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Op Glad IJs - On Thin Ice


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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.

 

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Hi Golikell,

 

I look forward to seeing this get under way.

There is at least one similar completed diorama that I can think of featuring a similar trial. It was of a Whippet IIRC, and will be available to view somewhere in the RFI section. It might be in the 'Armour' or 'Diorama' RFI, as some people have a habit of posting dios in the armour section, but whatever, it might be worth you searching for it.

 

BTW, I like your sprue rack. Very tidy.

 

Rearguards,

Badder

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Thank you. It will give me enough challenges (not size wise)  but I managed to get the previous one done too (

), so I this one can be done too. Just slightly different in type of challenge. :) 
I try to see if I can find the one you mentioned.

 

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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.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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.
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Thanks... It took me 3 evenings and an afternoon to get this far... 😕

Well, they actually came to the conclusion that the weapon was not suitable a.o. because of the amount of smoke it developed and lack of accuracy.  These guns used belts wooden ammo boxes. 

Edited by Golikell
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  • 2 weeks later...

Closed up the vehicle, minus hatches. The rear hatch will be closed, though I might try and see if it can be made workable. Getting the side walls in place required some tender and loving force, not to mention persuasion. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

After finishing the adoptions to make the vehicle "Dutch", it received a base coat, over the layer of black primer.
The adoptions made on the exterior, were collated from contemporary pictures and are as followed: 
- Lifting ring on the turret
- New mounting plate for the Schwarzlöse MG (got the dimension for the cooling jacket from the Dutch National Military Museum)
- Extra brackets (dunno what for) on the left side hull
- Wrench on the left side sponson
- Rail on the engine deck (apparently to prevent from firing in the engine room) + it's brackets on the side. 

The colour used is Tamiya IJA Green.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Received some resin pollard willows from Blast Models last week. Only need to add the twigs. Not too sure about what to use. Seafoam? 
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Also, I have been toying with the composition. More ice will be added to the icy obstacle. Also the figures will be on a higher level than the ice, standing on top of  a partially snow covered grassy slope. The definitive shape still has to be decided.
What do you think? 

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Edited by Golikell
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I actually thought I was finished with the FT, until I found out, after close scrutiny of the original picture, there turned out to be quite some mud on the running gear. Specially on the drive sprocket (rear). After thinking it over, this is logical as it just drove through the muddy floor of the moat.  Yet, I do not want to withhold from the results of my splashing around with AK's water effects and my effort to represent some small ice chunks. 

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Well. I started throwing mud yesterday (actually it is Mig European earth pigments combined with Water Effects), as the previous drawn conclusion led me to believe the tank was indeed too clean. 
Also made some grabbing straps on the hatches, since these were missing in the kit. Definitely looking better IMHO.
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  • 3 weeks later...

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.

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  • 3 months later...

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

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

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Thanks. I am actually almost ready. Everything is in place, and the first water is poured. Due to the drying time, it will take some days before it is completed though. 

Edited by Golikell
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It's a real pain waiting for that stuff to dry. I've been wondering if it's feasible to cut a piece of perspex to shape, build your ground around it and then just pour ONE layer of resin over the top?

Looking forward to seeing your next steps,

 

Stay safe,

Rearguards,

Badder

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I haven't tried.... The real pain was the fact that, although I thought I had everything closed up well, there was a leakage, so the water trickled away very slowly... Hopefully it is closed now. 

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I learned that lesson pretty quick. I now seal the entire water-bed plus some overlap with dilute PVA. That will get into any tiny holes and block them up.

Rearguards,

Badder

Edited by Badder
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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.

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