Here they are… They still need a bit more work
The surrendering tanker above will sit the commander’s seat of this Hotchkiss H39
Thanks for looking
Matthew
Dioramas
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Allons, bonne nuit…
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 - 01:34 AM UTC
I’d like to share some pictures of figures that I’m working on for a little diorama. At the moment the working title is: “Allons, bonne nuit. Dormez bien, rassemblez vos forces pour l'aube, car l'aube viendra.” It’s a great line from the speech by Churchill when he tries to raise the spirits of the French after the fall of France.
Here they are… They still need a bit more work
The surrendering tanker above will sit the commander’s seat of this Hotchkiss H39
Thanks for looking
Matthew
Here they are… They still need a bit more work
The surrendering tanker above will sit the commander’s seat of this Hotchkiss H39
Thanks for looking
Matthew
Barbarossa
Joined: August 25, 2005
KitMaker: 216 posts
Armorama: 215 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 - 08:40 PM UTC
Hey Matthew....,
Like the look of this one, looks similar to something I'm working on myself.. I know it's early war years, but what time & place are you basing this on..?
Especially like the expression on the face of the guy sitting down with his hands up, is that a Hornet Head? Looks very depressed.....
Look forward to seeing this develop.
Cheers
Simon,
Like the look of this one, looks similar to something I'm working on myself.. I know it's early war years, but what time & place are you basing this on..?
Especially like the expression on the face of the guy sitting down with his hands up, is that a Hornet Head? Looks very depressed.....
Look forward to seeing this develop.
Cheers
Simon,
joepanzer
Joined: January 21, 2004
KitMaker: 803 posts
Armorama: 740 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 - 09:56 PM UTC
Is it just me or does the German guy's head and helmet look too small in photo #4?
It looks fine from the front in previous photos
It looks fine from the front in previous photos
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 - 01:09 AM UTC
@ Simon. The setting is France 1940 - nothing more particular than that at the moment. The head of the depressed tanker is indeed a Hornet one.
@ Joe. Now you mention it, the head of the German in picture 4 does look a bit diminutive. Actually, it's not so much the head as the helmet, I think. I might have to replace that one.
Since I took those pictures I've done a little under-scribing. Quite pleased with the results. But I wonder if there is a trick to hollow out sleeves. I'm thinking specifically about the surrendering French tanker in picture 1. Should I cut of his hands, hollow the sleeves out and rebuild his wrists with Miliput, and then reattach his hands? Or?... Any tips or tricks anyone?...
Cheers
Matthew
@ Joe. Now you mention it, the head of the German in picture 4 does look a bit diminutive. Actually, it's not so much the head as the helmet, I think. I might have to replace that one.
Since I took those pictures I've done a little under-scribing. Quite pleased with the results. But I wonder if there is a trick to hollow out sleeves. I'm thinking specifically about the surrendering French tanker in picture 1. Should I cut of his hands, hollow the sleeves out and rebuild his wrists with Miliput, and then reattach his hands? Or?... Any tips or tricks anyone?...
Cheers
Matthew
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 01:19 AM UTC
A couple pictures of the German - now with a helmet that is the right size. Have given him his rifle and ammo pouches too.
Cheers
Matthew
Cheers
Matthew
terminators
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,932 posts
Armorama: 1,907 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 01:34 AM UTC
Funny title, you speak French very well ! 
justsendit
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 03:52 AM UTC
Nice title!
Personally, I would cut-off the original hands, drill and sculpt out the sleeves so they are very thin, then I'd replace the hands with 'Hornet Hands' ... they really do the trick! Before final attachment with CA, stuff a tiny bit of BluTak into the sleeve opening for temporary hand positioning.
BTW: Rather than using drill bits for this process, I use Dremel Engraving Cutters. With these cutters, you can do precision work, without having to worry about melting styrene. HTH.
—mike
Quoted Text
... Should I cut of his hands, hollow the sleeves out and rebuild his wrists with Miliput, and then reattach his hands? Or?... Any tips or tricks anyone?...
Personally, I would cut-off the original hands, drill and sculpt out the sleeves so they are very thin, then I'd replace the hands with 'Hornet Hands' ... they really do the trick! Before final attachment with CA, stuff a tiny bit of BluTak into the sleeve opening for temporary hand positioning.
BTW: Rather than using drill bits for this process, I use Dremel Engraving Cutters. With these cutters, you can do precision work, without having to worry about melting styrene. HTH.
—mike
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 01:52 PM UTC
Thanks Mike. I'll do that.
Hornet stuff is nice but pricey. I'm going to stick with the hands I've got.
The trick with the blue-tac is a good one.
cheers
Matthew
Hornet stuff is nice but pricey. I'm going to stick with the hands I've got.
The trick with the blue-tac is a good one.
cheers
Matthew
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 08:21 PM UTC
I second the cutting tool method. I use that and then refine the cut outs with a nice sharp number 11 blade. If you don't want to get the aftermarket hands,just take the kit hands that you removed and glue piece of styrene to the wrist,shape it to conform and then use that to stick in the hollowed sleeve.
J
J
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Monday, May 09, 2016 - 02:52 AM UTC
Ghastly surgery tonight….
Look! No hands!
Hands up!
Not perfect, but a big improvement on before
Cheers
Matthew
Look! No hands!
Hands up!
Not perfect, but a big improvement on before
Cheers
Matthew
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 09, 2016 - 04:07 AM UTC
I little trim around the joint between the hands and wrists and it will really stand out! Your under cutting looks good as well. Maybe a bit more under the sides and bottom of his scarf?
