Hi folks,

Well I thought I'd see how the idea might work. Two Artillery men moving a box of shells from beside the track. The box has a broken rope handle. I can blend the planks into the dirt and this might work - any thoughts?

Al

Hello Alan ,

after a little thought , maybe it would be better to cover the rough ground with planks . I mean from the ammo depot to the canon , right now the poor lads risking to break their legs .

But again , it's your dio

Looking good by the way !

Cheers

Kurt

Hi Kurt,

Thanks for the thoughts. Whilst I've had the concept of the latest two figures in my mind for some time I hadn't given too much thought to placement. Time for another test run to check space and layout etc.







As you can see things are getting quite busy.

Cheers

Al

The understatement in visual aspects.

Bravissimo

Hi RJ,

Thanks for looking in. I moved the two ammo carriers to the rear of the gun as that seemed a more natural place for them to be. The 18pdr shells by the road side will be replace with more 6 inch ammo stacks.

On the people side I think two chaps cleaning the breech of the gun and two pulling over the camo net should complete the gun crew. I have considered adding an Officer and Signaller to the small rise in the foreground, but I had also imagined that open area to contain some more walking wounded.

To connect the chap up the pole with the ground I have two linemen to do. Once the key players are finished I can think about the additional equipment that might be hung or stacked around the place.

Cheers

Al

Hi Alan. I've just finished my last projects for 2 campaigns.
One to go before I start packing.
Empty my shelves, clean the house and focus on my trip to Bangkok - Thailand. That will be my new 'home'
The Steelwheels and 251 campaign, but certainly worth looking in is the Rust&Scrap campaign. My very first campaign I finished.
My work in modeling will continue when I'm settled in Bangkok. Takes some time to find the attitude and spirit I think, but we will see.

Cheers,

RJ

Love this build Al, your attention to detail is outstanding. I'm just starting some WW1 ideas as I have some inspiration from you and the ICM, Tamiya figures coming out soon...! Found my old stash of ICM German/ Brit figures today and have started converting some.....you probably mentioned it already but do you use tape to make the puttees on your figs.?
Cheers mate, Jason.

Hi RJ,

Good luck with the move and new home when it happens. I will check out the two campaigns you mention. I'm fairly pleased with how this one is developing, getting the final figure placement right will determine if it flows or not.

Hi Jason,

Thanks for looking in and glad you're enjoying the build.

For the putties I just cut thin strips of Kleenex tissue and apply them to the leg area once I've shaped it and changed the footwear if necessary. (Man Size) Kleenex has a double layer and that's how I use it. I am sure tape would work equally well, but it is easy to PVA the leg and wrap the tissues around, I rotate it in on itself when I reach the top.

The new figure sets coming form MB, Tamiya and ICM should prove very useful. If the ICM ones are as per the provisional art work I might use a few marching up the roadway. I have some slouched hats left over from my Jungle Build so that would broaden the Forces a bit. The ANZACs play a major part in the War so it would be nice to see some additional figures from Firestorm for NWE.

Look forward to your build(s).

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

It's funny how your memory plays tricks on you. I got a couple of Ultracast figures for the line men, but my memory was they were slightly bigger in size. Not really a problem as he will have a Hornet head, but I think the main body may have shrunk a little. Still people come in all sizes and I always liked their figures.



Al

Hi folks,

These are the two artillery men in place. Bit of weathering to do yet to tone down their pants and blend in the boards.



It would appear that angle iron was being used as far back at the 1800s for the supports so I'll go with the kit parts.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

I started work on the setting for the linemen. This is my chap up a pole, who is shouting down to the guy on the ground. Two possibilities here, they are either fixing damaged lines or with the poles on the ground erecting communications.

I got some rigging thread last year for the Vosper build, if I can find it it would make good wire, but I'm not sure which safe place I stored it in lol.





The third chap will be back either on the rise having a smoke or beside the 2nd pole. There might also be an opportunity to have someone sitting on the cross bar.



Anyway I'll see how it develops.

