I've recently started working on the next video, basically it is going to be an old gold mine diorama. I know what you're thinking... That's pretty boring because all we'll see is a hole in the side of a mountain... However! It's going to be built as a cross section diorama so you'll be able to see all the tunnels and interior of the mine as if the earth has been sliced away revealing the internal structure. As you can see from the image above, I've been doing a few test on creating the dirt/rock structure inside the mine shaft. I've decided to line the interior walls with rock castings using some of the Woodland Scenics rock molds and then blend the joins with some plaster of paris or a similar product.
The foam I'm using is foam insulation board (Extruded Polystyrene) most commonly used for as the name suggests 'insulation' but it makes for great diorama bases and I've used it as the main base for my model railway layout. It's very versatile and strong yet lightweight which is perfect for portable train layouts.
As for lighting I'll be adding small LED lights along the malls to illuminate the inside of the mine, I'm not sure what LED's I'll be using just yet? I may use the Woodland Scenics Just Plug lights or depending on price I might just order some micro LED's and wire them up myself... I do plan on using quite a lot of LED's so I'll more than likely wire them myself and power them with a portable battery mounted in the back of the model. Filming has commenced and I'm just waiting on some extra rock molds to arrive and a few small HO scale mining figures that will be working in the mine once it's finished. Stay tuned :)
3 Comments
Hi Luke, found your site via the tall trees video. Had to chuckle because I've just begun a 9 foot diorama which will end up with an old, small, gold mine (not the interior). What you're doing sounds interesting. There was something similar, many years ago, published in Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette. Looking forward to seeing yours.
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Val borchardt
18/1/2018 14:30:19
Looking forward to seeing your bext tutorial Luke.
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Duane Oliver
2/3/2018 16:37:47
Mr.Towan , you sir are a very gifted modeling artist. I am so glad I found you on You Tube by accident. I have ordered all the tools from The Hot Wire Foam Factory Co. ,and all the other supplies from Woodland Scenics.My intention is to use the Mine scene on the backside of a Mountain on my new 5’ / 9’ Ho layout.Iam thinking l will install a mine train of some sort in side the base of the Mountain to creat some interesting inter action with the mine operations . Thanks for a wounderfull Idea ! I all so signed up to be a modest patron . Cheers from the USA .
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