The Square Foot Challenge.

 The modelling competition for the 2022 New England Convention was “The Square Foot Challenge” 

The rules were simple and not to hard.

1.    Competitors will need to build a diorama that is a square foot in size or 300mm x 300mm.

2.    The diorama must be railway related.

3.    There must be a small section of track (any Scale or Gauge) included

4.    Other items can be whatever you like, Structures, Bridges, Mountains, Scenery, Signals, Rivers, Crossings Level Crossings.

 

There will be prizes for first, second and third place. Photos of a few samples dioramas were include on the form.

The last time I entered a diorama competition was back in 1976. 

The AMRA Qld Branch ran a diorama competition “Depicting a Typical Queensland Railway Scene” in conjunction with the Redbank Railway Museum Open Field Day. The trophy still hangs in the train room today, if I’m correct, the QR Commissioner of the day made the presentation. I do have a photo of the diorama, all I can say is one’s modelling skills has improved somewhat since.

As you can see, I’m not a big fan of building dioramas. I guess the question is what to do with them once completed, plus the work and time that goes into them could be better used for your layout. For a few years, I have been reading MRH, some of the photos in the magazine are taken on dioramas with a natural setting as the back drop. This could be something worth a try. Looking at the layout, a few structures are kits and were used as a quick fix to fill real estate and sometime down the track they could be changed out. Changing structures is a good way to refresh the layout. Maybe structures for the diorama could be added to the layout? Of late I have been doing modelling demos on the NMRA Div. 1 stand at exhibitions. A diorama would be a great method to demonstrate what can be achieved. Many small scenes joined together can make your layout. 

A few Tuesday Nighter’s, (all NMRA Div. 1 members) started making some noise about doing a diorama for the convention, all top secret stuff.  From time to time a few scraps would land on the floor at meetings, some were asking others what others were doing. 

I started thinking how about doing something different for a change, let’s toss the hat in the ring. Putting on the thinking cap (yes, that could be dangerous), it had to be a QR scene, being a foot square, it would be freelance, something small and some selective reproduction would be needed. A Branch Line setting came to mind where a small train could be included, to achieve this the track would need to be corner to corner across the board, a curve would make it more realistic and would add a few extra millimetres. The scene had to tell a story. Being a static scene, I needed a reason for the train to be stopped. A small station setting would fill the bill nicely. Most station had a house for the Station Master/Station Mistress.  Across the state on the QR Network there were various locates where husband and wife were both employed. The guy was a fettler (Trackworker) and the lady was a gate keeper (operating lever/grade crossings) or a Station Mistress that would accept and deliver parcels and goods, in some isolated locations this could include the local Post Office carrying out postal matters. At some crossing stations, the guy was employed as a Night Officer (afternoon shift-safeworking qualified to cross trains) and his wife was the Station Mistress for day time business, goods and parcels etc. These locations had “Gate Accounts”, all freight sent to these locations had to be prepaid. Gate Accounts was a simplified version of Station Account used by Station Masters.    

Having set the scene, with a small station, a house and some track, now let’s tell the story.  The house side of the line was made a level higher to avoid a flat baseboard. Plus, it gives the appearance the track formation is cut into the landscape a little. Sheet cork was fixed to the plywood base with additional layer to form the elevation section. 

Buildings/structures were from John Armstrong book “Modelling the Queensland Railways Scene”. 20’ x 12’ Office and Waiting Room was shortened to fit. Likewise, the old style “Fettler’s Cottage” was modified to fit. The plan shows a detached kitchen out the back, the rear section of the house was altered to fit the kitchen within the house. This plan is available on the “Modelling the Railways of Queensland” website. http://www.zelmeroz.com/album_model/drawing/ja_fettlercottage.pdf 

Both building was built from Evergreen scribed styrene (Clapboard) sheet, windows was scratch build using various size styrene strip. Window framing on Australian timber houses differ to that available in moulded window frames from Tichy Train Group or Grandt Line Products. The roof was made to be removeable. 

Detail was added to the veranda, Tichy Train Group #8093 “Turned Spindle Porch railing on one side and the other side was enclosed to make a sleep out. Rooms were added using sheet. 

1 mm brass rod was used to make the down pipes.

Window shades (scratch built) only fitted to on one side of the house.

Western side may be ??

The gutters are Evergreen •060” angle styrene. 

 

Something to think about next time is the ridge capping should go to the end and cover the fascia board as well.

Roof vent was purchased from Queensland Railway Miniatures. Power box on the side of the house adds realism. 

Some veranda furniture (table & bed) were scratch built, the chairs are 3D printed available from Mini Prints in Canada. The bottle on the table also came from Mini Prints. The drinking glasses on the table are cut down bottles. 

For lighting, 0402 SMD LEDs were used, as an experiment, the LED’s were placed in corners pointed towards the windows. Lighting was added to the veranda and the front two rooms of the house, the station awning and to the power pole. 0402 SMD LED’s purchased off EBay were used. 

