Bunker / Gun Emplacement scene (3 Viewers)

[mestell]

This project is coming along amazingly Frank. Very enjoyable to view your progress while drinking my Saturday morning coffee . . .

Mike

 

[fmethorst]

Working on two things today. Painting the ground and starting the bunker build.

We simplified the below ground elements and simply stacked logs for the interior.

 

[fmethorst]

Continued

 

[fmethorst]

Testing the gun pit

 

[fmethorst]

Now we're going to fill the two big puddles in the gun pit.

Coloring and some resin (same resin we used for the creek scene last year)





Pouring the puddles





Using the experience gained from the creek we broke the surface tension with Q-tips.





Trying different ideas for a wet mud look to be used in some of the tracks.



Meanwhile cutting lots of logs for the bunker

 

[fmethorst]

Getting there



Darkening some of the tracks







Cleaning up the saddle joints on the logs





Rough fitting

 

[Louis Badolato]

Just exceptional work, Frank!:salute::

 

[MLH13]

Amazing work! Can't wait to see the finished product!

Mark

 

[fmethorst]

More logs including the roof.



Final fitting and assembly

 

[fmethorst]

With the left side glued together we tested overall fit with the unfinished parts.











Assembling the right side





The gun pit continues to get detailing. We darkened select tracks to replicate wetter dirt.

 

[fmethorst]

The intent of the tracks is to represent softer ground on the left side of the board. This meant the track gradually gets darker from right to left.



Painting behind the bunker





Test fitting assembled left and right halves of the bunker

 

[fmethorst]

Since all the drilling and cutting is done by hand none of log end are precise. This created a problem for the flared bunker firing port.. Nothing a belt sander can't correct.



Much better



Final assembly of the bunker. We started with a cross piece that joined left and right halves.





The dio team signs their work



Which is promptly covered with celluclay



The clay fills the gap between the logs and the foam. Right side of the bunker is placed.



Left side of the bunker is placed



Note how the dirt comes right up to the firing port and the log flair has been added.



The logs for the bunker roof

 

[fmethorst]

Testing the fit of the roof





Adding the final cross beams



Gluing the roof together



Adding dirt to the roof. It will be a challenge when this shrinks so weights are going to be used to hold the edges of the roof down.

 

[mestell]

I'm really enjoying following along with your progress Frank. Amazing attention to detail.

Mike

 

[MLH13]

Precise and meticulous work! I love it! :salute::

Mark

 

[fmethorst]

Making the bunker stairs out of foam and celluclay

 

[fmethorst]

Even though the following detail won't be visible when the roof is in place we wanted to add it for fun.

Between the two rows of logs on the bunker should be medium sized stones.

We used foam to fill up most of the space





..and then topped it with appropriately sized rocks





We made tension relief cuts in the celluclay on the roof due to the thickness. You can see the amount of shrinkage in the cuts.





With the thick celluclay finally dry we began painting the remaining unpainted areas

 

[fmethorst]

Painting continued...









Adding the textured dirt paint without thinning it. We used this to embed small rock patches on the dio.





Experimenting with the first bits of foliage

 

[fmethorst]

The dirt is largely complete.















Next up will be the foliage. This dio will primarily feature grasses.

 

[MLH13]

Impressive work, Frank! It's really coming along.

Mark