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French Precision

Mare Island Diorama at 1/700th!!

While surfing around Railroad Line Forums late last night I ran across a link to this page on a French website detailing an awesome 1/700th Scale diorama. It is mostly pictures and was developed by a pair of Frenchmen working at a scale much smaller than my N Scale efforts which give my tired eyes enough problems.

The pictures here are well worth the time it takes to view them. I did take the time to run the web page through a French to English translator and not all of the photos are here, but I have captured most of the text.

Z-scale fingertip modeling

The French Version

English Translation

"For almost a year, Jean, a designer and cartoonist outstanding and I carry a diorama at 1/700th of the famous port of Mare island, located in the San Francisco Bay.

We chose to represent him in his state of 1943-44, originally to accommodate our many models of U.S. vessels. But the result will show that the port has become a gigantic model alone."

(EDITOR'S NOTE)--You may have noticed computer-based translators are not really smart enough to get the grammar correct but I believe it is understandable.

Barges serving Mare Island

Buildings

One of our tenets of departure was: 100% photod�coupe. Later, we added resin parts to cut costs ... 100% photo d�coupe. but the masters are always 100% photo cut.

We have shared this daunting task: Jean designs parts and creates films that used to make the photod�coupe.I support the design, then I realize the photod�coupes. We assemble a diorama everyone on our side. I realize also part molded resin.

(EDITOR'S NOTE)--photod�coupe is a term I am unfamiliar with and I will be researching it in further detail. For now, I believe it is some type of Photo Etching

Crane alongside modeler's can of paint for height comparison

A similar crane towers over a couple of Z Scale dock working locomotives.

We have broken this project-82 x 53 cm!(32" X 20.75") into subsections "independent" because we draft the latest market to benefit fans. Some necessary assemblies require a level of dexterity and patience ...

Running the Rim of a paint can. Note the wear on the drivers.