Sergio Leone Movie Set Diorama

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JohnReid

Active Member
Aug 21, 2005
196
0
36
Montreal,Canada.
I have mentioned this book before and it is now out of print but my good modeling bud Ken Hamilton has given his permission to put it on the internet.
Ken encouraged me to get into doing landscaping,making good looking junk and super weathering when I needed a lot of encouragement.Ken's work along with Shep Paine are the two rocks that my stuff is built upon. Thanks guys!

See Ken's book here:

http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/mercman51/DIO Book/

Enjoy!
__________________
"Once upon a time......." Storyboard dioramas by JohnReid.
My photobucket:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/
 
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JohnReid

Active Member
Aug 21, 2005
196
0
36
Montreal,Canada.
Hi guys ! I have had to put the Sergio piece aside temporarily as the museum will be picking up their aircraft dioramas soon .I still have the finishing touches to do and take the final pictures with the lighting as I intended it to be.I did these dioramas mostly for taking pictures but museums have other priorities for display.Example ,I used real bulbs for the lighting fixtures but they can't remove a huge glass case every time they have to change a bulb,so these pics I am taking now will probably be the last where I can control the lighting.
Cheers! John.
 
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JohnReid

Active Member
Aug 21, 2005
196
0
36
Montreal,Canada.
I hope that you guys don't mind me just posting pictures of my recent progress on this diorama.I am doing this in the spirit of "a picture is worth a thousand words".Most of this is plain old woodworking and there isn't really much to add.All of the building techniques I use I have covered before and will add again in my upcoming online book.If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.Your input is very important to me.
Recently I was given a great idea for the old west diorama that I am working on now, that will add a whole new dimension to the piece.Old west = ghost town right ? Old movie sets have much the same feeling about them,and this diorama will be no exception,it will have its resident ghost too. Everything is there except the actors.Imagine the feeling of being alone on a set such as this after everyone has gone home !
The figure will be set in the shadows painted an iridescent white .The figure is already in a nice pose just quietly standing there and fits right in with the fantasy nature of this piece.This is where the art of storytelling really comes into the picture.
 
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JohnReid

Active Member
Aug 21, 2005
196
0
36
Montreal,Canada.
This is the basic composition.The open set that I am working on now.Then a closed set as represented here by the passenger/baggage car and finally where you see a flat car the" General "locomotive and tender.In the center will be the empty directors chair and of course the ghostly figure will be inside the station.The locomotive will be constructed as a fake made of metal and plywood, probably cut in half but with a full cab and front portion.
The closed set will be identified as such by a sign posted on the sliding door."Keep door closed", filming in progress "or something of that nature.I may add to the outer perimeter a prop with a backdrop picture of Monument Valley depicted on it.Other than that the car will be completely closed with only some interior lighting filtering through some closed blinds.Anyway ,that is the plan for now!
 
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JohnReid

Active Member
Aug 21, 2005
196
0
36
Montreal,Canada.
Here is a better pic of the rail car/passenger station with the shack built over the top.This is the station from "Cattle Corner" depicted in the opening gunfight scene in the movie.I presume that it was built as a temporary station, as the railway was being pushed through the area, or it was just a cattle station that happened to sell tickets and pickup and drop off passengers until a real station could be built.The railway tie platform was obviously built for cattle and not human traffic.
The" Sweetwater Station" is just newly built and would handle the regular passenger traffic for the area although cattle were also loaded and unloaded there as well.
The whole Cattle Corner thing is special and very unique to this film ,I believe that it was built to symbolize the new ways taking over the old.A station in transition and soon to be replaced by something completely new.
 
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