Building the Western Desert Diorama (1 Viewer)

[Harrytheheid]

PART 1

Hi Guys,
I’m presently working on another Desert diorama. The base was started last time I was home but is still unfinished, so here’s another series of photos that brings the construction up to date.
I hope this will encourage other members of the forum to have a go at building their own dioramas. Its really not all that difficult.
Cheers
H

As usual a wooden kitchen chopping board was used for the dio base. This is one of the smaller ones at 200mm x 140mm.
The idea here was to have a large-ish slope on the left-hand side and some smaller rises on the right-hand side with figures on the "hill" and in the "valley".
Here's the hill under construction. it began life as a plastic kitchen basket for storing vegetables/fruit.

This is one of The Heid's innovative methods used to keep everything in place while the two-part epoxy that's holding everything together cures.

After the two-part epoxy was set, some plaster-impregnated bandages (the kind that's used for sprained wrists, etc.) were laid over the basic groundwork. Once this was dry, a couple of layers of plaster were applied to form the desert. Several washes of acrylic paint of various consistencies and in diverse desert colours were then added.

An early layout experiment using some Crusader figures.

Another layout experiment using AK figures. Some day I'll get around to repainting that NMA armoured car.

Having obtained the EA Vickers Tankette and already having the FOB version, I decided to see how they might look on this base. Hmmm....not bad.

To be continued.

 

[Harrytheheid]

PART 2

Yet another layout experiment, this time with a Matilda added for some 2-pounder support and I like the look of this. Obviously the FOB Vickers and Commander will require re-paint jobs if I'm going to go ahead with this one.

The sandbags at the left-hand side of the dio have been raised a bit to offer the EA guys a bit more protection. Note the woeful attempt at constructing my own sandbags. These were "made" using two-part putty - but didn't work too well. Going to see if I can get my hands on some plasticene tomorrow, or I might try casting some out of plaster.
I also extended the slope at the right-hand side of the dio base. The Matilda is 1/32 scale, but I've found that if you place a 1/32 scale vehicle slightly higher than K&C's 1/30 scale figures it kinda works. Well, it does for me anyway .

Here's a closer shot of the sandbag wall with those home-made sandbags - which will have to go....

And here's a close-up of the bren gunner and his "mucker" showing how they're blended into the dio base.

The additional plaster is dry now, so here's a preview of how the finished dio might look. The re-paint job on the FOB Vickers is coming on. Only needs a touch-up here and there and then some weathering. Think I'll just settle for some dry brushing on the running gear though.
I've already toned down the colours of the EA Vickers and added some weathering.

On reflection, the kneeling and firing EA figure behind the sandbags will have to go. He just doesn't fit in with troops who aren't really in action yet. Thinking about adding another sandbag position over at the right-hand side with the Indian troops adding heavy machine-gun support.

Thats all for now folks. Need to wait overnight while everything dries out. Will apply some colour washes in the morning, then go out on a mission to find some plasticene - or miracles might happen and I may find some proper modelling clay. (Then again, porkers might be awarded their flying licenses).

To Be Continued.
Cheers
H

 

[debrito]

Harry my friend, you became a PRO now... It is good to see your new dios and fotos, keep coming.

Have a great week

Cheers

 

[Harrytheheid]

PART 3

We're about 75% there now. Just need to;

a) add some more sandbags - if I can find something suitable to make them with.
b) blend in the additional figure bases.
c) finish the paint job on the FOB Vickers and final weathering all three tanks.
d) add some gravel and just a touch of vegetation.
e) a final wash on the groundwork and another wash then dry brush highlights on the sandbags.
f) use a more suitable backdrop that will blend in better with the dio base.
g) add any more details I haven't thought of yet.

Cheers
H

 

[aujj65]

Harry.

Have you had any sleep yet since you got back home? This seems to have sprung up overnight

I like what you have done here, regarding using a wooden board, will the water content of the plaster and paint washes have an effect on it? i.e. warping?

Have you decided on how you are going to finish off the edging?

Jeff

 

[Alexdakar]

I like your terrain and excellent work with the washes.

 

[Harrytheheid]

I like your terrain and excellent work with the washes.

Thanks Alex.
I call them colour washes but I'm not really sure if that's the correct term to use cos it might be a bit misleading. What I do is put different quantities of primary yellow, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, primary cyan and phalocyanine green (although not always all of those colours at the same time) into a palette with some water. I don't mix them in the palette but pick up some of the different colours and blend then together on the base itself using a Chinese calligraphy brush.
Although I'm using acrylics, because different quantities of each colour and water are picked up each time by the calligraphy brush its almost like painting with oils. This results in some amazing effects with the colours bleeding into each other and looks very natural IMO.
I'll take some photos this afternoon as I apply the final 1 or 2 "washes" to illustrate exactly what I'm doing.
I'm really pleased with my repaint job on the FOB Vickers and its Commander. First time I've attempted a repaint on a vehicle and I think its turned out not too bad considering the limited range of acrylics I have available - and the kind of brushes I'm using.
Trouble is I've only been able to find one example of what we would call a hobby/model store here in Dalian and it's very limited in what supplies they have on offer, besides its miles away. Ever tried getting on an international flight with liquids these days - even in your hold luggage..?? Security people love it cos they've got the perfect opportunity to go ape with yet another innocent traveller, thereby justifying their existence.
Oops - on my soapbox again.

