Sergio Leone Movie Set Diorama

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

The first pic has just two subjects on a square.The second pic is three subjects on a circle.I think that I will go with the circle.
Why? the circle idea gets rid of all the boring squareness.It also allows me to add other element to the story that of the robber baron Morton's private car, which I can finished inside and out if I want.It also makes the whole piece viewable from just about any angle.It means that I can eliminate the windmill and water tank and concentrate more on the real elements of the story.I can add things like painted scenery out of Morton's car windows etc...
I can see this whole piece going on a turntable moving a 1 RPM.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

In the first of the 2 pics above, the first one gives you an idea of the closest I come with this piece to a front or primary viewing angle.The second pic of the locomotives side will actually will actually be a fake locomotive built for the sound stage.I plan to built only half of the locomotive with the half facing outwards showing the built up structure with all the wooden braces and scaffolding etc...Where you see the piece of tape will be approximately where the empty directors chair will be placed.
The boxcar will actually be the luxury coach belonging to the robber baron Morton, where a lot of the action takes place.On the outside of this car I plan to put a screen about half the cars length long with a phony backdrop of monument valley.
The caboose will actually be where the opening scene takes place and will consist of a passenger car cut in two with a shack built on one end.I also plan cutaways facing outwards, of the insides of the passenger cars.From the inside view everything will look normal as in a real sound stage.
There will be no tender as I want to maintain a good view of the cab with all that interesting stuff in there.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[Don Johnson]

John, what is the track arrangement that allows three cars to essentially be perpendicular to each other?

 

[JohnReid]

This is a sound stage diorama and is in no way meant to be the real thing !

 

[JohnReid]

The tender is back in ! Like I said this is still an evolving piece.
I figure that it will fit nicely within the 3 foot circle and I can expose the locomotives cab by simply leaving the outside sidewall off.
Remember that this piece is a model of a sound stage with everything on the perimeter showing a behind the scenes look at these models as representations of props used in the making of a film.From the inside where the directors chair is everything appears normal and ready for the actors to walk on stage.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

This is the instruction booklet from the 30 year old used kit that I will be building in G or 1/24 scale (officially 1/25).I will be using only one side of the model and improvising the rest to look like a movie set sound stage prop.The previous owner had it hanging around and offered it to me for the postage plus a small handling free.An offer I couldn't refuse! It looks like an early version of this kit ,so the detail is strong.As far as I know all the parts are there but I don't mind scratch building if I have to.At least it is a good starting point.The G scale passenger cars I should have by the end of the week ,they to are kits by Bachmann.I plan to do a lot of modifying on the cars and finish them inside and out.Like the locomotive they also will be props,with one side open to viewing.Here is where access to doll house parts and pieces will come in real handy for furniture and a Victorian type setting.I will be taking lots of pics from my DVD of the movie for reference,it can't get any better than that.
The 3 foot circular design is a nice size to work with and my wife is very happy to hear that once the four aircraft museum pieces are gone she can have a lot of our house back again.This old back of mine will also be relived to know that it is the end of the really big ones !

 

[JohnReid]

 

[fanai]

Sound really great John - will be following this as have interest in Trains Westerns modelling and movie making

Ian

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

For the HO scale mock-up I like this arrangement the best so far,the white circle represents 3 feet in G scale.The plywood circle is the max base width which would bring the whole thing to over 4 ft in diameter,somewhere between these two circles will be the finished product including base.What looks OK in HO scale may not look so good in G,so I will put off the final decision for now.The loco will go on curved track and the other two on straight track.The final placement of the last element, the empty directors chair ,I will decided upon later.
The nice thing about this arrangement is as the diorama slowly turns you will constantly see a prop, as well as a finished image ,constantly changing.
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"Once upon a time......." Storyboard dioramas by JohnReid.
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[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

This is the locomotives cab.Lots of good detail to work with here. Although I don't recall any film scenes involving the cab I will build it anyway for interest sake. A lot of what you see here will be replaced with wood and brass fittings.What these models provide for me is a good starting point and reference .The model manufacturer went to a lot of trouble to research all this stuff so it saves me a lot of time.Any inaccuracies I chalk up to artistic license and let it go at that.In my world all things are possible !

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]