2005 : 3:25:46 PM
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I decided to start a construction thread of my current project. Although it is in 1/16 scale(!), and is not exactly a railroad theme, I am hoping some of the ideas might be usable in any scale diorama or layout scene. I have already tried a number of new ideas that I plan to use when I come back “home” to O scale.
Concept
This will be a simple small diorama that will serve as a display for my Dad’s 1/16 scale die cast Fordson tractor. The background will be the wall of an old barn, with some associated clutter. It is being built on a “stage” that will slip into a lighted, wall mounted display case. The tractor is slated to undergo some “slight” weathering, although the full extent has yet to be decided. (My Dad doesn’t know that part yet!)
Research
I love old barns and tractors, and I started by doing some research on the Web. I did am image search using Google, entering names such as Barn, Barns, Mail Pouch barns, etc. Fortunately, a lot of photographers share my interest, and I found many great pictures of old, wonderfully decrepit barns. One of the better sites was a photo sharing forum called flickr.com. I recommend this site for many other subjects, try searching subjects like Rust, Peeling paint, Rural decay, and Weathered wood (and, of course, Barns!) It’s also worth looking at some artist sites, since many painters are trying to create the same effects we are! With a folder full of photo inspiration, I started to come up with a concept.
This is a crude sketch of the concept. As you can see, the wall measures 7.5” high x 12” long. The base of the stage is about 7” wide. I didn’t have nearly enough room for all the neat “barn-ey” features I found, but this may prove a blessing due to the level of detail I am planning to do!
Construction
I am going to tackle the background wall and base first, and then the tractor. Here is progress so far. I have begun applying individual boards to a piece of ¼” thick foam core that serves as the foundation for the wall. Horizontal stripwood stringers were glued on as a frame for the siding. The door and one of the windows have been cut out. I will eventually add some bracing to the backside, as the foam core warps easily.
Wood prep: I started with Midwest brand basswood. My LHS carries the fractional sizes I need in this scale. (For example, a 1 X 12 board is made from 1/16” x 3/4" stock). I sanded the surface with 400 grit sandpaper, and then added grain with a wire brush. I added splits with a #11 X-Acto. I experimented with adding rough cut saw marks to some of the boards by dragging them across the edge of my disc sander. This is a subjective technique, but well worth it in this scale since rough cut boards were commonly used in barns and the circular marks really show up well. I chawed up the bottoms of the boards with the X-Acto, picking sideways with blade. Luckily, a lot photographers find rotting wood charming, so I had some good reference photos. The knots were made thusly: disc sand a piece of square stripwood roundish and slightly tapered, and cut off. Drill a hole in the board, and press the “knot” in, small end first like a cork. Glue in from behind (basically same as the toothpick method I read about by modeler Bill Miller). Some of the knots were made in an oval shape as well. I then added some insect damage with a dental pick. Then I did a final light sand with 400 grit sandpaper to de-fuzz as much as possible, but not lose grain detail. Finally, I scrubbed each board lightly with short stiff paint brush to clean out the grain.
Finish: I used Builders In Scale Silverwood stain, about 5-8 applications. I applied some Bragdon powders using an artists stump, trying for some of the color variations found in old wood. I used black, gray’s and browns. I then “washed” the powders in a grain flow pattern by brushing on Acetone. The paint was applied one board at a time, by first brushing the surface with Paint thinner, followed by a couple of brushed out coats of Floquil Polly S Oxide Red. After a minute or so, I took Scotch Magic tape and lifted the paint in a random pattern. Then I lightly scuff sanded the paint with 400/600 grit sandpaper to dull and fade. The faded water stained bottom method: I stopped painting right about I wanted the fade to start. I took a small stiff brush dampened with Acetone and wiped bottom up. Acetone lightens the Silverwood stain. I then applied Bragdon white powder. I washed and blended the powder with acetone until just a trace of grayish white was left. I then took a sharp tipped brush and carefully applied Silverwood along top edge of fade line and other spots, almost as a dry brush since Silverwood spreads and creeps easily if too much applied.
BTW: PLEASE USE THESE ITEMS IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!
Here is a close-up shot of a portion of the wall. I have installed the door sill, but still need to add the white trim pieces.
Here is a close-up of the sill and some of the nail detail. (this kind of detail is why its a blessing I only have a small part of a wall to do!) “Nails” are .022 brass wire, cut about 3/16” long. Sand one end flat. Blackened and then pressed into pre-drilled holes. Rusted with Bragdon rust powder applied wet with a sharp tipped brush. Last step was applying some Silverwood stain around the heads, very carefully, just a touch with an almost dry brush to minimize excess flow. Shake the bottle of Silverwood and then loosen the cap just a bit so some flows around the threads. When dry, dip brush in Silverwood, then mop up some of the dried stain and you get some really dark stain. Be careful though, it is permanent! I tried this around some of the nails too.
