The Kalamazoo Depot. A Diorama.

3D Printing.

When building earlier dioramas, I put up all the structures using modified parts of regular model kits ("kit bashing"). But the special architecture of the Kalamazoo depot, combined with the minute n scale, forced me to look for alternatives. So after some laser cutting experiments I decided to try out 3D-printing.

First of all, with the invaluable help of Kalamazoo Public Library archive I put up the virtual building with a 3D design software. It then took archive several weeks to find out the best partitioning of the building (see colors) and the right printing parameters. And of course it took the right printer which should be able to print a resolution of 0.1 mm. After having the chance to test professional Ultimaker 2 printers in a workshop, I decided to buy a used one and combined it with white Ultimaker PLA filament. A perfect match.

But not only did I print the depot. I also designed and printed water tanks, chimneys, sunblinds, barrels, sacks, and bulletin boards. Basically all the details that you cannot buy in N scale or which are really expensive. See below.

No Fake.

All of the businesses shown in this diorama did exist in Kalamazoo at the end of the 19th century. Maybe not exactly next to the railroad depot. Maybe the buliding looked not 100% like that. But still they were real - for one exception: Sarkozy's Bakery was founded in 1978. It was the only Kalamazoo bakery where I could find "real" bread in 1993. And it still exists.

Plastic model kits.

Buildings in N scale are really small: the assemblies shown are about 2 in. high and up to 10 in. wide. Except for the 3D printed depot, all diorama structures are made from regular plastic model kits:

Surely, a little kit bashing was necessary to fit the structures to the given layout and to the selected companies of Kalamazoo. All models were painted and aged simply using brushes and matte Revell enamel paint.

American buildings were - and still are - equipped with wooden water tanks. I designed and 3D printed the tanks. Chimneys for mill and brewery - printed. Sunblinds were typical of the north sides of Kalamazoo streets (no air condition!) but were not part of the model kits. So I designed and printed them as well. For the firewood I cut Clematis twigs into pieces without painting them - don't the logs look pretty realistic?