Hi Phil,

Thanks for your comments and your welcome. I'm glad you're enjoying the build. Hopefully I'll get a bit more done soon.

Unfortunately the war to end all wars was not to be and conflicts continues to rumble on across the world. The courage of the individual has not changed, just the manner in which they confront their enemy.

Looking at past history and the make up of the people of Afghanistan one does wonder how much has been achieved that will have lasting value, but only time will tell there.

I think many will be counting the days until their troops return home safely. At some point the people of that country have to decide how it will run and shoulder that responsibility by themselves.

Al

Hey Alan, been watching your build here for awhile. Instead of commenting all the time and repeating what everyone else states, Just been enjoying the show. A lot of work, research, and talent has gone into this dio of yours and thought I'd finally drop a well done so far. This is turning out very well and you don't see much in the way of W.W.1 dio's. I'd like to see some more figures out there from that era, maybe we would see more of them. Real nice job on the RAD figures conversions. I'm thinking that you'll need many many rusted cans around the outer edge of the trenchs. Just looks awsome. Hope it all works out for you.

Hi Bob,

Many thanks and I'm glad you enjoying things so far. Yes a lot of detail yet to add and empty cans are a must. I need to convert 1 or 2 figures for inside the tunnel, kit out the wooden dugout and then start adding kit and debris around the place. Some small grassey patches wouldn't be out of place either and of course a poppey or two struggling to survive.

Many thanks for the comments.

Cheers

Al

This ;post is spam.

Al

Excellent work.
Excellently reproduced the terrible living conditions of the front-line soldiers.
Even the smallest details perfectly worked.
I am impressed with this great diorama.
Many greetings
Frank

Looks amazing Alan
Got any new progress shots?

Hi Frank and Dave,

Thanks folks.

Dave, just started work on two further figures last night, took a short break whilst the Olympics was on and I was building a CDL tank for variety.

I have about 5 more figures to convert, not all for the dio but I may use some with the 18pdr I did at the beginning of the build in a smaller scene.

Keep you posted as things develop.

Cheers

Al

Sounds awesome, really looking forward to seeing some more pics soon mate.
Reminds me of my attempt at a somme diorama in 1/72 more than 10 years ago, been thinking at "refurbishing" it (would probably just make a whole new one but strip then repaint the figs) and seeing yours come together is really sparking my enthusiasm again. Thanks for the inspiration!

Hi Dave,

Glad you're enjoying the build. Good luck with the project, post up some pics when you get going.

These are the 5 figs I'm working on at the moment.



Cheers

Al

Your knocking out some good poses with these guys mate, nail on the head!

Hi Dave,

Thanks for looking in and the comments.

A bit more work on the latest batch and a bit of test placement.



I thought the officer could live in the bunker



The washing troops in the front trench



The digger in the tunnel but he probably needs a pal.



A few test placement pics of the rest













I think about 2 or 3 more troops will complete the scene and then I can get on to equipment, stores etc and detailing the individual areas

Cheers

Al

It is always a pleasure to follow your thread Al. It is a hard task to depict a soldier's life and you are doing it very well.
A poet among builders!

Phil.

That is shockingly good! Puts my figgies to shame although I'm copying half your stuff.

I'd love to see it in the flesh!

Hello Alan,

I just read your whole build log. Really amazing stuff.
My hat off to u.
I especially like the way u incorporate suggestions from other forum members.
Keep up this stunning work.

Regards
Tony

Sharp work Al, Your "figgies" are outstanding. I'm inspired to do something from the Great War now as well.
It's akin to hearing the message, not just listening to the speaker... Thanks I will be following this!
Cheers Dave

The digger in the tunnel definetly need a pal, he's a bit lonely looking down there! The figures washing in the trench are really inspired- your really showing the life in this trench perfectly, this is shaping up to be a real special piece of work.

Hi Phil, Mudro, Tony, Dave and Karl,

Thanks for looking in guys and the comments appreciated.

Phil, Hopefully I'll get there in the end.

Murdo, how's the Whippet, last time I saw it it looked fantastic.

Tony, yes, the good thing about blogs and threads is the individual feedback as many eyes are better than two

Dave, look forward to developments.

