Hi JG,

This is coming right along - nice work! Your idea is cool too. I'm guessing you already have this idea nailed but if not, you might want to spray a clear acrylic finish over the paper pattern (tile etc), then you can add washes, dust, debris, pigments etc, and the ink on the paper won't bleed or smear. I use a product by Vallejo and it works great.

Looking good!
Nick

Hello everyone, just wanted to share a small update:

Added a security camera, rusty gate chain, painted the two support columns, added some rust to iron gate, and lightly weathered again with more India ink wash only. Take a look:

,,,,

Thanks Nick for reply and tip. At the moment I only have the Testors Dullcote Clear on inventory... Need to re-stock on a few supplies. Nonetheless, the tip is a great one and I have used it on past models.

Can't wait to have the second block finalized to start adding details but the progress has been slow.

Thanks for looking!

JGphins

Hi JG - man, this is looking great! Nice work. I really like your restraint with color - the results are very convincing - nice lighting too! Someday maybe I'll learn to do that!

Looks great - keep up the good work
Cheers
Nick

Thanks for stopping by Nick. The lighting is super easy brother. All I used here was an left over HO scale lamp from Walthers Cornerstone Series # 933-2310 and a 9 volt battery to power up the light. Simple, quick, and not too expensive. Let me know if you have any question.

JGphins

Looks like a plaster junk yard but there is a plan!


JGphins

Hello again Armorama friends, sorry for the delay but duty called for required training. Feels good to be back home relaxing and enjoying the hobby. Just wanted to share a few pictures of where I left off on the mosque walled-in perimeter.

Here's the half front walls and two columns added to support the iron wrought gate...


Here's a close-up of the detail added on top of each columns post...
,

And here is a couple pictures of their staged location...
,

With the front walled sized and fitted I can now work on the sidewalks which require some added details, prime, paint, and gluing. Then I will fill the interior mosque grounds with plaster to level the foundation. Lots to do here but back to fun so it's all good.

JGphins

Wow man,each layer of detail really brings more life to this

such a badass build!!!!! I can't wait to see the final project!

Welcome back, my Brother! Glad to see you back at the bench, your mosque is a stunner, and I really like what you're accomplishing with the wall.

Nice work Joaquin , good progress , I really like what you're doing here ......... beautiful !!!

Hi Joaquin - looking great! - very nice work on the gate too. I'm looking forward to seeing it moving along!

Thanks
Nick

Wife got me a few early Father's Day & upcoming B-Day gifts off my wish list...

,,

All nice additions for my WIP dio. Thanks again to John for the early MB No Soldier Left Behind kit news. These grunts will be front and center in front of the mosque ready to rush & clear the grounds!!!

JGphins

Wow this is awesome Joaquin! Everything looks great, thanks for delving so deeply on your first "try"
Cheers
Dave

I forgot if I said I'd be following this before but I definitely will be now. I'll definitely be using this as a reference for a dio I plan on attempting.

Outstanding work as always. Very impressive to see how much you have achieved.

Seeing the two elements side by side at a "street level" is amazing! And putting it on a shelf with a scenic background really adds to the realism and storage as well!

Your attention to detail and craftsmanship are up in my top five builders (Cheyenne, Jerry, Nick, you and a guy named Ken Hamilton). All of you have amazing creative minds and the ability to execute. I would hope to someday see all of your works together!

Keep on bringing it! My eyeballs seek more!

Hello again everyone & thanks to all for your continued interest and supportive words during my build. All feedback and views are very much appreciated.

Dave, Glad you like my progress thus far. I have a long way to go but it's always fun whenever time permits to get my hands on this project - love this hobby!

Michael, thanks for your interest on my dio & I wish you the best luck with your upcoming project. I'll be looking out for it!

Charles, Thanks for the kind words brother, very appreciated! There is still a huge to do list but it's all fun.

Patrick, I'm glad you like the build & thanks for the kind words. The talented group of modelers that you placed me with are the ones whom inspired me to actually share my work and start building. I'm honored that you placed me in that group of talented modelers but I am still learning from them today.

