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Bit of a different project to my usual work but earlier this year I finished work on this city street diorama/ architectural model as my final substitution for a college course.

The original idea was to build a nice detailed backdrop model that I could use for taking more professional photos of my models on, give them a bit more of a contextual environment to stand in. It ended up being a bit more than that as I got carried away when designing it.

I also wanted to add as many references to films and video games as possible, some of them are very obvious and others are quite hard to spot!

The whole model took around 400 hours to complete with the majority of the work being completed in three months. It started off with sketching ideas on paper then into CAD to draw up all the parts, most of the pieces were then laser-cut with a few fully hand made parts.

It is constructed from an mdf skeleton with layers of mounting board for all the detailed surfaces, some clear sheeting for all the glass and a few extra materials like mesh for the security windows. All the painting was done by hand, no transfers both to practice freehand as well as water-slides not playing nice with card!




Main shopfronts and layout







Scale shot with a couple of 28mm models



Pokestop!



Pokemon inspired bar with seating area and planters.



My favourite part of the model; the Eeveelutions mural, approximately six hours of work to paint by hand. Also tiny spray paint and drinks cans!



Shot standing on the roof looking down on the bar area, bit of a models eye view.

Arcade area and interior


Mural from Ruiner, the game was one of the main inspirations for the project and so I had to paint something from it.



The arcade is the main interior space on the model, big enough to fit a few 28mm models. The floor tiles were all painted and highlighted individually and ended up being one of the most time intense elements of the project.



Scale shot of the tiny machines, loved painting these so a few more will likely be done at some point. Quite effective considering they're just a few bits of cardboard!




Hope you like the model, it's certainly been a labour of love. Still got a few parts I'd like to add like a roof access section and possibly an interior to the Companions Guild (it's supposed to be a pet shop!)

C+C always appreciated of course!

Chris

Oh my god, so much talent its incredible!.

Great work!!!!.

Awesomeness. Great job!

Love it !

Exeptional details. I love every inch of it.

just spent ages looking at this, got really lost in the detail.

Really has some actual 'feeling' to it of being a place. love it.

This is insanely impressive, amazing job.

Absolutely Friggin Amazing!

I wanna start off with some retro gaming in the arcade, visit the kiba arms for a few glasses of amasec, hit up madmaxxis for an appointment with a synthbot and end off with a takeaway from pokestop.

Gamers Guild I'll visit tomorrow when suitably hungover.

Thanks for all the awesome comments! Currently working on a few additional parts for it but now the idea of doing another full model is creeping in, not sure where I'd find the time though.

Should have some pics with more models on it when I bring it to armies on parade next month, just need to finish the Deathwatch now.

Thanks again
Chris

Very nice work indeed with great attention to detail. Love it.

Extremely impressive. As an old fart, I haven't seen a cigarette machine like that in some time. Choice!

Damn man, that's brilliant! So many fantastic details! You've got a lot of different surfaces and textures and they all look great.

Meant to post this update ages ago but must have forgotten!

Anyway, a short time after the main model was completed I started on a small covered stairwell structure to mount on the left hand roof. This piece is intended to be removable for when lots of figures are being displayed and additional space is required.

The exposed areas of brickwork gave a chance to complete another mural, which is now the most complicated and time intense piece of work featured on the model (and probably on any model I've done to be honest!)







Hope you like it! One day I'll get to doing the interior to the Companions Guild pet shop, just need some more inspiration or something...

C+C always appreciated of course!

Chris

This is incredible. Your skill level and imagination are beyond scale. I know I'm showing my age, but that needs to be Flynn's arcade...with Tron in the back...
Thank you for sharing.

That’s amazing! Really amazing!

Valete,

JohnS

Only 6 hours to complete that mural?
Thats really impressive. Clean work.
I cant help but imagine you make few mistakes if any.
Inspirational to say the least. Thanks for sharing.

Even the smaller elements of graffiti are great and go a long way to making the terrain look interesting and realistic. But that mural is fantastic; if anything it risks stealing attention away from the models themselves! You could put together some great diorama-style photos with models standing in front of this piece!

It's simply incredible. I hope you will continue to post further update of your project.

Looks awesome great work!