Damocles

Just ordered the 1/48 C-130J kit, to try and convert to a WHIF RAF verson. Chris.

Progress to date. Some items such as the gates have been omitted as there just is not room. The sangar upper deck is to be built up again, as it was somehow off square. Just put the HESCO cages in place, so need to add the fill and build up a little around the base. As always comments are welcome, especially as it is now taking shape. Chris.

Again, just a small update. The base is progressing well, with plenty of different washes applied. Once I have the bushes and grass done, and gates started I will post an overall picture. Just thought, I’d throw these pictures up. My first ever attempt at making, bushes, and as with this project the ‘scratch building’ element is really enjoyable. Products are from ‘Treemendus’, and it shown the three stages. 1. Rubberised Horse hair, pulled off the block, teased out a little to give it some shape, trimmed a little, sprayed with white glue, then sprayed with Krylon rattle can sand to give it a base colour. 2. Sprayed with white glue, and some scatter sprinkled over (a little too bright for my needs). 3. Some MIG ‘Dark Wash’ dabbed over the scatter to darken it down a little. Once in place, they a bit of topiary will take place !, maybe a duck or two. Chris.

Hey Mark, Great scheme, looks very 'natural', and fits very well with your storyline ( think it would look great on a A-10 ). The story is excellent, and the fact that you intend it to be the start of a series of themed projects, makes it even better. Hopefully mine will follow a similar track. Great work, Chris.

Cheers Jon, hows things going, any more laser cut orders?. Here is an update of progress to date. I am really enjoying this project, maybe a little too big, but hey ho Ive started n ow. Overview of the diorama. (i will give an overview of the products used, once I have it completed. It will be given a spray coat of Crylon ‘Sand’, and then some colour variations applied with MIG Pigments and Washes. (cling film is just to protect the wall sections. Top Section (as comments above) Close-up of stones (as comments above) Start of bushes/scrub (this is rubberised horse hair. It will be sprayed with PVA and then coloured. From that, some more PVA applied and some scatter sprinkled over it, and then sprayed again to dull down. Close-up of bushes/scrub (as comments above). I will also use some of the strands to form, roots /dead scrub. Regards, Chris.

Cheers Mike & Mark, I have to say I am loving this project so far. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have the covering complete then to start on some bushe (which will be a complete first for me), the gates and some coiled razor wire......at this rate the vehicles may just get started this side of christmas. Chris.

Just some pictures, to show progress on the surface, contours are cut out, boulders put in place, and base surface (cat-litter) applied, this will be brushed off once the glue had dried, and a more applied. Chris.

Hi tc2324, thanks for the interest, and very sorry for the late reply, work, kids etc.... As before progress has been slow, but steady. It has morphed a little, but has finally taken a 'physical' shape for me to now build upon (no going back, and no changes now) The Sangars, are now 'stacked', the buildings behind the wall have been removed, and it now includes a sloping access road. I just took delivery of two Accurate Armour Coyote's (to be converted in a UKSF 'Menacity' style, which will sit on the downward slope and the M-ATV starting to turn onto the slope. If all goes to plan, there may also be a Cromwell Cougar MRAP included, and I have pre-ordered the new Legend Max-Pro, which may also make an appearance. I also got a load of goround work finsihes from a company called Treemendus, to make a start with the surface finish. Some pictures attached, and again sorry for the late reply. Chris.

Why not push them up to 1/35, with the recent surge in modern 1/35 armour and figures, there would be plenty of options for a great diorama. (Merlin with under slung Landrover). A Pave Low III in 1/35 would be awesome. Sure throw a 1/35 CV-22 into the mix as well !. Chris.

These look fantastic, what scale are they ?. A few LGB's or Brimstone on the larger one would be great. Chris.

Graeme, This looks great, I really like the texture of the putty/cement mix. I am sure I will find a use for it somewhere. I really like the sctatch building and kitbashing, for me it makes it far more enjoyable. Looking forward to seeing some more. chris.

Just a quick update of some of the parts made up. Other pictures can be seen on my build thread. R-0423 Build Chris

Cheers F-32, have been working on it for a while, finally things are comming together, progress slow, but constant. Some pictures of the Ground MARS (Multi-Role Armoured Sangar). The diorama will have another, but it will be elevated with vision panels on all four sides. The top of the MARS, will accommodate a Remote Weapons Station with a .50 cal M2 and a Long Range Acoustic Device (LARD) as a non-leathal weapon for the approach to the FOB. Chris.

Super paint job, the front end looks alot like a B-1 in that scheme. Real nice. Chris,

Cheers tc2324, never had a pink elephant before, and a dancing one is even better !, well chufffed with that. Added a piccy of the 'RAID' shelter WIP in the original post. Made from some laser cut plastic, plasticard and left over PE/resin parts. Chris.

