Hi Nick,
Electronics are not for me. I'd be all like ... cut the red wire? 🤔 ... dzzzzzttt!!!⚡️💥🔥😝
Still, thanks for sharing the inner-most workings of the beast — nice ON/OFF comparison. And I agree with Phil ... the drone eye views are really cool!

Cheers!🍻
—mike

Stick! Nice update good sir

I'm glad that you are also feeling like lighting things up is both a " PITA", but also the right thing to do in our separate instances.

Are you using 9 Volts, double A's, or a combination?

Maybe watch batteries....I've tied and am planning on all 3 types. And I'm currently looking at a USB rechargeable battery or adapter for the same usages. It has some merit for a portability sake.

Even though it's almost 30 below C with our windchill today, everything will be okay now, now that you've posted an update

Great work down there in sunny CA, will have to make it back down there someday... until then, greetings and salutations from the Great White

Hey nick,
Speaking of lights I was just looking on eBay and ran into some small black lights. I was thinking of this build the entire time I was looking at those lights. The seem to be about 6" long. For about $5. I figure they are worth trying out. I didn't order one yet but I'm thinking I will.
That old city Kowloon the walled city is really cool.

I still would love to know where that 3 wheel truck model was from and if they still have that?

Now that I look at this I'm thinking you kitbashed this one.

Well, good to see you back at the dio and keep kicking on it. I know I'm not the only one that can't wait to see what else you come up with before it is done.

Dave

Hey there Nick, tremendous amount of progress since last I visited your project back in June. I gotta say that the tangible things we see are fantastic but I know that behind all that is seen there's a multitude of work that are not evident such as all the imagination to achieve such a project and it results. Again, tremendous skill set to build off the imagination and vision to execution is what I admire the most. Those intangible things that no-one sees that we know required lots of research and hours to achieve. Excellent job my friend & thanks for sharing!

JGphins

Hi Nick,
I just saw these from MAIM, Modern Army In Miniatures — maybe a little dumpster diving for you!

Happy Merry Holidays!!! 🎄🌳🌴🌎🍺
—mike

Hi model builders -

Work, holidays, and life have been limiting the time I can work on this project - nonetheless, I am still on it!

Phil and Mike - wiring...just that easy eh??? I admire you guys who can do it well, and I'm guessing faster than me! yes: red/red black/black and don't cross them, ever! Glad you guys like the "drone" view ha!

Hi Dave - yeah, that light blue three wheeled truck - it's from a line called Owners Club, available through Hobby Link Japan - and not at all expensive. I did do some scratch work on the canvas top over the bed, but the rest is more or less stock. The non-military cars are all made by this company - easy to build, and look acceptable for what I want them for in a dio.

Hi Dave, from the great white north! Yes...wiring....good times, eh??? no....anyway, this build is powered by three, double A six packs - one pack for each block. It's plenty of power - in fact, don't cross the lines, the packs get really hot, really fast...yes, "first hand" knowledge - bad pun, hahaha - they get hot...take my word for it.

Hi Joaquin, glad to see you back around again! Your comments and observations are spot on. It was a lot more fun building walls, figures, vehicles etc...now - organizing infrastructure, wiring assembly sequence...good times....pulling all the pieces together, like I want - so far so good, but not fast progress.

OK - a bit of an update, I've made most of my "good guys" - some Live Resin and Legend and one or two others, all with Live Resin heads and helmets - take a look:







As you can see above, each fig was pretty good out of the box - and just the regular probs...some very fragile weapons, some odd geometry, the heads/neck diameter was huge, so lots of carving, but all in all, not bad.

With paint, but pre-dulcoat:







The guy with the leash, will get his dog eventually....






Finally, there's always room for more and more debris!





And that's where it sits today - still a ways to go, but the end is in sight!

Happy holidays to one and all!

Cheers
Nick

Stick!!! Wow! Great update dude. 3 six pack, double A's....that things gotta weigh a tonne?

Once while I was pastoring, I had an extra 9volt for my wireless microphone in my pocket. I was at the kit, drumming and singing, and I could swear I was getting a burning feeling in my thigh. I knew I wasn't playing that hard that I would be cramping up. Then I realized I had some change in my pocket too...yeah, shorting out the battery. Good times, me and electricity...

Figures look good sir, you're definitely improving quickly man.

Glad you're getting some bench time, have a great holiday season, and a happy new year well in advance... just in case!

Hey Nick!
The figgies look awesome! These guys shall restore order to the land!

Just an observation: Two of the figures seem to have, as our good friend Romain would’ve said… “giraffe neck.” But I am by no means, an expert on the uniform’s neckline style.

Happy Modeling Holidays! 🍻🥂
—mike

Hi guys - thanks for dropping by!

