Here is a diorama I built as a xmas present for my sprint car racing fanatic brother , The cars are 1/24th scale kits from monogram I got them off ebay since they have been long out of production . I used model master paints on the finish for both cars . I weathered the racing tires of both cars with real dirt . As for the dirt track surface in the diorama it also is real dirt, sand , clay and earthlike ballast all finely sifted to simulate a worn dirt track surface during a race . I used artist oils and pastels to simulate the racing groove and moisture spots on the racing surface where the cars would drive over looking for extra traction during a race as a dirt track quickly dries out during races . The base and cover for the diorama came from a local craft store . Now all that is left is to keep it out of sight from my brother when he visits my home until christmas day . I hope the photos show up its been quite some time since I posted any photos here .
Earl, really nice work on the cars. They came out great!
If I could suggest one thing though, I would say to add in some…how do I put this?..“wake” coming off their tires, like a wake from a boat, ya know? To show that they’re in motion, and sliding around that corner like real cars would. You can build up some ridges or berms of dirt on the outsides of the tires’ travel paths, and that would go a long way to making this diorama come alive. You might press in some horizontal “lines” in the track going in the direction they’re moving like tire tracks, basically to show that it has been well-traveled and raced. I think this would add a little “kick” to the action in the scene!
All in all, I think he’ll be thrilled with it though!
The cars are fantastic, but the kicker is motion as Doog mentioned…tracks and rutts in the groundwork would make it pop…Now I’m trying to figure out how to make a dirt rooster tail!!! GREAT WORK!!!
Thanks for the compliments about the diorama I will have to take your advice and add some tracks in the dirt to make this diorama scene seem a little more realistic. I might just build another one in the future since I seemed to enjoy it . Glad you liked the photos .
As a former Sprint Car crew chief (track got rid of the class) The only thing I can add besides what has already been said anbout the track "dirty "them cars up too they look way to clean…just my 2 cents and 20+ years of crewing race cars (everything from the old Busch North series to Demo Derbies lol)
