Had some time this evening and decided to make a surfboard to go with the roof rack that I completed yesterday for the 1:64 scale diorama. Wanted it to look vintage, so I decided to make it out of wood with a nice seal. I started with a popsicle stick, cut it to length, trimmed the sides, then started sanding to get the right dimensions. For a fin, I cut a piece of card stock, attached it with super glue, then coated the whole board in super glue to give it a nice finish and shine. Pretty quick and easy project, took maybe an hour or so.
1:64 Scale Surfboard For Diorama Beetle
September 30, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Diorama Update / 1:64 Scale VW Beetle Roof Rack Version 2
September 28, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Even though I was happy with my first attempt at a 1:64 scale roof rack for the diorama Beetle, I knew that I could do a better job with it. I re-thought the design and started from scratch again. Small paper clips were still used for the frame. Instead of trying glue anything, I soldered it together with a much smaller tip on my soldering iron. For the wooden slats, I used strips of card stock soaked in super glue. I was a little more patient with this attempt and I think it turned out much better. I may give it a 3rd try in the future, but I’m much happier with this one than I was with the first one.
Diorama Update / 1:64 Scale VW Beetle Roof Rack
September 20, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Since I had fairly good success making the swamp cooler for the Beetle diorama, I wanted to continue to add by making a roof rack for the Beetle. I kicked around ideas for materials and finally decided to use small paper clips for the frame. I didn’t want it to look new, so removing the kinks from the paper clip gave it just enough wear. I used needle nose pliers to bend and shape the frame, trying my best to keep in to scale. I also tried different methods to hold the frame together. JB Weld didn’t work very well and it was very clumpy. Epoxy didn’t well either and like the JB Weld, it was clumpy. I had a little success with super glue gel, but in the end, it just didn’t work out. I ended up soldering the parts together. It’s still a little clumpy, not too bad. For the wooden slats, I was going to use a popsicle stick, but the scale wasn’t so great. What I ended up doing was folding a piece of paper 4 ways and gluing it together. This gave me a good thickness that was close to scale. After the glue was dry, I cut it into strips, dunked them into stain and let them dry. I did use the super glue to secure the slats to the frame. All in all, I’m pleased. It’s not perfect, but building one from scratch at this scale is very difficult.
Diorama Update / 1:64 Scale Swamp Cooler
September 17, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Working on the diorama is always a good way to pass time on rainy days. I haven’t had any updates to it since the end of winter, but had an opportunity to add a couple of things this past weekend. I’ve been wanting to add a swamp cooler to one of the shop beetles, but finding material to build one at 1:64 scale proved to be a challenge. I ended up finding a few pieces of plastic tubing in my “junk drawer” that seemed to work perfectly. I can’t remember where they came from or what they were initially intended for. I didn’t take photos of the entire process, but basically these 2 pieces of tubing, a little super glue and JB Weld got the job done. I’m pleased with the way it turned out. Next project for this shop beetle is a new roof rack.
Diorama More Bits and Pieces
January 22, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Just a few more bits and pieces and this project will be done. Lenora has inspired me to do a 1:43 or 1:18 scale diorama in the future. The biggest satisfaction is making most of these pieces from scratch, most of them, you can’t buy at a hobby shop or anywhere else. When I first thought about this many months ago, I was hoping for an aged, neighborhood shop where everybody takes their car to be worked on late at night, over a few beers and some good music. I think I’m pretty close to that.
Diorama Update
January 19, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
Added some new items to the diorama that I’ve been working on, mainly the tool chest. I had to build this one from scratch to get the right scale and I think it turned out very nice. It’s made of plexiglass (top) and the drawers are made from wire holders for old DB9 connectors. I also made a couple oil barrels for used oil, they’re made of old diodes. I try to make as much stuff as I can from scratch, makes the process more interesting. I also got the headlights and taillights painted on the flatbed. It’s coming along nicely.
Diorama Lighting
January 14, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
I finished wiring and management of the lighting system for the diorama. I’m very pleased with the way that it turned out. Best part of the lighting system is that it’s controlled remotely. The LED’s, remote control w/remote and battery pack cost less than 10 dollars. Once I had everything in place, it was just a matter of doing a little wire management and tucking everything out of site. I also finished the detail on the Rat Rod Beetle, but still have to finish the detail on the VW flatbed. Now I can concentrate on the details and button this project up, it’s gone on way too long now. I’m sure I’ll add to it from time to time and switch things up, but so far I’m happy with the direction I’m going with it. Great way to pass time and relieve stress.
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