Hi Joaquin!

Merry X-Mas to you and yours! Hope you have a great night.

No words to describe how this store is looking. Amazing look for the store´s closure. It looks like real.

Great job!!

Best wishes.

I've been following this one...this is some amazing work, some of the best I have ever seen when it comes to modeling urban terrain.

Wow!

Cheers,

Tim W.

Hello Armorama community. Hope everyone had an awesome X-MAS holidays & New Years with loved ones. Excited about 2017 and all the great efforts put in towards continued better health, family, and success.

Thanks to all whom continue to follow with interest and comments. Every single comment is read and very appreciated.

Nick,

Thanks for the compliment brother - LOL, my wife always tells me that my workbench looks so chaotic & messy but I try to explain that it's "controlled chaos" ! All those items are required on the fly - can't put it all away.

doc,

Thanks for checking in brother. Got nothing but down-time now & I'm enjoying it. Glad you like the add-ons. LOL, I don't think I can add the "aroma & flies" but gunning for the "look & feel". Yes sir, that beautiful Iraqi urban dirty setting; old, dusty, rusty, hot, weathered, fear from every angle, IED, sniper, contact!!! LOL - I might finish B4 I croak!

Nacho,

Thanks brother I really appreciate the kind words. Shop's WIP rate currently at about 25%. Needs a lot of details but I'm surprised and very happy with the progress thus far.

Tim,

Wow bro! Thanks a lot for that super compliment. Lots of amazing work on this site. All those B4 me provided tremendous inspiration for this project! Glad you find interest on my build & thanks for watching.

On to the update. Added various details such as: some electrical cables and support bracings, garage doors, front shop sign (Arabic writing reads "OPEN"), canopy shell only with heavy rust & dirt weathering, 3rd wall.

,,,

Had about 13 pics to upload but PhotoBucket is extremely slow. Might need to look for alternet site. Any suggestions ?

Thanks for looking!

JGphins

That looks great - thanks for the SBS. I'll give this method of building a try myself.

Hey Paul, thanks for looking. On the SBS, important to remember to add plaster once foam is cut to size. The uneven coat adds to construction details. I sand light coat once dry. If needed, second plaster coat is added and re-sand again once dry. The water base paint is 50/50 mix. Then you can add lite india ink weathering then sand lightly with steel wool for that faded look. I'll be happy to share any details with whomever wants it just PM me if interested.

Happy modelding!

JGphins

Hello Armorama community, quick update to shop. Added roof, authentic re-sized ads, pipes, satellite mount, light additional weathering. WIP 25%.

Thanks for looking!



,

Hi Joaquin,

Nice update! I really like the dented roll-up door and the sagging wires; and your weathering looks spot on. Nice eye contact you've got going between the figures too!

Cheers!🍺
—mike

Wow man,that looks great ! One of the best middle east looks I have seen.
Just need the flies and a lot of trash.
J

Very nice work. Congrats! My only comment is that I was under the impression That Islam did not allow Human or animal figures or representations of them on any of the decorations in a Mosque. I could be wrong. I mention this because of the lion's heads at the front gate. They look nice though. Keep up the updates!

Hello gents, thanks to all for the looks and the comments. It's been a bit of a challenge lately with time so my apologies for the delay in response. I will have another update pic of the ongoing shop progress uploaded soon. As noted here in the forums the very slow PhotoBucket site has made it very time consuming uploading pictures so I may elect to utilize an alternate site. Can anyone confirm if I were to register with an alternate site (say flickr) without closing the photobucket account, will my previous photobucket links disappear from my forum post here?

On to replies:

Mike,

Thanks brother, appreciate your compliments. The shop is just pending various roof top items and a metal frame canopy along with a few more Arabic writing slogans on those garage doors to complete. That's on the to do list next.

Jerry,

Really appreciate the kind words. Little shop has turned out better then expected. Trash and debris are coming to the entire dio once all structures are complete. I might be challenged on the production of those "flies". LOL

Marcos,

Thanks for the compliments and in regards to the depiction of humans and animals - you are 100% correct sir. Here's the general explanation as it relates to the aniconism of Islam art...

