Tiny Submarine Voyage + PeopleMover Model
Mitch ;)
After having such a great time making a tiny Jungle Cruise model, I decided to make a tiny model of a couple of other favorite attractions.
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This time around I chose start with the wooden box. Filled it with a block of floral foam and began to carve.
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The texture of the foam made for nice rock details. I painted all the rockwork a dark color then dry-brushed a highlight color over the outermost surfaces of the rocks. Painted the water and let it dry.
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I then cut and painted a styrene strip to look like the guide track that Disneyland's old Submarine Voyage (and it's replacement, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage) used to keep the subs on course.
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Began adding Woodland Scenics Realistic Water to the lagoon.
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Using various StripStyrene styrene strips, I shaped the back end of a submarine. The styrene is easily joined using any brand of general purpose plastic solvent cement. I like Plastruct Plastic Weld. TIP: Hold any two pieces of styrene together and brush the solvent along the seams. No need to add solvent between pieces before joinging. Solvent isn't a glue. It actually melts the styrene pieces together then evaporates away.
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I chose to paint the submarine the original gray color, much like I wanted the early striped Jungle Cruise canopy in the last model.
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Applying generous amounts of green paint to will allow plenty of turf to stick.
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I then sprinkled on a thick layer of modeling turf onto the wet paint. Dumped it off once dry.
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More styrene strips for the construction of the PeopleMover track.
Tiny little baby PeopleMover cars. Isn't that CUTE??
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PeopleMover Construction Update: In response to some question posted below, here's the process I used to construct the PeopleMover cars. After attempting a few different things, I found this to be the most successful. Join a thin strip to the bottom of the thicker strip you plan on using for your cars. The thin strip will help keep everything together. Follow each step below. As for the little roofs, I suggest cutting those separately.
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Added pretty bushes.
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I wanted some good detail and depth in the the lagoon water. I added small plants between layers of water. After each thin layer of water dried, I colored little details directly onto the dry surface of the water using brightly-colored Prismacolor markers. Marker ink is inherently translucent which added a great effect.
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Started adding pretty little trees. Trimmed them like I was Mr. Miyagi. Purple sewing scissors required.
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Adorable and life-like little Woodland Scenic Fine-Leaf Foliage trees.
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Once the PeopleMovers were painted (VERY DIFFICULT) and were solvent-ed to the track, the model was complete!
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Up on the shelf it goes, right next to this project and of course this project.
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I'm so tired. But I can't stop at two. Maybe one more. My wife has requested I make her favorite ride exterior. I can't say no... This is the first time she's ever asked me to make ANYTHING Disney-related for her. \
Also... Am I the only one who wishes they'd just classify the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage as a Fantasyland attraction? Wouldn't that solve the whole "non-futuristic singing fish don't belong in Tomorrowland" argument?? They already "moved" the Matterhorn from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland a few years after it was built for similar reasons. Just do it, Disney. (Then fix Tomorrowland.)
Related posts:
Tiny Jungle Cruise Model
Mars and Beyond Robot
EPCOT City Model [Part 1]
Swiss Family Treehouse Model
Mechanizing a Miniature Main Street Electrical Parade
The Wonders of Nature's Wonderland [ PART 2 ]
PeopleMover, Scale Models, Tomorrowland
Reader Comments (20)
That is amazing! Such detail and so meticulous - I really admire you for having that kind of talent and patience. I look forward - as a dedicated reader and fan - to seeing what's next!
I don't guess you'd build me a baby Grand Floridian, would you?? ;)
That is fantastic! I'm a novice model builder and I would love to do this one day.
A fitting complement to the Jungle Cruise model with remarkable detail for such a tiny scale. Impressed, as always! Proves a submarine lagoon with teeny li'l mermaids isn't an impossibility...
OH HOLY COW! This is just AMAZING! I really NEED to use you as a mentor and inspiration and get back to modeling! I LOVE this one!
Wow! I am so impressed by this. You have a ton of skill and a steady hand.
Mitch, your artistry is really inspiring. The Jungle Cruise was astounding but you've really set a high bar with this. Congratulations! If you ever do a workshop in So California I woud pay to attend!
you should sell on Etsy!!!
That's terrific. I like the dof in the photos, tilt shift without actually being tilted or shifted ;-).
I have two questions:
1. Did the paint add some texture to the rock work when applied or was the foam texture enough to give it that sort of volcanic look or was it all from your sculpting?
2. What is the tiki totem thing in the background? Did you make that as well? What I can see looks pretty cool!
Lastly, after your wife's project, I have a challenge for you in this format, should you decide to accept it: The Germany Train garden in Epcot. ;-)
Dave
A big thanks to everyone.
Dave- Great questions.
1. The texture was all from the foam. It's a very fine foam but even the finest pores made for excellent detail at that small scale.
2. The tiki totem was a gift from the Charles Schulz family (Peanuts) from a trip they took to Hawaii. The tag says it's a "Money Tiki". Here's a better photo: http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/storage/models/tiki-totem.jpg
Yes. I would love to work on the Germany Train at Epcot. As long as it never changes too much.
Thanks for the reply, interesting. I should be clear, you should make one of these projects (like the jungle cruise/peoplemover sub) OF the train garden in Germany. I'm sure you'd do a great job at the park, of course, but you'll really have the right to show off if you can do a miniature of the miniature. ;-) Great work as always!
Dave
These are wonderful! Do you sell them? I'd love one.
Thank you for the jungle c. I loved the challenge. Imagine my surprise when I see this new project. You are amazing &have my utmost admiration of your skill and imagination. My wife won't see me for weeks. Lol
Ok, great work! How do you make the actual ride vehicles? Is it just layers of styrene cut and carved or do you use clay and model it?
Thanks
Was wondering about the vehicles myself. A little hint would help. Thanx
Thanks, friends!
Colleen and Dave- Great suggestions! We'll see.
Laura- I'd love to sell them but they'd be quite impossible to transport, unfortunately.
Andre and Jerry F.- I've updated the post with a new image and a bit of description on how to construct the vehicles. Feel free to ask additional questions as needed.
Mitch, some of my favorite posts are about the various models that either you or others have made. If the questions in the comments are any indication, lots of others are interested in model building, too. After all, Walt liked scale models, and we here like what Walt liked.
Perhaps you could do a post on "model building 101" to include books or other resources you've found helpful, suggestions for materials and products, ideas for work area setups, etc.
Also, we're still waiting for EPCOT City Model Part 2....
Simply terrific!!!
I love both this model and the jungle cruise model!
I was wondering where you get your modeling turf and what tools you used to carve the floral foam. I want to get started on some similar models and would appreciate the information!
Could you maybe try and make a Matterhorn Bobsleds model. That would be a great model
model
Amazing I built a Lego big thunder car you may have seen it on YouTube