"a bit of variety in the color range." that's vexactly what you need. I quite like that one, let the updates come..

Thanks Rudi, Martyn and JB.
Rudi, the "wet work" is done using mixed technics.

The larges puddles are Nimix artificial water colored with enamels, the border and other wet effects are heavy glossy varnish dripped with large round brush, then turpentine and capilarity do the job to get a smooth finish.
I work wet effects with paintbruses, to keep a perfect control on resin and varnish.

Hope this helps, just ask if not my friend.

take care with Nimix water, that has to be the worst product i ever bought in 30 years of model making. You know when it's really hot in Lyon in the summer? witness your diorama MELT.
This and the fact it attracts dust like heck,
and then it's almost impossible to get a plain surface
etc etc..

Hello JB,

I know what you mean about Nimix material, we've talked about it weeks ago. I agree with you, but unfortunatly that's the only thing I've got to wotk with. No time and € to buy another resin, but I would really like to got "Still Water" in hand.
what I like with Nimix Agua Artificial is the easy way of use, that's almost like paint, and I believe it doesn't hurt as other resin like the ones you use for your superb water effects, you know I don't have a garden to work outside...

This summer, maybe you'll lend me your fridge for keeping my diorama safe?

Alex you can be stoopid sometimes, I would have happily lend you a few drops of resin or even a good part of my bottle of Still Water!
I believe you open the window a lot on daytime , so just try to hang your diorama for 4 or 5 days if you ever use some epoxy resin and then it will be harmless forever.
My fridge in the garden shed is stilln not plugged so better switch to good quality water straigyt away!

yeah that really rocks !!!
I really love this litlle vignette from the subject to the small details.
I always wanted to make a scene under water. I bought some still water from Prince august at the Sèvres show. You give the taste to test them !!
Best,
Julien

Well done until know Alexandre!
As i see it the leaves are the same i used for my tree, Thymian leaves.

Salut

Claude

Alexandre Great start to your diorama!. Do you have any references that you have based your diorama on or is it purely ficitional?

Keep it coming

Jaymes

Hello Gents.

Julien, thanks friend, I'm pretty happy to see that people seems to like my little dio.
I must get some Still Water in hand today, so I'll try it.
Hello Claude, I'm glad you're find your way here! indeed, there's Thymian in the mix, but I've took a fistul of leaves in my garden, so there must be sauge, laurier, thym and others.
Hello Jaymes, well, I work with a lot of pics, but the diorama isn't the replica of one in particular, more a sum up of the atmosphere.

Today's update, a young birch tree.







Bye,
Alexandre.

Hi Alexandre, really nice update. I cant wait to see this finished!

Thanks for your kind words Martyn.

Evening update :
Moisture and moss on the wall.
Paint work on the border ferns and stones.
Everything done with oil paint.





Thanks for reading.
Alexandre.

Wow how did I miss this one?

Great work Alexandre and I was really interested to see your method of using gesso, I will have to try that. I myself have been playing around with ways to get a good concrete effect and your's seems like a lot less work than mine!

Following this project with avid interest

Great update Alexandre, how did you do the tree?

The color and the atmosphere are super great I love it
Keep up the good job ALEX
Cheers
Seb

Alexandre,

Fantactic colors. Very lifelike!
I'm subscribing to this one.

A.

yep, very good work.
J'attends impatiemment le step by step !!!
Best,
Julien

Very realistic and well done!
rb

Hello gentlemen,

Thanks all of you for taking time to post.
Your kind answers and positive feedback just give me what I need to keep working.

Hello Jon, thanks, I've followed your two dioramas build logs, and I must say that I'm currently developping a huge interest in Soviet AFV and ops. These subjects were far away of my usual area of work, so I thank you for opening my eyes on this. In few times, maybe I'll need people like you to help me with my builds.

Hi Martyn, mate, the birch tree is done using Zeeschuim. A very common medium for all modellers, but often misused. (don't know if it's the right word).
For a winter birch tree, I remove all the ends of Zeeschuim (small black balls and star-shaped leaves) to get a natural look.
then I coat the trunk with Heavy gesso (but other putty also work).
The main thing to remember is to use reference pics and to try not to be generic.

Thanks Seb, Andrzej, Dave, and Julien,
I'll make this SBS for the next part of the triptych.

Today's update :

Thanks to my friend JBA, I've tried Vallejo Still Water, and it was so good in use that I've redone all the puddles wet effects.
Below you could see the difference : much better.
I've also done the beggining of letterring, with evergreen styrene.











Please feel free to ask for anything, forgive my crappy english and thanks for reading.

Best,
Alexandre.

Your english is spot on. My french however, n'est pas certainement le meilleur. Consequently, your diorama is quite amazing. I just recently learned what you are modeling and your techniques are spot on.

Absolutely stunning. It really conveys the mood as well as being so very accurate.

Nice progress. Very natural tree.
any plan for 'leftover' remains of the missing letters?

Very nic and interesting work Alexandre
Cheers
Libor

WOW... How could I have missed your dio blog... It looks very realistic!!! Inspiring for my second attempt on a vignette.

Avec les meilleurs salutations de la Suisse!

Brilliant upate Alexandre!

Votre anglais est meilleur que mon merde Français, mon ami.

Fantastic work, I've definitely got to give the Still Water a try.

Rudi

p.s. When you're done with this I'd like to pre-book this for a display feature on HF