Joaquin

Outstanding results man! It appears this might be difficult, at first anyway, but you've got it down perfectly
Keep it coming!

Cheers
Dave

Thanks Dave, appreciate your comment. And yes, the initial attempt to create the desired result on that piece of foam was a bit challenging. However, once I started doing it the results came out great the first time around. The harder challenge will be to repeat the effort with same result to all other walls...

Once again, I did not take detail notes on how to repeat these steps and I will go off memory...

Sorry about the absence of update pictures everyone but I have been busy the last 2 weeks dealing with the VA going to various C&P appointments to finalize my disability claim and also studying for a state exam so the project is currently on hold once again.

I should be back working on the project by end of June if all goes well. Thanks for looking and continued interest.

JGphins

Hello to all new & old modelers of this wonderful community and a special hello to my friends whom I've missed over the last 2-3 years.

I am back once again after a much needed break due to life's challenges...

I am excited to be back front and center to finish what I originally started 7 years ago Feb 2013.

There's plenty of revisions to discuss, layout foundation changes, new and improved dio scenarios, scratch built add-on items & about $300 bucks worth of new items and $200 supplies and materials.

I will post images soon after I figure out the current image hosting gig / functions...

See you folks again soon with some pictures and fresh out the box story board!

JGphins - Back on DUTY!!!

Hello again my fellow community modelers, JGphins is back reporting for DIO COMPLETION OP!

It's been a very long time (about 2-3 yrs) so there's plenty to report to bring everyone up to speed!

Let's roll right on into it!

DIO Start Date: FEB 2013
WIP Rate: Approx 75% Completed

Layout changes and scenario revised as follows:

The FINAL version of this project's layout has been modified. Some of the changes are evident in the images below and others are planned out but not started...

1. Relocation of scratch built Corner Market to forefront
2. Pending, forefront sidewalks REQ extension for Market
2. Recently completed (90%) scratch built - ST Vendor Shop
3. Pending, Corner RUINS (3 Story Collapsed BLDG)
4. New scratch built 10% - Grand Mosque APT BLDG (Center)
5. Block Two - Grand Mosque & Marble Tiles, Prayer Hall
6. 39 PAX will occupy the battle ground: 20 US ARMY WARRIORS and 19 indigenous (Civi's, Militants, Local)
7. Only X2 US ARMY V's will be present: X1 MRAP, X1 M1114

The scenario,

Just another hot hell day, 2nd rotation, 85 days & a wake-up till we pop smoke out this MF!!!

Location: Mosul, Iraq, 2007 IVO Grand Mosque...

Patrol lead vehicle's forward motion comes to a HALT! The insurgents have blocked the road access up ahead by setting John's MIG car on FIRE! lol. The burnt out car is surrounded by stacked trash and rubble from a collapsed 3 story building up ahead.

Perfect enemy opportunity for a AMBUSH!

SL calls in SITREP / QRF EOD to investigate road up ahead for possible IED. The warriors are ordered to dismount and secure perimeter.

The ambush is soon to unfold! Our Warriors are READY!

The final version will include various fiber optic light effects to simulate inbound small arms fire, RPGs, and a lovely drone support air strike on the mosque prayer hall bldg.!!!

There will be blood!

On to the pictures!

This picture shows how many kits are waiting to be built for this project:


These are all the NEW kits purchased this month:















The detail on these POW's are amazing!




Here's one of those boys throwing stones at our troops!


Here's the MRAP 90% done but pending various weathering applications, x3 pax to occupy the V, cargo, fiber optic lights on 50cal - engaged!!! SOON TO COME!



Here are a couple scratch built structures:
V1 Grand Mosque Apt


The location for the Grand Mosque Apts - that big empty spot!


The famous Iraqi Street Shop Vendor:



The final placement location for all Electrical Power Poles staged.


Road block...


Street vendor 90% complete - needs various details.


The relocated corner market 90% & St Vendor together make a completes the forefront scene.


Lastly, the current phase:


You are now up-to-speed folks! That's all I got. There's plenty to do but getting closer to completing this monster project soon! The addition of fiber optics will take it to another level but perhaps more then what I can chew??? I don't know but we'll cross that bridge when we get THERE!

Thanks for watching folks!

JGphins - OUT!

Looking good, Brother. May I please have some more?

Impressive work, Joaquin!!

My kids are stunning right now as they see your dio.

Regards!!

