Sunday, July 28, 2019

New video: How to scratch build a scale model house - Part 2

Here's Part 2 of my three-part series showing you how I construct a miniature building. In this video I show you how the main structure all comes together, as well as starting on some of the detailed architectural features like the front porch.


How to scratch build a scale model miniature building Part 2



At the end of Part 1 this is what the building looked like:



And here's where it is now:



As you can see, a lot of the overall shape and detail has been added. There are so many textures and angles and sub-assemblies on this build, it's really a challenge in organising myself.

Add to that the fact that it's not a very weathered or dilapidated house like I normally build, and I'm finding this build an exercise in discipline. I can't hide any mistakes under a layer of dirt or peeling paint. I can't cut wonky angles and just say to myself "Oh it's an old place, it's worn away there". I miss the wear and tear, but I'm enjoying the self-discipline required for this one.

Part 3 next week will be all about the groundwork and garden, so come on back then for that.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
How to scratch build a scale model modern house - Part 2

Cheers,

Dave



Saturday, July 20, 2019

New video: How to scratch build a scale model house - Part 1

Over the last few months I've had a lot of people ask me to video step-by-step what goes into making one of my miniatures. So with my latest I've decided to do just that.



video tutorial how to scratch build a scale model house


I'm currently building a commission piece, of a specific house here in Yarraville. It's a lot more modern than what I have previously built, and it doesn't have much weathering, peeled paint or falling-down stuff. So this is a bit more of a challenge for me, to make something more pristine - I don't have the safety net of being able to cover up any mistakes with dirt or grime!


The original house.


I expect this will be a three part series. In this Part 1, I build the front structure of the house. It's not a particularly systematic approach, I just happened to start with this section first.

As you'll see, there are no incredibly tricky techniques involved - it's all a matter of planning, measuring and having the patience to see it through.

Keep an eye out for Parts 2 and 3 in the next weeks.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
How to scratch build a scale model house - Part 1

Cheers,

Dave



Sunday, July 7, 2019

New video: My completed TV & Hi-Fi repair store building

Here's my latest miniature - the Footscray TV & Hi-Fi Repair store. It's a building near where I live, and I love it. the paintwork is so weatherbeaten, the signwriting is so faded, that I just couldn't resist recording it in miniature. Plus, as an added extra, I've confronted my electronic ignorance and added internal lighting, wooooo!



Footscray TV and HiFi repair store miniature



Here's a comparison of the miniature and the actual building.

Footscray TV and HiFi repair store miniature


The building itself was a pretty straightforward build, even if time consuming. But when I was doing my final photography of the completed artwork, I somehow shook loose a desk inside the room. It was rattling around on its side, and the entire building was all sealed up...

So as you'll see in the video, I gritted my teeth and opened up the roof. There are some uncomfortable noises during this process - some coming from the miniature, and some coming from me.

However, I decided that since I was ripping the roof open I may as well try illuminating the interior, because as it was all that beautiful scratch built detail just wasn't visible in the dim interior. So I went to my local electronic bits and pieces store (is there a better term for that???) and confessed my ignorance to the guy there, and he drew me a great and idiotptoof diagram. As a result, I now have a shopfront with an illuminated interior - yay!

Footscray TV and HiFi repair store miniature
Hurrah, it worked!


It just goes to prove you can teach an old dog new tricks. (As long as you spell it out in very simple terms...)

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Scratch built model miniature: TV and HiFi Repair Store

Cheers,

Dave