Welcome to a build of a HO scale diorama, depicting a scene from the 2004 movie "Polar Express". It's one of the first ever completely motion captured-computer animated major features. Actor/producer Tom Hanks plays several roles. The original children's story and book was written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg in 1985.

The film has been both widely praised and criticized. Praise for the storyline, characters and pacing, and criticism from the cold (some say creepy) animation of the humans, especially their "dead eyes".

I personally like the movie for its artistry and wonderful rendering of the 1950's American Christmas, Santa Claus and train themes.
One scene, near the end of the film, is the focus of this project. It's at the top of the world, called "North Pole Square". It is a circular city of factory buildings, populated with small elves in a huge toy making complex.

Due to copyright infringement issues, I will not post screenshots of the movie on this forum.  I will post links to other web sites where you can view the movie stills that depict the look I am trying to achieve..

A general overview of the visuals of the movie are here from Google Images-
https://www.google.com/search?q=north+pole+square+polar+express&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjCmJLHlYbzAhWOIN8KHTfqBm8Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=north+pole+square+polar+express&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECAAQGFCOI1ijP2CQQWgAcAB4AIAB5QGIAZAOkgEGMS4xMi4xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=YJ9EYcLoF47B_Aa31Jv4Bg&bih=855&biw=1472&hl=en

The diorama will contain 4 main elements, a scratched large 4 story brick administration building where Santa has his "office", and a multitude of workers.. . a scratched section of curved brick archways, a coach car arriving at the square (a Labelle kit), & a monstrous Christmas tree... on a 12" x 24" base.

I'll begin in the next post....

Hello & Happy New Year. Been lurking a while here, and thought I'd post a build thread for your interest. Some may know me from RRLine, where I am still a member. Since I retired and now reside in Florida, my newest project returns me to my roots geographically, but also from a modeling perspective. In the past, I've built many waterside scenes, including docks, wharfs and lighthouses, in kit and scratch form. So, welcome to a scratch build in HO scale, of a historical spot back in my hometown of Dunkirk, New York.  The Dunkirk Lighthouse and Keepers Dwelling.



For a better perspective- here's the location from Google Maps, beside the southern shores of one of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie.



A traditional cone shaped tower was built in 1837. A third order Fresnel lens was installed in 1857 and is still in use today.



After the original tower began to crumble in place, it was rebuilt in 1875, being clad in the squared off stonework visible today.



More in a few