Revitalizing a Vintage Diorama

This is the "before" appearance of the diorama featured in today's post.  Dust is still visible on the water surface.  The monochromatic look of the old ground foam is apparent, and the lichen bushes really aren't up to current standards.

By Peter Mumby,

with photos by George Dutka.

Over the years, George has built a lot of models - locomotives, rolling stock, structures, layouts, dioramas - and several of these models have eventually migrated to my personal collection.  Such is the case with the diorama featured in this post.

So, how old is this particular piece of George's modelling history anyway?  He wrote an article entitled "Modelling a Trestle Bridge in HO" which appeared in the short-lived publication "Trackside Modeller" in its August, 1995 edition.  The trestle unit was assembled as part of a module which was retired in 1985.  He continued to use it as a display piece for several more years before trading it off to me.  It sat on my shelf as an equipment display base for more than twenty years, until the accumulated dust became more prominent than the featured rolling stock.  The single shade of green ground foam had turned fifty shades of grey, and the lichen shrubbery had morphed into something resembling scouring pads.  As the politicians like to say, it was time for a change.

The offending Iichen was cut away, and the dust was removed with a vacuum cleaner and some soft brushes.  The original water surface had been replicated using high gloss varnish; this was refreshed with an application of gloss medium.  It was applied with a stippling motion to impart some added life to the surface.  The biggest single change came about with the application of several shades of static grass.  A boxcar shed, outhouse, and handcar set-off were added for the use of the local bridge maintenance crew,  and some appropriate signage was installed at each end of the trestle.  A pair of hopeful fishermen completed the scene.  Once again, I have an attractive display base for some of my favourite pieces of rolling stock.

CP 5001 tip toes gingerly across the George's Gorge trestle with a van hop, adhering religiously to the posted 10 m.p.h. limit.

This drone shot demonstrates the "after" appearance of the refreshed diorama.

With the vast majority of the added structures and details, this is the "business" end of the diorama.

A pair of local fishermen try their luck as a CP local creeps past.  Their canoes have been carefully beached, although I don't see any evidence of paddles.  For their sake, let's hope this body of water isn't the infamous Schitt's Creek!