Aniconism in Islam is a proscription in Islam against the creation of images of sentient beings. The most absolute proscription is of images of God in Islam, followed by depictions of Muhammad, and then Islamic prophets and the relatives of Muhammad, but the depiction of all humans and non-human animals is discouraged in the hadith and by the long tradition of Islamic authorities, especially Sunni ones. This has led to Islamic art being dominated by Islamic geometric patterns, calligraphy and the barely representational foliage patterns of the arabesque; but figurative art still has a strong tradition, especially on a small scale in private works for the home or palace. The proliferation of photographic and filmed images today has led to controversy, with some religious authorities stating, for example, that all television is un-Islamic, but this is not a widely held position.

However, in my representation, I am attempting to recreate the various bits and pieces compressed into a 78" x 16" foundation. I'm going for authentic but limited in space. You see, local mosque are surrounded by numerous street venders whom a vast majority sell a lot of Islamic religious art depicting Muhammad, relatives and, various Islamic Prophets... I'm taking that memory and placing it Front & Center. I call it Eye Candy as explained initially. Artist license, if you will... 100% realistic depiction placed on mosque wall, - no. Nonetheless, the Lion of Allah depiction fits - the placement may not be authentic based off their believes but I couldn't resist mounting on that lion's head statue on the mosque gate entrance...

Here's an excellent youtube video of what the vicinity nearing a mosque looks like and the shops. I would model it this way if I had the appropriate amount of space but the memory and feel is the goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a27Z2YGmPUA

As you can see in this video, once they get near the mosque you will see a lot of religious art all over. That's what I reminder, along with the smell and those flies. lol


Thanks again to everyone for the interest on this ongoing project, and especially for the comments. Till next time, happy modeling.

JGphins

Good day folks, small update to the Iraqi corner shop, as follows:

Installed satellite dish (initial rust weathering - pending dirt and grim), added TV connection cable with cable support metal rods (pending rust to metal).

Added additional side wall sign (not shown on this update, my fault).

Added rooftop electrical pole (pending painting, weathering, and multiple electrical power lines).

Started working on roof top details (this is version 1), pending various items, painting & some weathering...

Visual inspection of the shop's look, placed on its intended location, IMO seems like a good fit for the previous empty space.

,,,,

Next update should include the determined location of all the rooftop details, more weathering, and completion of the electrical pole weathering and power cables glued in place. Once those items are done I can finally plaster section two foundation and permanently glue the mosque walls into place.

Thanks again for looking!

JGphins

Great looking project! I like the size and scope of it!

Keep going until you build the whole town! Can never be enough diorama to satisfy me!

Beautifully done JG , the small shop turned out aces .
The overall build is looking cool also , it's getting bigger .

Happy weekend modelers!

Just wanted to stop by and share a few pictures of the final items received this week to complete this project.

But first, thanks for the continued interest, comments, and views.

Patrick,
Speaking of "size & scope"... I think it's a good time to recap my outstanding to do kits. The pictures on this update will feature The New & The pending kits to build.

Cheyenne,
Appreciate the kind words my friend and yes, it's getting bigger! LOL

I want to give a special thanks to one of our fellow members; John Wypyszinski (white4doc) for his generous donation of the beautiful MIG Burnt Out Car kit.

In total, I received 6 new kits this week, as follows:



Possible burnt car location - she fits like a glove.



(4x) New Plus Model kits;
,,,,


The pending:

(6x) US ARMY vehicles:


Figures (over 35):
,

Kits (Block 2):


Lots on the to do list! Good thing about building huge dioramas I learned quickly is that there's always a new task at hand... New kit, planning, detailing, weathering... Repeat! Love this hobby!!!

JGphins

Very impressive work. A lot of details, the building looks very realistic. The wall with the city picture is awesome and a very nice addition, because it gives depth to the diorama. How did you make it ?

Wow dude ! I don't know how I missed that last update but the roof area really rocks plus the wall picture with the foreground stuff is just brilliant. This is really capturing the scene over there very very well. From the looks of the stuff you have lined up to build and include you may be like me and need to start a monthly allotment to the aftermarket companies. Dontcha just love PlusModel ?
Great stuff man,now.....those flies.
J

I'm watching this thread wit jaws dropped. Excellent job in every little piece of it!




I'm very interested in this too. Have You got the file, from which this large photo was printed? Of course if this was the soure of this background.

Greets Joaquin

I went over the last few pages to get up to speed, and what an impressive read. Not just your modeling skills, but the Middle East info as well. What a stunning effort, and your skills are off the chart. And that is being mild.

With all the things going on, I enjoy looking thru everything and discovering all the hidden gems. What!
Dude, keep this one going, really look frwd to you updates.
Even a hooka thrown in as well, what!