Al

Hi folks,

There should be an opportunity here for a 2nd lineman on the cross bar.



Al

I look forward to these updates as I am always happy seeing the ideas that you come up with. Unique and well done. Superb selection and use of figures,etc.
J

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for looking in. I hope to get a few of the additional gun crew figures started this weekend. Once they are done I can get to test fitting, fixing and fining this one off.

Cheers

Al

A bit more work on the 2nd lineman. I've altered his legs so the left one wraps around and grips the pole, so he will sort of be looking around it, also at the guy on the ground.





Cheers

Al

This will be the next batch to go under the knife and should make a useable gun crew for the 6 inch gun.



Cheers

Al

Hello Alan ,

i'm looking forward to it !

Cheers

Kurt

Alan, you will never cease to amaze me!!

As Jerry put it...your ideas and how you go about putting them on stage..!! Brilliant!!!

Congrats m8...and well deserved they are too!!!

Cheers

Romain

Al,
I stepped onto a ladder like that once -- it didn't go well at all! Luckily, I can laugh at myself now!

Great work as always,
--mike

Hi Kurt,

Many thanks for checking in.

Hi Romain,

Glad you're enjoying the build, the 2nd chap helps balance out the scene,

Hi Mike,

I had thought about securing the ladder but H & S probably wasn't much of an issue back then. Thanks for looking in.

Cheers

Al

Al,
I really like that the figure's left foot is not quite on the rung, it adds a bit of humor to the scene!

--mike

Cheers

Mike

Hi folks,

The 6 inch had a crew of 10 men, I though that might be crowded around the gun but placing a few figures around the position still leaves plenty of space. At the moment I have 7 possibles to add with 2 more already in place. Final positions yet to be decided.



Cheers

Al

Dear Alan, Sir!

Thanks for your fascinating dio. A lot to discover, since it is full of small details.
Please, allow me to show you a big and inspiring source of battle field films.

http://www.npo.nl/14-18-dagboeken-uit-de-eerste-wereldoorlog/POMS_S_VPRO_515650

Though being a Dutch television series about the lives of some people all over Europe (forming the read line through the series), and thus having a Dutch voice over), many comments are in the original Russian, English, French and Turkish laguage, which makes it more understandable, I guess/hope!
It shows from 1914 onwards the slippery way from world wide confidence to "fix" a war within a few weeks into absolute chaos and disaster, destroying millions of lifes.
The films vary from overall impressions of civil life in the cities to the immense chaos and despiration in the trenches.
Sure something to look at and while watching one wonders that it took until 1918 that soldiers refused to storm forward without any clear objective.

I hope that you see my link as look into history, not as any form of advise that your dio could do better! I am looking forward to see the next pictures.

Enjoy your weekend,

P.

Hi Paul,

Many thanks for the link. Whilst we model tanks and guns and talk rivets, tactics and colours, the most important side is the human element, the courage, suffering and sense of duty individual people hold/experience. It is a sad but true fact that the fate of millions can be decided by the decisions of a few. I've visited a number of War Graves from El Alamein to those in and around Normandy and I have always been struck by the stupidity of man, in particular those who supposedly create war for the benefit of their fatherland/motherland. It is the ordinary individual who defends against this type of aggression and it is their kin who suffer and the civilian populations. I have the greatest respect for those who fought against fascism and dictators and can have empathy for the ordinary soldier from any country but I have no words for those evil men who visit war for gain.

For me WW1 especially encompasses so many elements, the image of hope, creativity and ambitious nations before the war, the human and mechanical element of inventiveness during the war and the impact on our society as a result of the war and the same could be said of WW2. We owe much to the soldiers of many nations who fought against aggression and evil in both wars. It also reflects the stupidity of man where greed overrules common sense and civilization.

Thanks for the links, I'll browse through the footage as I get the time. I have a quick look at one film and it has many of the elements I mention in it.

It is important that we don't forget the lessons of the past for there are still many who would visit their desires on us.

Cheers

Al