Of course, a lot of this nutty detail will be hard to see when the scene is installed in the display case. But then, rational thinking has never been a part of my modeling process!
That’s about it for now. I’ll keep adding pictures as I make progress. There’s still a lot to do for such a “simple” project!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 979 |
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Rick
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 3:37:46 PM
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Incredible Chuck. Those last three closeups might as well be from a real barn. Outstanding!
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Country: USA
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postalkarl
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 4:04:50 PM
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Chuck:
Your barn wood is incredible and looks very much like the barn that was dismantled for reassembly on my X Father-In-Laws estate right down to the knot holes and the rotting wood. His barn had nowhere near that much red left on it though. All the paint was gone. But the hint of red looks great and gives the impression of a once painted barn. Cant wait to see the finished product.
Karl S.
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Chuck Doan
Crew Chief
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 4:11:38 PM
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Rick and Karl, Thanks!
It's hard to come up with wood weathering that looks natural, rather than "tooled". But, I keep trying! One thing I have noted while looking at the many photos I found on the Web, was the amazingly different ways wood and paint age!
I've been enjoying the research as much as the modelling!
CD
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| Posts: 979 |
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MikeC
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 4:28:04 PM
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Chuck, yours is some of the most masterfully weathered wood I have ever seen on a model! I absolutely want to give your method a try. That's the look I was trying to achieve for a small shed (in HO) on my Quincy Salvage diorama. But I didn't come anywhere close compared to what you've pictured above. Thanks for the how-to. I've already copied the info for printing out later, and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man. I have a railroad to run.
Visit the Central Missouri & Southern
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Country: USA
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Karl Osolinski
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 5:19:25 PM
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Hello, Chuck,
Remarkable work.....best I have ever seen.
Karl Osolinski
Berkley, MI
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teejay
Fireman
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 5:31:04 PM
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When it looks better than the real thing , what can you say ? Truely amazing .
Terry
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 5699 |
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Bbags
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 6:00:21 PM
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Chuck,
Just to echo what everyone else has already posted this is some of the most realistic wood I have ever seen.
The rotten wood and the nails in the picture of the door sill are amazing.
I look forward to watching this project with great interest.
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John Bagley
Modeling the Alaska Railroad in HO in Wildwood Georgia
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Country: USA
| Posts: 11963 |
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Dutchman
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 6:36:50 PM
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I find that I'm out of superlatives to describe that rotting wood! Simply fantastic.
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Bruce
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Darryl L Huffman
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 6:51:38 PM
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Chuck,
At the Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland, Oregon, you had your engine house on display.
Just as you entered the contest room, on the immediate right was one of your Dad's display cases with a Caterpillar being worked on.
I had always assumed that display was built by your Dad. Is that correct? Or was it down by you?
If your Dad still makes those great display cases like he advertised in the Doll House magazines for years, would you let us know how to get them. A lot of people would like to build small dioramas like you are showing here, but they need a great little display case like the ones you Dad makes.
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Peterpools
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 7:03:17 PM
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Chuck .... Simply Amazing!!!!!! I've showed the photos to a few guys at work who are model builders and they though; why in the world would I be showing them pictures of old barn wood. They thought it was the real deal. No greater compliment! Disney couldn't do better. The best of the best!!
Peter 
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Tyson Rayles
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 7:24:57 PM
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Awesome!!!!!!!!!!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 7007 |
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Marken
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 8:42:10 PM
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It's already been said...simply amazing.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 2663 |
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ANo10
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 10:06:58 PM
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Chuck,
Beautiful. The board ends and rotten sill are amazing.
Jim
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Country: USA
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TrevorCreek
Crew Chief
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Posted - 10/24/2005 : 10:50:37 PM
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Chuck,
Frank
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Chuck Doan
Crew Chief
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Posted - 10/25/2005 : 10:39:55 AM
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All,
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! I'm having fun with this that is when I can get to it! I found several web sites for companies selling used barn wood. Good reference pictures. Its nice that people are saving barns that would otherwise be lost; I just wonder if any farmers have gotten up in the morning to find their barn missing! (and later gracing the sides of somebody’s vacation home!)
Darryl, My Dad made that diorama. I weathered the Cat, but he built the display and scratch built a lot of the details too. He has been selling his display cases direct at dollhouse miniature shows, I’m not sure if he still advertises in the magazine. He doesn’t have a website so I’ll ask him how one could contact him (it may require snail mail!).
Chuck D.
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