North African Build

[BigGreg]

And yet again another fantastic WIP.... i can't wait to see more... i'll make in the future a desert Diorama ... so i'm taking notes...

[Guest]

You can't beat a good N Africa diorama!

[minitnkr]

I remember it, but thought you had set it aside due to low mojo. Good to see it return. PaulE

[rtfoe]

Wouter :tears-of-joy: ya an old roll...

Greg...just your luck as the dio itself is still a WIP. Not huge but slightly larger than a vignette...a "vigdio" :tears-of-joy:

Dave S...it so happens there's a GB on so reviving and rehashing.

Paul.... this is a left over from a stalled GB from MM when a member who initially started it disappeard and either Tim...God Bless Him or John R took over the duties. By then I had switched to something else.

Cheers,
Richard

[Peter Gillson]

Richard - a very nice AFV, nicely weathered with the Pzgrey showing tnrough.

[Guest]

Hi Richard very nice work indeed keep it up.
Pete.:thumb2:

[rtfoe]

Thanks Peter, on the mention of paint showing through I didn't follow any references but was assuming primer red was used later in German manufacturing. Since covering up with the hull and gun shield I can't make out the colour of the chipping in the shadows. :smiling6: Just saying in case purists start poking fingers...you know what I mean.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi Pete, thanks. Will soldier on.

Just confirmed on Ammo Mig that the first half of the war primer was dark German grey and after that red oxide...phew...:smiling6:

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi again,

Continuation of the Panzerjager...
Whatever leftover brass paint I used it on the shells that might be used in the dio.

[ATTACH]316586[/ATTACH]

Masking tape protected the areas I didn't want painted when applying the Panzer grey and rust.

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Most German armour were sent to North Africa in Panzer grey and regimental markings in white and were painted over in desert sand, yellow brown or splatted with mud on arrival in the field.

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After the base coats were applied, specific areas will be masked before applying the desert sand.

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Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi,
While setting aside the Panzerjager to cure, I rummaged around the stash of suitable figures and equipment for the dio and came up with these...

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I know from sources that the MG42 made its debut in Libya in June '42 but wasn't going to chance is so I took the took the tri-pod and replaced an MG34 from the Tamiya German Arms set.

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The pith helmet looked interesting and so was the guy pointing.

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This was where I took some of the equipment from... namely the MG34.

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Donkey as pack mules for the Bedouin was sourced from Dragon.

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The amunition carrier also came fro Dragon.

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Other than this I MB figures washing up and a Tamiya tank figure were added into the mix.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi All,
Being not sure of the time frame I was going to set this dio for in North Africa, I decided to be cautious and back date the Italeri gun tripod to recieve the MG34 instead of the MG42. That came from the Tamiya German weapons set including the drum magazine holders.

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I glued up the donkeys but later decided on the mother donkey...

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The Italeri oil drum which for me in the early days were so much better than the early Tamiya oil drums. I used to wonder where Verlinden got them for his dios until I saw them in the Italeri catalogues where he had some of his best dios featured. Both he and Shep Paine were the influence for my passion to dio making.

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Initial planned composition was penned onto the base with the outline of the cropped area.

[ATTACH]317840[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317841[/ATTACH]

Home made base with timber bidding glued and hammered in place.

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Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi,
The next set of pictures will show the build up of the base from polystene foam starting with a support frame from compressed foam board for the edges.

[ATTACH]317856[/ATTACH]

Then layers of polysterene layed on with white glue or polyfoam glue which I got from a Japanese pound shop.

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My best method of weighing down and keeping assemblies flat...

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Carved with a sharp blade for the contours...

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Well build up with four slabs of polyfoam...

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Roughen up the contours with a soldiering iron...the heat melts the foam...

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I always believe in a good presentation for dioramas and that always means a good base. Gloss black helps frame the ground work.

[ATTACH]317867[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317868[/ATTACH]

So next onto the watch tower ruins...

Cheers,
Richard

[Steven000]

Nice project so far Richard! The base looks good :thumb2:
Kind regards, Steven

[rtfoe]

Thanks Steven...so kind of you to comment.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi,
I needed a Bedouin to lead the donkey and chose the Fallschirmjager figure to modify. I twisted his head as far as it could look natural and twisted his body as well

[ATTACH]317999[/ATTACH][ATTACH]318000[/ATTACH][ATTACH]318001[/ATTACH]

Then I modified the donkeys neck to make it look as if it was being pulled. It doesn't look that convincing at the moment but some carving and sculpturing might do the trick.

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So far the stance seems alright. I will have to shave all detail and clothing off the Fallschirmjager and give him Bedouin clothing and a turban.

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The donkey started off with putty to fill the gaps... I proceeded to cut his snout and opened it out tho fit in teeth...

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Then I sculpted Magic sculpt into the mane and its teeth and protruding up lifted snout.

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The neck is still quite thick near the base of the cheek and will be carved away. The right lip is rough and needs smoothening.

[ATTACH]318006[/ATTACH]

The left lip is much better looking

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Well that's all I've done so far...comments welcomed.

Cheers,
Richard