Micro Ace Station model. Inbetween diorama project.

[valkyriepm]

Hello guys!

As I am waiting for the tracks to start on my new layout, started this little project. This is the Micro Ace station kit http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10262648 , it's a fairly old and basic kit but interesting to model. I had to add a 2mm plastic strip to get the edge of the platform closer to the tracks, as it was too far away and in scale, people would have to take a little run and jump on/off the train :P

 

I'm using pictures of the Sakuragi station for inspiration and weathering, wich someone mentioned this kit was based on, or at least is pretty close.

 

Hope you like it!

 

 

Martin

[cteno4]

Excellent work as usual Martin! Nice weathering and cracks. Those little microace kits are nice. I especially like the little onsen kit, something I could see you having fun with!

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10262649

 

Jeff

[valkyriepm]

Thank you Jeff! Interesting kit, it could even be put on a layout. It'll come on my next buy for sure!

 

Martin

[Kiha66]

Nice job martin, its looking really good!  Looks like a fun little build, and you get a nice display diorama at the end!  I may have to pick one up myself!

Edited March 17, 2017 by Kiha66

[Thankyu6300]

That looks really awesome. What's your technique for doing the Tarmac, it looks really realistic

[velotrain]

Excellent job on the structure weathering and the platform surface.

[valkyriepm]

Thank you guys!

Thankyu6300: The tarmac on the station hall is a neutral gray as a base, then a dark grey light wash and a heavier black wash. Then make divisions and cracks with an ink pen 0.2

 

Martin.

[valkyriepm]

Hi guys! Little update on the station. Finished most of the building and hall interior. Basic colour on the outside. Still have to add details all around the building before starting with the vegetation. Hope you like it!

 

Martin

 

[velotrain]

Very nice - you'd (almost) think it was wood ;-)

[katoftw]

Looks fantastic

[valkyriepm]

Hello guys! Finished this little dio! It was fun to build but left me wanting more o_O 

As you can see, car, people and train are from Tomytec. I hope you like it!

 

Martin

 

[bill937ca]

Very good!

[medusa]

A nice station bonsai. ;)

[Kiha66]

Great job!  Love how it came out.

[cteno4]

Kudos yet again Martin! Well done little dioram! Love the banzai tray/base!

 

Jeff

[velotrain]

Instead of an isolated diorama, you might consider building scenes like this as T-Trak, to allow eventually running a train past the station ;-)

 

Of course, it would force you to run the track parallel to the edge of the box - unless you build a series of small modules to your own standards. 

 

Another possibility would be to build free-form scenes like this and then connect then with short sections of track, sort of a freelance FREMO . . . .

[cteno4]

It's a diorama Charles. Some people like to just build a diorama now and then. Martin loves scenes and is an expert craftsman/artisan.

 

Jeff

[valkyriepm]

Thank you all for your comments! I'm really happy you like it.

Jeff and Charles: I think you are both right. I love making this little scenes and maybe t-track would be a good development to it. As I was planning a bigger layout, the problem of space and time of construction of it all was something that bugged me. Maybe I should consider to adapt my design to t-track and work the modules as dioramas. I realized that I can't stop adding detail to a scene and in a normal layout it would take forever. So, I think that yes, that would be the answer ;)

 

Martin

[Kiha66]

If you're interested in small modules, you may want to do something like this. I've always loved the idea of such layouts, and hope to do something similar myself one day.

http://space.geocities.jp/popoya2008/menu.html

[inobu]

Really really good technique with the greenery. The one bush on the end of the building caught my eye. That's good work!

 

Inobu

[JR 500系]

Beautiful work! Great job!

[cteno4]

One of the JNS members Sir Madog, did some wonderful modules based on this format of U modules

 

http://japanrailmodelers.org/pages/modelingjapan/minimodules.html

 

http://japanrailmodelers.org/photos/minimodules/index.html

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/4166-the-beginnings-of-a-desktop-layout/

 

doing little dioramas that are not functional is a great way to focus the eye on just the scene and forget about dealing with functional layout stuff, interfaces, forced track placement and angle, etc. Something that anyone can learn from doing it some. 

 

cheers

 

jeff

[kvp]

I like the high detail level. Originally this was a quick but simple live vegetation diorama with actual growing grass and it was turned into a really nicely detailed model diorama. Imho even ttrak is too big to build at this quality level in reasonable time.