J
J
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Friday, May 13, 2016 - 06:47 PM UTC
A little update on progress.....
The base - still very early days, a wip
This is the arrangement I have in mind. Nothing is fixed and it might all change….
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
Matthew
The base - still very early days, a wip
This is the arrangement I have in mind. Nothing is fixed and it might all change….
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
Matthew
cheyenne
Joined: January 05, 2005
KitMaker: 2,185 posts
Armorama: 1,813 posts
Posted: Friday, May 13, 2016 - 06:51 PM UTC
Great work you're doing here Matthew , figures , tank , nice !!!
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2016 - 07:43 PM UTC
Have done some work on the base...
I need to do some more...
Cheers
Matthew
I need to do some more...
Cheers
Matthew
Namabiiru
Associate Editor
#399
Joined: March 05, 2014
KitMaker: 2,888 posts
Armorama: 1,920 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2016 - 09:36 PM UTC
Matthew,
Very cool vignette.
Under the circumstances I would have expected to see some sort of crippling damage to the tank, but not really seeing any. Curious what you plan is in that regard since it looks like you've started to progress to the painting stage.
Very cool vignette.
Under the circumstances I would have expected to see some sort of crippling damage to the tank, but not really seeing any. Curious what you plan is in that regard since it looks like you've started to progress to the painting stage.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2016 - 10:18 PM UTC
Very imaginative. Just reading To Lose a Battle about the Fall of France right now.
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Friday, June 17, 2016 - 04:50 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Matthew,
Very cool vignette.
Under the circumstances I would have expected to see some sort of crippling damage to the tank, but not really seeing any. Curious what you plan is in that regard since it looks like you've started to progress to the painting stage.
Thanks. That's a good point about what crippled the Hotchkiss H39... I'm thinking a PAK 37mm shell didn't penetrate the armour of the turret but was forced down, wedging into the turret ring and preventing it from traversing... His weapon out of order, the poor French tanker could do nothing else but give up...
I need to work on this a little...
Cheers
Matthew
iowabrit
Joined: November 06, 2007
KitMaker: 585 posts
Armorama: 557 posts
Posted: Friday, June 17, 2016 - 05:42 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Matthew,
Very cool vignette.
Under the circumstances I would have expected to see some sort of crippling damage to the tank, but not really seeing any. Curious what you plan is in that regard since it looks like you've started to progress to the painting stage.
Not necessarily, a broken track would suffice
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 18, 2016 - 01:31 AM UTC
It was a 37mm PAK 36 shell caught in the turret ring that put this Hotchkiss H39 out of action...
Next up, paint the tank...
cheers
Matthew
Next up, paint the tank...
cheers
Matthew
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 18, 2016 - 08:02 PM UTC
Great idea with the jammed door knocker round! Plenty of tanks from all sides during the war were just abandoned on the field for want of fuel or a breakdown with no hope of fixing so it isn't always mandatory to have damage showing. Just sayin"
J
J
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 02:29 PM UTC
Right. After a bit of time away from this little dio, It's time to start again.
The little Hotchkiss H39 now has a camo scheme. See...
It still needs tracks, decals and gentle weathering, but it's getting there.
Then there's the figures to finish.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
Matthew
The little Hotchkiss H39 now has a camo scheme. See...
It still needs tracks, decals and gentle weathering, but it's getting there.
Then there's the figures to finish.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
Matthew
Graywolf
Senior Editor
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 6,405 posts
Armorama: 1,850 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 02:45 PM UTC
Very nice little dio. waiting to see the figures added on scene. Great work. Congrats Matthew 
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 04:51 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Very nice little dio. waiting to see the figures added on scene. Great work. Congrats Matthew
Thanks for the kind words, Engin. I'm still working on the figures. I might have this finished by Christmas, but then that's been said before.
Cheers
Matthew
pnance26
Joined: January 22, 2016
KitMaker: 766 posts
Armorama: 518 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 09:00 PM UTC
Great idea and I think you are very much on the right track (every pun intended).
I did see the part about "gentle weathering" of the tank and after observing many of the tank dios at the last show, the one thing most all of them lacked was a sense of weathering and mud etc.
I understand people want to be proud of their meticulous and detailed work but a battle worn tank is a piece to behold and I think take even more attention. Maybe it is because I had so much fun with weathering, etc, I want more people to have the experience.
I like the scene and the idea. Looking forward to more!
I did see the part about "gentle weathering" of the tank and after observing many of the tank dios at the last show, the one thing most all of them lacked was a sense of weathering and mud etc.
I understand people want to be proud of their meticulous and detailed work but a battle worn tank is a piece to behold and I think take even more attention. Maybe it is because I had so much fun with weathering, etc, I want more people to have the experience.
I like the scene and the idea. Looking forward to more!
Northern_Lad
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Monday, November 28, 2016 - 04:37 AM UTC
@ Patrick. Thanks for the encouragement. The weathering will be gentle because the French didn't really have time to get their tanks in a state. It was all over all too quickly. So there might be a bit of dust. It was June 1940 - so summertime with hot and dusty lanes.
I've made a little progress with one of the figures… Schnell, schnell!
I’ve also started on another figure. This one…. He's from the MiniArt French tankers set with a Hornet "weary" head.
I have a new idea of how the dio should be arranged. Well, the figures at least.
Thanks for looking!
Cheers
Matthew
I've made a little progress with one of the figures… Schnell, schnell!
I’ve also started on another figure. This one…. He's from the MiniArt French tankers set with a Hornet "weary" head.
I have a new idea of how the dio should be arranged. Well, the figures at least.
Thanks for looking!
Cheers
Matthew
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