Great to see another stunning project getting the dust blown off – hope you didn’t have the same problem Dave (Sunday Service) had with that! Mighty impressive & a backdrop for the ages, welcome back Joaquin

Hi guys thanks for stopping by and replies. Always very much appreciated.

John, I gave it all up and held nothing back my brother! I will attempt to post updates as soon as possible, maybe a weekly...

Nacho thanks for sharing that it put a big time smile on my face. Glad they like the dio's progress! It is GREAT to be back at this finally again!

Tim, no not the same issue as with Dave's project... After my dad's passing I couldn't get myself up to work on my project & much anything else... I took it very hard, the old man & I had an amazing relationship and we were very close... I also went through a couple VA surgeries and had to rest for months plus the long term therapy sessions.. As I said, life sometimes throws various challenges and one must step back, circle the wagons, and when ready up back on it!

I am in a good place now feeling so much at ease with many things... I will forever miss my old man but I know that he is resting with no pain in a much better place.

Life is good & I intend to enjoy every minute! Model building is a huge part of my enjoyment so lots of building coming soon!

JGphins

Update: Worked a few hours last night on populating the battle space with some of the locals. They sure did clean up nicely. They need a tiny amounts of plastic to fill a couple fit gaps but other then that - I am impressed by their level of detail under the newly acquired magnification lamp...

Stage scene data:
Here we can take a quick glimpse behind the enemy lines... various insurgents elements are ready to ambush the Americans!!! Even the local kids jump in at the opportunity to attack by throwing stones at them!






JGphins

That’s amazing, looks like a real street with some gonzo art installations in it - awesome! Sorry to hear about your tribulations & your Dad, mine passed 6 years ago and I feel the same way. I know exactly where he is too – inside my head! Ever had random thoughts when it’s his voice saying something that wouldn’t typically have occurred to you? I just feel as long as I’m alive, he still is too…and when I’m not any more, I hope to have a serious talk with him about interjecting!

Those Iraqi kids and rocks... . On my first tour we had one who used to try to peg our VC's or gunners; we dragged his tired behind into his dad's store and told him to tell the kid to knock it off, throwing rocks was like shooting and if it happened again we were going to arrest him. Two days later the little dingus hucked half a brick at my platoon sergeant's head; whole platoon stopped, we chased him into the father's bakery and caught the dad and uncles in the back making IED's. Can you say BUSTED? We scooped them all up, but the kid got away. Don't remember if we saw him again after that. I'm liking the new additions in a big way, Joaquin!

Fantastic streetscape underway there! Nice job.
J

Good afternoon folks! Hope everyone is having an outstanding day & hopefully enjoying hands on modeling.

Tim, John, & Jerry, thanks for the comments! Very appreciated!

Indeed, these back alley Iraqi streets are beginning to reflect what I envisioned many years ago finally. The addition of the local figures really begin to convey the eerie look... Those that been there know what I'm talking about... You know something is up!

It's starting to get dark out soon. You hear the Call to Prayer music from the Grand Mosque and all the Insurgents take a break. No more gun fire but you and your crew know what's in stored after Call to Prayers!! These MF's are so doped up - they are walking dead zombies. They come out running towards you like rampant dogs on rabies!

You can score 3-rounds center mass 5.56 to their chest and they are still charging!!!

Great book read:

HOUSE TO HOUSE - A Soldier's Memoir. True amazing behind the scene prospective from the eyes of SSG Bellavia: Fallujah 2005.

Anyways, I am going to attempt to build that lol.

These fiber optic supplies received in today's mail should help in achieving part of that look. Never done any work on this but I have seen many impressive usage on models and it just another level. Fingers crossed!



JGphins

Hello modelers,

In today's weekly update I will provide you with a brief snapshot of the apartment ruins ongoing progress, and the final revision to block 1 of 2 for this project.

The final planning phase for block one & execution techniques took up most of the week's hobby time but once all details were ironed out the results come quick...

Ruins: Wall paint scheme & initial fire scarring






The final layout of block one's structures will require a new addition as shown on this picture represented by the staged black card board...


This is the new building to be added in the forefront area in between the corner market & the street vendor...


The apartment's inner floor and ceiling levels were also completed during the week & is now occupied by multiple insurgents...


Some visual enhancements to back alley streets to include initial lite trash placement, battle damage/bullet holes...



Thanks for stopping by folks, be safe!

