This is an introduction to the second of my planned diorama’s, it made sense to plan both at the same time so I could work out how much material I needed for the baseboard frames. Whitton-on-Lugg is purely fictional, another figment of my imagination so you won’t find it on any map. You will however find a real place called Whitton which is just off the B4356, four miles south of Knighton, in Radnorshire or if you prefer Powys. Whitton is situated almost midway between Presteign and Llangunllo, and was the fictional location for my old layout Penhydd. Like Llangunllo it is only a small village, but for the purpose of my latest fantasy I have come up with the idea of there being a smaller hamlet on its outskirts called Whitton-on-Lugg. There is little doubt in my mind that the Lugg Valley Railway, had it been built would have passed through the neighbourhood, and who knows – there might have been a small halt?
If you thought Llanbister Rd. shed was pushing my ‘less can mean more’ ideas to the extreme you haven’t seen anything yet, for Whitton-on-Lugg is purely an exercise in modelling a short stretch of railway in the landscape. I make no excuses for that, because landscape modelling is my main interest. I am forevermore coming across lovely scenes and think to myself, now that would make a lovely model. The same goes for buildings, especially those you see everyday, and yet probably take little interest in. The diorama has the same footprint as Llanbister Rd. shed at 1000 mm x 350 mm, and will share the same support system and cassette deck. The plan below was mocked up full size to prove that it would fit within the dimensions quoted.
I can well imagine some readers mumbling what’s the point of a couple of small diorama’s? Well I didn’t get it myself years ago either – but as I’ve said many times before, I’ve drifted away from operating, and am now happy to sit and watch trains pass through a scene, which begs the question why bother with a layout? Despite the small size of the diorama’s there is plenty of interesting, and challenging modelling to keep me occupied for a couple of years, God willing. There is also another thing to consider, for now that I’m beginning to push 70, crawling under a baseboard to carry out maintenance is a pain in more ways than one! So for me, building a couple of light, easily managed diorama’s makes perfect sense, and as a bonus I will be able to take them outside for photography under natural lighting conditions.
I bought a Petite Properties laser cut MDF modelof the ‘Blacksmith’s Arms’ at the recent Swansea show Geoff with a very vaque idea of doing a very similar diorama! So I shall eagerly await updates to this one!
That image is one of my favourite Ben Ashworth pictures. I totally ‘get’ doing in effect a cameo diorama, the opportunity to look around the 3D interpretation of that image it truly tantalising, crack on mate!
I’ve been wanting to model a scene based on that photo for years Paul, trouble was I couldn’t get it to work in layout form. Though it looks simple enough, there are some interesting modelling challenges there to keep me occupied..
Geoff
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your kind words, interest and support, my stuff has been described as being too ‘off the wall’ in some quarters, not that I’m offended:-)
Lovely work Geoff, it’s going to be a wonderful diorama!
Shame the O gauge vision didn’t become a reality but I understand the reasons. I’m toying with the idea of buying an O gauge Terrier myself…
Matt
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Thank you Matt, I’m busy working on the shed scene at the moment, so it will be a while before I start Whitton-on-Lugg.
I had been warned that ‘0’ gauge wouldn’t really suit my style of modelling, but I couldn’t resist scratching the itch:-)
Good luck with the Terrier should you be unable to resist 🙂
Geoff
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I bought a Petite Properties laser cut MDF modelof the ‘Blacksmith’s Arms’ at the recent Swansea show Geoff with a very vaque idea of doing a very similar diorama! So I shall eagerly await updates to this one!
Keith
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I look forward to seeing how you get on with your kit Keith, don’t let me hold you back and don’t hold your breath waiting for updates 🙂
Geoff
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That image is one of my favourite Ben Ashworth pictures. I totally ‘get’ doing in effect a cameo diorama, the opportunity to look around the 3D interpretation of that image it truly tantalising, crack on mate!
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I’ve been wanting to model a scene based on that photo for years Paul, trouble was I couldn’t get it to work in layout form. Though it looks simple enough, there are some interesting modelling challenges there to keep me occupied..
Geoff
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Hi Andy,
Thanks for your kind words, interest and support, my stuff has been described as being too ‘off the wall’ in some quarters, not that I’m offended:-)
Geoff
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Hello Geoff
Inspirational as ever, keep up the excellent work. I like to hear your thought processes, please keep sharing them with us.
Andy
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