221B Baker Street WIP - Update April 2011

[krakajac]

Greetings,

It's been some time since I posted an update regarding my 221B Baker Street project. The following is essentially a cut 'n' paste from the UAMHQ forum. Hope you enjoy!

EDIT - if you want to view my previous updates, just search using the term '221B'.

All things going to plan, this will be the penultimate update.

Over the past few months the project has progressed very well.

(sorry - the following is pic heavy!)

First up – Holmes and Watson are now part of the furniture (so to speak). I changed the vintage figures from flocked grippers to flocked hard-handers, for two reasons. Firstly, the hard hands should last a lot longer than vintage grippers (which are obviously prone to darkening and hardening) and secondly I think they are more suited to the vintage feel of the layout. I've never been a big fan of hard-handers, but I think they work well in this case.





I finally got around to finishing off the pelmets above the two windows. Constructed them from wood, then painted, etc.

[krakajac]

Spent quite a bit of time working on Holmes' Persian slipper that he stores his tobacco in. Dare I say it – I used a plastic Barbie high heel shoe. I cut the heel off, then designed the 'slipper' to look middle-eastern in appearance with tassels, bead-work, etc. There are 67 separate components in the slipper itself (I filled it with dried green tea to simulate tobacco). The slipper brings a bit of much-needed colour to the room.





I've also completed a gramophone player. I acquired an old die-cast pencil sharpener from eBay. It was necessary to construct a new 'frame' for the gramophone to sit in as it was a touch on the small side. I bought some 1/6th scale records (again from eBay) and made the paper sleeves myself using images I found on the net.

[krakajac]

The finished product...







Speaking of gramophones, I've also refined the audio component of the layout. Spent considerable time trying to track down extra audio files. I now have 330 files amounting to 6.77GB. This includes classical violin music, sound effects, old Sherlock Holmes radio plays (both from the UK and USA), audiobooks and soundtracks. Using iTunes, I've been able to print out a comprehensive list of the files (see below). It's much easier to peruse the printed list and choose something to listen to, rather than fiddling about with the iPod menu, etc.

[krakajac]

Finally got around to constructing the dining table. I purchased a 1/6th table from eBay (pictured below). Very nicely made, but as I feared, too small for my requirements. I took the table apart and just kept the four legs (which were nicely turned). The photos below show the table being rebuilt from the ground up.

[krakajac]

Let there be light! The room finally has some illumination. Two bright lights above the fireplace and a lead-light style lamp on each of the side walls. All powered by 12 volt and can be plugged into the mains, etc. I also intend to install a hurricane-style lamp, which will probably sit on the writing desk.

[krakajac]

Up until now, I've been using a 1/6th scale metal bucket to store the coal for the fire. It wasn't really suitable. After some hunting, I found a nice hand-made coal scuttle on eBay – almost exactly the right scale. It had the initials 'JK 1965' on the bottom of it, so it's quite old. No doubt made for a dolls-house or similar. I would love to know it's history. Polished it with some 'Brasso' and it came up a treat. Nice to know that after 46 years, it has found it's way into another dolls-house (of a different kind). Wonder if 'JK' is still around?

[krakajac]

Have also started work on items to display on the dining table. At one end will be a home-cooked meal for Watson (no doubt cooked by Mrs Hudson). At the other end, Holmes will have some form of experiment underway. I was lucky enough to locate a 1/6th scale roast chicken! Surprisingly, when I cut into the fowl, it was already the correct 'flesh' colour! Of the vegetables on display, I made the peas and the roast potatoes. Made both out of Sculpey modeling clay and fired them in the oven for about 15 minutes. I think 1/6th scale peas are the smallest items I have made for the project! Still waiting on further items for the table to arrive (glass of beer, cutlery, etc.).

Making 1/6th scale peas...I discarded the ones that weren't spherical in shape! :

[krakajac]

Probably the biggest achievement so far – I've finally completed a custom display stand for the project. Initially, I constructed a frame out of aluminium tubing (as seen below). I then got in touch with a sheet metal company and provided them with a basic plan for a three-sided exterior panel. The results are below. The exterior panel is riveted to the aluminium frame.

