1:32 Scale Model Farm
Discussion
Whilst cars will always be an unhealthy obsession for me… my other guilty pleasure is not something I readily share beyond my family, close friends and a few like minded modellers. However, reading some of the other topics here I thought it might be of some interest.
I’ve been slowly working on our 1:32 scale farm diorama since February 2022. A part time labour of love born out of a shared fascination with my young son (but initially zero knowledge) of tractors and rural life that developed from countless local walks during Covid isolation together. We recently worked up the courage to share this layout with the model farming community at a recent show in Spalding where we met some really lovely people and realised we were definitely not alone!
‘Norton Home Farm’ consists of three 2.5 x 1.8m boards (half a double garage). The first board to be fully completed represents a small dairy, with a dry cow shed, small midden, silage clamp, slurry silo and separator front and centre. We've tried to fit a lot of features in and appreciate that this does not necessarily reflect a very practical farm layout in reality!
As my son has grown up we have started to replace some of the original Brushwood (a proprietary product aimed at kids) sheds with some more detailed barns, part scratch built, part weathered laser etched wooden kit buildings.
The vehicles and attachments are still very much of the more robust ‘Britains’ and ‘Siku’ variety that you may be familiar with from your own childhoods. With my son still actively playing with the layout it would be difficult to justify anything more detailed or indeed expensive!
The fundamental principle of the diorama has always been for him to be able to still play with the model. It is generally built to wargaming standards and aside from a few more delicate removable features used for display it is fairly robust. I have learnt not to be precious and any minor repairs have actually made it more authentic in places.
The two other boards consist of further hay, silage and equipment sheds along with an interchangeable foraging / combining scene and large contractor's yard focussing mainly on arable farming. These were actually started first and as my modelling skills have developed with the dairy board I am now returning to them for a refresh.
I always had Britain’s tractors when I was a child and to now be able to share that with my own son is an absolute joy. It is a gentle hobby and a wonderful distraction from some of the stresses of my daily working life.
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I’ve been slowly working on our 1:32 scale farm diorama since February 2022. A part time labour of love born out of a shared fascination with my young son (but initially zero knowledge) of tractors and rural life that developed from countless local walks during Covid isolation together. We recently worked up the courage to share this layout with the model farming community at a recent show in Spalding where we met some really lovely people and realised we were definitely not alone!
‘Norton Home Farm’ consists of three 2.5 x 1.8m boards (half a double garage). The first board to be fully completed represents a small dairy, with a dry cow shed, small midden, silage clamp, slurry silo and separator front and centre. We've tried to fit a lot of features in and appreciate that this does not necessarily reflect a very practical farm layout in reality!
As my son has grown up we have started to replace some of the original Brushwood (a proprietary product aimed at kids) sheds with some more detailed barns, part scratch built, part weathered laser etched wooden kit buildings.
The vehicles and attachments are still very much of the more robust ‘Britains’ and ‘Siku’ variety that you may be familiar with from your own childhoods. With my son still actively playing with the layout it would be difficult to justify anything more detailed or indeed expensive!
The fundamental principle of the diorama has always been for him to be able to still play with the model. It is generally built to wargaming standards and aside from a few more delicate removable features used for display it is fairly robust. I have learnt not to be precious and any minor repairs have actually made it more authentic in places.
The two other boards consist of further hay, silage and equipment sheds along with an interchangeable foraging / combining scene and large contractor's yard focussing mainly on arable farming. These were actually started first and as my modelling skills have developed with the dairy board I am now returning to them for a refresh.
I always had Britain’s tractors when I was a child and to now be able to share that with my own son is an absolute joy. It is a gentle hobby and a wonderful distraction from some of the stresses of my daily working life.
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t that!
It’s preposterously good!
I particularly like the barn with the wooden slats at the top half. It takes me right back to my childhood watching my sister having horse riding lessons every Monday evening in a building just like that.
Real quality work.
It’s preposterously good!
I particularly like the barn with the wooden slats at the top half. It takes me right back to my childhood watching my sister having horse riding lessons every Monday evening in a building just like that.
Real quality work.
Thank you all, really kind. We knew we wanted to display it so we hid all sorts of easter eggs around the layout . We have pheasants, foxes, badgers, rotating cow brushes in the sheds, puddles, electric fencing posts secured in concrete cast in rubber tyres, laser etched cattle crushes and lots of other nerdy bits and pieces. At the show people would frequently come back to have another look . Some kind farmers also gave me a few tips for future plans!
Unfortunately scale cars at 1:32 are relatively limited. Although it is the same scale as Scaletrix. We do have a Series 1 Landie, an F type (bit nice for a dirty farm!) and a Volvo XC60 that matches my wife’s. Unfortunately the A110 it shares the garage with is not represented!
Unfortunately scale cars at 1:32 are relatively limited. Although it is the same scale as Scaletrix. We do have a Series 1 Landie, an F type (bit nice for a dirty farm!) and a Volvo XC60 that matches my wife’s. Unfortunately the A110 it shares the garage with is not represented!
Edited by Stuey110x2 on Sunday 15th February 10:59
Edited by Stuey110x2 on Sunday 15th February 11:11
Stuey110x2 said:
Simpo Two said:
Outstanding work! What did you use for the grass?
It s various shades and sizes of static grass from a number of suppliers. It s applied with a special shaker that applies a static charge making the fibres stand up vertically.With your skills, if you're short of scale cars, you could probably scratchbuild them, even more so if you have a 3D printer.
SydneyBridge said:
Brilliant
Is it all moveable if you taken it to a local show?
Yes, all goes in the back of a transit. Not sure how I’d transfer more than one board though… might have to think about some sort of van shelving.Is it all moveable if you taken it to a local show?
Very happy memories spending 2 days with my 7 year old son (and long suffering wife) setting this up and Sharing it with other nutters.
We even won a prize!
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