Diary of a 26" x 14" H0e Forest Layout

[Beaver]

You have obtained Keiben Sanka issue 11, now how about issues 1 to 10?

 

It comes out once a year, after the Keiben Matsuri in September. Sakatsu Gallery usually have back issues in their shop in Sugamo, Tokyo and online.

 

Note; issues 1 to 9 used Roman numerals for some reason, so be sure to refer to the Roman numerical system when figuring out which copies you have.

[Kingmeow]

  

On 12/3/2024 at 4:57 AM, Martijn Meerts said:

I really need to stay far away from any IMON store next time I'm in Japan. If I visit one, it'll probably bankrupt me. At the same time though, I do want to see all the cool stuff they have there 😄

 

The book looks really interesting. There is plenty to find online with the correct search terms, but having it all gathered in a book is always a lot nicer.

 

 

Super Kids Land, especially the one in Osaka, will bankrupt you and the neighborhood you live in!  Imon is child's play compared to SKL!  😁

Edited December 4, 2024 by Kingmeow

[mags_minibuilds]

Honestly, I chose the #11 issue because of the diesel cover photo as recently I assembled the Sakai engine. I wanted to buy all the issues but didn't want to burden my sister to carry them back. I will be going to Osaka in June so perhaps I can get more. I found a bookstore in Namba, Osaka that might have a few.

[mags_minibuilds]

It was a very meditative and organic process to paint these rocks. Only the protruding rock faces were weathered as the other areas will be covered by greenery.

 

Applied a wash of a custom mixed of brownish gray

 

Dry brushed some White, Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre colors.

Applied a brownish-black wash to selected areas.

 

Dry brushed a Vintage White for highlights.

[Kingmeow]

1 hour ago, mags_minibuilds said:

I will be going to Osaka in June....

 

(Flailing arms) Danger Will Robinson!!!

 

You have been forewarned.  🤣🤣🤣

[cteno4]

Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.  
 

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

22 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

  

 

Super Kids Land, especially the one in Osaka, will bankrupt you and the neighborhood you live in!  Imon is child's play compared to SKL!  😁

 

I'm safe, didn't spot any World Kougei, Modellwagen, Westerwiese or IMON brass kits in the 5th floor video walkthrough 😄

 

[mags_minibuilds]

Finally glued the trestle bridge in place to be able to start working on the river bed. Added some real dirt that I sanitized (baked in the oven) and sifted to separate the fine sand from the rocks. I brushed on a thick layer of Mod Podge and added the rocks then sprinkled the dirt/sand to the rest. At the end, everything was affixed with a scenic water mixture. The color of the real dirt seems to complement my faux rock forms.

 

One step closer to how the finished diorama looks like after adding the fascia. I traced the 1/8" plywood around the profiles of the diorama and used a bandsaw to cut them out. Then I used Titebond wood glue and clamped. I'm always surprised how strong Titebond is adhering wood-on-wood or wood-on-foam, no additional fastening hardware was needed.

 

My vision is to bleed the terrain all the way to the edge so you won't see the lip of the wooden frame. I have a bit of touchup to do around the whole perimeter of the diorama. I also embedded the DC power socket in the front face of the diorama.

[cteno4]

Stunning mags! Kudos!

 

jeff

[mags_minibuilds]

Just a few quick updates. The momentum has slowed down a bit due to recent home improvement projects, motivation and other things in life. I'm hoping to finish this layout within a few months.

 

This is the current state:

 

I used Sculptamold and Plaster of Paris to blend in the edges of the diorama. The dirt ground has been added by using grout, I like the minute color variation, it's not just solid with one color.

 

I had made 29 skeleton of trees using coconut fiber by following this YT tutorial. I may make a total of 40 just to make absolute sure I have enough as it's hard to tell how many exactly I'll be using and I want a very dense forest.

 

 

[mags_minibuilds]

Flocked 45 trees and made a few trunks out of balsa dowels. I bought the balsa dowels on Amazon and it came in a few different diameters but they were only 6.25" in length, but it will suffice. It’s surprisingly difficult to find round balsa dowels in the US, plenty of hardwood dowels but I needed the softer wood to roughen them with a stainless steel brush. They aren’t all finished yet, they will be kept to the side for now and I’ll finish them up towards the end once all the ground cover is in place. Looking at the quantity and how much real estate is on my diorama, I highly doubt it'll fit them all but at least I can pick and choose the ones I want.

 

[gibet_b]

Really great micro layout !