Dave - yes...wiring...and batteries...and shorts...and still not done. I spoke with a guy at a local old school electronics shop who set me up with the power. This build has several strings of LEDs, hence plenty of power! There is some weight with all the batteries, but this thing is already heavy - you really don't even notice it - and, the lights are bright!!

Hi Mike yeah...I noticed those necks - the heads/helmets are from live resin and they come with very thick necks. I did a lot of carving to make them fit as is! I guess I ran out of enthusiasm on those guys! Now...probably too late to tear them apart without causing damage I don't feel like dealing with - I'm hopeful Romain would let me slide this time!! Lol - I know he wouldn't - haha....but...I'm not tearing them apart now....

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year!!

Cheers
Nick

Only one comment is proper here.
This is pure ART!!!

Hi Nick ,

the figures are great man , love it !

Kurt

Hi Hans - glad you are liking the build - I really appreciate your nice words!

Hi Kurt - first, I appreciate your words and that you like these guys! That said, I looked back at these photos...yeah...while not bad, these guys needed a lot of work. So, back to the paint shop they went! Mike is right about a couple of giraffe necks, but, I'll live with that. What I couldn't abide was the lack of detailed paintwork. Each vest and pouch received variations in shading. Next, seams, joints and edges all received a black pin wash. This was well worth the bit of time needed to sharpen them up - they now look much less simple and two dimensional.

Ok - back to other parts of the build - happy early New Year! Here's to more good builds to be seen here on Armorama!

Cheers
Nick

Nice update man !
The good thing about those giraffes is that in a scene this large they will probably not be focused on all that much. Anyway,that is my personal excuse when I see something wonky with any of the figs in my big dio. LoL
This was already epic months ago so anything you add to it now just makes it more "epic-er".
I just love the trash on the street,almost everyone forgets to add that kind of stuff. Maybe some smashed tin cans?
J

Hi Nick , well the way you did the clothes hit me first not the necks (i didn't even noticed ). Very well done .

Kurt

Hi Nick,

I was just thinking about this build and you. I hope all is ok. I totally understand if you have life keeping you from this and time runs short. Trust me, I have a 4 year old and it's been about 5 years since I really got to model like I was before he was born.

Hope you're ok!
Dave

Hi Dave,

I appreciate you checking in! yes, Life has become complicated via work - I have been travelling quite a bit - in fact, I'm writing from a very different part of the world than where I live - and, i must say, I've gotten burned out on the wiring needed to make this build come together - it's close - i just need to get busy with the wiring...yuck!

thanks again, and take care -

Nick

Beautiful work Nick, thanks for staying on it!
This work (of art) is so good that quite a few of the pics seem like we're literally looking out a window onto a real street scene, outstanding! Bldgs, vehicles, figures, and street debris all done expertly.

Looking to see how this turns out
Cheers
Dave

Well nick,
Stay safe on your travels. I'm sure you will find the inspiration to get this done at a point later, even if you must deal with the dreaded wiring. The work you must do to complete this build may be the hardest to get it completed but only do it when you have the inspiration so you don't trash all that you have done so far.

Dave

Hello, Great job!!! I have a question for you: what color did you use to paint the concrete barriers?

Cheers!
Jorge

Hi Dave and Dave - yes, thanks for the encouraging words! I'll get back to, and finish this build!

Hi Jorge - thanks! As to the concrete, I cast them using hydrocal - it's similar to plaster but harder. As for the color, I squirt a couple of shots of Vallejo Camo Grey into the batch when I'm making it. In addition to getting a decent color, as its integrated with the hydrocal you can get away with a chip or two and no "bright white" jumps out. Finally, once the material is just about set I spray on, and brush in a wash of alcohol and India ink - this is a model rr technique used for aging materials - usually bass wood. For this, it works great - give it a try!

Thanks for taking some time to leave some comments!

Cheers
Nick

Thank you for the tips Nick!

Cheers

So many things to learn from the master of the build. Thanks for taking the time to point out interesting parts of the build, tips and techniques.

Love the set!

Nick,

I was thinking of this and you when I was watching the Nats in SF. Hope all is well.

Long live the Doors.

Dave

Life always seems to get in the way. Also boredom sets in which can lead to other new and exciting builds!

Hope all is well.

Mike

Hi guys - Dan, Dave, and Mike - thanks for checking it out -

Dan, glad you enjoy the work, and hope some of it's helpful -

Dave...yeah, about the Giants this year.....not great! Your Nats doing much better - I hate to say...haha

Hi Mike- yep...you nailed it - all...nothing to add!

You'll see over in dios i just posted a finished build...I'm running out of excuses for not finishing this one -

thanks for checking it out - cheers

Nick