Curtains were added to the windows to hide the lack of furniture. Frosted styrene used for the curtains came from a box of chocolates. Hardware stores sell a rattle can of frosted glass spray that could be used. Some modellers use this product for weathering as well. The door knob in the front door is a pin.

 

A pin was used for the door knob. Power box adds detail to the structure. Having the shutters open shows the building is in use. It would be nice if I had of check that the roof was in the correct position before taking the photo, then the light would not be visible.  ??

Power pole with light details came from a Luke Towen video. Tichy Train Group light shade was used on the power pole.  

The roof on both building were Evergreen Metal Siding # 4526 (·040” spacing, ·040’ thick), individual sheets was scribed into the sheet. 

 Vallejo paints were used to finish the models. 

Being a fetter’s home, a small trolly shed was made from a cotton reel and sheet CGI. The cut in half used rain water tank was placed on stumps to provide a shelter. The idea came from a similar structure that was at Murphy’s Creek.  A “flat top” trolly was made from styrene, “N” scale wheels were regauged and fitted to the body. Tichy Train Group tools were added to give a “in use” look.    Tichy Train Group drums were filled with various shapes of styrene (rod/strip) and were added around the shed for drums of rail plates, fishplates, dog spires etc. A bin chicken (“Ibis”), 3D Platform Printing item, can be observed on one drum looking for something to eat. Also in the area is a speed board (yellow) and a mile peg on the other side of the track.     

The scene being “off the grid” or isolated from a town water supply, tanks were added to both structures. Some rust was added as if the tanks had a small water leak. This was common practice on most lines around the rail network, additional water was supply by train. Small tanks were place trackside and allocated trains during the week had a water wagon attached and carried out “roadside” watering duties. The tanks are 3D printed and purchased from another local modeller. One tank has a flag (folded 44 gal. drum lid painted white) to advised approaching train crews that water was required. Thus, the water wagon on the train.  

With the convention being held in October, no better way to set the time period than with a couple of Jacaranda trees in full bloom with their purple/lavender flower. The tree were made using the twisted wire method. Ross Hurley article on “Why Not Model Gum Trees’! in the Australian Model Railway Magazine, Issue 306, June 2014 method use used. 

Foliage was added by stretching ”Woodland Scenics” Poly Fiber (Green FR178) over the branches. Added to the fiber in the usual way using your favourite spray adhesive (dilated white glue for me) was Flower Soft “Lavender”. This is a product used in card making, not cheap in 30 ml jars and now hard to purchase. We now use lavender “Super Leaf” scale leaves. The flowering season of Jacaranda trees does very across Australia, December we were in Adelaide and the flowering was coming to an end.  The other tree has “Heki” flor stretched over the branches.   

To add activity to the display, a BBQ scene was made. The table and chairs were scratch built from styrene using plans found on the internet. 

 The BBQ was scratch built with styrene brick sheet. The flicking fire was made from a $2.00 battery operated “T” candle available from cheap shops and various other stores. The lights can be purchased in plain white that flickers or flicking changing colours. The one I had in the cupboard was a coloured one with flicking changing colours, red, orange, blue and green. The candle was pulled apart, the button battery was store in a safe place to be used at a later date. All that is required is the light assembly to which I added a 1 K resistor. To block out some of the light, various part of the bulb was painted black. The unit was fitted into the BBQ and connected to the power supply.  Some small fallen tree twigs painted black in parts were added around the bulb to give a built up fire look. Some of these twigs were staked to one side of the BBQ as fire wood to keep the fire burning as cooking progressed.

$2.00 battery operated “T” Candle. I have used these candles in various applications on the layout. Camp fire at the cattle yard with a drover boiling the billy, laundry copper and drum fires for burning rubbish etc.  

The blue esky beside the BBQ was scratch built, steak, sausages, plates etc. there made from styrene.  The bottles and glasses (cut down bottles) are “Mini-Prints” 3D items. These are also on the veranda tables but they don’t show up in the photos.

Given there is some greenery in the Jacaranda trees foliage, the leaves have commenced falling to the ground making a mess. 

“Ground Up” static grass was used as ground cover, a couple of shades were mix together. Once set, the grass was air brushed with a couple shade of brown at random to take away a uniform colour.    

Back end of the house on one side I added an open laundry beside the rain water tank. The wash tubs and water tanks are 3 D printed. The cloths line was made from styrene and invisible (nylon) cotton from the bosses sewing room was used for the line. The pair of shorts pants on the line was cut from a plastic shopping bag, being of light material, they flop around a bit with air movement.

At the back of the house is a boy playing. To ensure there was something on all sides of the display, some country living was added the final side. A horse from the scrap box, his drinking water was provide in the form of an old bath tub, another local 3D printed item. On the veranda is a man welcoming guess arriving by car. Car tracks were include when applying the static grass. 

At the start I indicated maybe the diorama could be photographed outside using a natural backdrop.  The next two photos show the diorama in front of the computer screen with a screen saver showing. 

These next two photos the diorama is still in front of the computer screen, the backdrop is photos I have taken, the Dalby Flour Mill on the screen.