JGphins

Beautiful work JG , good to see you back at it !!

Some really great progess here again ! Nice.
J

Hello again to all fellow modelers. Hope life is treating you and family well and that you are all safe during such troubled times and a world-wide pandemic.

We are blessed and very fortunate to have the ability to exercise such a magnificent hobby. I for one find it very relaxing and therapeutic...

Cheyenne, Jerry, thank you both for your comments they are very much appreciated.

I've had a couple challenging weeks getting Hands-on so tonight's update will be brief.

Update Topics: Interior walls & ceilings, roof access/stairs, forefront sidewalk / foundation addition...

Interior Walls/Ceilings:
Objective: Create side view access to all interior levels of corner three story building. Mimic interior battle damaged walls, rubble... The images below only reflect partial phase one of four to achieve set goal.

Draw, measure, blah...











This image shows the need for the sidewalk expansion to house the corner market below...

Continued Phase 1/4 Interior Walls






The corner market get a rear upgrade lol


Need 11.5cm real estate space to provide front & rear sidewalks to all x3 forefront structures.


A look at the remaining back alley street space. To me, seems as planned. Besides, the street transport system in Mosul, Iraq had, has no set SOP's Standard Operating Procedures)...


Ample sidewalk space reconfirmed at 11.5cm...


Draw, measure, sidewalk template to provide framing assistance...



Cover area pre-plaster to reduce clean-up...



Remove foam template & prep for plaster...



Allowed 4 hours to dry before removing the paper and carefully cleaned wood edges. Let dry overnight.



That's all folks. I will try to provide frequent updates as time permits.

Be safe!

JGphins

Hi Joaquin !

Glad to see this project continues to advance, you make an incredible work. I like the views of the last photos.

That road surface looks amazing ! Well done.

Sean

Yes,I am liking that road surface a LOT. Reminds me of a lot of the crappy roads here in Pa.
J

Ha, you got that right !!
A road near where I work posts a sign stating "rough road ahead"
and looks very much like that with multiple paving layers exposed, some areas down to the gravel underlayment.

Hello & good afternoon folks.

Thanks to all for your continued interest on this project's journey. A special thanks to all that have shared your comments through the years. I truly appreciate the feedback.


Alex, Sean, Jerry: I am so glad to be back after a long 3 year absence... Thank you so much for your comments. The street pavement took some work in various phases to achieve its current look but it still requires two phases to complete. Basically, sand, more sand, some trash, more trash, and then rubble, and more sand. I hope the pavement will still be visible by then...

I plan on getting 2 to 3 hours hands on the project tonight and I will work on sanding the plaster on the added sidewalks to then check the foundation's leveling.

After the sidewalks are True Leveled comes the fun part: drawing in all the sidewalk lines, cracks, and eventually hope to paint weather to achieve a realistic looking used-up, worn-down, beat-up old & very dirty concrete sidewalk.

The current color tone of all the sidewalks are undertones. The lite-concrete color will soon be layered-in. Plenty on the to do before laying down that final sidewalk tone... I have to first seal-in all the building foundation gaps to sidewalks - all the set rear buildings, then need to set all the forefront buildings & I'll be set! Funny, easier said then done!

Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of their day! Be safe folks!

JGphins

Nicely done JG !! You've done some pretty amazing work on a large palette , you're build surely shows your love of your art !!

Just try and avoid three year leaves . I know life gets in the way but you wouldn't be building this if it wasn't your " happy zone " .

Hi Cheyenne, thanks for stopping by and your kind comments. I will try to stay active project this time around but in my case the only thing that keeps me away and limited work hours is the pain... I am 90% disabled as per the VA standards and I am under lots of medications... Once the pain kicks in the spasms really make it difficult for me to make any progress. This hobby is truly my Happy Zone & it helps in forgetting the pain. Thank God I got this wonderful hobby to keep me happy for at least 3-4 hours a day.

Hello modelers, wanted to share the sidewalk progress and current status.

I allowed the plaster to dry for about 4 hours only. While still cool and moist I peeled off the tape, paper, and cleaned a bit of the corners leaving only the border wood strip supports.

Confirmed true leveling



Removed wood support after 1.5 days dry time:




Staged forefront structures and various other small items for visual confirmation of placements and street / sidewalk spacing.



That's it for today folk's. Next update will consist of continued block one progression to sidewalks, building interiors, roof detailing...

Be safe!