Wow. As a beginner, this blows my mind. This is extremely inspiring to a new modeler. I've been trying to tear myself away from the computer for the past twenty minutes and have been unable to do so thanks to your dio! Maybe one day I can have your patience and skill! Subscribed and excited to see more progress.

-T

Wow, this entire diorama is going to be quite impressive. I will start taking pages out of your book and use the crackle medium on a truck bed that I want to look aged.

Great work!

Hello All, I hope everyone had a Happy and safe New Years! I thank everyone again for your nice comments.
I desided to put my biulding to the side and start working on the models for my dio, to change things up a little.
I've started by painting my M2 Halftrack using the "color modulation" style. This is my first time using this technique, and I think I could still use a little practice [and a better air compressor for my air brush].


Added the markings using "Archer Fine Transfers" followed with a coat of "Pledge Future" acrylic to seal them down...


Did the oil filters with white and yellow ochre...

I don't think the photos show off the filtering as good as the nake eye does. But here they are anyway...


Did a little detailing on the 30 cal. machine guns...


Let me introduce you to the cast of characters...

They're not much to look at right now, but hey, you got to start somewhere!

That's it for now,
Kirk

Kirk,

I think your color modulation looks good. The filter does look to be washed out by the flash of the camera, I know I have the same problem. But over all, very impressive work.

I like the paint stands for the figures, my wife is going to shoot me when I start saving bottle caps. It drives her nuts that I already make her save butter bowls………..

Hello All, thought I'd do a quick update while dinners in the oven. I've just been doing small little odds and end. So I didn't really take a whole lot of pictures, but this is what I've got.....
For the must part the halftrack is done. All I need to do yet is add some muddy snow to the wheel wells and throw in some rifles, which I'll do later...







I don't like using resin and plastic bedrolls and such, so I make my own.
Materials used: Tissue paper, an old t-shirt, white glue[diluted]

Cut the tissue paper wide enough to over lap the cloth and fold the tissue paper so the seams in the middle..

Gently glue the seam together...

Here's a comparison of a roll without the cloth and one with...

I use some wire to help make the impression for where the strips well go and soak the whole thing in a diluted white glue solution...

Let dry...

I make my own little buckles...

Strips are made out of paper, added to the bedrolls, than painted...

I finished the interior of the turret, but I didn't go too nuts on it.

And finally, I painted my slate roof and added some snow...



That's it for now! I can smell my dinners done
Kirk

So how was dinner?

As always you're doing a magnificient job. Thanks for the how-tos. Great idea with the t-Shirt! I usually just fold the tissue several times, but yours seems more effective. The Halftrack looks great, and so does the Sherman interior!

Cheers!
Stefan

i looked at what you started with... amazing work!

cheers!

Stunning! The whole thing is starting to come together now, I love how the halftrack is turning out!

Hi Kirk,

I love your work, I have been looking at it for a while and I love the attention to detail. I can tell that the finish will be great, but I still can’t wait to see it finished!

Regards,

Hello All, I'm sorry to inform you, that in my haste to finish my dio for the AMPS show held in Virginia this week. I did not take many pictures. However I did get it done, half hour before registration opened, in the bathroom of my hotel room. {where the lighting was the best}
I am happy to inform you that it did take a Gold Medal !!
Here are some pictures of the finished dio...
Well these first two are pics of two of the figures I had to put hair on the Hornet heads and make the commanders jacket out of epoxy putty...


Finished second floor...
















Thank You All for following this build, it's been fun
Now, on to the next Dio!!!!

Brilliant dio.Great figures, great scenery and great story. More photos please

Great work....I've been following your build and its nice to see it finished...great work.

Bart

Wonderful job on this dio man! Great attention to detail.
J

Fantastic, the detail is wonderful and the kits are superb.........great kit.

great dio, good story line too. excellent work on the figures.

Hi Kirk,

Congratulations on completing a magnificent diorama! It’s an amazing piece and I can’t wait to see you start another one!
Regards,

Hi Kirk,

Well done with the Gold!

Great idea and storyline with the smell-thing. Very original and well rendered.

Cheers

Claude

Kirk, it came out great, and great storyline too! I really hope you will turn this into a feature for the site so it and all the great building tips won't disappear somewhere in the blue...

Cheers!
Stefan

Hello All,
One last little update before I put this to rest...
There was one thing that always bothered me about my dio, and that was the hole in the back on the first floor...

So I did a little renovation, and added an addition...

It was kind of hard to get a good picture with my poor lighting, but i hope you get the idea...




Here are some more pics, with and without flash..















Everyone have a nice weekend and be safe...
Kirk

Hi
A perfect work, especially the last you gave us an unexpected result "toilet taste."
Thank you for sharing. Look forward to your next work, greetings from China.


Cheer
Blackwater