Jan,

I do prefer the camo netting scene but I also like the stone wall. I was thinking that in place of the stonewall you could place the gun behind some low sandbaged wall with some 50 gallon drums with sandbags on the sides for crew protection within the confinds of the camo netting? Just an idea

Humm, I wonder how much that mail order shops shipping cost would be to my location here in California?

-Eddy

Eddy, some of the possibilities that I've considered are the gun behind an excavated berm with the netting over top. It's a slight variation of the box art. I found a small video of an Australian L119 on a fire mission on the Web. I tried to find the exact video but had to settle for one that presents a similar concept. This is a US 155 but the set/scene is kind of where I am leaning.



The Tennessee hobby shop is called Smyrna Toy and Hobby Center and the page I was looking at can be found here.

Thanks for your interest and comments.

Cheers,
Jan

Jan,

Thanks so much for the video link. This really helps me to begin to understand the workings of a field mobile artillery gun together with its crew compliment. After viewing the video I could see how keeping things simple would make moving the gun into a simular firing position within a short period of time a tactical advantage.

And thanks for the Smyrna Toy link. Couldn't reply sooner because the power went down on Tuesday night and didn't come back on until early Wednesday. The black out affected quit a large area here and the server that I use to go online was unavailble until late last night. Weird weather!!!

-Eddy

Hey Jan,
These two are cruising right along. I vote for the camo net also. How about the netting AND the rock wall?

Your photography is really coming along. You'll have that new camera and techniques mastered in no time. How about a similar shot to the one with the towed piece in the background only this time have the one up front in focus?

Looking forward to the rest.

Keith

@Eddy You are correct in your observation that the gun emplacements are rather austere. I've read somewhere where with modern artillery movement after firing equates to survival. From what I've seen in various videos, the one above is pretty standard.

@Keith Thanks for the kind words. The photography techniques are still rather foreign to me so the learning curve is still present (especially with the camera in total manual mode). I'll see if I can't retry a shot with the two guns on my days off and get them both in focus. As I'm still very new to this vignette process there are a lot of little issues to resolve and techniques to master. Sometimes I think that I'm turning a proverbial molehill into Mount Everest.

Cheers,
Jan

I must apologize for dragging this build out but circumstances have not been conducive to a timely finish. I now have the base of a base ready for working on but have been hampered by a search for appropriate figures. I finally found a mail order place and got some Revell modern figures. Here's the ones I was thinking of using.





They aren't bad detail wise but they are of that softer malleable plastic. After getting these figures I found a supplier that can get me 1/72 Prieser figures at a reasonable cost. I have three sets of those ordered and they should be arriving at the end of the week. I've been waiting for three weeks for them but as they come from Europe on a slow boat it's somewhat frustrating. To those that were looking for redone shots of the light guns, I'll try to put some up within the week. Thanks for your patience and comments.

Cheers,
Jan

For those at are still following this endless thread a small update as the situation now stands. I ordered two sets of Preiser modern U.S. figures and after waiting a month they are still on back order and not expected in until the first week of January. To add insult to injury, I am finding my scenic skills sorrowfully lacking. I got a Woodland Scenics diorama base and scenery kit and have wasted most of the material and a couple of trees trying to get something that looks real. Anyway, here's some pictures as the situation now stands.

The base with some feeble attempts at trees. Actually these two actually look something like trees. Actually the SWMBO saw this and asked if it would not have been smarter to paint the trunks before attaching any foliage. Dah...



Another angle



I actually kind of like this shot



I'll go to my LHS tomorrow and throw some more money at the base/scenery.

Cheers,
tread_geek

Hang in there, Jan. We all need to learn to walk before we can run. I hate to think what I'd end up with if I tried scenery. The third picture is really cool. It show the weathering and details quite well.

AJ

Jan,

Well, it's been a while since I've posted a comment here. But I had been visiting from time to time.

Your vignette with those pair of howitzers and tall trees in the background look outstanding thusfar. Your better half is right about painting the tree trunks first! Live and learn. It takes a lot of comitment to complete a diorama or vignette. I have a lot to learn when it comes to ground work so I am planning on aquiring a good book on diorama scenery. No choice! I am horrible at scenery stuff and a good book should help point me in the right direction. Up to now you've done a wonderful job on your build. I would like to place my Tiger I in a small diorama setting sometime this coming year. I hope that your figures will be coming soon. Keep at it no matter how long it may actually take just as long as your having fun with the project.

After looking at your build I may have to try putting together an artillery piece with some figures in a simular setting.

-Eddy

Thanks for the comments and the "pep talk," I can use all I can get. I'm not giving up but I am going to take a short sabbatical from this project. Sometimes we get so close to a subject or project that we need to step back and take a deep breath. So far I've experimented, and abused, quite a bit of scenery material trying to get things just right. You may have a good idea in getting a book on diorama or scenery construction.

I intend to remain committed to this project as it is a precursor to two future projects. The "stash" contains a pair of WW II German 105 mm guns and also a 21 cm German Howitzer that will be crying out for an effective base. Thankfully I still have enough scenery material to practice with and will start doing more research rather than "shooting from the hip."

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks for the video. I like towed artillery!
Great build of these nice small kits!

greetings and happy new year!
Soeren

Glad you liked the video and the little howitzers and thank you for commenting. The guns themselves were a fun build and I really enjoyed them even with the few difficulties that arose. One interesting thing about the kit is that it actually provides four gun barrels and breeches. I've been toying with the idea of scratch building two more carriages for the shorter barrels that I didn't use.

And a happy, prosperous and build completing New Year to you too.

Cheers,
Jan

Well, it's been quite a while and I'll bet everyone thought that this thread had fallen by the wayside. If those that followed this build will recall I ordered some sets of Preiser modern U.S. figures around the middle of December '09. At that time I was told the figures should be in in four to six weeks. After six weeks they got in some World War II panzer crews that I ordered but not the modern ones. Each time I went to the LHS I was informed that the figures were still on back order. I had all but given up hope and was investigating getting them from a different source. I went in last week and to my astonishment the clerk placed the two boxes on the counter when I went to check out (it's been what, four and a half months?). He apologized for the long delay and gave a belaboured explanation of what had gone wrong. He asked if I still wanted the figures and offered me a not insubstantial discount. Needless to say and without further adieu may I present to you the long lost figures.





I was so excited that I had to post my good fortune. I am currently involved in two campaigns as well as doing some reviews but I'll try to find some spare time to get back to this project. I am still learning about scenery and dioramas so please be patient. To all that have supported this endeavour, I thank you again for your interest and encouragement.

Cheers,
Jan