Association of

Shrewsbury

Railway Modellers

Meeting 7th November 2018.

 

Creating a diorama - Talk by Andrew Vaughan.

     Andrew Vaughan very kindly agreed to step in and fill our presentation spot when our scheduled speaker was unable to attend.

 

     As Members already know Andrew produces a bewildering range of fine scale brass kits across a wide range of scales for railway modelling and other modelling purposes. Details of his products can be seen on his website which I urge Members to re-visit if you have not done so for a while. The site can be found at www.SevernModels.com. Part of his display stand which he takes to numerous model railway exhibitions include small dioramas (about 3” square) of his brass kits which are assembled and set in a realistic scenic surrounding fully finished and painted. These show what can be done with the kits he manufactures with a little care and attention to detail.

     At our November meeting Andrew simply did not talk about how he went about producing these dioramas but brought along all his bits and pieces to demonstrate the actual making of a small ‘0’ gauge diorama based on a garden scene. This featured a shed, cold frame, garden implements, wheelbarrow and other pieces from his range of kits. He showed how he achieved a near completed scene by painting from priming to finishing with acrylic paints and drybrushing. More details on which can be found in his Painting Guide which is on his website and to which I referred previously. He showed how to make the fencing by use of matchsticks, and how to add some texture to the base to resemble soil by painting glued down fine sawdust and scatter material.  The use of good quality brushes was highly recommended. Weeds were simulated by the appropriate use of scenic material under fence posts and in other corners of the diorama. Plants in pots and in the ground could also be represented by selective use of the various scenic materials which are now available. Any glazing could be achieved by using acetate cut to size and glued with spots of PVA but not superglue or plastic glues.

     He also showed how working in different railway modelling scales could be achieved including N gauge. Examples of his work in this respect could be seen from the collection of previously made dioramas he had brought along.

     A far better presentation of Andrew’s techniques could be achieved by a short video or by a series of photographs. In this respect Sam Ryan and Ian Payne came to my rescue by having far more foresight than I by taking the attached photos of Andrew’s garden shed diorama which he virtually completed on the night as well as other dioramas he had previously created for display purposes at exhibitions.

     Peter Cox, our Chairman, expressed on behalf of Members the Association’s appreciation for his stepping in at such short notice and for giving such an enthralling and skilful demonstration of what we could all aspire to in our own modelling terms.

     As a follow up to the presentation Nick Coppin proposed an ASRM Challenge whereby Members were encouraged to produce a diorama to show after the AGM in April next. No prizes and no rules were to apply – one’s diorama could be of any scale, any gauge, railway-based or not, and of whatever size. Just have a go and it should be great fun. Further details are in the email Nick has already circulated to Members.

David Evans

November 2018

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