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Post by grandtrunkfan on May 14, 2013 11:56:53 GMT -5
Im a little bored with my small town modeling, so I was inspired to model something that most of us wouldnt ever model. On a recent trip to Detroit for a Tigers game, I was in awe of the vacant burned out houses that streach for miles and boarded up, abandoned factories. For some reason, I wanted to do a freelance diorama depicting serious urban blight. The diorama will be roughly 2x3 ft, with a railroad track bisecting the diorama with a small, rail served scrapyard. A large, abandoned factory will be on the right, with a ripped up rail spur. My quick sketch:
Along the back of the diorama will be a warehouse flat with a small bridge to the factory building on the diorama. Along the left, a handful of abandoned houses, some burnt and partially collapsed, will line the street. I think Ill get an Atlas "Barbs Bungalo" house and some old trainset tall narrow houses and weather and kitbash them all. The old Model Power trainset houses and Barbs Bungalo are good matches for homes in the Detroit area. I wish I had room for a small abandoned apartment building.
There will be a backdrop with some photos of real Detroit skyscrapers applied to set the location. Something like this:
As far as a prototype for my factory, Im basing it off the enormous Packard plant. It will take time and patience to model something this bad, and make it look good:
And for small details, Im thinking some of Woodland Senics pewter streetlights will capture the look and nostaliga of the old streetlights in Detroit, that may or may not actually work anymore. I want to find some Plastruct 1960s era streetlights for the more "modernized" lights. Also some small, turn of the century fire hydrants would be cool too!
 
Hopefully I can start work this weekend, as Im gathering supplies and parts right now. I also have to see if I can make some room for it here in our apartment. If anyone has a kit or model they think would look at home on this module, please post it below! Stay tuned!
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 13:23:06 GMT -5
Sound interesting, very contemporary
Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards
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Post by grandtrunkfan on May 14, 2013 22:28:18 GMT -5
Sound interesting, very contemporary Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards Thanks! Ive wanted to do something different with my modeling. Seeing the sad state of Detroit, its modeling potential that is way to appealing. Im going to have my hands full just trying to model a house thats been looted, neglected, vandalized, and burned. Should be a good challenge! |
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Post by Packer on May 14, 2013 22:49:40 GMT -5
Not detroit!!! Miami kinda looks the same, IMO. But from a modeling prespective, it seems intresting. |
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Post by analogbeatmaker on May 15, 2013 0:06:51 GMT -5
Cool idea. I look forward to watching your progress.
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Post by m a y o r 79 on May 15, 2013 12:51:55 GMT -5
I like the micro layout concept, I've been tempted to build one for myself while I'm planning out my big layout. Something to keep my interest during all the planning. Plus it would make for an interesting diorama, and the chance to model something I normally don't do. There is quite a following for these types of layouts. Have you checked out the site below: www.carendt.com/ |
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Post by analogbeatmaker on May 15, 2013 13:21:57 GMT -5
I like the micro layout concept, I've been tempted to build one for myself while I'm planning out my big layout. Something to keep my interest during all the planning. Plus it would make for an interesting diorama, and the chance to model something I normally don't do. There is quite a following for these types of layouts. Have you checked out the site below: www.carendt.com/You could build a module. That way it will give you something to work on during planning and give you a dio. Then once the future big layout is finished the module could be incorporated into it...and be made removable so you'd still have the dio capability. |
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Post by grandtrunkfan on May 16, 2013 23:48:08 GMT -5
Definately! The vastness of abandonment and the fact no 2 abandoned homes in Detroit look the same, its just a nice challenge to model in my eyes. I like the micro layout concept, I've been tempted to build one for myself while I'm planning out my big layout. Something to keep my interest during all the planning. Plus it would make for an interesting diorama, and the chance to model something I normally don't do. There is quite a following for these types of layouts. Have you checked out the site below: www.carendt.com/Thats a neat site! Thanks for posting, I saved it to check it out in depth later. I figured thats why Id build this too, its something I would never model, but its a change in scenery and location. I am doing a 2x12ft switching layout that will be part of a larger, more complex layout down the road. This Detroit module is just something to fiddle with when the rual manufacturing town is boring me. I dont think Ill make this DetMo incorperate into anything else. |
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Post by iomalley on May 17, 2013 8:26:05 GMT -5
Detroit was a beautiful urban place at one time...
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