After crafting the wood panel wall for the right side of our shadow box, it's time to turn our attention to a critical component of our miniature Roberts Western World: the entry door! 🚪✨
In our 1/12 scale diorama, the entry door is situated on the far wall, strategically placed next to a set of windows that give a glimpse into a lively Nashville street. However we need to focus on the honky-tonk music and delicious grill specialties that are being served inside the establishment. The door is not just a functional part of the setup; it's a gateway to the energy and spirit of Roberts Western World.
Here's the plan to make this tiny door stand out. We need to ensure it looks like it's been part of the establishment for years, with a touch of character and history. We'll start by crafting the door from wood coffee stirrers, shaping them to fit perfectly in its designated spot. Then, we'll add some fine details like a door handle, maybe even some weathering to give it that authentic worn-in look.
But here's where it gets really interesting. To create the effect of light coming from outside, we're building a false wall behind the far wall, which will house some LED lights. To diffuse this light and avoid harsh shadows, we're using parchment paper as a subtle diffuser. This creates a soft glow that will stream through the windows, giving the impression of the bustling streets outside, as if the city is coming to life.
With the entry door and the subtle lighting setup, our diorama is already starting to take shape, hinting at the vibrant atmosphere that awaits inside Roberts Western World. As we continue to build out this project, we'll be adding more details and textures to bring this iconic Nashville honky-tonk to life in miniature.
These progression photos show how the door slowly comes to life. Following the initial grid layout the pieces are glued together with wood glue for stability.
Sargent has a wonderful line of Acrylic paints that have a metal sheen to them. I will be using the Sargent Metallic Silver on this door and then age it with brown tones chalks.
Tip* Rather than using glue and messing up the Acetate try using a strong double -sided Tape. They come in various thicknesses and can even be cut to size. I buy mine from Daiso, but Amazon has a very good one as well here.
Parchment paper works well as a diffuser. In this diorama the outside street scene is not visible from inside the establishment and light is needed to illuminate the back of the shadow box. The parchment paper will allow the light that will be mounted behind the false wall to sift through, yet hide all the wiring in the back of the box.
The windows are made in the same manner as the door. At Robert's a goo portion of the glass window is covered with some sort of black out material. Here black construction paper is glued on top of the false wall to give that same effect.
Stay tuned as we tackle the next steps in this journey! The energy of honky-tonk is just beginning to seep into our diorama, and we can't wait to see how it all comes together! 🎸🌟
