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Comments
Wired up the forge simulator today and it works. Next will be to install it. I also placed most of the large indoor castings and put the walls up. I'll continue to detail the interior then install the lights. Pictures to come...I want to get some outdoor shots.
Wiring this small can be tricky but the end results are always worth it......Rick
ya know, that forge effect is really cool, but it's placement is pretty deep in the building isn't it? will anyone be able to see it?
Placement is not a problem Kevin. This shot is from the front of the diorama. The forge has a great view.
last year my daughter took me to the chicago arboretum and they have a collection of bonsai trees that are 300 + years old and would make great g scale trees....
https://www.chicagobotanic.org/gardens/bonsai
Eric, dancing is a nice description. Always want a little movement in my trees.
Phil it's not as hard as you think. The trees start as a bundle of wire as seen in first pic. I hammer in 2 nails about 15" apart and wind the wire around about 30 times. It's 26g floral wire. Twist like seen here...long side is the tree, short side the roots. Start twisting until you get the basic structure. I covered the trunks and as much of the branches as I could with DAS clay. Brushed on a couple layers of latex on the tips to hide the twists. Knots and cavities can be added on easily with the clay. After it was dry I brushed on glue and sprinkled on dry leaves that were sent through a coffee grinder. Then brush the tips with glue and use a static grass applicator and add long grass fibers to make the fine branch tips. Spray paint dark brown then I drybrushed several colors of brown and gray followed by a final wash with IA. Brush the fine tips with glue again and put on short dark grass for the pine needles.
After the clay is dry and before painting I secured them to the piece of wood using a drywall screw. There will be a hole in the bottom from the screw and I'll insert a small dowel to give support on the dio.
Oh, and I hope my blacksmith can find the right hammer somewhere in here.
Excellent. Makes me smile. In my area we have several pairs of nesting great horned owls. Sometimes when I am out walking before sunrise I can hear and see them on chimneys calling to each other, then out of no where I feel a whoosh over my head only to see that one of them just buzzed near my head before lighting on a saguaro or rooftop. They are incredibly amazing predators.
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ
I ordered a really nice owl from Shapeways but he turned out to be too big to fit in the hole here. This one came from Wiseman. I'll try to touch up around his eyes a bit and tone down the beak after seeing this photo.
All of the castings have been painted now and I'm starting to place them around. Still working on tractor construction. Once I get the interior castings placed, I'll start wiring lights. AlexR made me a support to hold the diorama in place while I wire underneath. Seems he did not think I should hold it in place with a paint can and 1-2-3 blocks. Thanks Alex!
Terry