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Aussie spitfire diorama in pacific


Spitfire 123

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Hi all, and sorry if I've posted this in the wrong forum, but i need some help deciding what to build for a diorama base for an RAAF grey nurse spitfire mk viii of number 457 squadron (A58602). The aircraft was based on Morotai island in the dutch east indies, so I want to have a small portion of a jungle on the base (jungle plants and a few palm trees) so would this be accurate? 

Cheers,

Riley

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Perhaps perusals of some Morotai Spitfire images may help?

Or some more recent touristy images - the type of vegetation would still be largely the same so might serve as example.

 

Spitfires on Morotai

 

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I'm doing a Pacific super diorama (aka a model railway layout) in 1/48th.  Coconut trees are simple to make.  See first few pages of this thread.  https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/26916/wwii-airfield-diorama-south-pacific

I have not got around to my jungle end of the diorama.

 

Edit.  I just did a search on Australian War Memorial site photo collection.  Quite a few hits on 'morotai sptifire'.  This one is a very nice Spitfire dispersal photo.  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C237167

Note not a coconut tree in sight on any photos - all jungle trees.

Edited by dcrfan
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Hi, thankyou both for the replies. I found a website with some good photos of different squadrons on morotai: https://wepidgeon.com/pidgeonpost/?tag=morotai-airfield

Dcrfan, your coconut trees look great! I think I will use the same technique you did to make them. I hope you will put a picture of the finished super diorama, it is going to look superb when it's finished!

Cheers

Riley

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On 1/6/2021 at 10:54 PM, Spitfire 123 said:

Hi again, I have another question about the diorama. Would the ground around the airfield on Morotai have been dirt or sand? Also can anyone reccomend a good way to imitate either? 

Cheers, Riley

Or crushed coral. A quick Google identified an article where US Army and Aussie airfield construction engineers had difficulty finding suitable airfield surface materiel on Morotai so it could be any of the three.

 

I use matt gel medium to give a slight texture to the surface.  In NZ I used tubes of gel by Reeves.

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