Diorama - 1/700 USS Ajax AR-6 & Knox FFs

[NukeMM]

This "Thinga-Ma-Bob" has stumped me for as long as I have been studying the inspiration photos.



Harry Abbott suggested that it looks like propane or air tank under the framing. I could only see that after Harry pointed it out.

I now think that it might be a portable compressed air unit or a portable chiller unit for refrigeration or air conditioning. Any other thoughts, out there?

[NukeMM]

Here's another little detail from the inspiration photos. A smaller "brow tower".

[NukeMM]

A few more details, this weekend.........

I added some parking stall lines for the cars an a white warning stripe along the edge of the dock.



I created some electrical switchgear boxes.........



And added some details to the LCM-8; railings, tire fenders, and life rings.......

[NukeMM]

Before I tell you what I think that these "might" be, I'd like to hear your guesses and suggestions before I try to replicate them. It'd be nice to know what I was trying to scratch build. They don't look like the same thing from these two different angles.




I know what these are. They look like trash dumpsters, to me.

[NukeMM]

Time is Up!

With no guesses or suggestions, here, as to what these items in question are, a veteran of the USS Ajax on their FB page suggested that they were 5" gun barrels waiting to be loaded onto the USS Ajax and stowed as spares for the ships that it may tend to in the future or to be loaded directly onto the FFs tied up along side.

My original guess was that they could be extra brows / gangways stowed on the dock.

Here is my rendition of what I see in the inspiration photos and from what the Ajax veteran shared.

[Goodwood]

That's some pretty good improvisational scratchbuilding there, Carl. Here's hoping for another all-around shot with yet more detail added!

Just one question thus far: do you plan to cut into the Agitated Water base at any point so the ships can nest in there a little better? If so, what tool(s) would you use? Harbor dioramas are a particular fascination of mine, and it's always enjoyable seeing them develop as well as the finished product; it'd be very interesting indeed to see a Battleship Row diorama. I'd build one myself, but photo-etch...and rigging!

Sean

[NCMac]

Goodwood,

it'd be very interesting indeed to see a Battleship Row diorama.

Have you see this? viewtopic.php?f=59&t=149477

Carl, sorry for the off topic post, no disrespect meant to your spectacular diorama which continues to blow me away.

[NukeMM]

That's some pretty good improvisational scratchbuilding there, Carl. Here's hoping for another all-around shot with yet more detail added!

Just one question thus far: do you plan to cut into the Agitated Water base at any point so the ships can nest in there a little better? If so, what tool(s) would you use? Harbor dioramas are a particular fascination of mine, and it's always enjoyable seeing them develop as well as the finished product; it'd be very interesting indeed to see a Battleship Row diorama. I'd build one myself, but photo-etch...and rigging!

Sean

Sean,

Thank you for the compliment!

I plan to merely place the ships on top of the Agitated water sheet with super glue and then fill in the thin gaps between the hull and the water with watered down Liquitex. The texture of the water sheet creates peeks of daylight along the water line. The Liquitex will fill in the gap, I can then paint the Liquitex with black, at the boot top. I'll use Model Master Acrylic Gloss Clear Coat to give the entire water sheet a nice finish.

[NukeMM]

Goodwood,

it'd be very interesting indeed to see a Battleship Row diorama.

Have you see this? viewtopic.php?f=59&t=149477

Carl, sorry for the off topic post, no disrespect meant to your spectacular diorama which continues to blow me away.

No problem, Mac! As long as you haven't started a chain reaction with your post. Ha!

[davidwaples]

Love the attention to detail Carl. There's so much going on. How often do you come back and find new things in the picture that you have to add?
Dave

[NukeMM]

Love the attention to detail Carl. There's so much going on. How often do you come back and find new things in the picture that you have to add?
Dave

Thanks, Dave!

Not too, many surprises left, I would think, unless someone comes up with a photo of the details that are hidden behind the repair ship. I'm having to be a little creative with such details. I've looked at other piers and looked for what some dockside services feature might look like and will try to incorporate them in my dio.

[Goodwood]

Are you thinking of taking some poetic license and populating the dio with (itsy-bitsy) figures?

[NukeMM]

Are you thinking of taking some poetic license and populating the dio with (itsy-bitsy) figures?

It has crossed my mind but, I am leaning towards not using them and this is why...............

1. I don't care for the 1/700 PE figures. I have some by Eduard but, I'd have to re-paint some of them for civilian garb.

2. I fear that placing the 1/700 figures next to some features in the diorama would screw up the scale proportions that may differ from some features that may not be exactly proportional to each other. Does that make sense?

3. I really only see one figure in both, original inspiration photos, and he is driving a forklift. I can park the forklift. Ha!

If this were 1/350, I'd be all for putting figures on it. That would be the most fun, I'd think. Arranging figures, here and there, with several little stories being told within the overall story of the diorama. That was the part of the fun with my USS Oyster Bay AGP-6 PT Boat Tender diorama as well as the USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 seaplane tender diorama.

[Goodwood]

Yeah, I know what you mean about over/under-scale elements being made apparent with the inclusion of figures (in this case two-dimensional metal bits). One episode of that Japanese modeling show where this one guy builds the Fujimi Kongo in drydock makes this readily apparent; he creates this big beautiful display base, complete with a light rail system, but unfortunately the tracks on the ties go up to about waist level (at least) on the hundreds of etch figures he includes.

[NukeMM]

Yeah, I know what you mean about over/under-scale elements being made apparent with the inclusion of figures (in this case two-dimensional metal bits). One episode of that Japanese modeling show where this one guy builds the Fujimi Kongo in drydock makes this readily apparent; he creates this big beautiful display base, complete with a light rail system, but unfortunately the tracks on the ties go up to about waist level (at least) on the hundreds of etch figures he includes.

I think that I'd have that same issue with just the curbs along the thoroughfares.

I took one of the Eduard figures and placed it next to the cars. The figure is a little short compared to the roof of the cars which are even 1/720 in scale.

[LE BOSCO]

hello Carl

I like your detailed approach of all the details present on your diorama
bravo
Nicolas

[NukeMM]

Well, everything that you see on the landscape, here, is now glued down. No more moving around, rearranging, or adjustments. Here's where they'll stay.

I'm still not finished with the dock details but, I think that its time to move on to finishing the ships. The very, last thing to add to the landscape will be the power line poles.

[NukeMM]

[Goodwood]

Excellent work, Carl, it's really come together nicely.

And now the big challenge...rigging the ships, gangways, and connecting lines (whatever they're called�gosh I'm a naval n00b)!

[LE BOSCO]

Hello Carl

I really like the realistic look of your diorama a great job
cheers
nicolas