Hey all,

I just thought I would post some initial progress pics of my dio of Italy January 1944.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03672.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03677.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03676.jpg
The Building ruins are 3/8 inch thick drywall with the paper striped off. I then scribed the morter joints of the concret blocks by dragging a micro chisel across pre-drawn and measured lines. I then spread joint compound that was mixed with a little water to replicate stucco, using a palette knife. I sanded off some out of scale "trowel" marks. The window sills are pieces of .040 thick styrene, cut to size. After cutting out the doorway, I framed it in with some more .040 styreme and worked some more joint compound in, just to give its a better square. I know it looks a little too tall for the scale, but that's the size of the door I'm using from Miniart kit. I primed it with Krylon spray can grey primer. I still have to drill some holes in the top layer of block for the spcer holes. Similar to what is found in cinder blocks in the US.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03678.jpg
Here is the base. The road section is from Miniart. I have started to remove an area that will later be a crater. I intend to have a busted cast iron pipe in there and water.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03679.jpg
Here is some of the the items I intend to have mixed into the debris. The two pices of pipe for the crater are made from drinking straws. the connection valves (I think that's what they are called) Are pieces of .020 stryres shhet that I cut with a circle cutter and bolts added from a DML Panther kit.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03670.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03668.jpg
The M4A3 105mm Sherman from the 756th Tank Bat. that I intend to use.

I still have to make all the individual bricks for the rubble and find some more items to be added to the debris. I also plan on including som German Fallschirmjager figures and a US tanker from the Verlinden line.

More to come!
Dan

Hey all,

I forgot to include pics of the 1st floor ceiling and upstairs floor. This pic shows the slats for the 1st floor ceiling. I will later attach a piece of damaged plaster to it.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03680.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03682.jpg

This pics is the side that the damaged floor will be attached to.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03681.jpg

I stained the balsa and basswood with Flokart Maple Stain and then brushed on a light coat of Weather-Rite.

Dan

Hi Dan, that's good about initial progress waiting for next step. Thank you.

Here is the colpleted 2nd story floor / 1st floor ceiling. They are hard to see in this pic but, there are nail holes on the ends of each floor board plank. On the floor boards, I just used the Folkart Maple stain and ommited the Weather-Rite stain. I wanted the plaster slats and the joists to have more of an aged, dirty look to them than the floor its self. It probably won't matter though, after all the debris and ust is added. Thanks and I welcome (and need) any and all comments/suggestions.

Dan

Woops! Forgot to add the pics.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03689.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03688.jpg

Dan

Here is the weathered building (minus weathering pigments). All I have to do now is add the 2nd floor and paint the window frames. The floor is complete. I also have to add all the ruble and debri. For debris I have a table, a door, shutters, some plumbing, a gate, and what ever else I can find! I would appreciate and welcome any feedback .

Dan

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03692.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n598/raffrecon/DSC03691.jpg

Hi Dan

Looking good mate, got me hooked, looking forward to seeing more pics of the build as it`s progressing.

Thanks Tom, the brick ruble is in the works and I should have some some more progress pics shortly.

Dan