My next project will be a Meng Renault FT, but in Dutch service. The Dutch army bought 1(!) Renault FT to prove the viability of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (a defensive line, protected by a clever system of inundations, yet hopelessly obsoleted by new technology). Actually, the driver of the vehicle secretly got orders to have it bogged down every time, so the people were reassured in that they were safe.
I want to portray it while the trials on ice are executed during the winter of 1940. Sometimes the vehicle is shown with a Dutch build Schwarzlose MG, sometimes with just a front plate, and sometimes without, leaving a gaping hole.

That is a great idea by you, and a stupid idea by the Dutch authorities...

Thanks... They were more than keen to spend as little money as they could on armament. They thought, because of this line, that the west was safe from invasion (the east was deemed indefensible), as tanks could not traverse the undulated countryside. Maybe they where right. Yet, the undulation itself took many days to take place. Time the Germans didn't need to reach the line itself. Besides that, the southern part consisted of firm, sand based lands. Being so because it had been exploited by removing the thick layer of peat. Ideal for tanks to cross, so the whole line was simply circumvented.

Hi Erwin,

This looks like a fascinating project, I'll be interested to follow as I always think icy/snowy scenes look interesting.

Not sure I'll be able to help you as much as you've helped me, but I'll be happy to provide encouragement, !

Good luck with the build.

Cheers, ,

G

Thank you... This project will raise a whole new set of challenges for me. Not in size, but certainly in technics...
Well I managed to tackle them in my previous build (http://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/280411&page=1), so I'll manage to do this one too!!!

Hi Erwin,

Just checked out your previous build...now I have an inferiority complex, ! That is one amazing build, very impressive indeed, !

Cheers for sharing, ,

G

Gee thanks... To make things worse (for you ): I detailed the whole of the interrior of both the Signal Tower and the Station:









This certainly does explain why it took me 2+ years to complete
Ofcourse none of this is visible under normal viewing angles, yet the old adagium of "at least I know it is there" kicks in here

Hi Erwin,

Kick a man when he's down, why not, .

Amazing stuff...something for others like me to strive for, .

Cheers, ,

G

Looking for a psychiatrist right now? I have been told that modelling is quite relaxing and let you clear your mind... Mine is usually filled with issues to contend with after a session

Ah wel... I did the best I could, but there is most certainly room for improvement, as lots of techniques I used here were completely new for me...

This looks like fun (for pedants like me you mean, of course, the winter of ’39-’40), the obvious question being what are you going to use for ice? Careful now…years ago I enjoyed a bag of bigass crushed chunks of (what I believed to be) transparent sugar shot through with caramelly brownish/blackish streaks, no idea if it has a specific confectionery name but it would perfectly in-scale looking at that photo. Alternatively, rock crystal?

Good question... I've heard somewhere that a layer of whitish varnish over a pitch black base will do the trick. For the piece of ice, I thought about this:
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/33023727272.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.21402e0e7ClCGB
If I want to try and create the hole in the ice (which I consider),I'll have to simulate water too... This is one of the technical challenges I face...

Hi Erwin,

I'm back from the psychiatrist...Just a nervous twitch to deal with now, so if my painted straight lines look a bit zig-zaggy, I'm blaming you, .

Years ago I saw an article on making frozen water. As I recall the chap painted the base a dark colour and then varnished it. Then he poured on a diluted PVA/water solution (not sure if 50/50...that's a trial and error thing. The solution was poured on to the varnished finish and levelled as necessary. When dried it was spray painted lightly with various greyish, whiteish hues...as I recall it looked very effective.

Those ice 'cubes' look more like diamonds...they might arrest you for smuggling if you're caught with them, .

Cheers, ,

G

Luckily they did not recommend a sports jacket with long sleeves

That PVA-water thing might just help
Hm... not really comfy... And you can't have a modelling knife in jail either
I intend to crush these things even further and try to matte them...

I found out that among the large number of files on my NAS, I have a digital copy of the Snow and Ice volume of The Weathering magazine. There are a couple of really useful articles in there!

Wow Erwin what an awesome train station! I'm just marveling at all the small scenes within the bigger "scene". Exactly what one looks for in a diorama, as was previously mentioned.

I sense some Model/RR in your background, because as it's common knowledge that's what they do as well: hide lil humorous anecdotes throughout the layout, and you really did a nice job with all the figures on the platform and such.

Interesting subject matter with your Renault on Ice, I'll be looking for more and thanks for sharing

Regards
Dave

Dave,
Thank you for the compliments. I indeed do have a model RR background, but the reason for making the smaller scenes is that makes it interesting to look at. And in real life, everybody has his/her own story too. The binding factor in this case is the station.

The current project will give me enough to think about and I am curios too how this will work out

Cool Erwin nice work . I like your interior work on the station , very nice .

Erwin, I used once pieces of melted glass I found in an glass artist workshop.
(In Dutch: bij een glasblazer).
Hese droplets have hardly sharp edges and may work well.

@Cheyenne: thanks. It is a pity that most of it can't be seen, or hardly. But then again, I know it is there.

@Paul: there are days that I do not visit such a place... and usually it has been in Italy

The first wip pictures. Also did some weathering, since the usage of tank after 12 or 13 years, including a almost sink into peat, does leave its traces. Specially the inside, which is not easily painted over

Some say I'm crazy, others that I am insane. Both sides are totally correct. 🤪 50% in building the munitions racks of the Dutch Renault FT. Since the Dutch used non standard Schwarzlose MG, I decided to adapt the racks too. Each rack can hold 6 boxes, for which I figured straps where needed to keep them in place.

Hey Erwin,

Very nicely detailed work. I will be following this one!

vr,

Tim

Thanks Tim, really appreciated.

Hi Erwin,

Outstanding, and inspirational stuff, wish I had your patience, , and your attention to detail.

Keep up the good work.

G

Thanks. Just found out that the gun version had only one munitions rack.

Seeing what you're doing with the camo on your Firefly, I think you do have a lot of patience...