The main baseboard is created from a 60cm floating shelf from my local Home Bargains

The cork underlay is mad from cork wall tiles pulled off the wall at my step-son's house when they renovated the kitchen. I have kept these in the garage for an opportunity like this.

The cork tiles were glued to the shelf with PVA and then trimmed off to size with a sharp knife

I added weights to the board, while I waited for the PVA glue which is holding the cork to the baseboard, to dry.

The fiddle yard will be a single piece of track, fixed onto a plank of CLS which was rescued from a house clearance.

I want to incorporate live loads into this little diorama to add more operational interest, and also work as a test piece for a future module of Dib's Yard.

This starts with making a 3D model in Tinkercad of the wagon that will be loaded and the concrete hardstanding.

The hard standing for the aggregate loader is made of three laminates. 

• 2mm plywood

• 1mm card

• 1mm card

The laminates re cut to profiles to allow the hard standing to butt up snuggly against the edges of the rails.

Next the building shape and position of the loading chute need to be designed.

Further design work goes in to the loader

This is a very early card mock-up I made a couple of years back when I first decided I wanted live loads on the quarry module. This is the concept this design is coming from.

I used my Creality Ender 3 to print the hopper

While the printer printe the hopper I move to the fiddle yard. The fiddle yard track is a simple straight piece, as it does not need to  be more complex. There will never be more than one train for the diorama.

The 3D Printed hopper is designed to disperse the load into the wagon evenly.

The hopper has two guides to push the aggregate to the ends of the wagon.

I have used 2mm plywood which was ear-marked for the future quarty layout buildings, but as this is a pre-cursor to that work, I don't mind using it for this.

All through the design process there will be many times the the building will be dry-assembled to check the fit of the pieces already built in case any need chnaging.

Checking the fit of the walls to the hard-standing.

The first floor of the loader will only be seen from the underside so C-channel beams are added for detail.

As the inside will be able to be seen, a frame of 3D printed universal beams (RSJ / I-Joists) is assembled to give a believable structure to the building.

More dry assembly to make sure everything is fitting correctly.

Designed and laser cut by me. Made in two parts that slot together and fit to the baseboard using neodium magnets, so they can be removed for painting and detailing.

I love weathering wooden doors!

With time running short before the exhibition, I opted to "block in" the windows in the lower portion of this building.

I have used a plastic mirror to provide a viewing angle for the un-couplers from the seated operating position.

WARNING: Do not use UHU glue! It ruis the mirror. Ask me how I know!

I designed and laser cut the conveyor-belt frame from 0.6mm laser board.  The roof is corrugated card from Bunters Yard.

I designed and laser cut the covered walkway frame from 0.6mm laser board.  The roof is corrugated card from Bunters Yard.

Two claps hold the lid tight during transit.

A simple 3mm wire rod is used to hold the top at the correct angle for the mirror to do it's job.

The front viewport is cut to make it look like the crate has broken. this is held in place with neodium magnets during transportation.

This is the first time that I have tried to hand paint a back scene. It was supposed to be a moody grey, but apparently "Payne's Grey" acrylic is dark blue! 

An attempt was made to add clouds

Here is the back scene in-situ.
I think I will redo this more of a lighter grey in the future.

The barrow crossing supports are made from parts of match sticks

The barrow crossing planks are made from coffee stirrers that have been cut down in width and length. this is my standard approach for barrow crossings and had featured on Dib's Yard, Shelly Sidings, and now this diorama.

The original chute allowed too much aggregate to escape past the wagon, so the new chute has a more funnel shaped end profile. Designed on Tinkercad, and printed on my Creality Ender 3

I use home made static grass tufts from a combination of cheap chines static crass and WWS bags. Stuck to grease=-proof paper with blobs of craft PVA. I use my home-made flashlight-based static grass applicator as I  find it is more powerful then my show bought WWS version.  I have a You-tube video of the static grass applicator build.

I plant all of the grass tufts before I lay down any gravel or grout. This includes in between the sleepers too for the unkempt look. By placing the grass before the grit and grout the grass looks like it is growing up through it rather thank "plonked" on top.

I will let you decide for your self if you think the results work.

The gravel pit is there to catch loose aggregate that might otherwise block the wheels from rotating.

It is made from 0.9 mm Laser Board, purchased from Dave at Bunters Yard.

The lighting package is minimal with a few 12v grain of wheat bulbs running at around 7 volts.

A few warning signs have been scattered around. These are printed on an inkjet printer, lacquered, and the weathered with acrylic paint pens.