TERRANOVA - Bonus

                                     Porca Miseria!  (Oops!)    Who spilled the paint?

TERRANOVA - Parte Terza

Rolling Stock;
   I took a break from track and scenery to build three flatcars to a "standard" home-shop design. I stole the basic design from Si Harris (Modelearth), made them from wood, and narrowed them for use with my 32mm gauge track. I cut the wood parts (clear pine) on my table saw, made lap-joint siding (using the techniques of Rich Chiodo), and made and cast my own journals and other hardware. Wheels are from the Train Department.
   Instead of the more traditional stake pockets, these cars use hold-down-rings to tie down loads. Also notice that most of the journals have the NNENGMRRA signature pine tree logo on the lid. These journals are mixed-n-matched with a more plain "Hudson-ish" design. Does anyone recognize the significance of the car number sequence? The red mark is a paint spill.

TERRANOVA, Seconda Parte

   As I work to establish an Italian urban atmosphere, I used new construction mixed with recycled parts of my older dioramas to create a cluster of buildings in the Left Rear Corner. These buildings conceal the sharp curve of track, and add to the theme of the Diorama/Layout.
   I will continue to add structures and details as I go along. I am also working on the Railway-related parts.  Watch this space...

TERRANOVA, Prima Parte

   "Terranova" is a fictitious, fantasy hill town, somewhere in Southern Italy. It is the theme of my new creation, which will be a 1" scale (1/12) Diorama, but also a micro-size model train layout. This will hopefully satisfy two of my passions at the same time; building scale models, and running trains. It will be totally built "from scratch" on a shelf in my studio.
   To begin, I made a base of 1" thick Polystyrene "pink foam", and laid out the basic ground levels and  and track plan. The overall size is 19" deep and 63" long, and is made in two sections, for easy transport to shows. There are provisions for expansion at both ends.
   The trains will be 1" scale, and run on very narrow 15" (32mm) gauge track, representing a tiny urban Tramway. Below is an overhead shot, showing the entire layout, with tracks installed.  More to come...

"Lo Zampognaro" Part 7, the end, for now.

     I have finally gone back to complete my "Zampognaro" figure. He is now looks more like an Italian Shepard, I hope, with wrapped leggings and no hat. Also, he is now holding a new and improved Zampogna (bagpipes) with the pipes made by my friend Lello Pallumbo, in Italy. Notice that the Right Arm is articulated and moveable, the Left Foot taps to the beat, and the Head turns too. His hands are cast in silicon rubber on a wire armature, so the fingers can flex for animation.
     I also made a base for him to stand on as he plays. He is now ready for filming, and I hope to do some Stop-Motion-Animation with him some day soon.