I know my progress has been slow & I don't really have too much to share but I will nonetheless post a few pictures of what I was able to accomplish recently.

OK, on with the second block progress:

First, had to trim down the foam to equally level the joining streets...


Completed the columns, primed, painted, made them look like old concrete then a lite dirt weathering...
,,,

On to working on the brick and concrete fence sections. As of this post, I have only one section partially completed. That a look...
,,,,,,

That's it for now. The brick work details took a lot of effort to get the look I was hoping for but still requires a bit more work. The Arabic writing was hand written, it reads "God is great" AKA "Allah Akbar". Was a first attempt but it is accurate. Till next time folks!

JGphins

All the new stuff looks great. Every little bit adds tht much more reality.
J

Thanks for stopping by Jerry. As you know, each layer is a process of its own and for me it takes a lot of planning to ensure that the fit, color, and position of each item looks as if it really belongs there and blends well.

I just received all the new items ordered and by far the new MB No Soldier Left Behind - MWD Down kit is the best MB kit that I own as it relates to character details. Very clean parts with loads of details and minimal to zero cleaning required. If any of you are considering this kit, buy it! You will agree once you see it for yourself in person. If anyone would like close up pics of the parts just post or PM me and I'll provide images to the best of my capabilities. This might be the first set of soldiers that I work on after the mosque fence is completed just to enjoy the look of them staging up at the front gate - ready to take them down!

Happy modeling.

JGphins

Hiya JG , just noticed you've added an update .
Excellent choice on the figs. man , this will be a beauty addition to the artwork you're performing here .
The walls are turning out great .
If I may ask , are you using the blue foam as your base , I'm currently looking at alternatives for a base for my project and I'm afraid of warp issues .
Some of the wooden and white poster board bases on my sub assemblies have warped a tad and I'm at the point where I should start putting these sub assemblies to a base that will hold the whole build .

Question is what will I use that won't warp , I don't have a hermetically sealed room and the air conditioning and humidity seems to be playing science 101 games with certain build elements .

Hi Cheyenne, yes I am using 1/2 inch blue board. Check page 4 here on my build to see it on a pic I posted. I have used only this product on past HO scale model train layouts and have never had an issue. Very important tip, only apply water base paints and elmers glue on this foam or it will melt. Other then that I suggest clipboard material to be cut to size to support added weight depending on size of project. I live in Florida and the humidity here average 80% year around and as mentioned no issues with warping. This foam board comes in various sizes and you can probably find it at your local Home Depot or lowes store. Just make sure you get the same brand & you should be good to go for many many years if not forever. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Hi JG - thanks for posting an update! You're at least a few steps closer - haha! I know, on the big projects, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Your wall and fence is looking very good!

Cheers
Nick

Hello again everyone, progress has come slow but the work detailing is taking a lot of effort to gain the desired effect. Today I have a brief update of the continued WIP to the mosque gate area. Take a look:

,,,

The PE is no joke! Once I complete the PE iron fencing on the left side I will be finally ready to permanently glue in the sidewalks and make significant progress to this board.

I have decided to incorporate the "LION OF ALLAH & IMAMS" to the decoration of this mosque. On the front portal walls I will glue 2 lions heads statues weathered to appear as aged concrete. In the inner mosque grounds I will also add 2 full body lion statues - one on each side of the mosque and large concrete columns as well.

As always, I am open to your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks to all for your continued interest & happy modeling!

JGphins

Lookin extremely good brother! All these little steps are creating a nice impressive giant slice of life in history. Very cool,
J

H Jerry, thanks for stopping by and the kind words. Lots of work to do but it's coming along a small piece at a time. I hope to complete the foundation soon so I can focus on the fun aspect of creating the scene, painting, and weathering. Pretty soon I'll have to focus on building and detailing about 50 plus figures and the remaining 6 military vehicles... Lots of work but I love investing time on this hobby.

JGphins