|
|
|
|
After attending Wonderfest 99, I was inspired to build! I was a big fan of Psycho, and, after seeing the Bates Mansion
model at the convention, I had to buy it.
I knew that I wanted to do a detailed diorama of the kit, and add details such as lighting. I started by researching the movies. I watched
Psycho 1,
2, 3, and 4 and took notes on the landscaping. I noted the placement of trees, bushes, the shape of the hill, etc. I also noted the coloration of the house. The timeline was from the original movie in 1960 thru 2, 3, and 4 in the 1980s. The producers wanted to show the house's state of disrepair grow over this period, so the house and landscape became rougher with each new movie. I wanted the look from the original movie, not Psycho 2 as depicted on the box cover, so I had to match the look of the original Psycho with the color references from 2, 3, and 4. I also have photographs from the original set in Hollywood, as well as the reproduced set (which was used for the filming of Psycho 4) in Orlando FL. After watching these movies over and over, I noticed some consistency flaws in the landscape and color schemes, as well as the fact that many of the interior sets don't jive with the exterior layout.
|
|
|
I next assembled the main walls of the house, and painted them dark grey as a base coat. I then misted
on light layers of black, brown, and finally white. I painted the front porch assembly and front, side and rear stairs at the same time so that the coloration would be consistent at final
assembly. I painted the platform sand beige for a base coat. The roof shingles were painted brown, and the roof top and iron "gingerbread" were painted flat black. The
directions indicate that the
trim around the top roof structure should be dirty white or light grey, but this is inaccurate. That trim is metal and is colored flat black with rusty highlights on the actual house set.
|
|
I next scribed each line on the house sides with a pencil to add depth, assembled the house to the base, and
added the front porch
assembly. The model comes with paper inserts for the windows, but they don't accurately portray the look of the original, and look pretty fake when used. I used a transparancy, frosted with dullcoat for a dingy appearance, and cut pieces to fit each window frame. I then added window treatments by using business card stock for shades and tissue paper for curtains. The placement of the shades and curtains on the front corner view of the model match the placement of the original Psycho movie mansion, but the other sides of the house aren't shown so I used my imagination.
|
|
I definitely wanted a lighted room with "mother" in the window, so I built a box around the upper corner window
out of plastic sheet stock. I painted it flat black and made sure to seal it completely flush with the sides of the house to prevent any light leakage. The kit even comes with a
"Mother Bates Option" with a small model of her sitting on a perch.
|
|
|
I used a six volt microbulb from Radio Shack to light the room and wired it to a battery box mounted on the underside of the
base. There is even a
hole cut out in the base, probably because Polar Lights knew people would be lighting the kit. I then mounted a small slide switch under the cellar door assembly. When I want to turn on the light, I simply lift off the cellar doors and switch it on.
|
|
|
After the room was wired and sealed, I attached the roof and tower structures to the main house
assembly. Then I weathered the kit using various colors and brush types.
The next step of assembly involves the hilltop. I used sheet styrofoam stock and model
train scenic materials. This was a satisfiying stage for me because it really makes the model look realistic and allows for a lot of creativity.
|
|
The next thing I plan to do is add a digitial recorder hidden in the hilltop that will play "mother" and Norman
talking to each other. I may also add a BATES MOTEL sign at the very base of the model, made out of Light Sheet and plastic sheet stock, for even more detail.
If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to write me.
Sandor Piszar
|
|
|
