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Chama diorama ( Nn3 )
Chama famous coal tipple - sand house and water tower completely scratchbiuld in real ... wood ( gess yes? )

You can follow this project also on my favourite forum : http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12559

Click on pictures to display in a new window

Unfortunately, when I start to think to this site, the Tipple was already finished and I can't start to take pictures of construction steps. Here I try to suggest a sequence to follow for scratch building this very complicated frame structure as well some tips about "not usual" tools and " techniques " I found effective in my experience.

First of all : documents.
Put toghether any picture you can find in the Net, on books and magazines ( print on your printer or make photocopies and collect it in a binder : this can preserve your heart from collapse when you glue accidentally two pictures or just when wind spread all around any paper you have )

As second : have scale drawings.
If you can't find a drawing already done ( as me ) try to make your own from pictures. Select front and side pictures and using one know detail as window/door or a man in the picture to set the main dimensions. Have "working" copies of the drawing too to "destroy" without panic.

Select materials ( available commercial castings for windows, etc. and walls and roof ) : having clear in mind what you can use set also the next step : prepare some jigs for repetitive parts ( remember that is very difficult to re-make left and right sides exactly without any fixed jig, specially if is a frame structure )

I've made the walls gluing strips of wood on a cardstock base
(see a picture down here).
This is a terrific tedious way to replicate the real world but can have fantastic results : you choise.
Remember: any detail is related to the scale you work and to your "rivet counting feeling" .

Suggested sequence for the tipple is: first do the engine house - prepare the left and right side frames ( use a jig !) - then the front frames - prepare the internal walls for coal - cover the back wall and proceed with the back frames - after all put all details (lamps-pipes- buckets ,etc)

Prepare a base for your diorama: I use two balsa pieces glued in the middle because I have to carve it for the coal charging hole under the rails.

I've used a brass etched grill to cover the coal hole.

An unsolved problem was to replicate the old fashion lamp: at the moment I can't find a way to have a working light ( maybe use of fibre optic can help to fix this )

Stairs at base and a little chain on the coal lift to complete the Tipple
The Sand House : here is how I prepare the walls.
In this case all strips are glued at the same level, but in the tipple house I need to overlap any strip ( more or less 1/3 of the bottom strip is covered by the top one). Remember: never glue windows and door before paint it.

Sand House roof : I cover the roof with a thin wood sheet and, using a brass sheet ( I've found in electronics shop ) I cut in strips. I use this also for the tipple roof.

For the house I've bunched the rivets on the back side using .... a little wheel I've found in an old ink-jet printer used to guide the paper ( Italian imagination !!! )

See to this side photo for this "special" tool.

Sand bunker was preliminary filled with white plaster shaped as sand. Next step will be to cover with some real sand ( must be very fine ).

Sand tower was prepared using a jig for the two sides.
And then glue the front braches .
This way alignment is simple
Ruler in centimetres give an idea of the size
I select the N scale also because I prefer the "overall sensation" that a model can give you and in this case a "good enough" detail level is depending on your patience and your feeling.
Waiting for final details :
Sand bucket on tower, piping for sand ...
The sand buck was made using a short wood covered with the "usual" brass sheet.
Rivets are made with the "usual" wheel tool.
Electrical brass wire is used to simulate piping glued with CA.
Sand is .... real sand taken from the beach.

A cover of paint is covering any defect, taking in account that in "N" scale a building is viewed from a "flying bird" point of view.

Some whethering emulate rust. Try this: take that pen alchool colors used for little fixing on wood ( any house color shop have it) , give some color ... better more. Then deep a clean brush on pure alcool and diluite the surface of your model working from top to bottom. Rust is growing on metals on the rain-exposed surfaces, and rain falls from .....

Ohps! I forget to have a place for the Water Tower too.

... no problem: I've buy some additional estate using more balsa .

     
 


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Last update :
Nov 2009

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