Trench Sections in Progress.

[Andy Belsey]

I have 5 section models uncompleted and plan to blog them here from now on.

My dugout has figures to paint and LED lights to fit behind model lamps.
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The figures on my reversed trench are again awaiting paint.
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I have a tunnelling and mining section in progress. I've been working on this most recently.
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I have a German Pillbox in progress. It has basic paint on the soil and nowhere else yet.
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I'll carry on blogging about the tunnelling sections here now.
Andy

[monica]

fantastic work,on this,Andrew ,
real like your figures were did you find them,

[Andy Belsey]

I've been making a sandbag wall for my tunnel as 'tamping'. This blocks the passage so that the explosion goes up rather than back down the tunnel. Being in comercial modelmaking for over 30 years means I usually cut corners when I can. I made a rubber mould and have cast some copies which I chopped around to suit my needs. I'll add a few sculpted bags where a figure will be adding more to the wall.

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I have two castings glued together and then filled with car body filler. There's on custom sculpted bag so far.
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Here's my rubber mould.
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Tamping in place.
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I'll leave them loose until they're painted.
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My flimmies are petrol cans now filled with Ammonal explosive. I've built then as a block rather than making individual cans.
You can find be blogging their construction here

https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/trench-sections-in-1-32-scale.30310/page-4

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Andy

[Andy Belsey]

fantastic work,on this,Andrew ,
real like your figures were did you find them,

Monica,
They are Tommy's War figures, but I usually convert them a bit. Some of the Germans are made by Kaiser's Army.
Andy

[stillp]

Fascinating historical detail, very well modelled. The 'clay kicking' digging technique doesn't look very efficient though. How common was it?

Pete

[Andy Belsey]

It was done as efficiently as possible. The digging had to be done very quietly, as the enemy were listening for any noise. The dug soil would hopefully drop gently into a sandbag held below. The crucifix chair could move forward as new rows of roof supports were put in place. They dug miles of tunnels in Flanders this way. A slow, scary business!!
Andy

[stillp]

Yes, I'd have thought it would be quieter to scrape the soil away with a trowel or similar, instead of kicking it.
Pete

[Andy Belsey]

While I was making rubber moulds I cast a rat that I made a long time ago. If you poke it out of the mould before its fully hardened you can bend the tail into different positions. I made the original rat in Magicsculpt. He's the grey one of course. (Sorry for the blurred photo!) These ones are a bit smaller than the whopper who lived with my shellhole section.
Andy

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[Steve Jones]

Stunning work Andrew. I am glad you are in a position to blog again. Your last ones on MM were an incredible success. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

[Andy Belsey]

Sorry for my absence recently. I was at a Christian conference last week and am presently having discussions with a publisher about a book! (It won't be about embroidery!) But I will continue to post here, where my online family is, when I have time. So watch this space!
My mines have had a setback. I realised that the tunnels need to be at least 5ft tall to kneel in them. Mine are 4ft, so I'm going to have to get the Dremmel out!! It can be done but all the balsa has to come off! I plan 2 figures to be kneeling and there will be a fourth lying next to the clay kicker. Total of 4 figures. 3 in the top tunnel and one laying bags behind the mine below.
Andy

[Andy Belsey]

I will be back blogging here in the near future. This week has been very busy, negotiating with a publisher. I've been advised to remove the tutorials on my website. Sorry! If you need to know something, then PM me or contact me via the email on the website. You are my online family and I'm happy to help. Buy the book if you want, but that's your choice.
Now I'm going to try to put LEDs in my dugout and I'll blog it here. When I find some time!
Andy

[minitnkr]

Always a treat to hear your "voice" & view your work. Publishers can be a necessary PITA. PaulE

[Neil Merryweather]

Best of luck with the book,Andy. Glad to see you back at the 'coal face'
Cheers
Neil

[Peter Gillson]

A/ndy

Great to see you blogging your builds again.

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
I have always admired and enjoyed your work so pleased to see more here. Great skills but also I've learned a lot about WW1 trenches.
Jim