¹⁄35

Normandy Surprise: July 1944

Years ago watching the movie "The Longest Day," I was intrigued by a scene where a German and a US patrol pass one another in the dark along opposite sides of a Norman stone wall. My memory of that scene was recalled when I saw MK35 Edition's "Norman Farmhouse." I had to have it. What ensued was a fanciful encounter between three units that actually were on the battlefield:

• the US 4th Armored Division and 1st Infantry Division
  
• and the 2nd SS Panzer Division, Das Reich

The first step in all this was the Norman farmhouse. The plaster kit is generally very good, but the roof came in pieces thanks to the US post office, and the walls on either side of the building had stone scribing on only one side. Hours of tedious work with a pointed tool followed. Then I realized there was no chimney on a house clearly intended for human occupation, so I scratch-built one with leftover pieces from other plaster buildings.

Various additions followed that, including "glass" and curtains for the door, flower window boxes, and some farm implements and a cart. Here is a list of the things used:

1. Basic plaster & resin kit from MK35 Editions
2. Plus Models window flower boxes
3. Diorama base made of polystyrene covered with papier-mâché
4. Grass from Modelscene, but each tuft was individually removed from mat & glued to base
5. Additional grass tufts made from Woodland Scenics loose "grass" in several shades
6. "Straw" made from Woodland Scenics loose "Winter" grass
7. Door "glass" from transparency film used in presentations
8. Master Box European wagon
9. Master Box Farmhouse barrels, milk containers & wine bottles
10. Plus Models real wood ladder.