Hi Erwin,

Looking good, especially with the addition of the mud, .

Looking forward to seeing how it 'sits' in your diorama setting you described previously.

Thoroughly enjoying the build.

Cheers, ,

G

Jerry, the thing did ride through the mud before emerging from the pre-made Ice-hole. The ice was so thick, that the tank could drive over it, without going through it. Must have been some winter.

Gary, thanks for the compliment. I am waiting for both the ice and snow components before I can start with the base... I still have the figures and the tree to attend to, so I hope, by the time these are finished, I can start with the base...

Hi Erwin,

It's Gareth, not Gary...no offense to Gary's, .

What do you intend to use for the ice and snow? Interested as I'm thinking of setting my Centurion MK. III in the snows of a Korean War winter.

Cheers, .

G

Oops... Sorry... Just G. is so impersonal...
Won't do it again.

I intend to use Krycell for both. It got this advice from a friend of mine.

Hi Erwin,

No apology needed, and just 'G' is good, .

I've just 'googled' Krycell...you've probably already seen the the site that the address below takes one to, but it might be of interest to others.

https://www.precisioniceandsnow.com/

I'm keen to hear how you get on with it as it looks very interesting, .

Cheers, ,

G

I've indeed seen that website and it does look promising.
I'll keep you posted on my findings.

Both the Dutch colonel and the tank crew are ready. I changed the heads of the crew for Wolf heads and modified the helmets to resemble the one in the Nederlands Militaire Museum.
Also, one of the overalls (the left one) was too skinny, so I added a layer of putty to give it more bulk. According to a picture I found, the overall was tied around the waist by means of a thin belt.
So the original broad one was removed and one made from lead was added. I painted the leather jacket black, since that is the color the ones used by motor ordinances, and added the sergeant stripes.
I painted the walking cane as if made from bamboo, to refer to the colonial status of the Netherlands at the time.
I hope you like it and questions or comments are welcome.

AFter a sidestep both because I was waiting for some stuff from China, and because I had started another kit while doing so, I finally got back to this dio.
Secretly I started on the base, using high density foam, Crycell Ice, the crystalls from China and something which I thought looks nice on the land side.
This is what it looks like so far:


The Renault FT as it will be in position. Things like snow, reeds, tree, etc are to follow:



Once everything is in place, the tank will be fixed and the water will be poured:

It doesn't look neat , ...... bartender speak , ...... no ice .
Good to see you back at this Erwin . Curious how you'll follow up on the ice .

Very detailed construction, on all levels, congratulations
D

To be honest: I don't get the pun... Another downside of being a non native speaker..

I think the ice look pretty ok as it is now. Maybe a whitewash to make it less sparkly, but shape wise it is okay? Unless you think otherwise???




Thanks Dimitris. Things are comming together nicely, I think.

This is going to look so er cool…and a great way of hiding the uncut diamonds from your latest heist

And cool it will be!!! I just don't think da missus would look kindly upon me, if I put her diamonds in there!!! Besides, I'd have to destroy her weddingring!!!

Hi Erwin,

Hadn't realised you'd got back into this build, has your 'snow' arrived yet, or has Covid 19 delayed delivery?

The fractured ice is looking good, what will you use to represent smaller pieces of fractured ice that would likely be scattered around the larger fragments?

Really interested to see how your ice and snow all pans out as I'm thinking I might have a go at a wintery scene for my next build.

Keep up the excellent work, .

Cheers, ,

G

Thanks for your reply... I can tell you it is comming along nicely. In fact, I have to make a very minor repair to the tank, then I can put it in place and pour the water. Since the layers need to be about 3 mm thick, it will take some time to dry though... Nearly finished!

Hi Erwin,

Looking forward to seeing how the water works. How will you represent broken ice floating around the tank? Will you add the snow at the final stage of your build?

Cheers, ,

G

I'm not sure yet ifI will add floating ice. The hole in the ice was man made, and most probably the ice was used for the obstacle. If an pieces are floating around, they will be the same as the main slab. I have enough lying around to do so...

The snow is addes already. There was not too much snow around, so I depicted it blown against the land and filling up small patches between the grass...

Erwin , when you order a drink without ice , you order it neat , like , " I'll have an Irish Mist neat " .
I used to be a chemical engineer , P.H.D. and everything , tho once I started converting beer , Vodka , Rum and Gin into urine , I became a bartender , P.H.D. and everything ............. Piled High and Deep .

Seriously tho , have you checked out makin ice for dios with candle wax ?
Search Youtube how to's .

Ah, that makes sense now...

No, I have not. Thanks for the suggestion, but considdering the fact that this dio is nearing completion, I'll keep your suggestion in mind for the next time I want to recreate ice

Hi Erwin,

Looking forward to seeing some more images of the near completed diorama.

Cheers, ,

G

Well, I won't keep you any longer waiting...
Finally I can call this diorama finished.
First the picture that was my inspiration, next what I concocted: the crew of the tank, next to a rather gloomy looking Colonel, grumpy that the tank also overcame this obstacle.
Enjoy watching.

That turned out awesome Erwin, very nice job.

Randy

Great stuff, now it’s finished I can appreciate even more how difficult it was & you nailed it. Unique, imaginative, original, a really great vignette bravo

Very cool Erwin , nice job !!

Thanks gentlemen! Really appreciated... I added one picture at the bottom. Somehow it was left out