Comments on: Amazing Dioramas Instead of A Model Railroad

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 18:04:14 +0000

Is this the Gary Sanford I used to know as ‘Tex’ in Railtrack days in the UK? If it is, these are amazing Gary, in 1995 you wouldn’t know one end of a train from another. Lovely pastels, very realistic.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 00:30:10 +0000

In reply to Matt Jackson. Matt, have you taken a look at the Bachmann On30 scale trains yet? They have some very small 0-4-0 Porter engines and 0-4-0 Diesel engines that can be fully operational in a very small space, either in a continuous loop or point to point. If you go online you can find a lot of dioramas that are only 2'x4' or 36" in diameter, with lots of room for a few small buildings and scenery.

By: Matt Jackson

Matt Jackson — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 05:24:05 +0000

Great dioramas. I’m leaning toward something along those lines as I don’t have the space for a layout of significant size since I model in North American O scale.

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 22:35:34 +0000

Excellent pieces of work! Very inspirational. I’m glad I’m not the only person who hunts through the “junk” boxes for bits to use in my dioramas.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:15:45 +0000

Here is a photo of the 16″ x 24″ diorama showing the railroad service yard on one side of the highway, and the Sanford brothers gas station and coffee shop on the other.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 13:34:02 +0000

Gary, how much did you pay the elven builders?

Wonderful structures, all.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 10:19:05 +0000

Lovely dioramas Gary. Very impressive.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 07:33:12 +0000

Here’s another view of the R&R Mining Company. Everything but the train, office, and fan for the windmill was scratch built with parts from the junk box.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 07:18:43 +0000

Here’s a view of the 4″ x 6″ R&R Mining Company diorama from the rear of the train.

By: Gary Sanford

Gary Sanford — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:41:11 +0000

In reply to Sheila. The photo in the upper left-hand corner, the one with the windmill was installed on a turntable, normally used for condiments on our kitchen dining table. It was installed on the turntable so the details on all sides could be seen easier, but it's not shown in this photo.

By: Gary Sanford

Gary Sanford — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:32:40 +0000

It’s too bad you couldn’t open all the files because the caption below the bottom 4 photos refers to a different diorama, and there were no photos of it… these 4 photos were of a larger 24″ x 16″ diorama that included a small engine service yard with a water tank, and several office and service buildings.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:21:41 +0000

Please post if appropriate.
TCA-Louisiana Chapter Train Show
First Baptist Church Gymnasium
325 E. Pine St
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Many layouts – All scales
Public invited to enjoy 9a.m. to 3 p.m.
$5.00 admission – 6 and under – free.