Hi Jerry,

Thanks for dropping in.


Got a little done, added some planking to the mortar pit, gave the seated soldier a bottle, test fitted the camp bed having added a pillow, and experimented with some water.











Cheers

Al

Great to see more progress on this Alan- it is shaping up to be an epic piece- already there is so much going on in it and you are still adding things!!

Hi Karl,

Many thanks. I'm hoping to finished the layout of the dugout this week, then I can add the final layer of earth to give it an overall shape. My only reservation is the tunnel, from the research I've done this would most probable have been planked either side from the beginning of the dig so I will have to board the inside walls which will take some time as I need a trip to a model shop to eyeball the right thickness of beams.

Cheers

Al

I agree with Karl, this is becoming quite the epic build.

It seems like you could add figures and details forever. I'm really looking forward to seeing more.

Hi Mike,

It will be quite a task to get it to look right, but it is a fun project.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

Added some items to the dugout this evening, hanging binos, water bottle and tin hat, parcel from home, Union Jack, picture of the Grandfather, some wine bottles and comforts. Polished boots on the bed. Moving in tomorrow .

Will update when I can get a picture.

Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work. Starting to move the troops into the caves, and add in some personal kit.



These are the slightly altered crates I made for the 9.45 inch mortar shells, battlefield litter:



I added some rank to the soldiers jackets:



A small pool of water is forming in the dip from the slope of the trench:



The bunker is kitted out to a fashion: outside will be a pile of stores of some description, yet to be determined. I want to add some grey coloured boxes/crates to add a bit more variety:





The upper landscape won't be entirely bare, but have some plant life still clinging on and some pooled shell craters.



Ground was fought over many times in the 2 years leading up to the battle. I want the top to represent left overs of a past action before men dug down into the earth, if you understand what I mean? I was mid summer at this point in time and as far as I can tell allow pox marked by shell craters the landscape wasn't totally devoid of plant life.



Cheers

Al

Looking good Al. It's almost as if you're there. Fabulous stuff.

Hi Darren,

Glad you're enjoying the build.



Al

Hi folks,

Added the timber top to the dugout and the earth on top and the remains of a fence. Cave dwellers have some additional items, rifles, helmets hanging water bottle and bag.







Cheers

Al

Shame the shelter is covered , maybe stick a light in there Al lol, you have time

Pete

Hi Peter,

It's quite an open are and there is a fair amount of light getting in so it should draw the eye in. Mind you there may be a figure sitting or standing in that area, but I didn't do more than I though would be the basics as it was being topped off. A bit like interiors it's more the feeling that something is there.

Cheers

Al

You're a brave man, Al!

It takes some courage to go back and make the kinds of major alterations and additions to a work in progress like you've done here. It also takes more than just a little skill to blend the new additions into the older work and retain the continuity of the look.

Well done!

It's also nice to see some vegetation like you've added.

I've been surprised more than once looking at WWI photos at just how quickly Mother Nature springs back with growing plants - mostly grass and weeds, of course - on battlefields after just a short while. I think that's a detail overlooked by a lot of modelers.

Hi Mike,

Many thanks for dropping in and the comments. Weeds and grass recover very quickly and without something to break up the surface it would have been way too 'brown' One major change I have to make is in the tunnel. I was just going to put in the main supporting beams but looking at references and research I'll need to board up the back wall as they installed the timbers pretty much as they dug the thing out as best I can tell.

The Battle started on 1st July 1916, and finished on 18 November the same year. There would have been months of preparation involved and short periods of calm and it's this period I'm trying to create. If there is a item I'm not totally happy about it is the duckboards. In general they used smaller timbers across the boards, but I dare say they also used anything that came to hand as needs be.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

The earth has has a basic coat of paint and I've added some scrub grass here and there and leveled a patch for the stores to rest on. I've also connected the two old parts of the battle field with some planks.









Cheers

Al

Its been a while since I was in on this thread last, but you have made some massive progress since then. It was a joy going through the whole thread and seeing it evolving. Love the sandbag walls and mortar pit. Fantastic work Alan and kudos on your conversions. They´re perfect for the scene.

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for dropping in and the comments. I had meant to do a lot of work last Christmas but the build got delayed until recently.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

A bit more work on the scene. I had originally thought of making the dugout a RAP, but given the range of items a forward supply point might be more appropriate.

I've added some black out rolls to the exterior of the dugout and a shelf with some items on it. There is a better variety of stores although some need moved and some ammo boxes added. I've added a couple of the Resicast 2 gallon fuel cans. These are very nicely done and have a pin on the pour plug which makes removing them easier.

I have two possible figures for the dugout area either the standing CSgt or the seated Officer reading a book. Coming down the track are a couple of soldier on work detail. I have to place some stores in the empty cave next to the tunnel entrance and I'll decide then whether to place the log carrying soldier nearer to the barrow or just entering the top of the trench. I plan to stack a couple of stretchers near the dugout entrance.

I've also started on some tools for the mortar area as they would have needed something to construct it once the main parts were in place. Talking of the mortar I believe it had a vertical sight on a pole so I'll need to see what I can find out about that and fashion something form plastic rod.

Anyway enough waffle some pics of progress and test fits.















Cheers

Al

Hi Alan,

Looking better every day. The soldier pushing the wheelbarrow out of the tunnel seems a bit clean for such work.

As to battlefield vegetation:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row -
Perhaps a few grew between the shell craters on the Somme in 1916 as well.

Cheers,

Dick

Hi Dick,

Thanks for dropping in and the thoughts. Yes, some of the figures I muddied up when painting others not and they are still a tad clean.

I'm working on the Doc getting some medicines and watching a rat at the moment so the tall standing CSgt will be replaced and the sign moved or re-moved. More later.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

Hopefully this is a slightly more interesting scene, the Doc getting some supplies from a medical trunk and looking up to see the ever present rat(s) that the soldiers shared the trenches with.

Some times original thoughts are the best.





Cheers

Al

I think the way you've posed the Doc surrounded by supplies and stretchers is excellent and him looking at the rat is fantastic. I like the way each area in this piece has something interesting and engaging going on- its inspiring!

Hi, Al,

Though your trenches are still " Under construction", you are very well able to show us the atmosphere. I am sure you will intergrate these poor fellows, living under the earth without proper washing and cleaning, into their environment. Making this dio even better than it already is.
Allow me one point of consideration: though rats may have had enormour proportions due to the all over present "food" in the trenches, their bodies most likely would have not been longer than 20 -25 cm, thus 0,57 - 0,7 cm. The ones you chose are far over! They might take away a lot of the realism.
I hope you allow me to write this.
Furthermore, a deep bow for your results and thanks for sharing.

Hi Karl,

Many thanks, I've to finish off building the medical trunks, lids and fittings to add. I prefer the Doc to the other chap as he's dressed down a bit.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the comments and thoughts. The rats are 1/35 scale by Plus Model, it looks a bit big as there is some flash over the beast but when trimmed up should be OK. There will be a few of these popping up around the build. I'm not a rat expert but I've seen some pretty big ones over the years. I'll see how the part cleans up.

Thanks for dropping in and the thoughts.

Cheers

Al

Coming along very nicely, Al.

I also like the vignette within of the Doc and the rat. I suspect that once the rat is cleaned up and painted in suitable "ratty" colors, that it'll have a much smaller visual impact with less visual weight.

I really like the officer reading in a quite corner. From what I can see, he has a very natural looking pose.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other vignettes you come up with. You have a fairly large "canvas" to work with here. Lot's of room for other interesting scenes.