Hy Mates,

This new topic will depict a What if scene in the well known 'Alpine Fortress'.
"Alpenfestung" was the term used to describe the possiblity that german armed forces would make a last stand in the alpine areas of Austria, Bavaria and northern Italy in the closing months of the war. Guerrilla actions feared by both US and English forces.
So here we are, in the cold early fall 1947. A small Kampfgruppe briefing on a steep slope.

This is my first Build log on armorama, so I will try, as I have time for it now, to post progress regularly.
Thanks for looking.
Regards.

Alexandre.

I'm sure that your build is great but I can't see any picture...

Heres your photos (had to go from your profile to your gallery):

Thanks Tuomas! I can say that Secret of image hosting is insurmountable for me..

Good luck to you neighbour, I will watch your thread
JB

Hi JB thanks neighbour!
I 'd love to put a Gasmask too, but plasticine I use for the groundwork is not bad for health at all so it's too much...
So next step will be pics of the ground. I make it parallel to the panther built.

Oh I like what ifs I am in!

Martyn

Intereasting "What if" diroama, you might want to repostion your Panther so it fist properly on the base

Check this out for uploading photo's LinkyThing

Hy martyn thanks mate!
>James thanks, but don't worry, the Panther was just put there for pictures taking.
More to come. I'm working on the ground.

Regards!
Al.

Hi mates, here's the pics of the 'almost finished' ground.
I'm currently working on the opposite side of the scene,
comments are welcome and wished as usual.
Hope you like it.

Regards.
A.

The rocks are really well done. My biggest concern with it is how you're going to clean up the top edge of the base?

Very nice rocks, they really look like they have been weathered naturally. Nice colours and contrasts.

Chas

Great rocks.
Those are just killer.
Can't wait to see it all done up.
As said the base will be a bear to clean up.

Thanks guys for comments, really apreciated!

Chas > The 'rocks' are painted using Prince August (french for Vallejo), and citadel colors. I use it as a primer, then the real work on them is made with ten shades of pigments from white to dark siena


Scott and Jeff > For the base edges, I'm using a thin blade in order to cut the ground straight to the edge, then remove the self adhesive paper that I put on the wooden frame.
I hope this operation will not damage the scene itself.

Excellent groundwork Alexandre, most impressive.

From the looks of things, you've used tape to mask the top surface edges of the base, good idea. Looks just like the wood.

Cheers -

Tim

Here's the beginning of the other side of the hill, an afternoon work.
Still a lot to do.

Cheers.
A.

Nice work on the base matey! I like the use of slate.

Martyn

Superb groundwork

Hi Tim, matthew & martyn thanks!
In fact, rocks are made with a thin piece of plasticine that I break and sculpt, when it's dry, to get this slate look.
I think there's definitely a lack of pine tree on my base, for a more real Alps looking...

I'm waiting for PE parts for my panther, so I keep on working on the base.
Thanks lot for looking.

Regards.
A.

Hello mates, I bring you pics of the latest work on the ground.
Please feel free to comment.

Regards.

St Just speaks to St George
Hey I really like the really even way you have been displaying all the little rocks and dust on the slope, this is good -I wonder about your colours though -on the first pics you have been using a normal electric lighning which gets all your stuff brown yellowish, so it's hard to tell if you have been colour correcting the last pictures which appears to be whiter -what exact colour are these?!
Anyway, too much colour distracts the viewer as Tati said, and even with doubtful accuracy, i can still tell that your rocks bit is good, perhaps a bit more of straight ferns would be alright too.
And if you want to be perfect, add some digitalis

Hi
Like the work that you have done on the slope & rocks.
The rocks look very reaslistic.

Hi mates and thanks muddyfield for the comments, I really apreciate!

Jean Bernard, thanks for advices, the dio get closer to the last pics, the whiter. You know I work in a very very desaturate way and the first one is the result of the yellowish lightning in my room at night. Last one were taken in natural neutral light.
As I 've almost finished the rock-sand-dust-mineral work, I will begin the plant. Fern is a bright idea, but I'll need to find a way to realise it and a way to refresh grass, too dry.
Digitalis huh? it will be edelweiss maestro!

Hi Alexandre !

Your groundbase looks rellay cool and off to a really cool start.
Your should also put dead leaves on the groundwork, and maybe mushrooms :-) ?
Keep up this interesting thread.
What about the figures ? classical or what if uniforms?
Best,

Julien

Thanks Julien, dead leaves are coming soon.. I must admit that doing the ground, I had the feeling that what I had to do is to be closer to the late summer than to the fall, in spite of the original idea.
So I ve warmed colors atmosphere especially grass, and create a more dusty background.
Anyway, I really apreciate comments and advices like yours.
Pics soon I hope.
About figures, as said, it will be a improvised kampfgruppe, and I will try to suggest the 'militia' aspect.

Thanks for looking!
Regards.
A.