Foreign Legion Fort and other projects I have been doing... (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

after I figured out an easy technique to do the exposed brick (mentioned earlier)...I went a little crazy experimenting with it on a few buildings (6 of them...hahaha)...I really didn't mean to make so many...I just got carried away with the easy technique...these two are small (8"x5"x5")...but all put together...they make a very nice little village...again...I painted the interior and the bottom black...I didn't do any side windows...as I originally thought of using them in a row...like on a street...

here are the first two...

 

[mikemiller1955]

these two are also small structures (8"x5"x5")...and were intended to be used in a small street diorama...I really like the one with the porch on the corner...I just find the design interesting...

 

[mikemiller1955]

these are the last two with damaged brick that go with the group of 6...

 

[mikemiller1955]

I got a lot done today...I put the base coat on...it looks darker in the pictures (garage)...but it's a very light tan...I will drybrush a heavy coat of creamy white on it now...I also cut out all 16 door panels...and started on the wooden slats that will cover them...here are some pics...

 

[villagehorse]

ooohhh that's nice Mike, spot on I would say. Did the FFL name their forts? If so, better put your thinking cap on. Next round no doubt it will be full of Legion soldiers.:wink2:, Robin.

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

WOW Mike, stunning Fort, you are going really fast to give the right quarters to the upcoming Legionnaires!
Fantastic job!!!
Carlo

 

[Terp152]

Really stunning work Mike. The sheer size is impressive, not to mention all the detail. Congrats on an outstanding set of buildings. Chris

 

[mikemiller1955]

Robin...Carlo...Chris...thanks so much for the kind words...

I played golf Friday and Saturday...so I really didn't get too much work done over the weekend...I did manage to get all the door installed (all 16 of them)...

my measurements seem okay on the separate pieces so far...everything seems to be lining up pretty good...with just a few adjustments...so I might start gluing the separate pieces together today...and patching any seams...I want a realistic smooth transition to all the pieces...no gaps at all...

anyway...here's a small building I built last month that I never used in a diorama or took pictures of...I like the design on this porch...inset with a step...I put a small rope door latch to open it...

 

[MapleLeaf]

Mike
The buildings look awsome
The fort is first class
Ur doing awsome work my freind

 

[mikemiller1955]

thank you Bernie...appreciate the comments...

I made this cross section of a Roman wilderness fort...I made a dug out trench and added a small building built into the bunker wall...I may add some trees to the exterior...

 

[mikemiller1955]

a couple of more pictures...

I didn't feel like making a huge complete fort...that's why I opted for this cross section...

 

[GICOP]

a couple of more pictures...

I didn't feel like making a huge complete fort...that's why I opted for this cross section...

That is excellent Michael {bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Cheers

Martyn

 

[thebritfarmer]

Your Dios never fail to amaze me Michael. Absolutely brilliant. Your fort reminds me of something similar my Dad built me years ago for my Britains knights. Nice to have that memory sparked again !

I think we should start calling you Papa Dio or Papa Builder !! HAHA

Once again great to see your dios my friend.

Scott

 

[mikemiller1955]

thanks again Martyn...and thank you Scott...

Scott...good story...sounds like you had a really nice Dad...

 

[villagehorse]

Michael you are a very busy man behind the scenes, you must get a lot of satisfaction knowing if there is any diorama piece you want, you have the talent to turn your hand to it. ^&cool, Robin.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Good one Mike! I really like the stairs!
How did you do the roof of the building? Also, what technique did you use to point the sticks? they look better than mine...!
Speaking of mine, I am waiting for my royalties in the mail{sm4}!
-Sandor

 

[mikemiller1955]

Good one Mike! I really like the stairs!
How did you do the roof of the building? Also, what technique did you use to point the sticks? they look better than mine...!
Speaking of mine, I am waiting for my royalties in the mail{sm4}!
-Sandor

thank you Robin...thank you Sandor...

and by the way Sandor...your checks in the mail...let me know when it arrives...^&grin

the roof is made with Hirst Art Bricks...I actually borrowed it from Nick and ran off 50-60 molds of it...I built a very large Roman's barracks using some of the pieces...each side of the roof is 19"x7"...I put 3 Meditteranian style columns in the front...it is huge...I will take some pics of it tonight or tomorrow...

I ground my twigs down on a bench grinder...it did a nice job...the hardest is finding enough staight pieces that match in girth...but I play golf at least once a week so they are easy to find...

of course...as I'm always in the middle of the fairway...^&grin^&grin^&grin...I do have to walk to the tree lines to pick them up...

 

[The Lt.]

Knowing from our phone chats you've been busy once again working on various projects an glad to see the finish results of some along with your progress on the fort which continue to show your creativity my friend. Thanks Michael for sharing it with us.....PapaZ

 

[mikemiller1955]

thank you Joe...appreciate the compliment...

I don't know if much of anybody is following my progress on this fort...but I have not abandoned it...hahaha...

after a week or so of neglecting it...I finally picked up a paint brush and got back to work today...

I made the base...it's 3/4" foam...painted tan...and I plan to cover it in sand for the groundwork...

maybe put in a couple of palm trees (see pic from my Crusader/Saracen dio) I have that are really pretty nice..especially for the price...($8-$10 each)...the foam base also has a wooden base underneath it...as I like to build everything really sturdy and solid...

I need to make a hand rail for the strairs...it seems like they would have one and it needs some wood inside the compound to break up all the white...

I plan to put in some barrels (large ones for water storage)...maybe a water trough...and if anybody can think of anything else that would help break up the stark whiteness with some other wood props..please don't hesitate to mention it...

all the doors on the ground floor facing the compound will need steps made...but they will be made to match the existing steps on the ramparts...they are very easy to make...

the front gate turned out nice...they are super thick and hinged so they open fully...

the interior of the front gate tunnel needed to be re-fabricated...when I added the security brace on the inside of the door...the protruding hardware that held the brace...stopped it from opening fully...so I cut windows (in the white circle) on both sides of the doorway tunnel to allow it to open fully...

the little balcony is supposed to be the "Officer's quarters"...I'm hoping I can talk Blake into making some figures for me...I would like an officer in some type of pose addressing the soldiers at attention in the compound...maybe he will...I know he has told me a lot of ideas he has for future figures...so maybe if I'm lucky...

overall...I'm pretty happy with it so far...my biggest regret...as like the last 6-7 forts I have made...the size of the compound just keeps shrinking as I build more stuff to it...but I think it's satisfactory...the fort is about as large as I want it...27"x27"...and I wanted really thick walls so it wouldn't look flimsy...so I reluctantly gave up compound space...

anyway...here are some updated pics...

 

[mikemiller1955]

pics...