Righty-o.

Diorama Base

More work on the dio base today. Using my collection of stones, pebbles, saw-dust, broken-up plaster and home made static grass, I made up my groundwork concoction. To this mixture I then added a drop of acrylic brown paint, a drop of glue and about 20ml of water. I gave it a mix, and started layering it onto the diorama. I'll let the pictures tell the rest.






As you can see, the slush on the right hand side is still setting, therefore it looks a bit different to the rest. Once it has dried it should look the same as the left side. I got half way through working on the cliff face when "dinner" was called.

Enjoy your weekend,
Chas

its lookin great, but i have one question. The concrete, at least on my computer, looks on the green side. Am i corect about this?

Hi mate, you are right, but don't worry! The whole base will eventually be primed and painted!

Chas

Looking good Chas. In future I'd recommend having a peruse of a local model railway shop and see if they have a stand full of veneer strips and basswood? You will find the variety and thickness and grain quality superior to balsa, especially for things requiring more strength like your wooden posts.
I like the base dynamics, especially the open trench at the rear
Cheers
Brad

Thanks Brad, I will look for some of this wood next time I visit my local hobby store.

Just a quick update on the groundwork:



Chas

Chas-- looking good! Keep up the great work.
DJ

nice work on the dio can't wait to see how it turns out, I'll be looking forward to it. sorry I'd didn't catch this thread earlier

Hi Chas,
Your base is really starting to look the part digger
Will you be giving the groundwork some washes at all?
Cheers,
Shay

Thanks DJ, and John, no problems.

Shay, thanks mate. I will be airbrushing the groundwork then will do some washes.

Chas

Chas
Very nice build. The cliff affect 'makes' it. The techniques are well executed.

uh..looks okay so far Chas, but will you keep on the borders like that or will they be covered with groundwork? like this it does a kitty litter diorama if you see what i mean ..

What the hell are you on about Jean? Seriously I don't know what you are talking about, me no understand. Please explain...

Chas

Chas, I believe JBA points at the balsa edges of your diorama. Are you going to add groundwork on these too ? Now it looks moreless like a box you build your diorama in. But it does not disturb me at all. Finished in a soft or dark color it will turn out nicely. Great work so far.
I noticed a barb wire on one of your pics, but isn't the wire too thick ? Will you add the rocks the Rangers had to climb ?

Greetz ! G.

Yep Guy is right -sorry I should make myself clearer but my occasions of writing/speaking English were thin lately
indeed these are really too thick -and no matter how dark you paint them. I had the same issue with my Sokol dio, and the trick was definitely to put some groundcover on the top of those borders and then to trim carefully with a blade before painting them.
besides if you keep the dio the way it is, you may have a problem with the base near the ground which will be larger than the diorama upper parts (see the small inserted pic).


the "kitty litter box" diorama refers to those dioramas whose borders are actually higher than the scene itself, it's really one of the capital sins of diorama making methinks!

Chas this is coming along immensly, the groundwork texture is fantastic , how are your fighures?

Yea I am planning to paint the wood black.


Maybe. I will post some clearer pictures soon so you can make better judgement.


Maybe

Jean, ahhh I understand.


I shall do what you have suggested. Good tips mate. Thanks.

James, figures are resting. I get so consumed in groundwork that I don't touch the figures for weeks!

Chas

I know your skills Chas, it will turn out just great ! G.

Thanks Guy, I hope so...

Well after a hammering from JBA, I've cleaned up my act and can now seek forgiveness for my diorama sins.

I have also airbrushed some tones to get the soil colour accurate for Pointe-du-Hoc. I still need to work on the yellow and buff tones (plus shadows) for the cliff face.

Hopefully I'll get some more work done tomorrow,

Chas

Amazing!!!

Folowing up!!

Marcelo

you know adjusting my effects is certainly the very big thing I still have to learn from the English language.
Anyway, looks veery good!
JB

i wish i had the patience to stick to projects as much as you:(

brilliant groundwork, makes my attempts look like childs work

No worries mate, I am really finding your feedback most helpful. I shouldn't be complaining about your English since my French is shocking.

'Rapide, appelez l'ambulance, ma grand-mère a été frappé par la foudre!'

James, thanks for the compliment, however, don't run yourself down and my advice, don't work on more than two models at one time. You will develop a preference while the others sit there unfinished for months, years...

Diorama Base

Colours have been altered slightly, but there is still work to be done.

I have laid down some grass, patches shorter grass (I used the common railway grass for this) and long grass (made from dolls hair, similar to hemp/jute twine). Do not be alarmed by the fluro colour of the short grass, this will be painted.

This is how I did the grass:

A bit of PVA wood glue applied via old paintbrush.


Common railway static grass.

Take a pinch in your tweezers.


Press onto the glue.

LONGER GRASS:




Pictures can do the talking, that's all from me this weekend,

Chas

Chas-- continued great work!
DJ

looks great to me chas.
keep up the good work mate.

greets
john

Like the ground work. Very impressive.