I have been working through this idea for a ‘what-if’ armour based diorama for a while now, and have been working on some of the individual elements before taking the plunge and starting a new build post. PROJECT “R-0423” (DIORAMA CONCEPT) This is my basic concept for my diorama layout. (I intend to stick to it as much as possible, but will just see how it evolves). The diorama is a complete ‘What-if’, and depicts a hill-top Forward Operating Base, in the Afghanistan / Pakistan border region. The force is a combination of international SF elements, something similar to Tom Clancy’s RAINBO team. The key elements to the diorama are: Structures: • Alaska Wall Sections forming perimeter; • HESCO Barriers forming additional perimeter protection; • Double Vehicle gates with road way; • Ground Mounted MARS Sangar; • Elevated MARS Sangar with ‘Rocket Cage’; • ISO Container; • RAID Shelter (this is a ‘what-if’ comms centre); and • Communications / Electro Optical Mast. Vehicles: • VAJARA - M-ATV; • MMK - Toyota HI-LUX II SCV; and • MMK - IVECO CLV Panther. Figures: • MIG; • Legend Productions; and • Evolution. Some pictures below of where I am going;- SITE SKETCH Alaska Wall Sections HESCO Barriers MARS Sangar RAID Shelter (comms centre) M-ATV HI-LUX II SCV IVECO CLV Panther Chris.

I have had this in the stash for about a year, so when I came across this GB, I though this was an ideal opportunity to get it going. It is 1/35 scale and all resin. Not a big kit, so hopefully will go together quickly. This kit is based on the Czech designed 38(T) tank used primarily by the Germans and a number of other countries during the Second World War. The first version has a modified 38(T) turret with a side-mounted flame thrower, and four moveable legs. I want to build this straight out of the box and give it a good 'weathering' and try some new techniques (mainly the hair-spray/rock salt chipping effect), and build up a small diorama using a beer can as a damaged/destroyed silo with the tank crawling over it. Chris.

Cheers Mark, In that case, please add me to the list. I will get cracking and post up some information so all will become clear. Regards, Chris.

Hi Mark, Would Mig Productions '38TX Walking Flame Thrower Tank' be acceptable for this GB ?. Regards, Chris.

Do give Jon a shout, he could not have been more helpful, and not too hard to pay either. if you do get something cut, ask him for the off-cuts, and use them to test your glue, painting etc. i fould plastic weld and halford grey primer, work just fine. Chris.

Just built this one up, it is a 3 compartment barrier. Apologies for the photographs, inside light and flash do not work too well. Chris.

A small update on the HESCO barriers. Here is one of the smaller ones, made up in its basic form (weathering and corner 'hinges' to be applied etc later). I am just keeping the wire mesh as it is, and a quick rub with some wet & dry will expose the metal finish. Because I have left the top section open, i can them use whatever fill I want to match the rest of the diorama. Some black slate chippings. Hopefully, get some more work done tonight, on the larger, 3 section barriers Chris.

Phil, excellent work.The I-16 is fantastic, great weathering. I might just have to get one of them for the winter nights. May I ask, what colour did you use for the upper surfaces, it looks like the colour I am after for an armour project. Thanks for sharing, Chris.

Hey Jim, You could try Tankograd's new publication on task force Helmand. It is current up to 2011. I have their Abrams book and it is class, so would assume this will be no different. Here is an extract from their description:- Tankograd Publishing - NEW Releases Nr. 9017 - Task Force HELMAND Since 2006 British Forces have operated in southern Afghanistan under ISAF. Their mission in the Helmand Province is to assist the Afghan government in creating a safe and secure environment, consult in the creation and training of the Afghan security forces and to further the reconstruction of the country. For the first time this publication shows the full range of vehicles fielded by Task Force Helmand in 2011 including many, that were only recently specially procured for the Afghanistan deployment. Apart from protected patrol vehicles, armoured reconnaissance vehicles and armoured infantry fighting vehicles, the numerous pictures and detailed texts also present logistic vehicles, engineer equipment, artillery systems and helicopters. Hope, this is of use. Regards, Chris.

You are welcome Mike, it is so common on BM, that everyone shares their ideas and experiences, making it such a great place to learn of new/old techniques and of new products. I have learned a lot from the other members, that in itself and gives that little extra motivation that is sometimes needed, and feel it only right to share also. The simple things, are so often the most useful, trying to get perfect right angles as been very frustrating, and these solved the problem !. After using them for a while, and after a long drive home tonight, I have a few thoughts where they could be complimented a little, to make it even more useful. I will drop Jon a sketch, and see what he thinks. Chris.