The lull before the storm.

[Mickc1440]

I'll join the rabble early for a change

[Tworrs]

Yep, I'm in too, always fancied making a diorama myself.

[JR]

On 10th May 1940 the German Army invaded France. Their Blitzkrieg offensive pushed the BEF and the French army back towards the coast of Northern France. On 23th May Generaloberst Gert von Rundstedt inexplicably issued a halt order to Army Group A, leaving the Luftwaffe to harry the retreating allied forces. The halt order was rescinded on 26th May.
I enjoyed building my Israeli dio (HERE) and who can fail to be motivated to build a dio after seeing John R's latest masterpiece!

My idea is to use the Sd.Kfz 7/1 half track which I built for Dave's GB in a dio showing the crew resting up after von Rundstedt's halt order.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191930[/ATTACH]

A derelict farm building will be the back drop.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191923[/ATTACH]

Three of these guys will be the human interest.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191924[/ATTACH]

The vehicle is a bit big but it's built so I'll use it. I planned out the front of the building to scale.....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191929[/ATTACH]

.... and cut out a plywood base and roughed out the building and the half track position.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191928[/ATTACH]

I spent a few days building up the figures. Took some cleaning up but pretty fair detail, even the heads were useable. My figure painting is not good so they'll certainly do! The guy kneeling and cooking has been slightly altered to making friends with a stray cat.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191926[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191925[/ATTACH]

I'll also use the pump from the MiniArt set
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1191927[/ATTACH]

As always this will be painfully slow but anyone with plenty of patience may find it interesting. Tea and biccies available, also strong coffee to keep you awake.

Kind of you to say Jim, seat at the front please with black coffee .Should be interesting .

[Jim R]

So nice to see so much interest in this. I really appreciate your support.

The figures are primed. They needed a bit of work which showed up with the initial primer but are OK now. Stynylrez black sprayed upwards from the base and Stynylrez white from above at an angle.




and puss. (his face is fine - really!)

[Tim Marlow]

Nice start on the figures Jim. Going to be a good one.…….
Just out of interest why use black and white primer for the Zenitel effect? Once you’ve primed them in grey, they are primed. Black and white paint then do the same job?

[Jim R]

Tim - they weren't primed in grey. Just the black and white Stynylrez.

[tr1ckey66]

Great plan Jim. The setting and the figures will be an excellent setting for the half track. Your reference material and choice of figures is first rate too.
Looking forward to it.
Cheers, P

[scottie3158]

Jim,
Great plan mate. I'm looking forward to this. I have used those figures, not the best in the world but they paint up ok.

[Allen Dewire]

Seems I'm late to the party again Jim!!! Great plan Sir. I'll just hang out in the back and keep an eye on the troublemakers. Brought my own beverages and my binoculars, so I won't miss anything or go thirsty either...

Prost
Allen

[Tim Marlow]

Tim - they weren't primed in grey. Just the black and white Stynylrez.

Sorry Jim I misread what you wrote…….I thought the initial primer was a grey one……

[Jim R]

Hi all
Rather slow but that's par for the course for me.
The figures have had some glazing on the flesh areas.

Done some work on the building. Getting the foam cut to the correct angles was a nightmare even with my Proxon and dedicated angle cutters.


It only a thin backdrop.


Been puzzling on what to make the roof slates from. I think thin cork sheet may work OK, easy to cut and distress.


Still an awful long way to go but I'll not be beaten by a certain Mr Race, the dio king, or Mr Ron and his "Blue Peter" inspired stuff! :tongue-out3:

[Si Benson]

Building work looking good Jim, but you can keep the bowl of breakfast cereal

[scottie3158]

Jim,
that is really taking shape mate.

[Mickc1440]

Nice progress Jim

[Neil Merryweather]

ooh looking good Jim
but WAAAAAY too neat!