The Italian Job----- IT'S DONE!!!!!!!

[John Everett]

I've made some final decisions about the setting and details with the building; although the story and topic of the diorama has not changed.

I've decided to go with Italy and a residential building as opposed to a commercial establishment such as a pub or cafe.

Google Street View has been a huge help in finding colors and textures for the scene. These are from a little mountain town just inland from Anzio. (I have to figure that most of these small towns have changed little in the last 1,000 years, much less since 1945.)












The last cobbles (Hurrah! ) are installed as well as capstones from 5mm cork.

















This will serve as my color reference for the stone house from MiniArt.




The cork is getting near to the painting and the grouting stage. That's when things will change dramatically in just a few hours of work.

Thanks for stopping by!
John
Coldbasementmodels.com

[TRM]

Beautiful john!! Can see where this will come alive quickly soon!! Keep burning that midnight oil!!

[deafpanzer]

Man, loving everything about this... keep it coming!

[kaytermarram]

Looks fantastic, really great work!

Frank

[John Everett]

Thanks for stopping by!

A flurry of glue and cork and we're ready for base coat.







Light tan and off grey acrylic airbrushed. I use water based color for fear of solvent damaging the foam.


Also began the most basic of interior work on the house.

[wbill76]

Looking good with the paint starting to fly John. Nice set of reference pics too!

[desertrat]

absolutely corking job (sorry) looking forward to this one, good idea using g-maps for colour ref etc,

[Leon]

John this is looking amazing ! Like the direction this is headed.

[M1Carbine]

John - looks awesome!

Bob

[John Everett]

More colors, plus additional rockwork.


I hope to be able to grout the scene tomorrow. Putting down grout is a 3 hour time commitment as I must visit the diorama every 20 minutes to sponge off the grout haze. If you've ever installed tile in your house you know what I mean.






These will look nicer once I can get in some oil based washes and then add some yellow/brown/ocher colors with artist's oils.





Rough-in with stone around the back of the building. I had initially planned a different layout for the patio and rear of the building. This plan changed once I decided to go with a residential structure.

I'll fill in the empty spots with epoxy putty and small gravel. The rest, I can hide with vegetation.





Overview thus far.






Thanks for watching!

John

[kaytermarram]

This looks extremely well done and balanced! All those structures come out nicely and lifelike and, after seeing it, I think the best way to make cobblestones is the cork method. And the best way to get crazy, I suppose! Btw, what did you use for the rocks?

Frank

[TRM]

Things are really coming alive quickly now John!!

[reserve]

Yes, I have played tile setter before. Can't say as it's my favorite. This project looks labor intensive, but you're making a beauty out of it


Regards,
Mark

[John Everett]

Jan 15, 2015 5:48:10 GMT -5 kaytermarram said:

Btw, what did you use for the rocks?

Frank

These are resin castings from a model railroad mold. Woodland Scenics makes rubber molds for rock castings.

The grouting process begins in earnest:

Mask the places you wish to keep clean. Tile grout is "anti-clean" by nature.



It is very, very easy to add too much water to the mix. I like the spray bottle for its gradual application of water.




Like toothpaste.




Press it in with enough force to ensure all the gaps are filled.









The key to grout- The lowly sponge. (I've named this one Bob.)

The sponge must not be wet, only damp. Too much water in the sponge will wash away the grout. A damp sponge will clean without removing too much.




Cork's texture presents itself here. It makes all the labor pay off.









Gutters will need additional polishing once the grout has stiffened up a little.




All of this will lighten up as it dries. Staining and weathering to follow. But I will need to get working on the house before the weathering can be completed.

House next!

Thanks for watching.

John

[Leon]

John! Your time and effort are really paying off .The grout work looks fantastic.

[John Everett]

Thanks, Leon.

Been doing some staining and airbrushing with enamels.

Gratuitous close-up pictures.

[Leon]

Looking better and better with each update John! The staining looks great.

[kiwibelg]

Hi John,
This is an excellent reference for anyone wishing to learn on how to build a diorama. These step by steps are extremely informative!!
Some dio stuff you have to buy, there's no two ways of getting around it  but I'm a firm believer in using your own ingenuity. What you have done with the cork and other home made elements is just superb!!
This is exactly the type of scenery that you can  still come across in Europe, as you mentioned, not much as changed in the smaller mountainous areas.
I really admire your approach to these projects, can't wait to see that foliage up in there!
Cheers,
Shay

[kaytermarram]

This is a base to drool for, unbelievably realistic! The cork unterground could not look better and the whole base is simply fantastic. I am more than only curious how you will handle the vegetation!!

Frank

[406 Silverado]

Wow this is looking pretty damn awesome John. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while. I used to use grouting this way as well, works and looks great.

[Marcel du Long]

Wooo, good job, very convincing & nice sbs!
You scored a triple wooo. =+)

Marcel

[deafpanzer]

This just keeps getting better and better... I am blown away already.

[John Everett]

Getting started on the floor and fireplace. Floor tiles printed on heavy card stock. The stonework around the fireplace will be finished in polymer clay.

[Leon]

John this is looking fantastic.

[kaytermarram]

What other superlatives may I find? Nothing whats not been said before, this here is outstanding. And hell am I curious for the furniture!!

frank

[tommy1drop]

Excellent work John, looking forward to the next update.

[desertrat]

wow brilliant so far!! and yes, spongebob did a really good job on the grouting!! keeping my eyes peeled for any more cartoon related puns, lol.

[John Everett]

Thanks for following along, everyone!

Slight change of plans with the fireplace. Instead of polymer clay I've decided to go with Formica panels. There are a couple of reasons; But mostly it's down to the fact that very little of the fireplace will be visible once the roof and ceiling are installed.

Formica samples! Usually free from your local home center. A quick and easy way to create very good stone surface effects.




Many styles even have a neat 3D effect.



Contact cement over a solid surface is how this material was designed to be attached.





Limited viewing angles, thus not much need for super precise joints in this case.


Fume hood and cook stove to go.


Thanks again for stopping by!

John

[TRM]

Some superb work there John!! Nice to see the grout go down! Really ties things all together! Neat trick with the laminate chips...LOL!!

[deafpanzer]

WOW! I admire your work... please keep it coming!