1:35 Diorama with a Thunder Models tractor with loader

[zak]

I have decided to try to do another tractor diorama, the tractor has not arrived yet and so I am making the surroundings while I wait the arrival of the tractor - the title may change, so be warned.
Here is the work so far.

[MSea]

Are the walls plaster of Paris and then scored or are they part of a plastic building ??

[zak]

Are the walls plaster of Paris and then scored or are they part of a plastic building ??

The walls are foamboard coated with DAS and then the stonework scribed in.

[zak]

Metal gate under construction.

[zak]

Dry stone walling - cat litter and PVA glue.

[MSea]

I have 3 boxes of assorted size cat litter - amazing what you collect as a modeler, and I don't even have a cat !!!!!

[zak]

I have 3 boxes of assorted size cat litter - amazing what you collect as a modeler, and I don't even have a cat !!!!!

We have never had a cat either, useful for modelling though.

[MSea]

very

[chriswil42]

Different grades of cat litter for different scales?

[zak]

Different grades of cat litter for different scales?

You just have to sieve it.

[MSea]

I sieve into 3 sizes and then grind some in a mortar and pestle for dust.

[zak]

Here is more progress on the barn and the base.
The base is chipboard framed and the has Artex or the equivalent material spread on it, it will eventually be painted.
The building is made from foam board coated in DAS air drying clay and then the stones are marked in with a scriber. These were then painted and given a number of different washes.
The roof is card slates - well not slates, more like thin stone slates, painted and weathered,
I still have to add gutters and downpipes.
The doors are scribed card that has been painted and weathered, they still need door handles.
No tractor yet.

[zak]

The tractor has just arrived, it is essentially the same as the Airfix one but has a bucket on the front and a container on the rear.
This is a 1/35 Thunder Models US Army Loader, I will probably finish it in civilian guise of some sort.
I will not go through the build, expect for where it differs from the Airfix tractor.
So while, the barn and its base dries out, on with the tractor.
I have already spotted extra etched material - very coppery coloured and some nuts on the sprue, these were not in the other, they fit around the engine casing.

[Red Lancer]

Looks like I'm going to be lost for words again!

[zak]

The numbering of parts has been transposed on this kit, Airfix seemed to get it right on their instructions.
I have added a fan belt again from Tamiya tape, some twine like material is provided, I also replaced the nuts supplied with some hexagonal ones, I added the leads again.