Hi guys, here is a link to a small Ardennes based diorama/tutorial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub0daltucF0
I'm sticking this in between the large diorama in order to do a tutorial on Precision Ice and Snow. This video is stage 1 of part 1, the basic build and rough in, detailed scenery to follow.
The figures are being constructed and painted by the talented Jerry Rutman (whom I sought out for this particular build)
I apologize I do mumble in this video on occasion
This can also be followed at http://scenicfactorydio.com/Scenery_Construction.php
- John

Hi John ,

Beautiful scene and layout. The input of the pine trees and vegetation are very well done.I like the trees very much!

I have a suggestion , it is winter so everything is much darker in color. The branches of the pine trees for example ,may be a lot darker instead of pale green.

But you have done a great job,thanks for sharing !

Greets , Kurt

Thanks Kurt,
One thing I don't have a lot of control over is the darkness of the fern other then ones I purposely bleach out but in actuality they are darker then it seems. Other then the room light I have 2-100 watt compact fluorescents 3' overhead to try and avoid shadows while taping but they do appear to lighten things up because I noticed the groundcover also looks a little different then in person.
As I take new pictures while detailing it I will change the lighting set up.
- John

I'm looking forward John , to see more of this !

Kurt

More on the way soon, it has already transformed quite a bit since the video, you really need all the little details to bring the scene to life. I will start to post update pics here as well, up to the next video. In the past I couldn't figure out how (to post pics) so I stopped trying, now I have gotten new instructions so I will try again.
- John

First shot at adding a photo, lets see what happens
more inner forest dtailing




Haven't started on the foreground detailing yet

Yeah man ,that is very cool! Coming along nicely!
J

Wow , nice diorama . Fantastic ! With the snow scene on it , it will be awsome !

Kurt

Hi John.. I just spent a couple of hours watching your You tube videos ... Wow ! I am very impressed and I do think that I'll be placing an order in the new year...
Did I say I was very impressed??? Oh yeah I did ..

Rick (can't wait to see the snow part)

Thanks for the words guys, should have some updated photos up tomorrow, finishing up inner forest and have been working on foreground, Schwimmwagen came in end of last week and that's about 3/4 done, going with dirtied/muddied dunkelgelb with added brush camo
- John

Further along update, had a problem with camera and had to switch to my older one, pics a little dark.
Next is to blend mud into foreground and flatten weeds/brush where the schwimmwagen will drive off.

fantastic is like real

You sir are either one of, if not THE greatest scenery builder ever, or you've cheated and gone to the woods for some photos hahaha. I've got to get myself one of you pine tree kits soon, hell, I should get a group of everything! It all looks amazing.

Can't wait for the next update.

-Conor

Thanks Conor,
I'm just one of the many talented modelers on this site, and there are many, I'm glad I can share my work.
- John

John,

OUTSTANDING! I watched the first episode last night, best hour of TV this month! Thanks for such a great video and for making it look so easy. One quick question, where can you pick up the plaster cloth you used and did you make the rock outcroppings yourself or are they from a model railroad shop/supplier? (sorry, I think I exceeded the one question limit!)

Cheers,
Rick

Hi John,

I cannot watch your video presently, as I'm suffering from a weak Internet connection, so I'm thankful for the photos!!!
All I can say is....jaw dropping!!!! I haven't seen better so far....and I'm "in business" for quite some time!!
And I like the darker photos....after all it's winter, isn't it!

Can't wait for my connection improving, so that I can watch that vid of yours!!

Cheers

Romain

Holy crap man!! I agree with Conor,that is freekin awesome! After looking at that one pic,I could feel the damp cold air and the slight breeze rustling the dead leaves around,in between the sporadic rumbling of distant artillery.
I also think the dark pictures were perfect! Not much sun during the BoB.
I better keep my game on full tilt so I can match these figs to your level(or at least try)
J

Thanks guys, yea I actually like the darker photos too, it seems to blend everything together and give a cool late afternoon feel, Jerry I don't doubt the quality of the figures at all, they will add the punch to the dio, hopefully I can get the schwimmwagen wrapped up by this weekend, but I still need to blend the mud and schwimm to the scene.
John, the plaster cloth I use is either Scenic Express or Woodland Scenics (I have both on hand at any one time) and the rock outcroppings are from Woodland Scenic rubber molds, broken up and re-arranged. - We are slowly getting closer to winterizing it.
- John

I am actually hoping that you will not put any snow on it. It would be a shame to cover it up.
J

I've been feeling that way a little too, that's why it will only be a dusting and possibly some ice with the mud. I want to be able to see thru it and not "cover" everything up but give more the feeling of coldness and December.
I think I can combine the two and get the best of both worlds.
- John

Hi John,

That's a very well done SBS video. I've posted up the links to it and the still photos on our AMPS chapter's club forums.

One question: What brand of matt medium are you using and how are you thinning it for spraying? (I assume thinning with just water, but... ?)

I'm really looking forward to the snow portion of the build.

Thanks,

Thanks Mike,
I use Liquitex, thinned about 50/50 with "distilled water"
I use distilled water any time I need water to ensure I get the same results every time (so I can't blame it on the water, i.e. tap or spring) One note though, after the bulk rough work is done (the video) and I switch to detailing I switch to an eye dropper and long pipette with the same mixture and spot "flood" so I don't get matte medium all over the trees.
- John

Hi John

This are indeed superb pictures!

I will watch the videos one of these days, if you can tell me already what you used for the high grass in the front vegetation growth, that would be nice.
Thanks for showing , this is very inspirational.

Greets
Claude

Amazing job.......what a beauty !

lots of congratulations !

Kurt

Thanks again, John.

I'm looking for a replacement for Woodlands Scenics Scenic Cement (my bottle's almost used up) and will give the matt medium a try.