Dave Meashey said:
Oh my John;You sure had me fooled. I thought “Why does he have it in water? It doesn’t look like a boat house.” Then it dawned on me that you had the model sitting on ripple glass.
I’ve had my eye exam for this year, honest,
David Meashey
Congrats you are the first to get it. The floods were bad this year !
I got the “ripple glass”. Certainly the “why” had me shaking my head 
The effect is much better than I would have thought. On camera, anyway.
Ralph
John Le Forestier said:John Reid said:To your first point, it may be politically incorrect, but I sometimes think that the artistic urge, as well as creative, inventive, architectural and engineering urges, are stronger in men than in women. Not universally - there are bound to be exceptions, some women are for sure phenominally creative, but I sometimes wonder about this as a kind of general rule. Women often make themselves much busier than men with other, often more immediate things such as child care and home economics.... Speaking for myself I find it very easy to be in my workshop and forget the time of day, while the kids need to be given their lunch. I consciously have to monitor myself and keep an eye on the immediate and more practical things.
......I would like something that I made to survive for a while after I am gone to the "Happy Hunting Ground" as a gift to my children and the young at heart. .... but you know somehow I do (care) and I don't mind admitting it. Ego you say ? Well artists usually do have some of that it is true; why else would we do what we do?Anyway, sometimes the notion crosses my mind that women’s creative outlet is more likely to be having and raising children than inventing a better washing machine or miniature signal system or building a new tunnel. Men cannot transcend their own mortality by creating new people so we have a stronger compensating tendency to invent and tinker and make neat stuff which we hope will somehow outlive us instead.
So call me crazy already; it’s just a thought…
The gals eventually end up enjoying both their kids and our creations ! :rolleyes:
To your second point, my feelings are maybe a little different: Once the urge strikes me to make something I feel restless until I get going on it. I think the artists’ urge is a pretty strong one, with or without ‘ego’ being involved. I think I’m happy just to be doing a thing, and i don’t really care whether other people like it, complement me on it, or even see it, 'though it is always nice to show something off. But the actual doing is the source of satisfaction for me, and getting the thing I’m making to meet or surpass my initial concept. I find I am not creating things for the approval of other people. (That said, to give and get feedback on a forum of peers such as this one, where we inform and inspire one another, is an important exchange of courtesies !)
Hi John ! You are probably right.A lot of creativity goes into childbirth and nurturing children.Older or single women and women that have the time are no different than men though,in my opinion.Thanks for the feedback !
Ralph Berg said:Hi Ralph ! When I get the time I plan to do a series of pics using that water effect and an old locomotive on railway tracks passing a lake,should be fun !
I got the "ripple glass". Certainly the "why" had me shaking my head ;) The effect is much better than I would have thought. On camera, anyway. Ralph
Nice effects there with the ripple glass John. I had to look twice to catch that the model was sitting on glass and not sitting in water. I like your photobucket album also.
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" border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”>Finally got back to finishing this now that my other commitments are done.
Thanks Dave !
Like with all of my dioramas I start out with a good base.Once I figure out the size required ,in this case it is 30"X40",I cut out the 1/4" panel and glue some strips around the perimeter.Do not use screws or nails only glue,saves on the drill bits later on.I then put on two coats of lacquer, especially on the edges,as the panel must be waterproof for the next step.
John I think you need to get some BIGGER clamps. 
John…come up to Ottawa, and play trains one Saturday…you might find that you like operations, in spite of yourself…!!
I kind of like this composition for now on a 30"X40" base but of course it is never written in stone.If later I want to expand it by adding more modules,I can simply butt them together by screwing them together using the perimeter wood strips.For ease of handling I want to keep it light in weight for now with the option of adding a more substantial base later on.
Sounds like fun Fred !
Dave Marconi said:You can [u]never[/u] have too many or too large clamps :) You should hear my wife on my collection ... until I repair something of hers :D
John I think you need to get some BIGGER clamps. :) :) ;)
Well the workbench is clear so now it is back to the Sergio diorama.I plan to do this one modular style too beginning with the central theme of a movie set and then if I decide to I can add from there.Right now there are three main components the locomotive(as a prop) the station from the opening scene and Morton’s car.
The first thing to do is make up a track bed for Morton’s car.I only have round track so at present I am straightening a couple of sections out by modifying them.
You need to get up to Fred’s in Ottawa, John, ASAP, while operating season is still with us !
The first thing to do is modify a bit of track from round to straight.