Hi all,
My new project.This is going to take time.
The idea is the Germans leaving Egypt and on to Tunisia.
All the components are here.Nothing set yet.
Been looking for Egyptian sculptures.Only found 1 at Reality in Scale.Any ideas?
Comments and suggestions very welcome.Just the start.

Tom

Interesting...a recce unit HQ setting up shop somewhere in N Africa?

Cool idea for sure. Great assembly of components as well. The 2 pillars with the stonework going across does not fool my eye however. No stonework anywhere would stay up in that configuration.The stones on top would make it collapse even quicker.
Cool dio though.
J

Remember that the Italians were all over that area pre war. Lots of monuments and road markers were built by them.

This is a representation of a road marker built just outside Sidi Barrani Egypt. It was built by the Italians in 1935 or so. Allies and Axis alike passed this several times going both ways.





That's a long OOP resin base I acquired when an LHS closed.

G

Very interesting dio Tom – looks busy & the figs look just right. I agree with JR about the ruins – also the stumpy column between the Horsch & 222 just couldn’t exist. In fact none of them were likely in north Africa seeing as they have Ionic capitals (Greek) which is why when I first saw this dio I thought it was a scene in occupied Athens. Plenty of Roman ruins in Tunisia but almost exclusively Corinthian capitals...that’s enough with the classical architecture tutorial & maybe nobody cares but if you do, I’d suggest just keeping broken column-stumps standing and strew the rest around half-buried in the sand. Add Wayne’s road-marker & it should look great.

PS The final version deserves the brightest sunlight you can manage to be photographed in

Cool idea with lots of potential for interesting details. I Googled Egyptian sculptures in 1/32, and BNA Model World seemed to have a couple items that might fit what you're looking for. As for those columns, several years ago I found similar items in the wedding cake decorating section at Hobby Lobby. I'd like to see how you proceed with this.

Are your columns plastic wedding cake decorations?

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your input.
Got me rethinking the idea.Did some more research today and decided to keep the columns off to the side and keep them for an Athens dio.Added a third column in the center per Jerry's input and it looked more like Athens.
Tim,thanks for your comment.Your right and if I looked closer at the pillars package label I would have seen "Grecian Columns".
Jack,thanks for the info.
Biggles,Yes,I bought them at a bake store.
Thanks all for not making a big mistake.Update soon.

Tom

Wedding supplies for cakes many years ago I bought columns and such , fish tank stuff yep a bunch there in buildings and columns.

Looks good so far.
Plus that stuff was way cheaper then model stuff, Walmart has some wedding stuff in columns. Hobby Lobby , Micheal s also.

Cake and aquarium/terrarium decorations are not strictly historically accurate, but they make great scenery for fantasy/scifi scenes:

This looks like a great idea!

OK,I'm back in business.
Found some Egyptian columns on Amazon in aquarium decorations.
Jack,the items at BNA would work great,but are all sold out.
Again,thanks for all of your guys help so far.

Tom

hey Tom!
not sure about egiptian colums.... much of the action during the north africa campaign took place in Tunisia and, above all, Libia. not much egiptian artifacts there, i fear. those, in fact, where roman colonies and the colums you already have are much more appropriate.
ciao
edo

Thanks Edo,
After more research today I found the Germans to have a limited stay in Egypt.Though they have a Rommel museum.
Libya ruins were a mix of Roman and Grecian architecture.So your point is quite right.
Knowing the Germans spent lots of time in Libya,I'm going to do 2 dios.One with what I have in Libya and the other with the Egyptian ruins using British forces.
Works out OK because I have kits built for the British.
Should be interesting.
2 with the same sort of concept.

Tom

hi Tom! that sonds interesting! I will follow along to see how both dios will unfold!
cio
edo

A few years ago I travelled along the coast road from Benghazi (Libya) to Alexandria (Egypt - further than the Axis reached) and saw only one lot of classical ruins. They were on a hill leading down to the sea and the terrain was grassy, not desert. Most of the battlefields were free of any man-made structures. There also isn't much reason to build inland, given the lack of water and the pediment which makes it hard to dig a well.

OK guys,
This is turning into to quite an opinion forum.
Let's take a vote.I can go either way.Libya with the Africa Corp or Athens .Grass or sand

Tom

Hi Tom

I did a bit more research too & glad I covered myself by saying “almost” exclusively Corinthian capitals in N Africa - the ruins of Leptis Magna 60 or so miles east of Tripoli sport loads of Ionic columns, which would suggest there must be more examples along the N African coast so I’d say you’re in the clear & apologies for tripping you up. Tripoli was where the Germans launched eastwards from in Jan ’41 so one idea might be depicting their initial sightseeing (!) on the way to reaching Gazala on 4th Feb. when the shooting war began. But really you could place it anywhere anytime & the architecture troll in me can go forth & multiply

On the other hand if it’s Athens it was occupied by the Germans in late April ’41 until the Italians took over with a bunch of mandolins in mid-June.

In either case the dates might be important in terms of which vehicles you use. The layout looks really good– it’ll be a pain but for authenticity the columns need some chips & chunks taken out as they look too pristine, with plenty of rubble lying around.

Thanks Tim,
Your research is a relief.I really prefer to use the Africa Corp.
Back to work on it tonight and damage to the columns.
Thanks again.

Tom

So here's what I've got so far.
Pretty basic,no weathering and still paint work to do.
Slow process.May change the post to Libyan coast.

Tom

Sorry guys,
That was the start.Meant to send these.More work.Damn PB again.

Tom

Aw you ruined it Tom– and very nicely done, excellent! It might be your spotlighting but if there’s any sheen left on the pillars etc it needs to be dulled/flattened out. Imho the cacti (?) don’t look right - maybe not necessary? Your figures look so real & animated – even though they’re distant so far in the pics they keep catching my eye...including the guy apparently sinking into an upturned paint-pot off to the right in the last couple of pics – is that the naughty corner?

must agree with Tim on the cacti.
just google “fico d’india” (sorry don’t know the english name of it) and you’ll see that the foliage are different. this is a cactus that is very common in the mediterranean basin, the only one i think of some big dimension, and you can find it from southern italy to greece, and north africa. a very common sight and it grows spontaneously on waste land, so it is most appropriate in your setting. i think that it wont be too difficult for a modeller of your skill to modify the cacti...

google also “Selinunte”, “Segesta” or “Agrigento” these are cities or archeological sites in sicily (italy) that still have the best preserved temples of ancient greek and roman times in the world (by the way, if you can take an hollyday there, it will be unforgettable! beleve me). you will find tonns of images that can help you on the setting of your diorama. of course the landscape is much more greener than north africa, but you’ll get the idea
ciao
edo

Hi,
Finally back again.
A few updates.Done much more than these pics.
Added a tree some other stuff.Waiting for some other kits.
Watched "Patton" again today and saw the ruins in North Africa.
Egypt is ready to go.Have all I need.That's another story.


Tom

Hi Tom - wow! This is a great update - all sorts of work to see here - looks very nice!

Nick