Been building dioramas for several years and decided to join a forum. The below link should link to the most recent creation. It’s a Revell “snap” 1/25 Peterbilt slopping thru the mud. Other than sawing off the sleeper and shortening the frame, it’s a box build. Well, I did add the sun visor and tweaked/added a few other pieces from the junk box. It was built for a fellow that own’s a sawmill.
The base is a chunk of his wood. The “hills” are “his” treebark. The mud is “his” fine sawdust mixed in with acrylics with lots of clear on top to make it shine.
Question - and certainly no offense intended to this site as I simply don’t know it and therefore am speaking out of ignorance.
Is there an honest-to-goodness “constructive criticism” website (not social media) available for diorama builders…even if a “members only” kind of thing? Not judging, all praise, or all trolls? A place where only a few can even “speak” and say “consider trying X on Y next time…here’s why and how.” Nothing more…nothing less.
Looks good to me. Only thing I’d address is some mud under the bed between the drive axles, and and some on the steps into the cab. Driver and helper (if there was one) would track some there.
Most of the folks here won’t flame a build, and they’ve always offered tips to make something better. All you need do is ask.
G’day Mac. I think you will find that this is the kind of website that get exactly what you put into it. The folks here are all very supportive, but if you ask for comment, then you will get it. In my experience it’s always been positive, even if sometimes critical.
For my 2 bobs worth, I agree with Goldhammers comments and would add that I would expect to see some mud thrown up under the tray bed. However the ‘proof’ wording makes it hard to see detail, so you may have done this. A fantastic model and display. Good work mate.
Pawel, I think he sawed off the trailer to shorten the dio.
Like Dadgy said, you get what you put in. If you ask for feedback you will get it, if you show a build and don’t want any, just say that. Most folks on here are sensitive to that request. We all know that if you put something out there we are opening ourselves to some advice, most constructive, very few destructive, even if asked for.
Now on to your build. I must say, it looks like I can climb aboad and crank it up. It’s one of the best rigs I’ve seen on any forum. Sure maybe some more mud here and there but the detail you put it is impressive.
This is one of the friendliest forums on the web. A small few are better, most are OK and some are far to clickish and just simply a group of a**holes. I have examples of both extremes if you would like [:D]. Like most places though, there are some members you don’t want to get into a deep discussion with [8-)] Just sayin.
Thanks for the CONSTRUCTIVE feedback. It wasn’t expected based on what most forums seem to be - rivet counters, trolls, or endless praising stick figures like a Picasso. Selfishly, I’m here to try and get better…not be Mr. Popular or Mr. Jerk. Thank you again.
The mud turned out surprisingly well. The sawmill this was built for cuts, kiln dries, and finishes high end hardwoods. Peach, cherry, pecan, rose, etc. The colors in and density of that sawdust blend is incredible. The ultra fine saw dust removed from the dust bags on their sanders is like baby powder and works great. I simply mixed it in with Modge Podge and spread it like cake frosting. Acrylics were airbrushed over it, then oils, then heavy clear over the top. (Sort of like Night Shift Modeler on Youtube). I’m trying this mud/sawdust on some 1/35 tank tracks now.
As for the hacked off trailer, yeah, it is kind of weird. Overall length was limited to 20" and wanted some of the “raw wood” visible on the top. The trailer was a bargain basement Lindberg kit. “Planking” is 3 scribed and occasionally sliced/peeled up .010 sheets. Side rails and air lines were added.
Larger chrome pieces (that obviously weren’t painted) were redone in Alclad. Smaller parts received only a wash in very thinned out black oils. The interior is pretty well detailed and along with a driver.
For those interested in semi’s or “in the duldrums” wanting something decent, easy, and cheap to dink around with, try one of these Revell Peterbilts (they also have a Kenworth) for about $25. They can be slapped together in a couple of hours with almost no glue. Decent detail and minimal flash, warpage, etc. The only real problem area is the tire/wheel fit.
Last question.
What can be done to improve kit supplied headlight lenses? I lightly scuffed the back side, applied a dark wash/filter, then applied heavy dose of “pouring clear” on the outside. While better, the depth and overall effect still come up short IMO.
Mac, I’m certainly not a car modler, but I have seen a few guys (Uncle Night Shift, Plasmo ETC.) attach a piece of clear plastic inside the lights for a lens. I must say though even with close ups, your lights look good. The air cleaners look a bit plastic but there’s not a lot you can do about that short of scratch building them. I swear I could get in that thing and start it up, push the airbrake knobs and start rolling.
I think I have a good pointer for the headlights for you. I found out that mixing silver and white works well here. To be specific, on a silver area you try to put on a white spot too look like light reflection. Some people get even better results trying to paint the reflection of the horizon in the lense… Anyhow, here’s an example of what I managed to do with headlights that were solid styrene:
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