Category: Diorama Development

Diorama Development7 Comments

Small Shelf Layout #1: 130cm x 21cm – Timesaver & Inglenook

traiNmaster

Hi, this is traiNmaster again. It has been almost 3 years since I did any major modellling work. My office diorama is now completed and well, on display in my office. I placed it near our customer team DB Fernverkehr (DB long-distance; the ICE group) since it is an ICE-theme diorama. I popped by occassionally to make sure that the ICE does not derail 🙂 My mini ICE-diorama in office My previous segment layout is no more. I have thrown away the 2 large end-modules and 3 of 6 segment modules. I kept the other 3 so that I could … Continue reading Small Shelf Layout #1: 130cm x 21cm – Timesaver & Inglenook

Diorama Development, German RailwaysLeave a comment

Mini Diorama for Office

traiNmaster

I found it therapeutic to work on a model railroad in spite of its size. While my larger segment layout is stowed in the cellar for the time being, I found a small piece of wood 46cm x 11cm that makes a nice mini diorama for my office desk. I took a piece of medium right Peco turnout and laid some concrete Peco flex-tracks to each end of the wood. I used a 3mm cork roadbed which was made from cork wall panels (available at hardware stores). The platform at top end is also made from cork. I am modelling … Continue reading Mini Diorama for Office

Diorama Development, German RailwaysLeave a comment

First DCC Run on ICE Diorama

traiNmaster

I have not abandoned the ICE diorama at all. Yes, as I said before, the ICE diorama is a test bed for me to try out things before I put them on the larger segment layout. Finally, I took out my NCE PowerCab and gave it a trial run with Kato P42 Genesis #52. Sorry if you were expecting ICE on this run, despite the name of the diorama (note to self again: stop calling it ICE diorama). Anyway, #52 is the only loco that I have added a Digitrax decoder some 10 years back. I did some shopping at … Continue reading First DCC Run on ICE Diorama

Diorama Development, Product Review2 Comments

Second Gift from Dremel – A Dremel 3000 Multitool

traiNmaster

Yet another surprise from Dremel. At the end of the 2-week product test, my story about the model railway diorama using Dremel DSM20 was selected as one of the best 5 storyboards/videos. The 5 of us and 10 other active testers were given a Dremel 3000 multitool. It will be handy for me to work on my diorama and eventually the larger layout. I look forward to test this tool and give a review here. I have the earlier version, now retired Dremel 300, which I bought 2 years ago. Continue reading Second Gift from Dremel – A Dremel 3000 Multitool

Diorama Development, Layout Planning, Planning Book, Product Review3 Comments

Dremel DSM20 Compact Saw – A Product Review

traiNmaster

I was fortunate to be one of the 200 selected test users from Germany to test Dremel’s latest compact saw Dremel DSM20. I was surprised and excited when I received the package last week, just as I was starting my Christmas holidays. I wanted to use this time to complete my ICE diorama rework, which you all know, has been moving rather slowly. Besides finding some time to work on it, I was also looking for the right tools. My colleague lent me his jigsaw, which is helpful for cutting curved shapes but to do straight cuts a circular saw could be helpful. … Continue reading Dremel DSM20 Compact Saw – A Product Review

Benchwork, Diorama Development, German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Teaser Photos from ICE Diorama Rework

traiNmaster

While finding the time to write more about my ICE diorama rework progress, I thought it would be nice to share some photos since Day 1, from to to Hey, what is that American doing on a German track? Importing US technology to Germany, a reversal from the ICE 1 Amtrak in the 1990s? Facebook Album (public view): germaN160 Model Railway Diorama Continue reading Teaser Photos from ICE Diorama Rework

Diorama Development, Layout Planning, Planning Book6 Comments

Track Laying – ICE Diorama Rework

traiNmaster

I am spending only 3-4 hours per week on model railway. Not a progress I would like to see especially if I am going to build a large layout. Last week, I marked all the drilling positions on the plywoods and determined the track centres on the baseboard. This week, I drilled the holes for the marked positions and completed the frame. As I am using 6mm thick, poplar plywood for my diorama, I had to use 2.5mm thick wood screws. I taped a small piece of sticker on the drill bit to mark the 16mm depth. And the finished product is … Continue reading Track Laying – ICE Diorama Rework

Benchwork, Diorama Development, German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Experimenting with Module Building – ICE Diorama Rework

traiNmaster

For the last 2 weeks I have not been active in this blog instead have been active in a German model railway forum, developing my track plan together with a few modelers. I will get back to that topic at a later date. In the meantime, I have visited a large handy mart Hornbach and searched almost every row and corner for something useful for my layout and diorama. I got most of the tools I needed for model railway construction as I have zero to start with. So the initial investment in tools will make a major dent in … Continue reading Experimenting with Module Building – ICE Diorama Rework

Benchwork, Diorama Development, Layout PlanningLeave a comment

20cm Space Brings Wonders to N-scale

traiNmaster

As I looked back into the photos of my ICE diorama (to be reworked and completed), it strikes me how much space 20cm offers to N-scale. I always think that bigger is better. More space for more things. But sometimes, more space means find things to fill. And we start putting everything that we can get our hands on and fit them in. Perhaps, if we take the minimalist approach to modeling, we strike a balance between railway and nature. Ponder for a while. I started with a piece of hobby pine wood 80cm x 20cm in 2012 and did … Continue reading 20cm Space Brings Wonders to N-scale

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ICE Diorama: Reposts from My Other Blog

traiNmaster

I am reposting by way of links my ICE diorama progress. No further work has been done on it. In fact I have dismantled part of the tracks as I did not like the results. I will post my rework here. For now, here are the earlier postings: 8 .Oct 2011: German Model Railway Diorama 29. Oct 2011: Track Alignment 30. Oct 2011: Base Preparation 2. Nov 2011: Artist’s Impressions 2. Nov 2011: Need A Tunnel? 3. Nov 2011: Not a Time to Tighten the Curve 5. Nov 2011: Modelling Toolkit 6. Nov 2011: Laying Tracks and Superelevation 6. Nov … Continue reading ICE Diorama: Reposts from My Other Blog