Diorama: 2 of the 7 Roads to Hell! H&A Studio (1 Viewer)

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi There! Ever since reading 101st Airborne veteran, Donald R. Burgett's 'Seven Roads to Hell' I have had an interest in building some winter dioramas depicting the area around Bastogne. We finished three of the 28" X 11" shelf dioramas for OTSN this year. Two are the muddy roads in and out of Bastone and the third is a low ridge with three dugouts. All of these can be used alone or back to back.
With snowfall these roads soon became muddy tracks of snow, slush and later ice. We were able to use all three H&A products to create this look. The tree in the foreground was built with wood and wire and then the trunk was sculpted with bark texture. Notice the white band painted around the trunk to help drivers stay on the road in low light situations.
Here are some images for your pleasure!

Ken

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Here are a couple more images of the diorama back to back with the ridge unit with foxholes. This adds some depth to the trees and creates a diorama 22" X 28". I decided that a small fueling area would make a nice detail at one end. The 55 gal drums are covered with a camo net with real scrim woven in and rigged with poles and stakes. A box of H&A C-Rations sits on the tool box. The second image has a K&C GI in it for scale reference (not included).
These photographs also show the cast concrete power poles often seen in period images. In addition to wooden poles, there appears to be at least three common styles of cast concrete ones.
I took photos of some that still stand in the area last time I visited and we thought this would add a further note of familiarity.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The second road diorama has the roads starting to freeze up and some snow starting to stick. Another wire and wood tree with a white band painted around the trunk to aid drivers at night. The rear diorama has log protection for the tops of the foxholes to protect the occupants from overhead air bursts. These are removable to ease the placement of figures.
The close up of the ruts show several types of vehicles have passed through here!

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

These last images show the ridge section from the back and the front. I think you can get a pretty good idea of how these look together. An ONWTC GI I sculpted takes a shot at some distant target for scale reference.
Snow, slush, footprints, windblown grass peaking out from the snow and frosted trees sets the time and place. I hope to see some of you in Chicago!

All the best!
Ken Osen
Hudson & Allen Studio custom dioramas, when it absolutely, positively has to look real!

 

[Louis Badolato]

Wow, Ken! That's about the most realistic diorama I've seen!!

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Thanks Louis!
I have to admit that I haven't decided which one of these is my favorite yet! We try to make each one better than the last.
It appears that we will have 20 of the shelf units (all very different) and 100+ of the small scenic bases.
Ericka has been very busy doing quality control inspections, boxing and labeling each and every item. Tomorrow everything will be packed and we will head off to Chicago on Wednesday. We will be open on Thursday afternoon...See you there!
All the best!
Ken Osen

 

[Njja]

You have outdone yourself Ken! Sorry I'm going to miss the show! I hope

you have a great time, and I know you are going to make a lot of collectors

happy with your great products.

I'd like to know how you find the time to do it all!

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think you have outdone yourself on this one Ken. It's hard to believe that this scene isn't real. You can almost feel the chill in the air.

I'm off to get a parka and a cup of cocoa to warm myself up.


Fantastic job. Sorry I can't be in Chicago to see these in the flesh.


Scott

 

[Col. Hesler]

Wow. I think that this is the best snow diorama ever. Love the foxholes.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Thanks for all of the compliments. These were really fun to work on and I was able to use several methods I have developed over the years to get the cold and wet look. We also made a few small winter scenics for the show this year. We would have made more but we ran out of time!
Here is an image of a snow covered barbed wire entanglement using Hudson & Allen Studio barbed wire.

See you soon!
Ken Osen