Shaping up nicely Tom — not boring at all! I'm always interested in seeing what others are doing. Thanks for posting!

—mike

Thanks Mike.
It's taking a while to do.Got the road almost done,more pigments to add.Did a little more trim.Started on the interior.Added sand to the base and painted the border.

Tom
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Hi Tom,

a lot of progress..!!!! You have been busy...and with great results!!! This dio is constantly shaping up!!!!

Just a couple of suggestions if I may:

Maybe it's just the lighting of the photos, but I would give the street a little of that greyish tone back you gave it before, but that's just my opinion!

Is that a stain I see on the left side of those steps????? If so that is absolutely brilliant, if not, (don't say anything and add it (quickly)!!

Oh yes, the "stone line" delimiting the road is very regular and could benefit from slight variations and dents.

And you know what would add a nice touch.....a couple of those Miniart wall lights, o.s.!!

http://www.edith-kohlbach.de/kairouan.html

Have look at the Kairouan page of this site. There is a small collection of interesting photos (also showing details and colours of the cobble stones).

And finally to make sure you don't have a gap between the road surface and the sides, you could perhaps add some veeery fine sand (aquarium). Just my 2c worth!!

Anyway, great show....and look how perfectly the tracks of that Universal carrier sit on the surface of the street!!!!

Well done Sir!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi Tom,

Just dropped in for a look see. You building is looking excellent, great progress. The building have a nice worn appearance about them.

I'm not sure about wall paper in NA at this point in time, I suppose it depends on the location where the buildings sit. There would probably be some European influences around but interiors were decorated to be as cool as possible in the heat so just white washed walls might be more appropriate, but that's just my thinking and experience.

The cobbled stones are very much a European thing and I would have included open sewers at the side of the road, still common to this day but a lot depends on where the building is located as NA is a big place . Maintenance wasn't a high priority in most towns and villages in NA, unless they have been under colonial control and even then roadways were not well maintained in general so crumbling cobbles at the road edges and missing ones would be fairly common. Large towns were slightly better maintained but all a bit Heath Robinson from memory.

It's a bit late now but Resicast do a set of replacement tracks with drive wheels that improve the Tamiya kit a lot.



I like the blue and white paint scheme for the buildings but unless they are all owned by the same person there would likely be more variety, but that's just a thought.

Excellent work so far,this has great potential and I'll look forward to developments.

Cheers

Al

All good points guys.
I originally thought the same thing about the doors Alan.But at the beginning I was just trying to copy MiniArts photos.same with the interior.I have painted the rest in white and beige colors.Tonight the door colors will change.I think the whole thing is just asking for a palm tree.Ideas???

Tom

Hi Tom,

there is (so far) only one place you could use for a tree (palm or other) IMHO, and that's the far left corner, behind the low wall.

I said "so far" as I don't know yet what you're planning on the right side.

Oh yes, don't overpaint all the blue!! You chose a nice colour there!! I like it...very NA!!

Cheers

Romain

Some small progress.
Changed the doors,added rubble to part of the interior and did some little work on the rest.Put a couple of drains on the street,not yet painted.
I like your idea of the palm there Romain.I didn't think of it before.Not sure about the rest of the space.I'd like to use the boxers either there or out front.Maybe a covered market on the side ???Need to get some outside photos ,but the weather here is getting cold.I would love to get MINIART lanterns and such ,but no one seems to have stock of anything???

Tom

Tom,

Your quiet little backstreet has just been awakened ... and the gentleman in front of his home has taken notice!

One thing: Monty and the other Chap on the balcony seem oblivious to what's going on in the alley below. Was that intentional? Maybe you could have them facing the action in approval of the soldiers' well-earned break from war. Just a thought.

Regardless, this is coming along very nicely!

—mike

Thanks Mike.
Just put the guys on the balcony for some prespective a bit back and haven't moved them at all yet.

Tom

I really like what you are doing here. Nice concept. I am happy to see that you used figs that show the "rear area" look as there was next to no combat in built up areas in North Africa.
This is coming along nicely for sure.
J

Hi Tom, as I said on the previous page, I'm glad you're still giving updates - this is looking very good!

