ACW - My Battleground (2 Viewers)

[mestell]

I thought I would create a battleground scenario on my entire 4-foot by 8-foot ACW table. This is strictly my imagination at work and doesn't necessarily depict any one battle. However, my inspiration has come from the many battles in 1862 and 1863 in which the Iron Brigade were combatants such as Brawner's Farm, 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and Gettysburg. With a little of their own imagination, viewer's of the forth coming photos can perhaps see glimpses of these contests of will that were held in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Although a table of this deminsion seems large, space is still very limited. As such, it must be understood that distances are compressed and that in the "real world" artillery fire would not have been that close to infantry, nor would battlefield hospitals be that close to the action, nor would command HQ's be as close to the action as depicted in the photos of my staged diorama. For those with a critical eye for detail please keep this in mind and remeber that this is all about the **n of "playing" with the toy soldiers that all of us enjoy so much . . . With that I will start showing the photos . . . I will keep this thread alive and active for a time, so please stop back to see what's been added . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Supported by an artillery section, five Confederate Regiments (3 from Virginia, 1 from Texas, and 1 from North Carolina) violently "smash" into a hastily made defensive positon held by elements of the Iron Brigade

 

[GICOP]

Great pictures Mike {bravo}}

I'm looking forward to what is headed our way :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[marco55]

A really great collection you have Mike.We enjoy it almost as much as you.All the best.
Mark

 

[mestell]

Thanks Martyn and Mark . . . . and so it continues . . . .
:smile2: Mike

With the sound of the battle swirling around them, a Union field hospital stays busy tending to the victims of the melee

 

[mestell]

From a safe distance and on top of a hill, the Confederate general staff observes the progress of the battle and discuss their next move. A regimental officer approaches to receive his orders.

 

[marco55]

Excellent.UK Reb has a worthy comrade.{bravo}}
Mark

 

[Warrior]

Nice display Mike, like the first and last photos specifically, all are nice.

Any diorama showcasing the Iron Brigade is a good one IMO, like your trees very much as well, keep the pictures coming............

 

[mestell]

Thanks again Mark, and thank you George, glad you liked them . . . the battle continues . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Aerial views of my battlefield

 

[Warrior]

These are great too, what action, looks like you had a great time setting this one up.............awesome......

 

[mikemiller1955]

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeyuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful Mike...this is a nice one for sure!!!

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Awesome Mike!{bravo}}
Regards,
Jake

 

[6th Wisconsin]

Really nice layout and lots of action!

 

[The Lt.]

Making up for the time you've been away an missing your playground an glad to see that you have. Very nicely planned and stage Michael with a nice selection of well taken photographs. Thanks for the time an effort in putting it all together an sharing with us. Looking forward to what's headed our way next............Joe

 

[Nooooo9]

This looks great. It's nice to see your new troops in action.

 

[desk11desk12]

OUTSTANDING MIKE!

Never make apologies for a great imagination or the realities of limited display space.

Carlos

 

[thebritfarmer]

It's always great when you set up your toys and take some snaps for us to enjoy Mike. You have one of the best dios on the forum. I like your new figures from the hospital series, WB did a good job of them.

 

[lancer]

It all looks fantastic. Great dio base and lots of action and color. Can't beat it. {bravo}} -- Al

 

[Bottlesoldier]

{sm3} G'day Mike. Just fantastic mate. They look like stills from a movie or being there on the day. Well done. I know some guys who would spend ages looking at that dio. Just great. Cheers, Johno.

 

[Jefman]

Mike: Just the things we converse about that makes your dioramas...these scenarios come to life. It is a careful application of media that is not just the high quality well crafted WB figurines mixed in with some extremely realistic ground work and accessories. You splice in tidbits of various actions: the buildings at Fredricksburg, the cornfield at Antietam, the open farmland at Gettysburg. You juxtapose that within the command structure: portrayals of Generals and officers disseminating orders and objectives. You then weave in the plausibility of the whole action formulating the human cost: surgeons, ambulances, corpsman, nurses all standing by to attend to the casualties. The men themselves confronting each other on the fields of battle with honorable and brave feelings for their work but an undeniable inner thought of mortality. The ACW was this incredible application of the weapons clearly being superior to the tactics. It is a struggle: a cruel confrontation of Americans attempting to impose there will, there lifestyles, their beliefs on to one another. It is a miniature examination in dramatic conflict. You look closely at the confrontation of troops and you get this spine tingling thought process of both sides passionately committed to destroying the other side amid the back drop of our pastoral green countryside. We display, we portray, we attempt to rationalize and we learn. Good stuff Mike....top flight American history in miniature...a rather stimulating Saturday afternoon that would not be posssible without your visions and thought and those terrific and dramatic WB figurines.

 

[Terp152]

Great scenes Mike! It's interesting to see how you blended the various sets of figures togther and the different camera angles. Especially like the charge scene. Chris