Getting back onto the subject, I get almost all my diorama supplies from the Chinese version of Wallmart just down the road. Should see the funny looks I get from the locals as I peruse the kids toy section hunting for suitable paints, brushes etc.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

More progress. The figures have now been blended into the groundwork. Some gravel, rocks and sand have been added. While everything is drying out this afternoon, I can concentrate on getting the FOB Vickers up to scratch.
Then it'll be on with the final colour washes and add some more details. On reflection, think I'll leave off on adding any vegetation to this one. Thought about adding some barbed wire on top of the sandbags - but decided naaah, that'll make it too similar to the Winter Diorama that I recently completed. If I can't find any plasticene or modelling clay, then I think I'll just leave the sandbags as is. Can always add more at some future point in time.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

Harry.

Have you had any sleep yet since you got back home? This seems to have sprung up overnight

I like what you have done here, regarding using a wooden board, will the water content of the plaster and paint washes have an effect on it? i.e. warping?

Have you decided on how you are going to finish off the edging?

Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Just got back from a Korean B-B-Q restaurant.
Anyway, most of the construction on this diorama base was done last time I was home. All I've really done over the past couple of days is decide which figures and vehicles I'm going to use with it then work out the layout, repaint the FOB Vickers and weather all 3 of the vehicles. I had originally planned to use it with the AK 105mm Artillery Set, but I've had a rethink and shall be doing a new and larger base for that set in April.
In response to your question regarding the wooden base - yes it does warp with the plaster and paint washes. In fact, the Winter Diorama which is elsewhere in this section warped quite badly. The middle of it rose above the back and front edges by around 15mm. But as everything dried out it corrected itself and is now perfectly flat again. This warping has cracked some of the plaster at the front edge, but this is easily fixed.
I've had a cunning plan for finishing off the edges of these dios for some time now but I have to order what I need on a one-off basis. Have patience and all shall be revealed.
The full-size Chinese table I had earmarked for our next SOHK display is sold out and has had to be made to order down in Guangzhou (used to be called Canton). This means it won't be delivered for another 3 weeks yet, by which time I'll be back in Thailand. However, some other items of Chinese furniture are being delivered to the house tomorrow - so look out for some nice photos that I'm certain you and your wife will like in the "Diorama and Displays" section over the next couple of days.
Yeah, getting time to work on dioramas has been at a premium. I'm only home for 2 weeks this time and the preliminary Chinese New Year celebrations were kicked off tonight even though it doesn't officially begin for another week yet. There's fireworks going off right, left and centre as I write this. So it's a bit awkward trying to fit everything in during this limited time period. Even so, I've almost decided what's going to be included in my next Tree-Frog order......Nothing like planning ahead..
Okay, I'm going to leave both the new Desert and Charge of the Light Brigade dios to dry out thoroughly overnight. The Desert one ought to be finished at some point tomorrow cos it just needs a final paint wash, and the Charge base got its first layer of plaster today. So, because the CotLB dio base is so simple, it should be finished in 2 or 3 days.
Meanwhile, here's a preview of what's going to be an American Bulge diorama. Haven't figured out the layout of the troops just quite yet but shall also address that one sometime tomorrow.

Cheers
H

 

[OzDigger]

Harry, I have it on good authority that the white laminated particle board used for kitchen cabinets etc won't warp at all.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Harry, I have it on good authority that the white laminated particle board used for kitchen cabinets etc won't warp at all.

Its like everything else Oz. I can turn my hand to most things if I could actually GET my hands on the raw materials - but here in China, I'm limited to whatever's available, and the wooden chopping boards are the best compromise I've been able to find. Like I've said, yes they do warp, but after a few days of drying out time the wood straightens itself back out again - and using them as shelves once the dioramas are finished is working perfectly for my purposes.
But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

Almost finished now. Final paint wash is on the groundwork. When its completely dried out, I'll rectify some of the ham-handed foul-ups I made with the paintbrush......(The Jock Corporal's boots, tracks on the EA Vickers, etc.). The sandbags also need just a wee bit more work done on them and the backdrop will benefit from a bit of blending using Photoshop to hide the join between the two prints. The FOB turret needs to be a bit more faded and some blue paint applied. RT aerials also to be added to all 3 vehicles. Once that's done it'll be time to take some shots in natural light and post the final photos over on the "Dioramas and Displays" section of the forum.
Cheers
H

 

[debrito]

Your sand bags are nice, good job Harry.

 

[plasmapulse]

Nice diorama. Good to see all this creativity on the tft forum.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Thanks Rod and Plasma. Its not quite finished yet, but I'm getting there.
Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

That's this one done and dusted.
Printer's on the blink at the moment, so the towel masquerading as a mountain backdrop is the best I can do for now.
And guess who forgot to replace the ariels on the two Vickers Tankettes before he took the photos.....DOH.....
Shall post some more in my "MCE of the BK" thread in the "Dioramas & Displays" section.

Cheers
H

 

[desk11desk12]

That's this one done and dusted.
Printer's on the blink at the moment, so the towel masquerading as a mountain backdrop is the best I can do for now.
And guess who forgot to replace the ariels on the two Vickers Tankettes before he took the photos.....DOH.....
Shall post some more in my "MCE of the BK" thread in the "Dioramas & Displays" section.

Cheers
H

Great work H, very nice camera shot angles too.

Carlos

 

[Harrytheheid]

Great work H, very nice camera shot angles too.

Carlos

Thanks Carlos. There's some more in the Dioramas & Displays section.
Cheers
H