Hi Kurt,

the museum is not new...it has just been modernized..and made even more attractive than it was before.

I was there last year...only to discover that it was closed for obvious reasons!

They've done a superb job...and I can only recommend a trip to the Mardasson and the museum to anyone interested in the BoB!!

Thanks for the heads-up m8!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi Romain ,

you're right ,earlier it was known as the Bastogne Historical Center , but it has a complete new interior so it's a brand new museum ! I have to visit myself though

Thanks for looking in m8 and the correction !

Cheers

Kurt

Hello everyone ,

i didn't do much this week because i also have a full time job that takes a lot attention. So once again this will be a short update...

I have started to create the base with polystyrene .




The photo below is edited , in fact i did a little ABRA CADABRA....hehehehe and suddenly i turned into a frog
No , seriously

It gives you an idea how i will create the landscape , as i have already mentioned there will be a creek or stream with a little waterfall between the pine trees. That's the blue color the trees seem out of scale on the sketch in reality they are much bigger.


Thanks for looking in , if you have comments please let me know!

Cheers

Kurt

Nice magic show, Kurt! Keep it coming!

—mike

Hi Kurt,

I'm glad to see you're continuing with your ambitious building!! Really like the landform! While there is something nice about a modest drainage way or even small trench done just right, there's nothing like real change in landform!!

Looking good Kurt!
Cheers
Nick

Hej Kurt,

you must be more careful m8...there is some water spilling over the edge!!!

This can become quite an idyllic place, if you get the atmosphere right!! Dark, cold, "wintery"...!?!?

Keep up the good work m8!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi mike , Nick and Romain ,

Thanks friends for the positive comments en the support !

- mike i'm still working on some magic trics but they didn't appear yet.

-Nick , you have no idea how long i study landscapes on the net. Especially waterfalls in a rocky landscape

- Romain , thanks for the warning but it's too late the water gushes down..... . Don't you worry about me getting the right atmosphere , i'm the master of illusion you know !

A new update ..... i have applied a first layer of some special plaster filler , normally this stuff is used to fill up large gaps in plasterboard . I use it to create this ....





That's all for now folks and a new update will be on next weekend hopefully i'll be able to show much more progress.

Cheers

Kurt

I like the texture a lot! Filing this in the memory bank ... uh, what was I saying?

The last image is a great perspective view. Hold that thought for when the elements are all in place.

—mike

Thanks mike for your reply !


Okay folks , i'm back with a little update !

I have applied the second layer of plaster filler , so now the basic is ready . What i mean , is there will be more textures to be applied like , soil , forest ground etc...

This is the situation after the second layer , check it out .


The figures to show the perspective...


The bumps (and please guys don't get me wrong here ) that you see on the shore and slope are rocks and boulders integrated in the landscape...



Thanks for watching and if you have comments please let me know !

Cheers

Kurt

Hi everybody ,here is something that i have forgotten to mention.

I'm going to add an additional figure of Alpine miniatures to the scene! An American sergeant standing in the stream, surrender to the SS .
As a sign of surrender he puts one arm in the air and with the other arm he throws his M1 Garand down. In order to achieve this position i've raised his left arm in an almost horizontal position and turned the palm of the hand so it looks like his throwing away or let the rifle slip from his hand.

I placid him on the exact position where he will stand on the diorama ( for now ).

Okay , please have a look






It seems to be a good idea and it will be retained . So there are two American figures , the wounded crew member of the Sherman and the other one a nco of the infantry.

Thanks for watching !

Cheers

Kurt

Looks good Kurt, does that stuff you used for the base shrink up at all?
- John

Hey Kurt,

The surrendering Sergeant ... that really works!

—mike

Hi John ,

you mean the black colored forest soil ? No , this is just the preparation to create the landscape and also to protect the Styrofoam from thinners that are jused in Acrylic paints etc..

Otherwise the foam will melt away like snow from the sun and that's what i try to avoid using this special plaster filler before i start to add the soil , the painting........

Anyway , on the next updates you will see what i mean

Thanks for looking in and your support !
Appreciated !

Kurt

Hi mike ,

thanks for looking in ! I'm glad you like the scene with the Staff sergeant

Kurt

Looking forward to see this develop. I like the texture of the groundwork.

Well , i've started to paint the rocks and boulders in black paint . In fact the upper part of the diorama has been painted black. , thanks for looking in !

So first of all i'll do the rocky part of the diorama , however the paint needs a lot of drying time so i continued with building the Sherman . Just for fun i've placed the driver in the opening of the hatch .

Okay , here are the pictures..



Kurt

Looking good! Another dramatic dio from you.
J

Yes Jerry , you're absolutely right ! Thanks for looking in and the support.

And here is a snap shot of my work of yesterday ! The upper part of the diorama including the creek will be pine forest. I've added the forest soil and did some paint work to the bodem of the creek. However it's not finished and i'll upload some better pics this weekend.


Kurt

Hi guys ,

i did a bit more work on the pine forest , so i'm back to show you more

Please take a look on the photos below;









Kurt

I feel like shivering right now!! Really looks like the Ardennenwald.
J

Wow!! Wild and untamed! Looks just great!

Go on...and make our day!!

Grand show Sir!!

Cheers

Romain

This is awesome!

It's cold and snowing here in CO and now you've gone and recreated that effect on my computer display ... brrr!!! I need to go crank-up the wood stove!

—mike

Hi guys ,

haaaa......aaaa.....a....HATSJAAAA

Solly fol sneezing......

Thanks Jerry , Romain ,Rick and mike for looking in , for the chilly feeling and the nice comments ! Much appreciated !

I'm back to say hello....... .....no , i mean to say i'm back with some further progress.

I've added more snow to the scene and i made water for the stream. It is not real water of course but some transparant silicone glue .... you can make a very nice water effect with that kind of stuff.

Before you take a look at the pictures below be sure that you've dressed yourself warmly enough or crank-up the wood stove if you live in Colorado

Okay , please have a look ,








Thanks for watching !

Kurt

Looks very realistic Kurt!

And, oh yeah ... Gesundheit! Careful sneezing around small parts on the workbench ... the Carpet Monster is always lurking!

—mike