Claude,
That overhead shot is just amazing. I hope the damage was not very hard to repair. How did you do in the show? Look foward to your updates.
Tom

Hi Tom,
yes, the picture is cool but unfortunately a corner of the dio is missing.

After a serious hickup in the organisation to begin with where i ended with my castle in this second choice place, the expo went pretty well for me.
I think due to the location far from the other modellers i had fewer modellers on my stand as it should, but the public certainly made up for it and was present.
Also everyone was very enthousiastic about it.
I think it is also because of the bad location that not a lot of pictures appear on the websites of my dio. Anyway, that allows for a lot of unknown views to get into my second book

I met a lot of nice people in person i only knew from name (not naming them now because i certainly forget some), very pleasant contacts with those coming from the States, Ken from Badger Company, Chuck from AMPS and Pat Stansell from MMiR. I was also able to greet some of my resellers in person, even the one from Greece.
That's probably the biggest plus of Euromilitaire, the fact that people are coming from far and meet there.

I also sold a lot of books, so it ended all well.

The damage is repairable and already done, it will not be the last one i fear.

As soon as i have better pictures i will post a few.

Claude

i knew this dio was big Claude, but that overhead shot really captures the scope and scale you've covered. truly amazed, and looking forward to seeing what more could possibly be added to this work of art, many thanks! Ant.

I have been admiring your work since the beginning but like many have remained silent. The news of damage and seeing the photos of your location at the latest venue raises a possible concern. Someone passing by above the module accidentally dropping something over the edge. Perhaps there is some way you can incorporate a plug in top/backdrop valence made of aluminum tubing in the style model railroaders use for their modules? It protects the module/diorama but brings possible problems with lighting. Prof Klyzir at the Micro Layouts by Carl Arendt has posted several links to such an assembly. The lighting problem actually is sometimes a benefit as it allows YOU to control lighting for viewing and photography.
Just a thought and a concern from a silent lurker.
Cheers from the Heart of the Continent (North America)
MT Hopper

Thank you William for your input,

Oh yes, that was my concern too, someone watching from above letting fall his drink or whatever Sandwich on it. Fortunately all went well and for the future such a position will probably not happen anymore.
In a yet unknown future, when a permanent display is found, ione of my conditons will be to put it under glass. Not easy , as this will mean a glass of at least 4 foot high.

Doing any backdrop is not possible as my dio should be watchable from all sides. An electric wire would probably be the best protection ! LOL

Thanks for dropping by

Claude

Claude,
Glad to hear the damage was easy to fix. How many more sections are you planning on building? Looking foward to when you are able to do your second book.
Tom

Been following along...Awesome Dio ! milvehfan

Tom, I don't have a lot of space left in the van at all to transport anything!
So i may have reached the point where i can build but not show anyone the complete dio anymore. I may leave out the castle ( known well now) and show the rest.
I planned for 1.2x2.2 m more, this are, depending on how i cut it, 3-4 more modules.

I will take a few weeks off to clean all the rooms, rest and rethink everything. Perhaps painting a few figures. Then we will see.
Pretty sure are 3-4 more houses and the river. The village is complete then. After that....... ?

Thanks milvehfan


Claude

Claude,
Thank you for the quick reply. You deserve a break. When is your next show?
Tom

Starting this afternoon! Virton in Belgium. Hopefully it's stops raining when i am going to load the van!

You see, there are a few problems when building big! LOL

Claude

Claude,
Good luck at the show.
Tom

So guys,

Let me show you some final pictures of the actual look of the dio.
This thing is getting so big that i will simply make a selection covering most sides of it. I did not yet take good prictures from everything, so this should do it.

Let's start with an overall picture

Pictures from the space behind the latest houses


and the front of ot



This is the setup on the upper side of the street, some more figures now placed with woman and child.


The Army theater inside the Hotel (lost this sign already during transport and replaced it )


View over the parking area


The Sherman advancing

The new scene, with the scratchbuild lady descending from the Lanz and the Gentleman helping her down.



I sincerly do not know if this pictures are enough to give an overview about it, but let's close it for now.

I am stil cleaning up my rooms now. During the winter i need to do some 1:1 scale house work. Planning for the next parts is already started so expect news from the dio in a few months.
Meanwhile, some of you may see me near Eindhoven next weekend.

Thanks for your support

Claude

follow see your works always.

Claude , you are my hero .

adisak.

Ceaselessly amazing Claude...
I would be mightily impressed enough if these were kit buildings, but to know the effort and ability that has gone into each one,really is something special.
Well done mate
Brad

Hi Bradley, Adisak

Thanks guys for your comment.

I'm actually pleased by some of the pictures. On last weeks show i was very well placed and had a lot of space and i was able to do a good photosession before the opening of the show to the public.

Cheers
Claude

Claude: Magnificent!! What, if anything, do you have left to do for this project?

Is it possible you will ever be able to focus on a new project when you have finished this one?

The plan is to make an additional 1,2 meters (4 foot) lengthwise. This would include
- a river of over two meters, with bridge and two complicated decorative columns.
- doing a complete hill up from the bridge (opposite the castle) with approx. 5 meters of road (no cobblestone), a squaremeter of forest, a cemetery, around a dozen vehicles and at least so many figures needed to portray and advancing army (lots)
- another three and half houses opposite the road of the Hotel Central to complete the village look are also planned

As i start to get problems spacewise (mainly transport problems) i need to consider a few options. Perhaps i will continue as planned but will not be able to show the whole thing anywhere, only parts of it. Let's wait a few months to see where tis is going. For now, my mood is to continue and look at the problems later

Johan, i have already one dio i would like to make, but am not starting it fearing to loose focus on this one. So i probably will get other things done once this is finished.

Thanks

Claude

This is amazing. I remember when all of this started. Really a stunning project.

great project Claude. i found some photos of it displayed at Euromilitaire 2010 and i thought i would add them here for people to check out:









enjoy. cheers, bd

Wow! Can't wait to see that river

Thanks Scott! Indeed, when i think back to the first pieces of assembled wood and styrodur i showed here, it has been a long way already.



So am I !

I saw the pics on Military Modeling, so let's give Robin credit for the pictures.
There is even a hint of the builder on the second last picture

Cheers
Claude

Claude, those Photos are great! Some of the photos make it look even larger than it actually is (for example the park looks larger in detail photos). The photo possibilities seem endless! I sure hope one day I will be able to see it in person.

Cheers!
Stefan

Time for a bigger van ... or a trailer?????

There must be a part of you that is "addicted" to this model and you´ll need your new hits soon ... a 2 meter river, a wood, etc ... you can´t stop now

I struggle to finish a 20x20cm diorama without getting distracted. I am in total awe of this model and can't wait for the next book (another subtle hint!)