Karl, The tunnel pal is developing (see below). I might look for an alternative in Shirt Sleeve order or perhaps just shorts and boots. Not sure the full uniform is the way to go with that one, even if the collar is undone.




Cheers

Al

Nice progress on a great dio. Best way to keep the troops from getting into trouble is keep them busy.
J

Hi Jerry,

Yes, working, eating,catching some sleep and trying to survive didn't leave a lot of time for much else when in the line.

20/30 casualties a day would be consider light in many cases.

Al

Hi Al,
I agree with Jerry that you've got a great dio, but as to getting into trouble, it was all around them. Unstable wet ground, poor ventilation, regularly shaken up by artillery bombardment. Then throw in some poison gas and noxious fumes from explosives, enemy counter mines, and the chances of breaking through into an enemy tunnel and a battle with pistols and grenades in the dark.
One suggestion - you might consider shortening the handles of your tools, for work in confined spaces. Photos in Alexander Barrie's fine book "War Underground" show pick handles about the length of a man's arm. Canadian and Australian tunnel companies were drawn from the ranks of experienced miners, and their tunnels were tall enough for a man to stand upright. The British tunnels were driven mainly by men experienced in digging sewer tunnels (clay kickers) and by former coal miners who were used to working narrow seams with low backs. The clay kickers worked sitting down with their backs braced against cross beams, and their spades are described as heart-shaped and pointed. The partner's job was to shovel the spoil into bags which would be dragged back to the shaft and hoisted to the surface or a level above.
Great work as always.
Cheers
Dick

Al, just out of curiosity, have you ever seen the Australian movie "Beneath Hill 60"?

It's about Aussie Army miners in WW1 who took part in the campaign when the Messines Ridge was blown up. If you haven't then it's a truly spectacular film that I would absolutely recommend.

As well as having brilliant references for WW1 stuff and equipment it is a superb story and movie.

Hi Dick,

Thanks, on the tools. I've already started to do that with the kneeling chap, full length handles would have been difficult in such a confined space, so I'll have a mix. I'll give the dragging bags idea some thought.

Hi Murdo,

Yes, Hill 60 is a good movie, bought it a while ago.

Thanks for the thoughts folks, just working on some packing cases for the mortar rounds and for general little, more later.

Cheers guys

Al

Hi folks,

You get two bombs with the trench mortar kit but that seemed inadequate for the scene so I though I'd make some empty bomb crates that can be added to the general litter of the battle field.

I used some old bits of a German kit but cut the creates down to the appropriate size.





I'll fashion a loading tray for the bombs too.

Al

Hi folks,

With the bulk of the figures and basic ground work done I've started to put together some basic kit to populate the trenches, tunnel and caves.

Boxes of Stores.
Ammunition Boxes.
Explosives
Medical Kit
Weapons (SMLE, Vickers etc)
Tools
Personal Kit
Football
Wire Cutters
Rum
Fruit and Veg!
Maybe a chicken
Rats
Grenades both types
German kit both captured an litter

On personal kit, I should be OK with the helmets and water bottles, SMLE and bayonets. I've looked a various styles of packs and the American style haversacks seem to be the closest I can see to the type used during WW1, at least as far as shape goes, so I plan to add some straps to those and use them as unloaded backpacks.

I could do with making a few sets of hanging or dis-guarded webbing which might be fun. The only quantity of small ammo pouches I have are the ones from the Italeri sets and I don't know if I can adapt those to give the right look, anyway an experiment for later. Several more dis-guarded jackets are needed too.

The other considerations I need to think about are scattered German kit, whether to make the bunker into Officers quarters, A Regimental Aid Post or a QMs store and whether to add some skull and bones around.

I would like to add 2 or 3 walking wounded coming down the trench with one leading and the others following hand on shoulder.

Probably the biggest consideration needed will be the adding of the litter of war. At the moment the trenches and landscape look quite orderly and I need to change that. Depending on what pictures you look at for reference the ground is either totally devastated or there is still a reasonable quantity of grass weeds etc around. Someway between both might be the way to go.

So there is a long ways to go yet in getting this one finished.

Anyway I started to put together some bits and bobs. I'm pretty sure Biscuit tine and 4 gallon water cans existed in WW1. If you spot anything out of place let me know.

















Cheers

Al