JohnP HO diorama

[JohnP]

I've started a small diorama located in a closet. At this stage I'm seeing what I can fit into a 210 x 73 cm space. It will likely be based on a small station and some countryside in a fictional Greek town. In the picture below everything is basic and temporary - set track, grass mat, nothing fixed into place, but it's starting to look like what I envisioned. In the picture below I show the countryside, the station platform (not fully assembled) and some interesting coaches. The working name is Mandra station (after a family name, not the town in Attiki). Being in far away Canada makes the whole enterprise quite a challenge to say the least!

[tasosa327]

Best wishes for the best result johnP. The KIOLEIDIKO wagon from the first photo you made or bought; and where it; is very beautiful.Continued and at the end will become a very beautiful model.

Regards Tasos

[JohnP]

Thanks Tasos! The <KIOLEIDIKA> were painted for me by the good people at the Modelling Centre II in Athens. I know that there is no match available to the OSE coaches, so I asked Christos there to paint 2 coaches for me that would be close but not 100%. I wanted the paint to look right as well as the roof line. I am extremely pleased with the result. The coaches are Roco 45501. I only have room for a 3 coach train so I run the 2 Roco with Erail's excellent recent MU sleeper and the Hellas Sprinter.

Some closer pictures:

[BarbaPanagos]

Nice work John, keep working on the layout and keep posting
about the kioleidis coaches, they do look nice, I wouldn't bother to spot the "inaccuracies"

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[JohnP]

Thank you for the kind words Barba Panagos! Your contributions to this forum have been a huge factor in improving my interest and knowledge of the Greek train scene.

And yes, I am so pleased with my coaches that I don't really think of the differences between the Roco and the Kioleidika. There is certainly no mistaking what they are meant to represent. Certainly no one here in Canada can tell the difference
(and to be sure, the Modelling Centre was capable and willing to make the model more accurate)

[christo]

Kioleidika.

Wot? Without graffiti? Outrageous!

christo .

[JohnP]

Work continues.... even with its small size the layout is a far way from completion. An in progress view of "Mandra" station, a quiet end of the branch station inspired by mostly Chalkida as well as Florina and Nauplion which are dearest to me.

[BarbaPanagos]

Nice work John! keep posting
The station I guess is "Bralos" from Modeling Center...

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[JohnP]

Thanks! The station is indeed Bralos from the Modelling centre. It has a nice typical station look to it that fits with my fictional location.

My modelling focus is on the scene rather than the specific equipment, so I'm very happy that people like Modelling Centre and Erail (and thema before my time) have created Greek themed kits.

I'd love to see more photos of Greek layouts. We can't all be Jonmood but it is inspiring to see others work!

[JohnP]

The "plateia" is taking shape. Again nothing has been glued into place. This is all a test fit for now. One of the challenges of trying to do this in a closet is that it is very awkward to do precise scenery work when one only has a narrow opening to the space. Alas my plea for a more open space had been rejected by the relevant authorities

More tables and chairs will be forthcoming from Erail.