Mark M Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 ok so youve seen bits of it before, but here it is all together the 1/48 airfix spitfire with 74 'Tiger' Sqn decals the figures are Revell (ICM re poped) well here you go, C&C very welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warris Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Very nice Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Lovely Mark, really like the classic look on the Spit and you've brought it to life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Nice work Mark looks great, I wish I had your level of patience painting all those figures. Thanks for sharing All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis Alfonso Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Just Wonderful Mark, I liked a lot all the scenes you depicted here, all the figures are a masterpiece. Congratulations and thank yo very much for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 23, 2012 Author Share Posted April 23, 2012 thanks guys in a bizzar way i like painting figures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Ahh the good old ICM figures, we love them don't we, especially the red setter Nice plane and nice simple but well put together base. I like these sorts of things, really gives a plane some context rather than just sitting on a shelf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmoss Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nice work - looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Venables Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 (edited) Really nice, clean, sharp work. I have a set of the ICM figures in the stash that I have been keen to use. I have been contemplating a Spit dio for a while now, though I favour a late war period using a Spitfire Mk.XIV. May I offer a few words of constructive criticism? I always find a diorama most fascinating when it tells an interesting and logical story. While the craftsmanship of your dio is well done, the story is a little confusing... Firstly, the aircraft markings clearly place the diorama at RAF Hornchurch between February and September 1939, so the time and location of the diorama is set. RAF 74 Squadron received its first Spitfires in February 1939 and changed its squadron code letters to ZP at the outbreak of war, so the setting of the diorama is obviously within those 6-7 months. You are historically limited to a pretty narrow window of time by choosing those markings. In consideration of the above, the heavy gun muzzle smoke stains are therefore unlikely for the aircraft at that time, unless it has been doing some aerial gunnery practice, which is a possibility. Otherwise, the aircraft were generally kept meticulously clean; remember that the Spitfire was a brand new piece of military hardware at that time and the squadrons equipped with them were widely considered "elite". The pilot is in his cockpit with the canopy closed and his hands presumably on the controls, so we can assume he is about to start the engine. However, given that the muzzle stains suggest he may have just returned from gunnery practice, he may have just parked up, shut the engine down and is about to exit the aircraft. Either way, it is unusual to see the canopy closed at this stage of the starting (or shut down) procedure for an early Spit, so I suggest you open it. If the Spit is about to start, then it should have a trolley accumulator attached and at least one ground crewman standing by to assit with the start up. If about to shut down, then there would probably be a crewman ready to help the pilot egress from the cockpit. That crewman would probably already be on the wing at this stage, helping open the cockpit door, etc. The group of bystanders would definitely not be that close, whether it was start up or shut down, especially the WAAF and dog. I'm sure 1939 era airfield safety procedures weren't as anal as those that we see these days, but I'm also pretty sure that bystanders, dogs, girlfriends, etc would not have been allowed anywhere near the machine during engine starts or parking up after return to base. The ground crewman carrying the jerrycan is thoroughly out of place. Firstly, the Brits were not using that style of jerrycan until much later in the war and secondly, I haven't ever seen a photo of a 1939 era Spitfire being refuelled by can. It may have happened but the RAF seem to have had their airfields (especially the front line airfields) fairly well equipped and well organised with fuel bowser trucks and trailers available for refuelling. In any case, the crewman would not be casually walking behind a just-landed or ready to start aircraft with a full, German style jerry can of fuel. Obviously, the other jerry can is also inappropriate. The two fellow pilots shooting the breeze about their latest aerial encounter is just plausible if they were undergoing an active training role, but they are definitely not discussing combat victories. 74 Squadron did not see combat until May 1940. Their presence walking by with flight gear adds to the suggestion that the flight of Spits (including your diorama subject) has just landed. Your chap obviously came in several minutes after his mates. Lastly, the ladder looks a little out of place to me. It kinda looks like the gardener forgot to move it after trimming the hedge. Despite all of the above, your diorama does epitomise the "calm before the storm" pre-war period, with the aircraft parked on a nicely manicured grass airfield. Excellent effort for a first-time diorama but I recommend just putting a little more historical consideration into your work to help the "story" come to life in a realistic way. Cheers. Edited April 24, 2012 by James Venables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Brits were not using that style of jerrycan until much later in the war I was thinking that, but didn't like to say. The rest doesn't bother me at all. I think you've done a nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 24, 2012 Author Share Posted April 24, 2012 thanks guys thats the sort of comments i needed, to be honest i wanted to have a go at making a diorama, and made that spit some time ago, it was the only 1/48 RAF fighter i had built so added it i never noticed the jerry cans as they are the ones that come with the ICM figures the next one ill take your comments on boards and research it a bit more, next one will involve a concrete pan and somthing a lot bigger!, now to learn how to simulate concrete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abacus Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nice job Mark, brilliant effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nice job, Mark! I've never attempted a diorama myself, so my hat is off to you. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Very nice Mark...the figures certainly bring it to life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 24, 2012 Author Share Posted April 24, 2012 thanks chaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 thanks guysthats the sort of comments i needed, to be honest i wanted to have a go at making a diorama, and made that spit some time ago, it was the only 1/48 RAF fighter i had built so added it i never noticed the jerry cans as they are the ones that come with the ICM figures the next one ill take your comments on boards and research it a bit more, next one will involve a concrete pan and somthing a lot bigger!, now to learn how to simulate concrete! TBH, I noticed the Jerry cans and the gun staining, but I forgave it all because you painted the uniforms in GREY, not BLUE, like so many people seem to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmonk Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nice one Mark, To me it looks like the guy with the jerry cans is actually about to climb the ladder and burn the bush down!! Now you can paint figures how about adding a couple of mechanics to the Mclaren, would really set that off nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saudi Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Mark, I think it's great! All that matters is that you have enjoyed the experience of having a go. I had a go at making a sim concrete base once. I used plywood and dragged corse grit sand paper over it in one direction. A bit of fine adjustment and varnish then pant and some staining. Looked good to me. Cheers, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike DeTorrice Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 A wonderful completion of this Spitfire and diorama ! It is always a real treat to see dioramas for all the visual details and views. The close-up shots, especially, give a very neat sense of a real scene at an airfield somewhere in WWII. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bri48 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Thats a beauty Dio Mark.....Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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