Cheers,

Nick

Hi guys,
A little more work today. Added a carpet, some signs, grass and started the palm.
I couldn't find any commercial signs for NA.Did some research and the French were the until 1940.

Tom
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I see Monty and his Buddy are enjoying themselves ... and the word got out, as more troops are arriving to watch the action!

Really looking good!

—mike

Hi Tom,

This is coming along well, I like the concept. A partially open door might be an idea with someone going in/out.

British desert uniforms give an opportunity for a bit of mixed variety. There would be no problem showing the paras watching the fight with BD tops and KD trousers.

I like the Arab chap looking over and some of the locals watching the fight would be good especially children running to see what's happening.

Dismounting the troops from the carrier might be an idea as all the vehicles are stopped and a few drink and souvenir sellers plying their wears around the vehicle would be good too as the locals wouldn't miss a business opportunity war or no war.

I like the chap on top the FAT and don't forget a couple of MPs coming to check out what's going on as they are likely to have been around if Monty is in residence.

Lots of possibilities with the scene you've set.

Cheers

Al

Hi Tom,

Really good diorama! I look forward to your next update.

Hi guys,
Short update. Taking longer with details.
Hoped to get outside shots today.Great all day until coming home.Thunder storms.Show coming up next weekend and will see what I can find there.Alan,I really like the kids idea,but haven't been able to find any suitable.I been trying to order from Monroe Perdu for stuff ,but they have no stock of anything,same with trying to find MiniArt things.

Tom

This is looking better and better by the day!

I especially like that shot through the archway!

—mike

Yes!!!!!

The commercial signs are spot on! The somewhat subdued colours on the doors are great...and the palm tree is adding a nice touch!!

I would just park one of the vehicles off the street, giving way for the others coming through the archway!

The idea to have a couple of MPs hurrying up to the scene of the fight sounds interesting too, but it would ruin the whole existing concept!

Well done indeed!

Cheers

Romain

Hi Tom,

Great progress. I note Romain's comment on my MP suggestion but they would most certainly be around if Monty was in residence.

I visited El Alamein war cemetery when I was out in the Sinai and also some of the war graves in Algeria. What surprised me were the large number of MP head stones, clearly they were up front with the action as well as policing and rear area security.

Keep up the good work, what ever you decide you have the makings of an excellent setting, super work so far.

Cheers

Al

Thanks guys,
I orignally pictured the Tilly off the road.Guess I'll go for it.
The only MP's I've found so far are all unfortunatly directing traffic.

Tom

Hi Tom,

that's why we have the option to convert!!

Easy enough with the british army, isn't it!!

Have some fun and try it!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi Tom,
Nice piece of modeling! Respect.
But........
It is just too clean. Earning my money in Africa, I have quite some experience: even today the streets do not look as straight as you made them. Maybe in large, modern cities like Marrakech, but not smaller cities, certainly not in the early 40-ties in cities which were out of control of the French government. (Asuming that they would spend effort and money on those issues). But during the years before the war they had their own character, with dust, dirt and a hardly visible change from road to field or housing areas.
You will find a lot of what I mean on various youtube films about North Africa in 1942, showing the Allied troops during their marches and fights.

But, technically, a wonderful dio with a lot to see.

Hope you allow my, positiv intended, comments,

Cheers,

Paul

Not much of update.
Added a Bren to the guy eating lunch.Map on the interior.
Thinking of using these Meng figures.
Going to put it aside for a bit,for a new look at it all.

Tom

Hi,like Armorama.I'm back.
Ordered what I thought was 2 MP's.Turned out 1 was a courier.It was OK,he filled a nice spot.Added some furniture.The MP is guarding the door.Kids looking on to the match.

Tom

Hey Tom, this is a real nice dio. You have done a splended job here all around. As I do dio/vign's I have a lot of stuff around and if you still want to add a few of those miniart light/lamps just P.M. me your add. and I'll send them to you. Let me know if you want the bases for them or what parts you need. Anything else that you might think of to spice up the insides or out, just let me know and if I have it, I'd be happy to help out. No cost or anything of course, just from one modeler to another. bob d.