[krakajac]

Ebay has been a godsend. I got in touch with a seller who sold Sherlock Holmes vinyl stickers and I got him to make me a couple of custom ones. They have been placed on either side of the display stand. I was also able to acquire a lovely Baker Street road-sign (again from eBay) to place on the front of the stand. Very happy with the overall result. Underneath the display stand, I have installed a power board. The iPod, the Yamaha speaker and the 12 volt lights are all powered from this board (via an extension cord). The only item currently powered by batteries is the fireplace (which hopefully I can modify to run off 12 volt down the track).

[krakajac]

And that's where it stands at present. As I work on the project, I'm re-reading the entire Holmes canon (56 short stories and 4 novels). I make a note whenever mention is made of items/accessories that may have been found in the room. Many of these items will end up in the room at some point.

Winter is quickly approaching in Australia, so hopefully I will have even more time to work on the project. The plan is to complete it in early 2012.

Total components so far – 2402 (give or take a few!) :

Cheers,
Craig.

[DrJackManson]

That's freaking awesome!! Everything is very detailed!

If I got shrunk into a 1/6 scale size, that's where I definitely wanna stay.

[itchybitz]

Wow, and I thought this was good before.

Simply stunning

...and very inspiring, makes me want to do another dio now.

[sharpe]

wow as a huge SH fan I love this.
Yes I read all Sir Connan Doyle SH books and I watched complete BBC series Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett. Jeremy Brett was the best Holmes ever and David Burke the best Watson ever due to they are like Doyle had them in mind when he wrote his novels etc.

[voodoo]

Wow! I've always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes, and this is an amazing diorama! I think one of the things that I love the most is the fact that you used vintage Joes. Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

[ActionMan]

Holy smoke - that is absolutely amazing! I really am in awe of your work.

(One minor point, filter tipped cigs didn't exist until well after WW1)

[valkyrie6]

Really great work!!

I've been a Holmes fan since I was a little kid. It's great to see him come to life this way.

Fran

[ActionMan]

I need to add more - the imagination, time, effort, craftsmanship and sheer artistry that have gone in to this dio raise it to the level of the sublime.

The food on the plates, the famous Turkish slipper holding Holmes' tobacco, John Watson enjoying his magazine (I bet it's 'The Strand' magazine too!), the pocket watch, the gramophone records, the shortbread, the CIGAR BANDS for goodness sake! It's amazing!

[steve74]

I'm blown away

[Brave Rifles]

Incredible detail! Love it. Although, I have to admit, when I saw the title, my warped mind translated it as 22 Acacia Ave, and I was expecting something less conservative, lol. Not sure how many will get that tho?

[Docski85]

uuuuummmmm thats a hard act to follow!

[siquisiri]

Excellent work!!! The small details are amazing! Congrats

[gunm]

Amazing dio with all the little details!

[krakajac]

Thanks very much for your comments, guys. Greatly appreciated!

And to ActionMan - thanks for the tip (no pun intended) regarding the cigarettes! I will rectify this in due course.

(and yes - Watson is reading 'The Strand')

Still plenty to do over the coming months, but the finishing line is now well in sight.

Cheers,
Craig.

[hemble]

Ok this is just exceptional, everything is just spot well done indeed.

Ron

[montañes]

Amazing, you had made a work of art.

And thinking about these famous characters, theres is a new HS in the market with a likeness with Peter Cushing.

Just an isea.

Congrats,

Jaime.

[crusader1xxx]

: thanks

[trnswrp10]

Holy Cow!! Amazing!!

[ActionMan]

This really is without doubt one of the finest dios I've ever seen - it is truly amazing, which is why loathe to mention the 1977 wine label...

[santopapa]

My God, those little pieces look amazingly detailed!

[jlg1md]

OH...MY...GHODDD!!!! Beautiful!!!