 

In this photo the backdrop photo on the computer is a Dalby fuel depot. Signage could be an era issue for some layouts. 

More practice is required here, the diorama is sitting on my deck with the western sun setting.

In the final stages leading up to the convention, bits of information started came out from the local boys on who was building dioramas for the convention. Some of these guys were electronic nuts, I began thinking they will have all sort of bits, gadgets and whizzbang things with flashing lights etc. If I was to stay in front, I needed to lift my game. At the time I was watching Laurie McLean MMR videos on YouTube and how he added animated figures to his layout and rollingstock. Sitting on the workbench for some months was a small motor with a gear box attached. Another modeller had purchase it thinking he could use it to build a loco. There was a few things he didn’t take into account making the unit useless for his project. With a bit of playing around the unit fitted into the front room with a flywheel attached. A standing man with one arm in the air was drilled across the shoulders to take a ·5 mm brass wire, the arm was them cut off and reattached using ·5 mm brass wire allowing the arm to move. Passing the arm wire through the front wall of the house it was bent to form a crank. Using another piece of brass wire it was added to the arm crank and attached to the flywheel. With the motor turning the arm would move back and forward. The motor/gear box unit is available on EBay for under $10.00. Two types of gear arrangements are available, in line or at 90°. The unit makes a bit noise when running and needs fixing to the floor. Had I planned this from the beginning, the guy would have been more visible.   

The photo shows the motor, gearbox, flywheel and cranks. It also shows the frosted styrene in place for the curtains.

This is a future project in the making, a few more tests are needed. 

Below is the power supply arrangements. A 9V battery was used to run the lights and the motor. Simple PC board strips for positive and negative connections. All lights had a 1K resistor attached.  Adjustable resistor was added to the main feed to control power feed from the battery for the lights (subject to brightness of the room) and the speed of the motor for the waving arm. A new battery lasted about 3 days. 

Yep, well, that could have been a bit better with some neatness.

 Rollingstock;

The DH locomotives is a FNH (Chiver’s) etch brass/white metal kit power by a North Yard (NZ) mechanism.

The “S” wagon was scratch built using styrene. More about the wagon can be found in  October 2021 blog. Westgate - South Western Rail: October 2021 (westgateswr.blogspot.com)

The “CV” Guards Van was scratch built using styrene. More on the van can be found in October 2020 blog. The van has since been modified by fitting a latching reed switch to activate the lights with a magnet.    

Westgate - South Western Rail: Composite Van 286 (westgateswr.blogspot.com)

Outcome:

All up, four Queenslanders did enter the competition, on the big night, three were called up in dispatchers. The fourth entre was a mountain scene, this was this modellers first time he had done scenery or even attempted modelling a scene, and a mountain scene at that. I don’t think he was far off a place, I can’t wait to see his layout once the scenery starts to take place. All award winners were all NMRA members who have or are taking part in the Achievers Program (AP’s).   

The diorama did take out 1^st place at the Convention and thanks to SDS Models I have a new NSWR 81 class loco on the layout. 

List of Items used.

Mini-Prints: (Canada) 3D printed items; Dog, veranda chairs, bottles and glasses (cut down bottles) on the tables.  https://www.miniprints.com   Great service and postage does not cost an arm & a leg. 

Platform Printing Australia: 3D birds, Ibis & Brush Turkeys. Local Company, great service, often at local exhibitions/shows. https://platformprintingaustralia.com 

Stephen Johnson Models: 5cwt Avery platform scales.  http://stephenjohnsonmodels.com.au 

Queensland Railway Miniatures:- House roof vent                                                                                     http://queensland-railway-miniatures.square.site 

Local Modellers:  3D printed items; Rain Water Tanks, Bath Tub, Laundry Tub. 

Figurines: Various brands. Preiser, Woodland Scenics, Walthers, EBay. Mostly I purchase bulk packs of unpainted figures. 

House Paint.     (Airbrushed) Model Air # 71.334 Flanker Light Blue

Station Paint. (Airbrushed)  Model Air # 71.132 Aged White. 

 Roof:-  Model Color 70.957 Flat Red. (Hand brushed) 

Both structures were dusted with a light coat of dust. 

If you thinking of building a layout and it looks too big to tackle, bit by bit, foot by foot, wins the race. Many diorama make a layout. Having a scene that tells a story adds interest to the layout and provides interaction between modellers.  

Sorry things are running a bit later, currently painting the house, in doing so finding timber that needs replacing and other repairs which is dragging the project out. Still quite a bit still to do. 

Then there was Christmas and all those parties. 

Trip to Adelaide with a visit to the National Rail Museum, this loco looked a bit familiar. 

To come home we jumped on the “Great Southern” for a three day trip back to Brisbane. 

The last few months there has been various visits to doctors and tests for prostate cancer. Guys, make sure you have regular PSA test, it was looking not to bad until a biopsy was done, I will have surgery next week to remove the prostate. Things one does to get back to modelling?? 

Happy modelling 

Arthur H.