Thanks for your awesome efforts
Dave

Hello Alex, thank you for taking time out to provide your positive compliments and interest on the progress. In regards to the back drop, I gathered various images and had them blended in as one large print with the help of some nice folks over at PosterSigns.com. They offered various print qualities, great customer support, and their software and printing on this custom made poster. If I recall correctly, the total cost for the 78" long x 20" tall backdrop was about $200. I rushed the order for some reason and opted to not continue to modify some details... Nonetheless, I am pleased with the final version and I plan on making manual adjustments to the poster by adding the needed details to the poster by hand. I will hand paint, glue, and drill holes on the poster to simulate 3D effects. Example of this technique will include drilling small holes on poster where the electrical cables run; then adding additional cables from image into the forward scene. Will also add smoke effects from fires by gluing cotton balls as well just to name a few. Those are steps to be taken once everything on the diorama is completed and glued down so that's going to take a while but it's on my to do list.

Thanks for watching & happy modeling!

JGphins

Hi Jerry, thanks for stopping by my friend. LOL, monthly allotments, they been in effect for about 20yrs! Need to open up a shop!

However, for this project I think I've collected all the items required at this point so that's a good thing. Funny thing is, every time I think I'm done buying stuff I see something else that I gotta buy...

Not sure how long it's going to take me to build all these kits and then all the various needed details, street debris / ruble, loads of trash... I'll get her done!

Like a lot of us, after a while you tend to get burned out working on such long projects but I have learned from a wise man that when that happens just take on various side projects such as that corner market. The sense of accomplishing something is important. Problem is I have so much stuff in-completed - LOL!

Gotta start working again on that MRAP!!!

Those plus model kits are my first. They have great details and very nice items to select from for sure. Wonderful kits and they provide multiple little side projects which shouldn't take long to complete.

Time for super-detailing fun!


Best regards,

JGphins

[quote]I'm watching this thread wit jaws dropped. Excellent job in every little piece of it!


Hello Kuba, thanks & really appreciate you stopping by and your comment.

Glad you like what you see here. It's a pleasure to share it with everyone on the forums. A lot of great people here. I have learned from many great modelers here. This project is dedicated to all whom I had the pleasure to serve with, to all whom served before me, and to all whom will serve after me. It's important to me to get the look & feel right for me and them.

In regards to your question of the image file... I have the email sent with attached final draft of the shown backdrop.

Hit me up via PM if you need anything. Always happy to help as others have helped me.

JGphins

Hi JG - good to see you posting again - or, you're setting up your own hobby shop -lol! In addition to the great work you're doing, I appreciate all the background information you've been providing - interesting and informative! Thanks for doing so...looking forward to your next update -

Cheers

Nick

Hello Dave, I'm glad you are enjoying the project and truly appreciate all the compliments & your continued interest.

Currently I'm at a less then 30% overall completion rate. The project thus far has presented several good lessons learned and more of that still to come. It's great to share my journey here amongst so many skilled modelers, old and new. Comments and inputs + or - are always welcomed.

Upcoming update should reflect market roof top add-on details primed, painted, weathered. Water tank pipe lines, sink water conduit pipes, painted & detailed electrical pole, electrical lines. Completed market glued & leveled. Side street trash...

Thanks again for watching and your interest, very appreciated!

JGphins

Hey there Nick, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I like providing the info on the subject when the need presents it self. Doing a large project this size requires a lot of research, helps to have been there and all but I find that more research is always better. The continuous modifications have paid off thus far with what's been completed and I have elected to go a bit on the fictional side on the mosque section just to add my Lion of Allah theme. I might omit that when I get started on that section again but its a hard call at this time. I elected to change the original IED and QRF story because after consideration I could not justify 36 dismounted soldiers in the vicinity of the Buffalo vehicle with its arm extracted searching for a possible IED... Soldiers would not be dismounted in the area if that where the case. Therefore, the story now has once again changed. This time, I will try to demonstrate what it looked like to get ambushed. The QRF team enroute to their support mission location will be delayed due to RPG hit on lead vehicle M1151. This plot supports a realistic scenario for soldiers to dismount and clear the sector first while collecting casualties ... I will attempt to perhaps simulate a secondary enemy attack with placed IED around the casualty collection point.

JGphins

OK Joaquim thank you.

You show a lot of vehicles kits; Will you use all of them for this diorama ?