Customized case of high fidelity urban highway sand table
Project Theme: 1:87 Scale Urban Trunk Road Traffic Scene Model
Core goal: Achieve a scene restoration rate of approximately 90%, emphasizing the realistic presentation of details, texture, and overall atmosphere.
1、 Design and infrastructure construction: Accurate blueprints are the cornerstone of success
Before hands-on production, our design team will conduct detailed modeling based on reference or design drawings. This step is not a simple size scaling, but an artistic fine-tuning of the slope of roads, the curvature of curbstones, and the hierarchy of green belts in the real world, ensuring that they still conform to visual laws from a micro perspective.
Chassis and subgrade modeling: we use high-density foam board and multi-layer composite board to create a light and solid chassis that will never deform. The base layer of the road is precisely cut and spliced with ABS boards, and through stacking and polishing, the basic terrain such as gentle slopes and intersection connections of the road are initially shaped.
Surface texture treatment: This is the first key to restoration. We will not use smooth plastic boards directly as road surfaces. On the contrary, we will prepare a special mixture of gypsum and mineral particles and use a scraper to evenly and thinly scrape them onto the ABS road surface. When it is half dry, press it with a rubber roller with extremely fine texture, imitating the rough particle feel of asphalt. The randomness and texture brought by this manual craftsmanship are incomparable to prefabricated parts.
2、 Craftsmanship of Detail Elements: True Chapters in the Small Details
The soul of a model lies in its details. We adopt a strategy of "sub item production, overall assembly" to ensure that every element can withstand scrutiny.
Traffic markings and signs: In order to achieve sharp edges and almost zero thickness markings, we have abandoned simple paint drawing and instead adopted the process of cutting water stickers with high-precision inkjet engraving machines. Transfer the cut linear, arrow, and zebra crossing stickers onto the road surface, and they will perfectly fit the road texture we previously made, as if they were really sprayed on without any abrupt thickness.
Green vegetation: Green belts are the vitality of the model. We use finely dyed sponge powder as the grass powder base, and use an electrostatic grass planting machine to make its fibers stand upright, forming a realistic grass texture. Trees are made of multiple strands of metal wire twisted into a trunk skeleton, immersed in special glue, and covered with vegetation powder of different colors and particle sizes to simulate the transition between the dense layers of the crown and natural colors.
Supporting facilities and vehicles: Traffic signs, street lights, etc. are made of laser cut acrylic sheets to ensure they are straight and upright. We use high-precision injection molded white molds for the vehicle model, which has the advantage of obtaining the best paint adhesion and smoothness during later coloring.
3、 Post processing and coloring: giving life and a sense of time to the model
This is the magical stage of transforming a pile of parts into a vivid scene. Our coloring principle is "layering and washing" to eliminate the toy feel caused by flat coating.
Basic color and light and shadow: The entire scene will first be sprayed with a unified primer to enhance the adhesion of subsequent colors. The coloring of the road surface is not simply gray, but a subtle transition spraying of various colors such as dark gray, warm gray, brown, etc. through a spray pen, simulating the color changes caused by sunlight and wear on the road surface. Green belts will also be sprayed with light and dark green zones to increase their three-dimensional effect.
Staining and dry cleaning: These are important techniques for enhancing the depth of details. We will use a large amount of diluted dark brown oil paint to "stain wash" the entire model. The paint will naturally flow and accumulate in the grooves of zebra crossings, particle gaps on the road surface, and edges of curbstones, greatly enhancing shadows and details. After it dries completely, use light gray paint for "dry sweeping", gently brush the raised particles on the road surface and the edges of the signs with an almost dry brush, forming a natural wear like highlight effect, instantly highlighting the volume of the model.
Simulation of life traces: In order to achieve 90% realism, we carefully add usage traces. Use extremely fine pen tips to embellish and simulate small oil stains on the road surface, create a dark water stain effect near the drainage outlet, and even gently sweep some dust colored powder on the vehicle tires. These subtle treatments make the model no longer a cold display item, but a real scene as if a car had just passed by.
summary
Through the above-mentioned production system that integrates standardized processes and the essence of handicrafts, the road model we ultimately delivered not only highly reproduces in appearance, but also approaches the real world infinitely in texture, color, and atmosphere. We firmly believe that the charm of models lies in their ability to make people bend down and discover real emotions in a miniature world. Looking forward to creating equally stunning works for you.
